The Result Of Selfishness And Self-Righteousness

Diminished Faith Caused By Selfishness And Self-Righteousness

Selfishness and self-righteousness diminishes faith and expectation of a believer so that he/she is not hungry and thirsty enough for the presence of God. As a result ignorant behavior appears and this can be the reason why God leads persons into the desert so that they may get hungry and thirsty (again) for more of Him and His presence.
 
It was in the wilderness where the people of Israel received the deep water from the twelve springs at Elim and the fresh manna from heaven at the desert of 'Sin' (see Exodus 15:27; Exodus 16:1.4).
 
Exodus 15:27:
27 Then they came to Elim (note: means trees; see Isaiah 61:3), where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water (note: the sphere of true apostolic discipleship and prophetic preparation; see Luke 6:13 i.c.w. Luke 9:1-2; Luke 10:1).
 
Exodus 16:1.4:
1 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. …
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, 'I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.'
 
What Is Ignorance?
 
Selfish and self-righteous behavior is closely linked to ignorance, let us take a look at this word.
The word 'ignorance' can be defined, among other things, as an influence of resistance towards the Lord who would like to come into the person's life or being present, but is not recognized because of disregard (note: other things someone is more focused on than God; see Luke 19:41-42).
 
Apostle Chuck D. Pierce wrote the following in his book "Interpreting The Times" referring to the term 'ignorance':
 
Ignorance has three categories. The first is indolence, or being dull, unfeeling, or barren. The result of this is laziness, hastiness, presumption, poverty, and delay.
When someone as a Christian falls into passivity, this person begins to stop with the advance in the purposes of God for their life.
 
The next category is keenness (stubbornness). If someone feels as if to know everything then this person is unteachable. This behavior makes someone incapable to enter into the new that God has prepared for him or her. Keenness also leads to passivity and complacency.
 
The most dangerous area of ignorance is not to have enlightenment. In this state the word of the Lord becomes rare. This is because of disobedience, so that the Lord no longer speaks on a daily basis to the believer. This can lead to a long period of silence from God's side. This state is very dangerous, because without vision the people perish (see Proverbs 29:18a). (note: part excerpt from the book "Interpreting The Times" by Chuck D. Pierce, pages 107 and 108).
 
Proverbs 29:18a:
18a Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; …
 
Coming To A Higher Level
 
A holy lifestyle and respect for His presence should be the highest priority for any believer in order to reach a higher level with God in life (see Matthew 22:37-38).
 
Matthew 22:37-38:
Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
 
The Disciple John
 
This becomes even more clear taking a look at the disciple John whom Jesus loved. John lived in captivity on the island of Patmos (means “my killing”; see Galatians 2:20) in isolation.
 
Galatians 2:20:
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
 
During this time, John had been drawn to a higher spiritual level by the Lord Jesus Christ (see Revelation 1:9-10; Revelation 4:1-2).
 
Revelation 1:9-10:
9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, …
 
Revelation 4:1-2:
1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”
2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.
 
The Higher Spiritual Level And The Wake-Up Call
 
Raising up to the higher spiritual level is usually connected with a wake-up call (note: the sound of the trumpet => reveals the right times and what has to be done in them; see Numbers 10:1-10) that pulls someone out from a state of slumber in order to get awake so that he/she can see or recognize the things God reveals.
 
This sound of the trumpet is a familiar sound for the friends of God and can be a shattering sound for those who do not want to get closer to Him (see Exodus 19:16-19 i.c.w. Hebrew 10:29-31).
 
Exodus 19:16-19:
16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.
17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently.
19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.
 
Hebrews 10:29-31:
29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
 
Because of lacking a close relationship to God and His righteous being, saints can tend to be wrong in their thoughts and mindset concerning grace. As a consequence, they can fall into the trap of self-righteousness and therefore represent the righteousness of God in an inappropriate manner.
 
For making a personal check, if you are trapped in any slumbering state or state of being unteachable, it is required to reflect yourself on the Word of God as well as reflecting on the way of expressing your gratitude towards the instructions therein (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17 i.c.w. Proverbs 26:12).
 
2 Timothy 3:16-17:
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
 
Proverbs 26:12:
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
 
So, for the case believers consider themselves to be wise, they should constantly watch out for their spiritual hunger and take care of their thirsty hearts. Because only if you can find the strong desire (hunger) and longing (thirst) for more of Him, you will find an appropriate lifestyle according to the life as saints by being equipped for every good work.
 
Amen and Amen.
 
In His Wisdom,
 
Daniel Glimm