SCRIPTURE READING Ps. 139:1-24
The scripture says that in the beginning there was God. The bible says quite clearly, in Gen. 1:1
In the beginning God….
From the beginning there was the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit- United and Supreme. Together they composed the entity we call- God.
In the creation, God set about, to replicate ‘US’. Thus he made two of every living being and give to them an US mentality.
‘US’ could only exist if there is more than one.
US could only exist where there is unity.
US could only exist if the entities are in agreement with each other..
In Gen.1: 26 And God said, Let us make man in our image…
But he made one human being, Adam. But Adam was not happy. You cannot be happy in the I-mode.
It is not satisfying
It is not fulfilling
And it is certainly not rewarding.
God saw that Adam was not happy. The bible says that Adam named all the animals but he found no one who he could relate to. He involved himself in activity but it brought no happiness. But when God brought to him Eve he uttered his first recorded words of Joy;
23…. This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called woman.
Now, there was an US for Adam and he felt complete.
God hoped in creating man to enjoy fellowship with him and He with them.
Together they and God completed a unit called US.
In the meantime there was one who was jealous of their relationship and who promoted and lived the philosophy of ‘I’. He himself aspired to the privileges of God.
His whole purpose is to destroy any semblance of God; Any evidence of unity with God.
He wants to bring to nought any “Us” relationship and ‘us’ mentality that includes God. His desire is to implant his philosophy the“I mentality”into the human psyche. It is of him Isaiah spoke in Is. 14:13,14 who said to himself;
Isa 14:13-1413…. I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:14I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
It is this selfish ‘I’ – mentality that he sought to incorporate into the minds of man to replace the ‘US’ mentality of God. In getting Eve to eat of the fruit he was successful. He planted seeds of doubt in her mind about what God said to her; Seeds of distrust. That’s all it takes sometimes, for him to separate US.
Doubt caused Peter to sink
Elijah to run
And a whole nation to spend 40 years in the wilderness:
Do not ever underestimate the power of doubt.
It Breaks up our relationships;
Mashes up our marriages;
Destroys our families;
And puts an end to many of our friendships;
One word spoken; One word in the right ear.
Once the seed of doubt has been planted the harvest will eventually come.
When you begin to doubt the sincerity of your spouse’s love,
The genuineness of your friendships.
When you begin to think that there are ulterior motives behind a person’s friendship then it is just a matter of time.
The seed is planted and Satan will reap the harvest of a broken relationship unless you deal with that doubt and root it out.
Satan is a master at using this weapon. He sets it up and then he plays it out.
We have to learn to trust people. Believe in them. We must be trustworthy: If unity is to be restored.
One seed of doubt caused Eve to eat of the fruit and also give some to her loving husband. Together they ate of the fruit and broke their relationship with God. Once they had done that everything changed.
Things always change for the worst when God is taken out of the picture. But thank God he is never too far away. God is always close by looking and seeking to have a relationship with us.
Gen. 3: 9-12 tells us:
Gen 3:9-12And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?10And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.11And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?12And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
It is not “we were afraid”- but I was afraid. NO LONGER was this woman “bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh” She was now “the woman you gave to me”. The -I- mentality had taken root.
The first mention of I in the scriptures is spoken in the context of sorrow and disappointment and shame. The “I” mentality seeks to cast blame, as it protects itself.
It is not me it is him/her.
This type of attitude has wreak havoc with relationships throughout life’s journey.
From there, and throughout the ages of man, God has been working at replacing the I-mentality with the US mentality. ‘You and I.’
But Satan uses everything at his disposal to keep us in the ‘I-state’ and destroy the US mentality”
Every weapon at his disposal he throws our way. But we must know that
Isaiah 54:17 (KJV)
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
He exercises pride like a master weapon, causing havoc in many a relationship. He knows a lot about pride, especially the wrong type of pride. He was first found guilty of it. It was the cause of his downfall. The Bible tells us in Ezek. 28:11-15, 17.
Ezek 28:11-15, 17 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,12Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.13Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.14Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.15Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee…..
17Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
Pride kills relationships. It creates a wedge between people, destroying intimacy, eroding trust, and denying peace.. Few things are as toxic to a relationship as pride.
This is a secret weapon that the enemy uses quite successfully against relationships. Many are not aware of its presence until too late.
However there are certain signs which indicate the presence of pride-
1. Everything is personal. Pride is an elevated view of self. Everything is about them. So every opposing idea or differing viewpoint isn’t seen as a natural disagreement or a difference of perspective, it is a personal attack on them. Their response to every situation is one of defensiveness because they feel assaulted even if you simply disagree over the most minor of issues.
2. Fault-finding. A pride-filled person is an expert at finding fault in others. It’s as though they have fault-finding glasses and once they view life through that lens, problems is all they see. They readily point out the faults of everyone–bosses, co-workers, friends, political leaders, referees, coaches, and even their spouse.
3. Ignorance of the need of others. Pride doesn’t just keep us from caring for others, it prevents us from even seeing their need. Pride causes us to become so focused on self that we no longer see the hurts, struggles, and inabilities of others. Not knowing their need, a prideful person would never consider how they can assist another person in need.
4. Refusal to say “I’m sorry.” The inability to apologize can appear for two reasons. First, a prideful person may not be able to see they are wrong. Second, a prideful person might not be willing to admit fault even when they know it is there. Either way, the words “I’m sorry” are never heard or if they are, they are quickly followed by “but you….”).
When pride is present, intimacy is absent. “Us is destroy and I reigns supreme
God hates that type of pride because he knows the effect it has on our relationships. Prov. 8:13 states
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
He encourages us however if we need to boast about something, if we need to be proud about something, boast about him, feel good that you know him. In Jeremiah 9:23 he states:
Jer 9:23, 24 23Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
24But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
The proud cannot dwell with God because they are I oriented. God details who he dwell with in
Isa 57:15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
From the inception God has been trying to get men away from this “I mentality” to the “Us mentality.” He wants a US between you and him. I and HIM
He told Abraham come away from your family, come with me. Together I will make you a father of my nations. You and I will change the world. Not you, not me alone but US together.
This message was passed down through time “You and I” will change the world – Through Isaac
Through Jacob
Through Moses- He said, build me a sanctuary so that I may live with you. SO we can be together. You are not alone. I am with you. It is not about you. It is not about me. It is about US.
Through David
Until it came to a virgin in Bethlehem called Mary;
Matt 1:23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Is. 7:14)
John 1:14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Jesus came to restore the US which was lost in the Garden of Eden.
Thus he prayed
John 17:11And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
John 17: 21-23 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Jesus prayed that the US mentality might be restored in you and me. That we may be one:
Jesus has passed it on to us. Together with Jesus each of us can participate in changing the world even if it is just a little bit.
Each of us thinking about each other,
helping each other,
considering each other,
working with each other.
It is not about I it is about US.
We are not in a war against physical beings.
We are not in a war against each other
We are one.
We are in a war against spiritual forces.
Eph 6:1212For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
I know you may think you are in this alone. But you are not important in the grand scheme of things.
Your family is more important
Your church is more important
Your legacy is more important
Satanic attacks on you is not just about you but how it affects all your relationships- Your family, your church , your work place, your friends. Your legacy; your Godly influence;
In the upper room they all sat down, none considering to wash each other feet. Each in the I mode. But Jesus stood up and girded himself and washed each of their feet. Establishing the idea- It is not about I; it’s about US.
In the Garden of Gethsemane as he battled with what was to come he put self aside ‘I’, considering not himself and chose US.
On the cross as they ridiculed him. He did not retaliate but breathed a pray-
Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.
He considered not himself but US.
In the end he promised
I will never leave you nor forsake you
I will be with you until the end of the world.
You are not alone
I am not alone.
It is always Jesus and I
When I forgive, it is Jesus and I
When I repent, it is Jesus and I
When I give, it is Jesus and I
When I love, it is Jesus and I
Jesus and I, we got a good thing going on.
We are never alone it is always US. Jesus and I- forgiving, loving, giving, sharing, witnessing ….
Let us come together today, forget our pass mistakes, our blunders, our pain let us unite today for a better future. Jesus and U;. We are not alone.
Finally we all sit with Jesus as one big happy family at the Wedding supper of the lamb. May each of us have a seat at that table and bring along a friend.
My Jesus and I
We've got a good thing going on
Though Satan is on my track
But I'll never never turn back
My Jesus and I
We've got a good thing going on..
By George banton
Us restored.
