DCLM Higher Everyday 2 December 2023 — Self-Exaltation

DCLM Higher Everyday  2 December 2023 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Self-Exaltation

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Topic: Self-Exaltation

Text: 1 Kings 1:5-10

5Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

6And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom.

7And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him.

8But Zadok the priest, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and Nathan the prophet, and Shimei, and Rei, and the mighty men which belonged to David, were not with Adonijah.

9And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king’s sons, and all the men of Judah the king’s servants:

10But Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah, and the mighty men, and Solomon his brother, he called not.

Key Verse: “Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him” (1 Kings 1:1).

Message

William Shakespeare wrote, “Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambitions. By that sin fell the angels; how can man then, The image of his Maker, hope to profit by’t?” The question is, why did Adonijah exalt himself and desired to be king? Why did he ignore the fact that the throne was the throne of David and the kingdom was the kingdom of Israel, the people of God? Why did he forget that in the kingdom of God, there is a rule that we must follow? He was blinded by the lust for name and fame, glory and glamour associated with the throne. He went the way of Absalom, his brother, and Lucifer, their mentor.

Position seeking and self-exaltation are not the ways of the kingdom. They are the ways of the world and lead to perdition. Hence D. L. Moody said, “Be humble or you’ll stumble.” The ways of the kingdom are the ways of humility, the ways of Jesus Christ who made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant. He humbled himself and was exalted at last.

Quote: The way of Absalom

Challenge: Self-exaltation is not the way of the Kingdom.

Prayer for today: Oh God, give me the mind of Christ.

GOSPEL REALM: STEPS TO SALVATION
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)