ESTEEMING

 

“Esteem”, to regard as valuable; respect, to consider something as being of a certain value, favourable opinion or judgment, respect or regard: (Macquarie Dictionary).

 

THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD:

 

“BY FAITH MOSES, WHEN HE WAS COME TO YEARS, REFUSED TO BE CALLED THE SON OF PHARAOH`S DAUGHTER; CHOOSING RATHER TO SUFFER AFFLICTION WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD, THAN TO ENJOY THE PLEASURES OF SIN FOR A SEASON: ESTEEMING THE REPROACH OF CHRIST GREATER RICHES THAN THE TREASURES IN EGYPT: FOR HE HAD RESPECT UNTO THE RECOMPENCE OF THE REWARD. BY FAITH HE FORSOOK EGYPT, NOT FEARING THE WRATH OF THE KING: FOR HE ENDURED, AS SEEING HIM WHO IS INVISIBLE. THROUGH FAITH HE KEPT THE PASSOVER, AND THE SPRINKLING OF BLOOD, LEST HE THAT DESTROYED THE FIRSTBORN SHOULD TOUCH THEM.” HEB. 11/24-28.

 

“ESTEEMING”, “HEGEOMAI”, METAPHORICALLY, TO LEAD OUT BEFORE THE MIND, I.E., TO VIEW, REGARD, ESTEEM, COUNT, RECKON;

TO HOLD OR ESTEEM AN INDIVIDUAL IN A PARTICULAR LIGHT, TO REGARD THEM AS VERY HIGHLY DESERVING OF LOVE; (ZODHIATES)

 

As we cast our gaze over the pretend church, Pentecostalism, we witness the likes of Guy Sebastian, Matt Rogers, Brian (Hollywood) Houston, Phil Pringle, and all the other positive confession blab and grab, “name it and claim it” heroes, who are loving, and in pursuit of the things which are seen, embracing, and chasing with great affection the temporal things of this world, eg money, pre-eminence etc., they certainly do no line up with Holy Writ do they:

 

THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD:

 

“WHILE WE LOOK NOT AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN, BUT AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN: FOR THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN ARE TEMPORAL; BUT THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN ARE ETERNAL.” 2 COR. 4/18. “TEMPORAL”, “PROSKAIROS”, TEMPORARY, TRANSIENT, FOR A SEASON: (ZODHIATES)

 

“LOVE NOT THE WORLD, NEITHER THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE WORLD. IF ANY MAN LOVE THE WORLD, THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM. FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD, THE LUST OF THE FLESH, AND THE LUST OF THE EYES, AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE, IS NOT OF THE FATHER, BUT IS OF THE WORLD. AND THE WORLD PASSETH AWAY, AND THE LUST THEREOF: BUT HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF GOD ABIDETH FOR EVER.” 1 JOHN 2/15-17.

 

“IF YE THEN BE RISEN WITH CHRIST, SEEK THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST SITTETH ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD. SET YOUR AFFECTION ON THINGS ABOVE, NOT ON THINGS ON THE EARTH. COL. 3/1-2.

 

“AFFECTION”, “PHRONEO”, THE ACTIVITY REPRESENTED BY THIS WORD INVOLVES THE WILL, AFFECTIONS, AND CONSCIENCE. TO BE MINDFUL OF, TO BE DEVOTED TO, CARE FOR: (ZODHIATES)

 

“DEVOTED”, DEDICATED, CONSECRATED: (MACQUARIE DICTIONARY)

 

“MORTIFY THEREFORE YOUR MEMBERS WHICH ARE UPON THE EARTH; FORNICATION, UNCLEANNESS, INORDINATE AFFECTION, EVIL CONCUPISCENCE, AND COVETOUSNESS WHICH IS IDOLATRY: FOR WHICH THINGS` SAKE THE WRATH OF GOD COMETH ON THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE: COL. 3/5-6.

 

“LAY NOT UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES UPON EARTH, WHERE MOTH AND RUST DOTH CORRUPT, AND WHERE THIEVES BREAK THROUGH AND STEAL: BUT LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN, WHERE NEITHER MOTH NOR RUST DOTH CORRUPT, AND WHERE THIEVES DO NOT BREAK THROUGH NOR STEAL: FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE WILL YOUR HEART BE ALSO.” MATH. 6/19-21, LUKE 12/33-34.

 

“BUT THEY THAT WILL BE RICH FALL INTO TEMPTATION AND A SNARE, AND INTO MANY FOOLISH AND HURTFUL LUSTS, WHICH DROWN MEN IN DESTRUCTION AND PERDITION. FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL: WHICH WHILE SOME COVETED AFTER, THEY HAVE ERRED FROM THE FAITH, AND PIERCED THEMSELVES THROUGH WITH MANY SORROWS.” 1 TIM. 6/9-10.

 

“LOVE”, “PHILARGURIA” THE LOVE OF MONEY. “PHILARGURIA MAY BE REGARDED AS A TYPE OF “PLEONEXIA”, COVETOUSNESS, ALSO LINKED TO “PHILARGUROS”, MEANING, LOVING MONEY, AVARICIOUS, COVETOUS. (LUKE 16/14, 2 TIM. 3/2). (ZODHIATES)

 

“COVETED”, “OREGO”, MEANING, LITERALLY TO STRETCH OUT ESPECIALLY WITH THE HANDS, TO SNATCH. TO STRETCH ONESELF, REACH AFTER SOMETHING, AND HENCE METAPHORICALLY MEANING TO COVET, LONG AFTER, DESIRE, TRY TO GAIN BE AMBITIOUS: BY IMPLICATION, TO INDULGE IN, TO LOVE: (ZODHIATES)

 

“PLEONEKTES” TO BE COVETOUS. ONE WHO WANTS MORE, A PERSON COVETOUS OF SOMETHING THAT OTHERS HAVE, A DEFRAUDER FOR GAIN. (1 COR. 5/10, 11; 6/10; EPH. 5/5). (ZODHIATES)

“PLEONEXIA”, COVETOUSNESS, GREEDINESS (LUKE 12/15; ROM. 1/29)

EPH 4/19; 1 THES. 2/5; 2 PET. 2/3,14; SEPT. JER. 22/17; HAB. 2/9. “PLEONEXIA” IS A LARGER TERM WHICH INCLUDES “PHILARGURIA”, LOVE OF MONEY TO HOARD AWAY, AVARICE. IT IS CONNECTED WITH EXTORTIONERS (1 COR. 5/10): WITH THEFTS (MARK 7/22, COVETOUS THOUGHTS, PLANS OF FRAUD AND EXTORTION): WITH SINS OF THE FLESH (EPH. 5/3, 5; COL. 3/5). PLEONEXIA MAY BE SAID TO BE THE ROOT FROM WHICH THESE SINS GROW, THE LONGING OF THE CREATURE WHICH HAS FORSAKEN GOD TO FILL ITSELF WITH THE LOWER OBJECTS OF NATURE. (ZODHIATES).

 

THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD:

 

“THIS KNOW ALSO, THAT IN THE LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME. FOR MEN SHALL BE LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES, COVETOUS, 2 TIM 3/2. (remember? He is not talking about unbelievers, infidels, pagans here, look at verse 5, he is talking about religious heretics and hypocrites, pretenders, lukewarm lovers of the things of this world).

 

“LOVERS”, “PHILAUTOS”, SELF CENTERED OR SELFISH. AN UNDUE SPARING OF SELF WITH THE PRIMARY CONCERN THAT THINGS BE EASY AND PLEASANT FOR ONESELF. THE PHILAUTOS IS ONE WHO LOVES HIS LIFE SO MUCH THAT HE SEEKS IGNOBLY TO SAVE IT. (ZODHIATES). (MATH. 16/24-26, MK. 8/34-35, LUKE 9/23-24).

 

What say you Pastor sauce? Do you still think the Pentecostal church and its fraudulent, covetous, lovers of per-eminence ambitious leaders are on the cutting edge spiritually speaking? Do their lives and ministry line up with “The Word of God?”

 

Are they true examples to be imitated and followed, lining up with Holy Writ?

 

DO THEY ESTEEM LOVING FATHER SON AND HOLY GHOST AND HIS PRECEPTS ABOVE ALL ELSE, LOVING HIM WITH ALL THEIR HEART MIND SOUL AND STRENGTH AS THE SWEET PSALMIST?

 

“THEREFORE I ESTEEM ALL THY PRECEPTS CONCERNING ALL THINGS TO BE RIGHT; AND I HATE EVERY FALSE WAY. PS. 119/128.

 

DOES YOUR PREACHING AND TEACHING LINE UP WITH HOLY WRIT CONCERNING THE ABOVE?…….. OR ARE YOU ALSO COMPROMISED:

(“a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” remember).

 

It reminds me of the children of Israel as they journeyed through the wilderness and became dissatisfied with their lot and Moses and complained:

 

“We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick”: Num. 11/5.

 

(Don`t you find it fascinating that three of the vegetables named in the above verse are “leeks, onions and garlick”? All vegetables that stink,….. just like the “things of this world” that many have decided to covet after, love and pursue?)

 

THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD:

 

“HOW OFT DID THEY PROVOKE HIM IN THE WILDERNESS, AND GRIEVE HIM IN THE DESERT! YEA, THEY TURNED BACK AND TEMPTED GOD, AND LIMITED THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL. THEY REMEMBERED NOT HIS HAND, NOR THE DAY WHEN HE DELIVERED THEM FROM THE ENEMY.” PS. 78/40-42.

 

“THEY SOON FORGAT HIS WORKS; THEY WAITED NOT FOR HIS COUNSEL: BUT LUSTED EXCEEDINGLY IN THE WILDERNESS, AND TEMPTED GOD IN THE DESERT. AND HE GAVE THEM THEIR REQUEST BUT SENT LEANNESS INTO THEIR SOUL”. PS. 106/13-15. (Is this you? You find some prayers answered,….but then,…..YOU HAVE LEANNESS OF SOUL?)

 

THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD:

 

“BUT WITH MANY OF THEM GOD WAS NOT WELL PLEASED: FOR THEY WERE OVERTHROWN IN THE WILDERNESS. NOW THESE THINGS WERE OUR EXAMPLES, TO THE INTENT WE SHOULD NOT LUST AFTER EVIL THINGS, AS THEY ALSO LUSTED.” 1 COR. 10/5-6.

 

Still think the Brian (Hollywood) Houstons, the Phil Pringles, the Guy Sebastians and all the others are on the right track? “THE STRAIT AND NARROW WAY?”

 

THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD:

 

“THESE HAVE CHOSEN TO ENJOY THE PLEASURES OF SIN FOR A SEASON RATHER THAN SUFFER AFFLICTION WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD; ESTEEMING THE TREASURES IN EGYPT (THE WORLD) GREATER THAN THE REPROACH OF CHRIST FOR THEY HAVE NO RESPECT UNTO THE RECOMPENCE OF THE REWARD. RETURNING TO EGYPT (THE WORLD) FEARING MAN AND BEING MEN PLEASING, NOT BEING ABLE TO ENDURE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT SEE HIM WHO IS INVISIBLE. AND DO NOT, AND CANNOT KEEP THE PASSOVER, THE NEW COVENANT OF JESUS CHRIST, BEING TRUCEBREAKERS”. 2 TIM. 3/3, HEB. 11/25-28.

 

 

 

 

THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD:

 

“THE GROUND OF A CERTAIN RICH MAN BROUGHT FORTH PLENTIFULLY: AND HE THOUGHT WITHIN HIMSELF, SAYING, WHAT SHALL I DO, BECAUSE I HAVE NO ROOM WHERE TO BESTOW MY FRUITS? AND HE SAID, THIS WILL I DO: I WILL PULL DOWN MY BARNS, AND BUILD GREATER; AND THERE WILL I BESTOW ALL MY FRUITS AND MY GOODS. AND I WILL SAY TO MY SOUL, SOUL, THOU HAST MUCH GOODS LAID UP FOR MANY YEARS; TAKE THINE EASE, EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY. BUT GOD SAID UNTO HIM, THOU FOOL, THIS NIGHT THY SOUL SHALL BE REQUIRED OF THEE: THEN WHOSE SHALL THOSE THINGS BE, WHICH THOU HAST PROVIDED? SO IS HE THAT LAYETH UP TREASURE FOR HIMSELF, AND IS NOT RICH TOWARD GOD.” LUKE 12/16-21.

 

AMEN: “LAY NOT UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES UPON EARTH,… BUT LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN:”

 

“TAKE HEED AND BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS: FOR A MAN`S LIFE CONSISETH NOT IN THE ABUNDANCE OF THE THINGS WHICH HE POSSESSETH.” LUKE 12/15.

 

“FOR WHAT IS A MAN ADVANTAGED, IF HE GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD, AND LOSE HIMSELF,……… OR BE CAST AWAY?” LUKE 9/25, MATH. 16/26, MK. 8/36.

 

“CAST AWAY”, “ZEMIOO”, TO SUFFER LOSS, RECEIVE DETRIMENT, TO BRING LOSS UPON ONESELF, TO LOSE ONE`S SOUL. (ZODHIATES).

 

BEWARE,……………. LEST YOU BE “CAST AWAY”. RO. 11/21-22, REV. 3/16, 3/5, 2/5, 2/16, 2/22-23.

 

“LEST THERE BE ANY FORNICATOR, OR PROFANE PERSON, AS ESAU, WHO FOR ONE MORSEL OF MEAT SOLD HIS BIRTHRIGHT. HEB. 12/16.

 

“HE THAT DESPISED MOSES` LAW DIED WITHOUT MERCY UNDER TWO OR THREE WITNESSES: OF HOW MUCH SORER PUNISHMENT, SUPPOSE YE, SHALL HE BE THOUGHT WORTHY, WHO HATH TRODDEN UNDER FOOT THE SON OF GOD, AND HATH COUNTED THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT, WHEREWITH HE WAS SANCTIFIED, AN UNHOLY THING, AND HATH DONE DESPITE UNTO THE SPIRIT OF GRACE?” HEB. 10/28-29.

 

“DESPITE”, “ENUBRIZO”, TO USE REPROACHFULLY. TO TREAT WITH DESPITE OR REPROACH.

 

“DESPITE”, CONTEMPTUOUS TREATMENT, DISRESPECT, INSULT: (MACQUARIE DICTIONARY)

 

“WHEREFORE SEEING WE ALSO ARE COMPASSED ABOUT WITH SO GREAT A CLOUD OF WITNESSES, LET US LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT AND THE SIN WHICH DOTH SO EASILY BESET US, AND LET US RUN WITH PATIENCE THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US, LOOKING UNTO JESUS THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH; WHO FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM ENDURED THE CROSS, DESPISING THE SHAME, AND IS SET DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF GOD.” HEB. 12/1-2. AMEN.

 

DO YOU “ESTEEM THE REPROACH OF CHRIST GREATER RICHES THAN THE TREASURES IN EGYPT?” (THE WORLD).

 

THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD:

 

“THOU SHALT NOT COVET”. RO. 13/9, EX. 20/17.

 

 

Bevan Kluver,

Straight Talk Ministries,

Ph/Fax 07 55452874,

www.straighttalkmin.org   bevan.kluver@bigpond.com 

 

“speaking the truth in love, in the spirit of meekness, earnestly contending for the faith;”

 

HELPING HIM PREPARE A BRIDE WITHOUT SPOT OR BLEMISH:

 

HATING EVEN THE GARMENT SPOTTED BY THE FLESH:

 

 

P. S. It has been said to me on numerous occasions condescendingly by religious heretics and hypocrites that “all I do is quote scripture, anyone can do that”. Don`t I wish with all my heart that that were so: (Num. 11/29). In any case, do we need any more? I love and bless Loving Father Son and Holy Ghost all the more for imparting into my life the gift of “The Word of God” being able to line up Holy Writ and expound it boldly and with all Heavenly Authority (Tit. 2/15) Hallelujah thank you Jesus, AND I REJOICE AND COUNT IT A GREAT HONOUR AND PRIVILEGE TO SUFFER REPROACH AND PERSECUTION FOR IT. AMEN. ACTS 5/41, MATH. 5/10-12, 1 PET. 4/14.