When those who don't know God see God work through our lives, they sometimes try to exalt us, not recognizing that what they see is the power of God.
When a man crippled since birth was healed by Paul, the people considered Paul and Barnabas gods ...
Acts 14:8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: 9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
But Paul and Barnabas turned the praise from themselves to God, making known that they were just men. They spoke of God and what He has done. And they exhorted the people to turn from gods that are not gods at all, vanities, to the living God, the Creator of all things.
Acts 14:14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: 16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. 18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
Recently the Holy Spirit led me, through thoughts, to go to an elderly
neighbor's house. He had fallen and was unable to get to a telephone.
Once there, I called for help and he was taken to the hospital. He
thanked me multiple times for coming and finding him, as though I had
done some great thing of myself. Although a few years ago I overheard
this neighbor say something that made me think he doesn't believe in
God, I was led to tell him that I believe the thoughts which caused me to go to his house were from God.
When we bring forth what the Holy Spirit leads us to speak about God and what He has done, God is exalted.
When we bring forth what the Holy Spirit leads us to speak about God and what He has done, God is exalted.
Comments by Joan Boney
We should exalt God. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God (I Cor. 2) and though we exalt God and the natural man says nothing that does not mean he exalts God in his heart. For the things of God are foolishness to him. But that should not stop us from exalting God.