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The Blowfish Syndrome and it's evidence in the life of a Believer



What is the Blowfish? 

The Blowfish is any species of fish of the family Tetraodontidae that have the ability to inflate themselves to a globe several times their normal size by swallowing water or air when tickled. 

The blowfish has no particular value to the fisherman who catches one. Infact, research shows that, it is very poisonous and can be deadly. 
It has a large mouth and wrinkled body that looks like out leather. When you turn it over, touched or tickle it, the flabby fish puffs up until  it is swollen like a globe.

Many believers are not far from this syndrome. A little flattery, a little tickling of their vanity and they swell right up. 
Pride inflates them, and they puff up like the blow-fish. But there's nothing substantial about them; they are all air.

1 Corinthians 5:1-2 It is actually reported [that there is] sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles that a man has his father's wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you.
This condition takes other forms with more serious consequences. For example, the Christians to whom Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 5 were tolerating immorality. Instead of being grieved over sin in their midst, they were actually "puffed up" (1 Cor. 5:2). 

Here was a sure sign of carnality and immaturity they were proud when they should have been mourning. God desires that we be "built up" in Christ-never "puffed up" with pride.

TOUCHED AS IN THE CASE OF A BLOWFISH (Touched: as with riches, wealth, prosperity etc). 

Revelation 3:17-18 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, [that] the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

And that's the attitude of most believers, when life becomes easy, and everything he ever wanted comes to him, he grows wings, and a sense of pride set in. 
His spiritual values got crowded by material things and his devotion to God and to the things of God keeps on declining until nothing about God remains. 
A futility of life of the highest order. The laodecean church got puffed up, became so proud and decided they have need of nothing. 
As a result, they became a look warm church, the kind which the master has decided to vomit out of his mouth. 
Because, they are ignorant of the fact that, that which puffed them up is a vale from the enemy which blindfolds them from seeing the real picture. And that's what empty pride can do. 

The continual attitude of God's children should therefore be the one Paul recommended to the Philippians. 
He said, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself" (Phil.2:3). 

In addition, our life as Christians should be like that of a true fragrance that emmits sincere Devotion, humility and Obedience to God. Phil 2:8

If we take this seriously, we won't have the character-istics of the puffed-up blowfish. - Paul Van Gorder

He that is down need fear no fall, 
He that is low, no pride;
He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his Guide. -Bunyan

THE SMALLER WE BECOME,
THE MORE ROOM GOD HAS TO WORK,
READ: Philippians 2:1-8
Let nothing be done
through selfish
ambition or conceit. - Philippians 2:3

STORYLINE SOURCE: DAILY MANNA DEVOTION (2004).