Tag: man
FRUIT OF ASSOCIATION
EPHESIANS 4:22-24 – THAT YE PUT OFF CONCERNING THE FORMER CONVERSATION THE OLD MAN, WHICH IS CORRUPT ACCORDING TO THE DECEITFUL LUSTS;
AND BE RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND;
AND THAT YE PUT ON THE NEW MAN, WHICH AFTER GOD IS CREATED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUE HOLINESS.
OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD BRINGS CHANGE IN OUR LIVES, GOOD CHANGES , THAT BRINGS GREAT JOY AND PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.
JESUS BEGAN’S TO AFFECT OUR CONDUCT AND CHARACTER, AS WE READ THE WORD OF GOD AND DEVELOPE IN OUR PRAYER LIFE; WHICH INVOLVE’S WORSHIP.
OUR DESIRE’S BEGIN TO CHANGE OUR CONDUCT BEGAN’S TO CHANGE.
THIS RELATIONSHIP BEGAN’S TO GOVERN OUR CONDUCT, AND CONDUCT REVEAL’S CHARACTER.
CONDUCT IS WHAT WE DO, CHARACTER IS WHAT WE ARE.
CONDUCT IS THE OUTWARD LIFE. CHARACTER IS THE UNSEEN LIFE, HIDDEN WITHIN; YET EVIDENCED BY THAT WHICH IS SEEN.
CONDUCT IS EXTERNAL, SEEN FROM WITHOUT.
CHARACTER IS INTERNAL, OPERATING WITHIN.
GRACE IS WORKING IN OUR LIVES PRODUCING CHARACTER AND GODLY CONDUCT.
CHARACTER IS THE ROOT AND CONDUCT IS THE FRUIT.
GALATIANS 5:22,23 – BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH.
MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE: AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW .
AND THEY THAT ARE CHRIST’S HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH THE AFFECTIONS AND LUST’S.
PHILIPPIANS 2:13 – FOR IT IS GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU BOTH TO WILL AND TO DO OF HIS GOOD PLEASURE.
HELP MY UNBELIEF
MARK 9:23 – JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, IF THOU CANST BELIEVE, ALL THINGS ARE POSSSIBLE TO HIM THAT BELIEVETH.
LIMITED FAITH IS MOTIVATED BY FEAR AND UNBELIEF.
LIMITED FAITH RESTRICTS THE POWER OF GOD.
LIMITED FAITH IS CONTROLLED BY CIRCUMSTANCES.
LIMITED FAITH DOESN’T RESIST OR FIGHT FOR THE PROMISES OF GOD, IT JUST LAYS DOWN AND DIES.
FAITH IS PRODUCED BY GOD’S WORD AND IS UNLIMITED, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO THOSE WHO BELIEVE. ANYTHING THAT IS GOD’S WILL FOR US BELONGS TO US.
FAITH RELEASES THE ANIONTING AND ALSO FAITH RELEASES ANGELS.
THE FATHER OF THE DEMON POSSESSED CHILD SAID, LORD I BELIEVE YOU CAN DELIVER MY CHILD, BUT HELP MY UNBELIEF.
WE ALL HAVE UNBELIEF, BUT JESUS CAN HELP US OVERCOME OUR UNBELIEF.
IF WE GET FULL, AND STAY FULL OF THE LORD, UNBELIEF WILL DISAPPEAR AND FAITH WILL APPEAR.
IN THE BOOK OF ACTS WE READ OF A MAN CALLED STEPHEN, WHO WAS FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST AND FAITH. THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR UNBELIEF IN THIS MAN’S LIFE.
HE PREACHED WITH SUCH POWER, HIS SERMON’S WERE FULL OF THE WORD OF GOD. WE CAN UNDERSTAND HOW HE GOT FULL OF FAITH AND POWER, HE WAS FULL OF THE WORD OF GOD.
THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER FILLS OUR LIFE WITH FAITH AND POWER, A FIRE BURNS IN OUR HEARTS, A PASSION FOR MORE OF THE LORD. SO STRONG THAT THERE IS NO ROOM FOR UNBELIEF OR LIMITED FAITH. THE FIRE OF FAITH AND POWER THAT CREATES AN ATMOSPHERE FOR GREAT WONDERS AND MIRACLES.
WE CAN BE BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY GHOST AND POWER, THAT GIVES US A PASSION FOR PRAYER, WORD, AND WORSHIP.
DON’T LIMIT HOW MUCH OF GOD IS IN YOUR LIFE, LET’S BE LIKE STEPHEN: FULL OF FAITH AND POWER. WE MEASURE OUT HOW MUCH ANOINTING WE HAVE IN OUR LIFE.
GOD MAKES HIS PRESENCE AND POWER AND FAITH AVAILABE TO US, WE MEASURE OUT HOW MUCH WE WANT: WE CHOOSE.
I DESIRE HOLY GHOST FIRE TO SET THE CAPTIVE FREE, AND TO STAY FREE MYSELF: FULL OF FAITH AND POWER.
THE PREACHER THAT QUIT
I KINGS 19:1-4
AND AHAB TOLD JEZEBEL ALL THAT ELIJAH HAD DONE, AND WITHAL HOW HE HAD SLAIN ALL THE PROPHETS WITH THE SWORD.
THEN JEZEBEL SENT A MESSENGER UNTO ELIJAH SAYING. SO LET THE gODS DO TO ME, AND MORE ALSO, IF I MAKE NOT THY LIFE AS THE LIFE OF ONE OF THEM BY TOMORROW ABOUT THIS TIME.
AND WHEN HE SAW THAT, HE AROSE, AND WENT FOR HIS LIFE, AND CAME TO BEER-SHEBA TO JUDAH, AND LEFT HIS SERVANT THERE.
BUT HE HIMSELF WENT A DAY’S JOURNEY INTO THE WILDERNESS, AND CAME AND SAT DOWN UNDER A JUNIPER TREE: AND HE REQUESTED FOR HIMSELF THAT HE MIGHT DIE; AND SAID IT IS ENOUGH; NOW, O LORD, TAKE AWAY MY LIFE; FOR I AM NO BETTER THAN MY FATHERS.
ELIJAH THE PROPHET WHO HAD CHALLENGED THE PROPHETS OF BAAL, CALLED FIRE DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN, KILLED THE PROPHETS OF BAAL, PRAYED DOWN RAIN OUT OF HEAVEN. WHAT A VICTORY.
JEZEBEL THREATENS HIS LIFE, FEAR GRIPES THE MIND OF ELIJAH. ELIJAH HAD BEEN SO BOLD WITH GREAT FAITH, BUT KNOW HE HAS FORGOTTEN THE POWERFUL RELEASE OF GODS POWER INTO HIS LIFE.
THIS SPIRIT OF JEZEBEL BROUGHT FEAR, DISCOURAGEMENT AND CONFUSION UPON HIS MIND. ELIJAH LOST HIS VISION, HIS PURPOSE WAS FORGOTTEN. HE RAN FROM GOD, HE RAN FROM MINISTRY, HE RAN FROM JEZEBEL. HIS PURPOSE AS GODS MAN DIDN’T MATTER ANYMORE.
HE WAS FEARFUL, DEPRESSED, DISCOURAGED, DISILLUSIONED, FULL OF SELF PITY. HE LEFT HIS SERVANT BEHIND AND TOOK OFF.
THROUGH THIS EXAMPLE OF THE ATTACK ON ELIJAH’S MIND, I UNDERSTAND THE WAY SATAN ATTACKS AFTER GREAT SPIRITUAL VICTORIES.
DISCOURAGEMENT IS ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE DEMONS IN THESE LAST DAYS. FEAR IS ITS SISTER.
I HUMBLY TELL YOU, I HAVE FELL UNDER THIS ATTACK MANY TIMES, AFTER GREAT VICTORIES COME ATTACKS. DRY SPELLS AND ATTACKS AGAINEST THE MIND.
I HAVE LEARNED TO REST, AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN I MINISTER TO OTHERS AND GIVE OUT THE ANOINTING ON MY LIFE, THAT I MUST PULL AWAY FROM MINISTRY AND BUILD UP MY INNER MAN THROUGH PRAYER, WORSHIP AND THE WORD OF GOD. READ A CHRISTIAN BOOK, LISTEN TO TAPES OR CD’S ON FAITH. SERVE THE MASTER AS A GOOD SERVANT IN HIS PRESENCE. THE WAR WE ARE IN IS A SPIRITUAL WAR AND MUST BE FOUGHT WITH THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH. I AM CONVINCED ELIJAH FELT COLD SPIRITUALLY, HE FELT LIKE GOD HAD DESERTED HIM. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE ANOINTING THAT WAS ON ELIJAH WHEN HE CALLED THE FIRE OF GOD DOWN ON THE SACRIFICE. HOW HE FELT WHEN HE PRAYED DOWN RAIN. NOW ELIJAH FEELS NOTHING. DEMONS ATTACK HIS MIND, HE FEELS DESERTED BY GOD, HE THINKS HE’S THE ONLY ONE SERVING GOD. DESERTED BY GOD HE TURNS TAIL AND RUNS, HE QUITS. HE HAD NO FAITH OPERATING, I HAVE BEEN THERE, CRYING OUT ACCUSING GOD OF NOT CARING. WE LEARN BY OUR MISTAKES. WE MUST KEEP THE FAITH AND CLAIM VICTORY REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE SEE OR HEAR.
ELIJAH COULD SEE THE PROPHETS OF BAAL BUT COULDN’T SEE THE DEMON’S ATACKING HIS FAITH.
AFTER GREAT SPRITUAL VICTORIES WE NEED TO REST OUR MIND AND BODIES, YOUR SPIRIT CAN BE STRONG AND YOUR BODY TIRED, THIS WILL MAKE YOU WEARY IN WELL DOING.
JESUS PULLED AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE TO PRAY AND SEEK THE FATHER, HE RESTED AT TIMES IN THE PRESENCE OF THE FATHER. HE WAS IN A HUMAN BODY HE COULD GROW TIRED.
MARK 6:31
AND HE SAIN UNTO THEM, COME YE YOURSELVES APART INTO A DESERT PLACE, AND REST A WHILE FOR THERE WERE MANY COMING AND GOING, AND THEY HAD NO LEISURE SO MUCH AS TO EAT.
ELIJAH HEARD THE STILL SMALL VOICE OF GOD ON A SECLUDED MOUNTAIN.
ELIJAH’S MINISTRY IS NOT OVER YET. HE AND MOSES CAME DOWN ON A MOUNTAIN IN ISRAEL AND TALKED TO JESUS ABOUT HIS SUFFERING IN JERUSALEM. ELIJAH WILL BE ONE OF THE PROPHETS THAT WILL PREACH ON THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM IN THE 1ST PART OF THE TRIBULATION PERIOD. FOR THREE AND ONE HALF YEARS HE WILL PREACH THAT JESUS IS THE JEWISH MESSIAH WHO CAME AND WAS CRUCIFIED FOR THEIR SIN. HE WILL PREACH JESUS CRUCIFIED AND RESURRECTED. AND THAT HE IS COMING AGAIN TO SET UP HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH. HE WILL DO MIRACLES AND CALL DOWN FIRE OUT OF HEAVEN. 144,000 JEWS WILL BE SAVED AND PREACH THE GOSPEL. ELIJAH WILL BE THE FORERUNNER OF THE RETURN OF KING JESUS TO JERUSALEM. THE MINISTRY OF ELIJAH WILL BE SEEN AROUND THE WORLD BY TELEVISION AND INTERNET, PREACHING THE GOSPEL.
DOESN’T SOUND LIKE THIS PREACHER STAYED QUIT. NO ELIJAH IS STILL IN THE MINISTRY WAITING FOR HIS PULPIT AGAIN, TO PROPHESY TO KINGS AND PREIST AND TO ALL THE LOST THE KING IS COMING, KING JESUS.
CAN I TELL YOU THAT YOUR MINISTRY IS NOT OVER EITHER, YOU ARE JUST GETTING STARTED. GOD IS NOT THROUGH WITH YOU. THE GIFTS AND CALLING OF GOD IS WITHOUT REPENTANCE. STIR UP THAT POWER THAT IS INSIDE OF YOU, LET THE ANOINTING OF GOD REFRESH YOU AND GIVE YOU NEW VISION.
WHO IS THIS KING? WHERE IS HIS KINGDOM?
JOHN18:36-37 JESUS ANSWERED, MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD, IF MY KINGDOM WERE OF THIS WORLD, THEN WOULD MY SERVANTS FIGHT, THAT I WOULD NOT BE DELIVERED TO THE JEWS: BUT NOW IS MY KINGDOM FROM HENCE.
PILATE THEREFORE SAID UNTO HIM, ART THOU A KING THEN? JESUS ANSWERED , THOU SAYEST THAT I AM A KING. TO THIS END WAS I BORN, AND FOR THIS CAUSE I CAME INTO THE WORLD, THAT I SHOULD BEAR WITNESS UNTO THE TRUTH. EVERY ONE THAT IS OF THE TRUTH HEARETH MY VOICE.
JESUS CAME WITH A MISSION, HE CAME TO REDEEM AND TO RESTORE.
HE CAME TO RECLAIM DOMINION LOST BY THE FIRST MAN ADAM.
GOD BECAME FLESH AND LIMITED HIMSELF ON LEGAL TERMS, NOT VIOLATING HIS OWN AUTHORITY, BUT LIMITED HIMSELF TO THE ANOINTING AND THE POWER OF A SINLESS LIFE.
HE PREACHED THE TRUTH, BUT HE WAS AND IS TRUTH.
JESUS RESTORED THE KINGDOM RULE OF GOD ON THIS EARTH IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM.
HE RULES THROUGH A BODY OF BELIEVERS IN ALL NATIONS.
JESUS’ FIRST PHASE OF KINGDOM RULE IS THRU BELIEVERS BY THE POWER OF HIS WORD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
WE ARE LED BY HIS SPIRIT THROUGH THE LIVING WORD OF GOD, WE TRUST AND OBEY AND WE RELEASE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AS WE PREACH, TEACH, WITNESS AND PRAY THE GOSPEL INTO THE LIVES OF OTHERS.
SATAN’S KINGDOM IS COMING DOWN, BY THE POWER OF THE KING, JESUS, AND HIS KINGDOM.
THE CHURCH IS PROCLAIMING THE KINGDOM IN THIS WORLD, THE POWER OF SATAN IS BEING BROKEN AND DESTROYED BY THE ANOINTING OF GOD.
THE DEVIL’S DOMINION IS BROKEN OVER THE LIVES OF PEOPLE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
PROFF OF THIS FACT, I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, FORGIVEN, AND EMPOWERED THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS PRESENT NOW AND YET TO COME.
JESUS IS NOT ONLY THE KING OF THE JEWS, OF WHOM WE HAVE GREAT LOVE, BUT HE IS THE KING OF PEOPLE OF ALL NATIONS WHO KNOW HIM IN THEIR HEART.
SATANS POWER IS BEING BROKEN THROUGH THE POWER OF KINGDOM SAINTS WHO PRAY FOR NATIONS, CITIES AND LANDS. WHO BOLDLY WITNESS FOR JESUS.
SATAN WANTS TO BLIND THE SPIRITUAL EYES OF SAINTS AND MAKE THEM BELIEVE THEY HAVE NO DELEGATED AUTHORITY, BUT THIS IS NOT TRUE. WE HAVE AUTHORITY DELEGATED TO US BY OUR KING JESUS.
JESUS RESTORED HIS KINGDOM ON EARTH AND IS COMING TO RULE AND REIGN A THOUSAND YEARS ON THIS EARTH AND THEN GOD WILL RULE FOR ETERNITY. WE WILL RULE ALSO UNDER HIS KINGDOM AUTHORITY.
THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
WE ARE NEAR THE RETURN OF THE LORD TO CATCH HIS BRIDE AWAY, WORK TILL HE COME.
SECOND PHASE IS ON THE WAY.
BY WHOSE STRIPES YE WERE HEALED
1ST PETER 2:24 WHO HIS OWN SELF BARE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY ON THE TREE, THAT WE , BEING DEAD TO SINS, SHOULD LIVE UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS: BY WHOSE STRIPES YE WERE HEALED.
WHAT A POWERFUL VERSE, JESUS BORE OUR SINS ON THE CROSS.
THE POWER OF THIS ACT ON THE CROSS GAVE US POWER OVER SIN.
WE WERE OFFERED FORGIVENESS OF OUR SIN,IF WE ACCEPTED BY FAITH, WE WERE GIVEN GRACE TO BE DEAD TO SINS. SIN WILL NO LONGER HAVE POWER OVER US.
THIS GRACE THROUGH RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LIVING CHRIST GIVES US STRENGTH TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION.
EVER MAN IS TEMPTED WHEN HE IS DRAWN AWAY WITH HIS OWN LUST.
THERE IS A CURE FOR THIS, AS OUR MIND IS RENEWED BY THE WORD OF GOD AND A CONTINUAL FILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
JESUS HUNG ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS.
HE DID THIS FOR US BUT WE MUST STUDY THE WORD OF GOD, PRAY, WORSHIP AND PRAISE WITH A THANKFUL HEART, THATS OUR PART OF THE BLESSING OF RELATIONSHIP.
WE THROUGH HIM CAN NOW LIVE A RIGHTEOUS LIFE.
YOU SEE, THE CROSS WAS ALL ABOUT US, JESUS CAME FOR US TO REDEEM US AND LIVE IN US.
BUT NOW ITS NOT ALL ABOUT US, BUT FOR ME ITS ALL ABOUT HIM.
HED PURSUED ME AND CAUGHT ME, NOW I AM PURSUING HIM EVERYDAY AND CATCHING HIM.
WHAT A BLESSING TO PURSUE GOD.
NOTICE THIS, THE WORD OF GOD CONNECTS SALVATION OF THE SOUL TO HEALING.
NOT ONLY DID JESUS DIE FOR OUR SINS, HE WAS WHIPPED AND BRUISED TO TAKE AWAY SICKNESS.
SURELY HE HATH BORNE OUR SICKNESS AND CARRIED OUR PAIN.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A THEOLOGIAN TO UNDERESTAND THIS CONNECTION.
JESUS IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER.
WHAT HE DID ON THE CROSS WAS NOT TEMPORARY, IT WAS A COMPLETE WORK.
SALVATION IS ALL INCLUSIVE , SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY.
JESUS FILLS OUR SPIRIT WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE FILL OUR MIND WITH THE WORD OF GOD, HE FILLS OUR BODY WITH HEALING.
I HAVE BEEN HEALED MANY TIMES, MY WIFE AND I HAVE SEEN SO MANY PEOPLE HEALED BY THE POWER OF GOD.
YOU CAN PREACH SALVATION AND NOT ONLY TO PEOPLE GET SAVED, MANY WILL GET HEALED.
YOU CAN PREACH HEALING AND NOT ONLY DO PEOPLE GET HEALED, BUT PEOPLE GET SAVED.
THE GOSPEL IS GOOD NEWS NOT ONLY TO THE UNSAVED BUT TO THE SAVED.
JESUS LOVES US WHY LEAVE HALF OF THE BENEFITS OF SALVATION ON THE TABLE.
TAKE ALL HIS BENEFITS, DROWN YOUR RELIGIOUS IDEAS THAT CAME FROM THE PITS OF HELL.
WHO GAVE MAN THE AUTHORITY TO DENY THE POWER OF GOD .
HEALING IS CONNECTED TO THE CROSS.
GLORY BE TO GOD, BE HEALED IN THE NAME OF JESUS. IF YOU WILL BELIEVE IT GOD WILL DO IT, ITS ALREADY PAID FOR.
RECEIVE IN JESUS’ NAME, BE HEALED. CLAIM IT AND ENJOY THE BLESSING.
WE SEE WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
MANY TIMES WE HAVE A MIND-SET ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO SEE WHEN WE LOOK. IF WE ARE THE TYPE OF PERSON WHO SEES EVIL IN EVERYTHING, WE WILL FIND IT; ON THE OTHER HAND, IF WE ARE LOOKING FOR GOOD, WE WILL FIND IT. OUR GAS TANK CAN BE HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY.
IF WE FEEL INSECURE AROUND PEOPLE, WHEN WE ARE WITH MORE THAN ONE, WE FEEL INTIMIDATED, THAT THEY ARE TOGETHER AGAINST US EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT. WE CAN SAY TO OURSELVES, “THEY ARE FRIENDS, BUT THEY DON’T LIKE ME,” OR WE COULD TELL OURSELVES, “I DON’T LIKE THEM, THEY ARE ALWAYS TOGETHER.
THESE FEELINGS USUSALLY COME FROM A BAD PAST EXPERIENCE, OR THEY COME FROM A COMPETITIVE NATURE YOU HAVE DEVELOPED BY WANTING TO BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.
THIS TYPE OF PERSON IS MISERABLE AND DOESN’T EVEN LIKE BEING AROUND THEMSELVES. THIS KIND OF THINKING USUALLY COMES FROM CHILDHOOD, WHERE WE WERE AT ONE POINT, THE CENTER OF ATTENTION; AND WHEN SOMEONE ELSE STEPPED INTO THE SPOTLIGHT, WE FELT LEFT OUT. I CALL THESE PEOPLE “CENTER-STAGE” PEOPLE. THEY ARE MISERABLE WITHIN AND WE DON’T LIKE BEING IN THEIR COMPANY, BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO “POUT”; OR IF THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO TARE DOWN THAT PERSON THEY FEEL COMPETITIVE WITH. OR MAYBE THEY WILL EVEN CAUSE A SCENE JUST TO GET YOUR ATTENTION.
SOMETIMES THAY WILL JUST AVOID YOU SO YOU WILL SEEK THEM OUT TO FIND OUT WHAT’S WRONG. THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR YOU OR THEM.
I HEARD A PASTOR SAY ON TV TODAY, THAT AFTER HE WAS BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, HE LOST THAT FEELING OF HAVING TO BE RECOGNIZED.
WHEN THIS TYPE OF ATTITUDE IS DEVELOPED IN US, IT IS HARD TO BREAK. MOST OF THE TIME, THE WAY YOU SEE IT, IS THE PROBLEM. THIS MUST HAVE BEEN OF CONCERN ALSO IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES.
PHILIPPIANS 2:4 – LOOK NOT EVERY MAN ON HIS OWN THINGS, BUT EVERY MAN ALSO ON THE THINGS OF OTHERS. THE WAY THE WORLD IS——“PUSH YOURSELF FORWARD. BE THE CENTER OF ATTENTION.” BUT THIS IS NOT WHAT JESUS TAUGHT, NOR LIVED. VERSES 5-8 – LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS: WHO BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD, THOUGHT IT NOT ROBBERY TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD: BUT MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION AND TOOK UPON HIM THE FORM OF A SERVANT, AND WAS MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN: AND BEING FOUND IN FASHION AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF…
PAUL POINTS OUT HERE THE CAUSES OF DIVISIONS WHICH EXISTS AMONG CHRISTIANS, ONE OF WHICH IS VAIN GLORY: PERSONAL VANITY; THE DESIRE TO BE NOTICED, AND THE HATRED OF OWNING-UP TO BEING WRONG. WE CALL THIS SELFISHNESS OR SELF-CENTEREDNESS. A SELF-CENTERED PERSON IS THE WORSE OF THE TWO. A SELFISH PERSON IS ONE WHO WANT EVERYTHING FOR HIMSELF: BUT A SELF-CENTERED PERSON THINKS OF NO ONE BUT HIMSELF; AND THINKS THE WORLD SHOULD REVOLVE AROUND HIM.
SELF-CENTEREDNESS MANIFESTS ITSELF IN THOUGHT, FEELINGS, AND ACTIONS.
ALL OF US ARE A LITTLE SELFISH BY NATURE. WE ARE THE ONE THAT LIVES IN OUR BODY. IT’S INTERESTING TO ME, THOUGH, THAT WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES IN, HE BEGINS TO REVEAL TO US ALL TRUTH ABOUT OURSELVES AND OUR MOTIVES: IN ALL WE SAY AND DO.
WHY NOT ALLOW SOMEONE ELSE TO BE RIGHT FOR A CHANGE?
WHY DO WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING?
IT’S BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO BE COUNTED WRONG. THERE IS A SAYING THAT BARES REPEATING: “I COULD BE WRONG, BUT I THINK I’M RIGHT.”
THIS WOULD STOP A LOT OF BICKERING BACK AND FORTH IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. WHO KNOWS? IN SOME THINGS THEY COULD BE RIGHT!
THE REASON WE HAVE SUCH A PROBLEM OF LOOKING ON THE THINGS OF OTHERS MORE THAN OUR OWN, IS BECAUSE WE WERE BORN WITH A SIN-NATURE. WE HAVE TO ALLOW GOD TO CHANGE US. WE NEED THE MIND OF CHRIST TO PUT-ON TRUE CHRISTIANITY. THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE THROUGH THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
IT’S EASY FOR US AS MORE MATURE CHRISTIANS TO DEVELOPE A DISLIKE AND DISTRUST FOR A CERTAIN PERSON; AND WHEN THEY COME INTO THE ROOM WHERE WE ARE, WE FREEZE-UP ON THEM, SOMETIMES WE JUST MOVE TO ANOTHER AREA BECAUSE WE JUST CAN’T STAND BEING AROUND THEM.
I FIND THIS MORE IN SPIRITUALLY SENSITIVE PEOPLE, WHO DISCERN DEMONIC OPERATION IN THAT PERSON.
THEY JUDGE THE PERSON, AND NEVER PRAY FOR THEM OR TRY TO FIND SOME GOOD IN THEM.
IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR US TO ASK GOD FOR WHAT IS IN OPERATION THERE AND GO OUR KNEES IN PRAYER AND BIND UP THAT SPIRIT INSTEAD OF GOING TO THE FIRST PERSON WHO WILL LISTEN TO WHAT WE HAVE FOUND OUT, —– OR THINK WE SUSPICIOUSLY KNOW ABOUT THEM.
WE SHOULD GO TO OUR KNEES AND BIND UP THAT SPIRIT SO THAT PERSON CAN BE FREE.
THEN, WE NEED TO CHECK OURSELVES WITH THE BOOK OF JAMES TO SEE IF THERE IS SOMETHING IN US WE NEED TO BE FREED FROM.
PAUL GAVE GREST ADVICE IN PHILLIPPIANS 2:2, WHERE HE SAYS, —-THEN MAKE ME TRUELY HAPPY BY LOVING EACH OTHER, WORKING TOGETHER, WITH ONE HEART, ONE MIND, ONE PURPOSE.