If You Think You Are Something

[Mr. M]

2 minutes ago, AdHoc said:

I did see and read your posting of a year ago. I would like to advance the theory (as I am not trained) that God will see to it that we are humbled. According to 1st Corinthians 10 Israel is a pattern for us. Here is Deuteronomy 8:1-5

1 All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. 2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. 3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. 4 Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. 5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.

I understand that a man has to be very brutal to actually humble himself voluntarily. Most of us love ourselves too much to go to the breaking point. I judge myself so. I have had some humbling experiences at the hand of the Lord and they have been effective without destroying me. On the other hand I am first to agree that a man who knows Christ must be able to take a retiring position without false humility. It is like asceticism. Keep the body in check without lashing it. If you need a lashing - it will come.

I accepted without grudging the need to abandon worldly style ambition. This relationship can be difficult for family who think you are falling short of your potential. I am fine with that, the only thing I found irksome was when someone would say "you are wasting your GOD GIVEN ability. Something they know not of, and you want to tell them this, but that involves sharing a testimony as to why you made the decision. This is not something they are ready to hear, for they have already justified their opinion.

This is hugely important. We were talking this week about preparing soil to receive. This is a key word: RECEIVE/lambano. The scriptures using this word are numerous and rich, and serve a wealth of wisdom that a mature believer must be versed in. You must accept any humiliation attached to obeying and walking in the Lord's Way. I would even be so bold to say that if an anticipation arises of humiliating circumstances, we must see the Lord's instructions. 

Why do I say this? The scriptures are clear, the enemy works through pride, and would never try to humiliate us. Pride IS the enemy we must address. An election to be a servant is the path for this very reason. To exhort one another in encouragement is of highest value in fellowship, as came up today in a discussion with @AnOrangeCat.

We share in an understanding that we bear a worldly burden that we can share, and a spiritual burden we must carry. Galatians 6:1-5.

[AdHoc]

4 minutes ago, Mr. M said:

Why do I say this? The scriptures are clear, the enemy works through pride, and would never try to humiliate us. Pride IS the enemy we must address. An election to be a servant is the path for this very reason. To exhort one another in encouragement is of highest value in fellowship, as came up today in a discussion with @AnOrangeCat.

Aaiiieee ... ! Words of wisdom.

[Mr. M]

11 minutes ago, AdHoc said:

Aaiiieee ... !

Hey! You startled me! 

Don't ever do that again.

[enoob57]

God has laid it out concisely:
everything will be burnt up and forgotten...  fulfilling the literal of this verse

Matthew 18:3 (KJV)

[3] And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

[4] Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

God will do what He say He will do... 

1 John 2:15 (KJV)

[15] 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.

[16] 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.

[17] And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

As a little child God explained it best to me

Revelation 20:11 (KJV)

[11] And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

[missmuffet]

Self centered is egotism. I learned that lesson. Being self centered does not please God. Being self centered is a sin. To deny oneself is to let go of selfish desires and focus on God. Humans are not in charge and control. God is.

[Sower]

23 hours ago, Mr. M said:

This is very important, and as Paul wrote, we must be able to admonish one other for edification and correction.

                       Admonish= Warn, urge, reprimand. For 'edification' = A 'building' up, construct/ive instruction, that builds a person up to be the suitable dwelling place of God, i.e. where the Lord is "at home." (indwelt-indweling)

On 12/22/2022 at 7:53 AM, Mr. M said:

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in

a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 

"you who are spiritual restore such a one"  (One mind-One accord) restore = "back to original standing, i.e. that existed before a fall"       There but by the Grace of God go I..          One mind, one accord..

 

14 hours ago, AdHoc said:

According to Ephesians 4:1-15 we need the Body to survive and grow. Any restriction in pure fellowship hinders.

                                "we need the Body-+- pure fellowship"

       "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. (physically, mentally, spiritually)
                    The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much"

                                            Humbling ourselves before the Lord
                                                  that He would lift us up.

  The local  body of Christ assembled, 'church' together ('Together' is a beautiful Word). Seeing Brothers and sisters, young and old, together in fellowship, a family, linked/bonded together in Christ Jesus our Lord, to the glory of God. There is a reason God told us not to forsake the coming together with other believers, as there is strength and blessings of growth standing together according to scripture.  As adults I believe ( know)  we gain much growth when we come together humbly and willing to be real, honest, and share our strengths and more importantly our weaknesses, confessing weakness/sin one to another, that God's healing mercy would cover our efforts.

It happens often in our men's bible study spontaneously when a day on a random scripture, one shares a weakness and then others caught up in the spirit confess having the same/similar problem, and then I realise many of our sins though hid, yet are common such as to fallen man. This did not cause me to 'feel' better that I'm not the only one but realise we are all in need of God's grace and mercy, and his strength and courage to make a stand, TOGETHER.

99.9% of my sin is planted like a land mine in my mind before it is manifested through action, conceived.  The battle for the mind with the great deceiver, the liar, the "defeated" lion. Soldiers at war fighting alone are prone to receive more wounds at the front lines engaged with the enemy than pew sitters already defeated, unawares.

            "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.
                      The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much"

This experience has an affect on how we might "Think we Are Something"

Thanks..

 

[other one]

[missmuffet]

24 minutes ago, other one said:

Sure, God loves us but make sure that we don't think we are too much of somebody. Stay humble.

[other one]

1 minute ago, missmuffet said:

Sure, God loves us but make sure that we don't think we are too much of somebody. Stay humble.

I'm 77 years old these days and have been his for about 50 of those.   He has a way of putting you in your place, if you are really his, whenever that happens.

[Cyoder]

I am very good at my job. It used to give me great pride. I now realize the only reason I have any skill at all is through the grace of God. He gave me those abilities. Without him, I am nothing. Instead of having pride, now I am just grateful.