PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Feb 15, 2019 11:05:28 GMT -5
Some of the words I think which would be beneficial to look into, are the words emulations and revellings which is in the list of the works of the flesh. And to look into these words in a more in depth way. And I like the word that the KJV bible uses, which is emulations ( plural), but the word the N.I.V. and the E.S.V. uses is the word jealousy but in singular form rather than in plural form. I believe that the word emulations (plural), has much more broader meanings that one might think, and we have to remember that it is in plural form. I’m quoting this to bring the thread back around to it. First here are some examples I’ve seen of people vomiting Scripture in real life... People read the description of love in 1 Corinthians 13, and they think they can reverse-engineer it. They think if they try very hard to be patient, kind, modest, etc based on human effort, they can arrive at agape love and thus be a good Christian. That chapter is a description of love, not a recipe to manufacture it. You all know I believe in proof of good fruit in our Christian walk. But that doesn’t mean we should try to manufacture good works in an unregenerated human mind. We have to reckon ourselves as dead — all of ourselves, even the supposedly good fleshly notions — so that we can be transformed in the mind of Christ. Only then is supernatural love really possible. People take Bible verses that are critical of things they don’t personally like (someone has more money than them, a woman wears too much makeup, etc) and they use Scripture as ammunition to shoot at people. Instead of the Bible coming out of them as sweet exhortation, it comes out as a bitter assault. They don’t feed you with the word, they use it to make themselves morally superior. People read where the Bible says a child should honor their parents. Parents are suddenly off the hook to not try to earn their approval or make their lives easier. No financial discipline, no long-term planning, no respect for boundaries in a marriage, no career support, no concern for the child’s mental health — just an assumption of being entitled to money, time, energy, and transport with no sense of gratitude, because the Bible says parents must be honored. ... And now to look further into emulations.
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PG4Him
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Feb 15, 2019 11:56:53 GMT -5
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Post by PG4Him on Feb 15, 2019 11:56:53 GMT -5
Now of course we all have areas to work on, and one area that I have noticed that things can get rejected in, is in the area were someone may have a strong hold in their lives, and not even know it, and say one of the works of the flesh is presented to him, there are some because they like the certain thing that they do, because it is considered the norm, and sometimes in even what we call Christian circles, that because Christian circles will consider it the norm, they reject that truth of what the word says. When truth is presented we really have to lay completely aside our feelings, and it may be hard to swallow at first, but God's goal is for us to accept this or that truth, even if at first it hurts our ego, pride, or whatever you want to call it. And I know I want to die daily, that I may truly gain Christ. It took me a minute to understand where Giller was going with the emulations thing. I had to circle back to this. Emulations in Galatians 5 is about rivalries/competitions that are not healthy. It’s one thing to have a little fun competition in a basketball game; it’s another to compete over who’s a better ministry leader. It’s good to want to emulate the behavior of Jesus; it’s not good to copy-cat famous preachers in the hope of being famous also. There are MANY sinful behaviors which have been normalized in church. Many, many, many things the Bible lists as ungodly are business as usual in Christian fellowship. Behold this from Romans: Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. — Romans 1:29-32 Do we realize that being unreliable, unappeasable, spiteful, malicious, and argumentative are actually worthy of death? Do we warn people of the danger of God’s wrath when they exhibit half of these qualities? Are these cute little personality flaws in people, or are they really hurtful? How many of us are willing to confront toxic attitudes in ourselves?
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Feb 15, 2019 12:19:16 GMT -5
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Post by Giller on Feb 15, 2019 12:19:16 GMT -5
Candance: How many of us are willing to confront toxic attitudes in ourselves?
Ya that is a good one to mention as well, amen!!!
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Feb 15, 2019 12:24:23 GMT -5
Post by Giller on Feb 15, 2019 12:24:23 GMT -5
Let us keep on searching things through, comparing it with the bible, and comparing the fruit of the Spirit with the works of the flesh.
Things sometimes have a few meanings.
And rivalry and competition sure is in the mix of emulations.
God bless.
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PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Feb 15, 2019 12:32:58 GMT -5
Candance: How many of us are willing to confront toxic attitudes in ourselves? Ya that is a good one to mention as well, amen!!! Well I think this ties into your question about emulations. We tend to categorize bad sins and harmless sins. Some things we call wicked, other things are ‘personality quirks’ we should overlook, when the Bible makes no such distinction. Thus we have Christians (and even ministry leaders) who say they’ve crucified their flesh while they continue to exhibit fleshly habits. If the Bible says something is a work of the flesh, we better examine ourselves to get rid of it. I don’t pretend to be perfect. I’m preaching to myself also. But this Christian walk is serious business. I’ve never heard a sermon on emulations. I’ve never been convicted to examine myself in that way. Why shouldn’t we have a discussion about it??
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Feb 15, 2019 12:33:44 GMT -5
Post by John on Feb 15, 2019 12:33:44 GMT -5
Candance: How many of us are willing to confront toxic attitudes in ourselves? Ya that is a good one to mention as well, amen!!! Was a prideful attempt to out do and show others up in how you go about things what you had in mind with regard to emulations or did you have something else in mind?
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PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Feb 15, 2019 12:35:25 GMT -5
Let’s keep in mind that ‘emulation’ was used in a good way in Romans 11.
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Post by Giller on Feb 15, 2019 12:44:49 GMT -5
And just so people know were I am coming from, I am all for having fun, or enjoying things, and I will quote scripture because I like to back up what I say.
1Ti 6:17 (17) Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
And I am all for physical exercise:
1Ti 4:8 (8) For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Which the bible says that it does profit us, which here is says a little.
But we have to be careful how we partake of things, in what spirit.
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Post by John on Feb 15, 2019 12:47:56 GMT -5
Let’s keep in mind that ‘emulation’ was used in a good way in Romans 11. If you see someone doing things in a wrong manner, why shouldn't you learn from their mistakes, fix those problems in what you are doing, and strive for excellence? I think the sin comes in when our motive is based on pride and a desire to make the other person look bad. Just doing things the right way only makes us as unprofitable servants, just doing our duty. Still, that is better than doing things wrong.
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Feb 15, 2019 12:51:36 GMT -5
Post by John on Feb 15, 2019 12:51:36 GMT -5
And just so people know were I am coming from, I am all for having fun, or enjoying things, and I will quote scripture because I like to back up what I say. 1Ti 6:17 (17) Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; And I am all for physical exercise: 1Ti 4:8 (8) For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. Which the bible says that it does profit us, which here is says a little. But we have to be careful how we partake of things, in what spirit. Do you think this ties in with emulations?
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Post by Giller on Feb 15, 2019 12:56:08 GMT -5
Let’s keep in mind that ‘emulation’ was used in a good way in Romans 11. Ya it sure was, but this type of emulation, as you said is a good type of emulation, it is not based on impersonating someone, but rather Paul was seeking to provoke his own flesh, to follow after his example and of course to provoke them to want to get saved by his good example. He wanted them to follow his example in a real way, he wanted to be a testimony to them in a real way. There is a type of emulation to were you do not necessarily become the person himself, but you seek to be a likened example in some way, but becoming it in a real way.
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Post by Giller on Feb 15, 2019 12:58:05 GMT -5
And just so people know were I am coming from, I am all for having fun, or enjoying things, and I will quote scripture because I like to back up what I say. 1Ti 6:17 (17) Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; And I am all for physical exercise: 1Ti 4:8 (8) For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. Which the bible says that it does profit us, which here is says a little. But we have to be careful how we partake of things, in what spirit. Do you think this ties in with emulations?
I think emulations can be exhibited in every aspect of life, and not just one aspect.
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PG4Him
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Post by PG4Him on Feb 15, 2019 13:02:24 GMT -5
Good/healthy emulation is to follow someone’s example of how do things right as we focus on our own calling in our own time. There’s nothing with borrowing good advice.
Bad/unhealthy emulation is to get sucked into imitation or one-upmanship. It’s when we stop measuring ourselves by God’s standard and start using other people to measure our own worth. To me, this is the root of it. Striving to beat a standard we were not called to live up to.
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Post by Giller on Feb 15, 2019 13:04:52 GMT -5
It can be exhibited in the church, it can be exhibited in sports, it can be exhibited in fellowship, and so forth.
It goes along with the attitude of pride.
Satan was the first one to exhibit this attitude, in trying to compete with God for the godhead, or trying to impersonate God, by seeking to be as God.
So he received God's judgment, and went from being Lucifer, to becoming Satan (adversary).
This spirit of emulations seems to be infecting every area of life, even in a big way in the church, or what is called the church.
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Post by Giller on Feb 15, 2019 13:10:03 GMT -5
God says that whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Is competition, or rivalry of faith? No, does it resemble love? No, and we are never told to put on this spirit in the bible.
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