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Post by Jesus Christ teachings on Aug 31, 2019 14:54:26 GMT -5
Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
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Post by John on Aug 31, 2019 15:09:12 GMT -5
This is something we should all consider. What is in your life that you would hold onto that you hold more dear to you than your soul? There are many that claim to be holiness believers, and will even accuse others of not being holy enough for them to cover for their own sinfulness. Let me explain how this works.
Lets suppose I am in a church and they are preaching that it is a sin to have a television. I have one, and am feeling convicted. I don't want to give up my television, but I don't want to leave because I can't take the heat. What I do is look for fault in the minister or the congregation. I find something that I can claim is an area of compromise or a disagreement, and I use that as an excuse to leave. Then I can keep watching my television without the conviction and look like I am the one standing. This is purely a hypothetical situation. It could be anything. It could be that the leadership doesn't like my long hair lol, the music I listen to, the clothes I wear, the expensive car I drive, my being overweight, anything, but I turn it around on them and accuse them of being too carnal or liberal, and say I must separate from them. That is not something I intended to add to this post, but for some reason, felt like I needed to say.
The main question I want to ask you is are there things in your life that you would give in exchange for your soul? Are there things you don't want to die to, so rather than crucify the flesh, you walk in denial? If we save our life, we will lose it. If we lose our life, we will find it. If we could have the whole world, would it be worth holding onto if we lose our soul? Of course, not, but look at the things we hold onto we think is more valuable than our soul.
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Post by 2fw8212a on Aug 31, 2019 15:41:04 GMT -5
...Are there things you don't want to die to, so rather than crucify the flesh, you walk in denial?...
The Lord did not call me to waste my time watching (sinful content on) TV or simply wasting my time on it.
There are many things we used to waste our time on when we were lost and those things wasted our time and resources.
“What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.” - Romans 6:21
“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors — not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.” - Romans 8:12
Now things have changed, I must do what the Lord wants me to do. And I want to do it.
“for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” - Philippians 2:13
“In this the love of God was manifested toward us,
that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” - 1 John 4:9
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Post by John on Aug 31, 2019 15:51:20 GMT -5
...Are there things you don't want to die to, so rather than crucify the flesh, you walk in denial?...
The Lord did not call me to waste my time watching (sinful content on) TV or simply wasting my time on it. There are many things we used to waste our time on when we were lost and those things wasted our time and resources. “What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.” - Romans 6:21
“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors — not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.” - Romans 8:12 Now things have changed, I must do what the Lord wants me to do. And I want to do it. “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” - Philippians 2:13 “In this the love of God was manifested toward us,
that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” - 1 John 4:9
That was just a hypothetical thing someone might feel convicted over. It could be anything. Different people tend to get under conviction over different things, and hold on to different things.
I was once in a church where the Pastor decided to join the seeker friendly movement. I didn't know that was what it was. It was new at the time, but he started promoting compromise and abandoned holiness completely. I left the church for that reason and was accused of leaving because I had personal compromise in my life. The thing I was accused of holding onto was something this man had preached on as long as I was in that church, and I never left because of it. I wouldn't have then. I wanted the minister to preach against sin and compromise, even if I had my toes stepped on, but that is how this game is played. A person can't admit they are in compromise, so they have to make themselves look like they are the one standing, or in that case, moving with the cloud. We just need to recognize when this is happening so we don't fall victim to the self-deception.
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Post by 2fw8212a on Aug 31, 2019 15:51:47 GMT -5
...Are there things you don't want to die to, so rather than crucify the flesh, you walk in denial?...
The Lord did not call me to waste my time watching (sinful content on) TV or simply wasting my time on it. There are many things we used to waste our time on when we were lost and those things wasted our time and resources. “What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.” - Romans 6:21
“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors — not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.” - Romans 8:12 Now things have changed, I must do what the Lord wants me to do. And I want to do it. “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” - Philippians 2:13 “In this the love of God was manifested toward us,
that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” - 1 John 4:9
I used to find happiness in those kind of things and entertainment. And games today, for example, are addicting with eye-catching visuals.
“...Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again...” - John 4:13
But I do not need them anymore, the entertainment and joy those things could give me is nowhere near from what I receive from the Lord.
“but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst...” - John 4:14
Blessings!
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Post by 2fw8212a on Aug 31, 2019 15:56:38 GMT -5
Different people tend to get under conviction over different things, and hold on to different things... They need to be set free.
“...All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” - 1 Corinthians 6:12
“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” - John 8:36
“to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God...” - Acts 26:18
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Cletus
Senior Member
Posts: 2,517
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Post by Cletus on Sept 1, 2019 15:16:51 GMT -5
Different people tend to get under conviction over different things, and hold on to different things... They need to be set free.
“...All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” - 1 Corinthians 6:12
“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” - John 8:36
“to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God...” - Acts 26:18
I have observed God may tell "person A" they need to give a particular something up, while He does not tell "person B" to give the same thing up. Why does God do this?... maybe it has to do with the individual heart of each person... i do not know and i do not desire to ask Him why he does anything. He does as he wills and it is not my place to question God doing what He does, i have to do as i am told and I do not need to be concerned about someone else's relationship with God.
We all need to be set free. We all have things we are called to lay down. And some of these may not be blatant outright sin. It may just be God wants to be first is all.
My prayer is that nothing becomes more important to me than God... keep me on my knees and keep me humble, whatever it takes... and you know I am stubborn LORD, but nothing compares to your worth or knowing you. And thank God for being so patient... He knows we need it and some of us more than others.
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Post by 2fw8212a on Sept 1, 2019 16:54:07 GMT -5
I have observed God may tell "person A" they need to give a particular something up, while He does not tell "person B" to give the same thing up.
Why does God do this?... maybe it has to do with the individual heart of each person... i do not know and i do not desire to ask Him why he does anything.... “Therefore, having been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ...” - Romans 5:1“For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.
Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.” - Romans 14:7-8“...to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” - James 4:17“...For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required;
and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” - Luke 12:48“One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike.
Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.” - Romans 14:5“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” - Romans 14:12
Conclusion:
“Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this,
not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” - Romans 14:13
“Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble,
I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.” - 1 Corinthians 8:13
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