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Post by Jesus Christ teachings on May 13, 2020 6:25:27 GMT -5
If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever shall save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Matthew 16:24-27
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Post by John on May 13, 2020 6:35:48 GMT -5
Herein is a question we need to ask ourselves, What shall we give in exchange for our soul? Our beliefs, fortunes, fame, family and friends, worldly amusements, a sinful lifestyle? What do we hold so dear that it is worth losing your inheritance in God's Kingdom and spending eternity in the lake of fire? Some men and women place little value on their soul, but they do not realize the serious consequences of losing it.
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Post by Apostle's Instructions on May 15, 2020 9:04:24 GMT -5
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. 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. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:15-17
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Post by Giller on May 15, 2020 9:24:27 GMT -5
I love God's word.
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Post by John on May 15, 2020 9:26:29 GMT -5
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. 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. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1 John 2:15-17 As I was traveling down the road today, I was thinking about this very topic. In how many ways are we guilty of loving the world and the things of the world, and what exactly does that mean? I do not think the problem is with loving God's beautiful creation. What sin is there in looking out over the mountains in awe at the handiwork of God, or over the vastness of the ocean? Is there sin in enjoying things like fishing or engaging in sports like bowling? Is all television sinful? I had someone come in here the other week trying to prove I was in sin, just because I happen to watch television. As a matter of fact, I have spent a lot of hours watching shows about "how to" do different things like preserve food, set up a solar generator system, things like that. It is really a matter of your programming choices, more than television itself. How about your home that God blessed you with and your family? The problems do not come in simply because we love life and God's creation, but they come in when we make idols of things in the world.
We are told in scripture to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto us. We are not to seek the things. There is also the matter of becoming so consumed with the things in this world, we prefer them over the things of God. Let me give you a few examples, and I will point the finger back at myself for times I was carnal.
One thing I enjoy is watching baseball, and have since I was a child, and I have been an Atlanta Braves fan since the 80s. I will often watch or listen to 80 plus games a season, and have been to Atlanta to watch the Braves live. Is there any sin in that? I do not think so, but it can lead to becoming carnal, and idolizing a sport or a team. You can really get obsessed with your favorite team, and many do. I am not alone in this. I came to love the guys that called the games, especially Skip Carey, and I mourned when he died. I had been listening to him call a game the week he passed away. I remember telling someone that I could picture him looking down from heaven calling the game for Braves fans up there. Of course, that is absolutely carnal thinking. The last thing on the mind of those in heaven is who is winning a game on earth, but how many reading this can relate, based on things they idolize? Sometimes, it can be something we think of as spiritual, when really, it is just as carnal.
I have always loved music, and one thing I came to love after getting saved was southern gospel. I went to the shows and became consumed with the singers and buying their music. I will never forget a song I used to hear about "a gospel singing, one day on heaven's lawn." It was all about this huge gospel singing that will feature all the gospel greats of the day, like the Florida Boys, The Rex Nelon Singers, The Cathedral Quartet, Gold City Quartet, and so on. Is that really spiritual thinking? Is it really that much different than how the Righteous Brothers once sang a song about a huge "Rock N Roll Heaven," where all the great bands would one day have a huge concert? The only difference is that in one case, at least the artists sang about Godly things, while the others promoted sin, but the thought process here was about these great ones we idolized because we loved their voices, their songs, whatever. It is carnal, and we can fool ourselves into thinking that we are being spiritual, when in reality, we are rationalizing a way to continue idolizing people.
There are many other ways we do this. I have known of people so caught up in soap operas, they would pitch a fit if they could not get home to see every single episode. I used to get upset when I had to miss an episode of "The X Files," when it was first run. I would bet that there are people right now that are professing Christians, that would desire Jesus not return until after the Super Bowl was played, if their favorite team was involved, so they could win the championship first. Do we put that fishing trip ahead of God, by being unwilling to change our plans, even if souls are at stake? What we have to look at here is whether or not we love worldly things so much, we place them ahead of our relationship with the Lord? If we do, we need to reflect upon it, and repent. I think if we look deep inside, we would be surprised at what we might find that has been set up as an idol in our heart. The issue is not the sinfulness of the thing or activity, so much as the sin of placing things of the world above God.
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Post by Apostle's Instructions on May 15, 2020 9:31:11 GMT -5
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8
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Post by John on May 15, 2020 9:34:43 GMT -5
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8 Thanks be to God for these wonderful words of life from the Apostle Paul. Time is short, and the last thing we need today is to be concerned with things in this life that will pass away. Souls are at stake, and God is looking to us to reach them. We need to be busy working for the Lord and doing whatever we can to make disciples. Let us all get our priorities straight. We are God's ambassadors in this world.
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Post by Giller on May 15, 2020 9:42:40 GMT -5
Well when we mix in, any of these next things into what we do, then it becomes sin, but a thing in and of itself, or in general is not sin.
Gal 5:19-21 (19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
And one thing mentioned in here is idolatry, or as you said John idolizing things.
And I think it is important to study out all of these words, and then we can get a better hold of what does not please God.
I find emulations is a huge word to get a hold of, and revelings is another important word, and of course they are all important to know.
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;
God has given us richly all things to enjoy, we can enjoy his creation and so on.
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.
And bodily exercise is surely not against God's word, for it profits.
And television, or computers are not wrong in and of themselves, it is what you watch that can be sinful or not, it is the content, and why you are doing so, that can make something sinful or not.
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Post by Giller on May 15, 2020 9:47:42 GMT -5
I think it is about seeking to let go of all of our pre conceived opinions, and whatever the word of God reveals, within verses like the works of the flesh vs the fruit of the Spirit and such like things, that we go by it, even if it disagrees with our opinion, or at least what we thought was this or that.
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Post by John on May 15, 2020 9:50:25 GMT -5
Well when we mix in, any of these next things into what we do, then it becomes sin, but a thing in and of itself, or in general is not sin. Gal 5:19-21 (19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. And one thing mentioned in here is idolatry, or as you said John idolizing things. And I think it is important to study out all of these words, and then we can get a better hold of what does not please God. I find emulations is a huge word to get a hold of, and revelings is another important word, and of course they are all important to know. 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; God has given us richly all things to enjoy, we can enjoy his creation and so on. 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. And bodily exercise is surely not against God's word, for it profits. And television, or computers are not wrong in and of themselves, it is what you watch that can be sinful or not, it is the content, and why you are doing so, that can make something sinful or not. The Lord has really been dealing with me about how much time we can waste on things of this world, and also, how we need to be prepared to change our plans if God has something for us to do. You cannot put your time serving God around a television schedule, or a worldly amusement schedule, and we often tend to be guilty of that.
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Post by Giller on May 15, 2020 9:52:06 GMT -5
I guess another way of saying things as well, is what is motivating you towards this or that?
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Post by Giller on May 15, 2020 9:52:49 GMT -5
Well when we mix in, any of these next things into what we do, then it becomes sin, but a thing in and of itself, or in general is not sin. Gal 5:19-21 (19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, (21) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. And one thing mentioned in here is idolatry, or as you said John idolizing things. And I think it is important to study out all of these words, and then we can get a better hold of what does not please God. I find emulations is a huge word to get a hold of, and revelings is another important word, and of course they are all important to know. 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; God has given us richly all things to enjoy, we can enjoy his creation and so on. 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. And bodily exercise is surely not against God's word, for it profits. And television, or computers are not wrong in and of themselves, it is what you watch that can be sinful or not, it is the content, and why you are doing so, that can make something sinful or not. The Lord has really been dealing with me about how much time we can waste on things of this world, and also, how we need to be prepared to change our plans if God has something for us to do. You cannot put your time serving God around a television schedule, or a worldly amusement schedule, and we often tend to be guilty of that.
Yes, amen.
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Post by Giller on May 15, 2020 9:56:45 GMT -5
And I think upon the words, the lusts of the flesh, and really I think this stuff goes a lot deeper than maybe what we all think.
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Post by John on May 15, 2020 10:04:24 GMT -5
And I think upon the words, the lusts of the flesh, and really I think this stuff goes a lot deeper than maybe what we all think. I suspect that it does, which is what I was hoping to get everyone thinking about. It was not too long ago, I heard a message on pride, and how it was bad, but the preacher said that there is a good kind of pride. His example was his taking pride in his favorite NASCAR racer winning. Is there anything sinful in itself about auto racing? Not to me, but that was very carnal thinking, and it is not a good example to use to show that pride can be okay. I think it will take inner reflection on the part of each person to figure out where they have problems. I have to examine myself, and others will too, because we all are different, and have different interests. It could be a love for reading novels that occupies all of your time. It could be a hobby like stamp or coin collecting. What are the things of the world that you are consumed with to the point that they effect your service to the Lord?
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2020 10:09:45 GMT -5
Even a poor man can become besotted with the things of this world so that in his poverty, he covets what he cannot have. He can become so fixated upon his meager possessions that he's no different than a wealthy man who owns much in this regard.
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