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Post by Giller on Jan 21, 2022 19:36:51 GMT -5
Php 2:2-3 (2) Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. (3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
That is a word that I have not heard much talked about is the word vainglory, and the word of God says let nothing that is nothing be done through vainglory.
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Post by Giller on Jan 23, 2022 17:12:22 GMT -5
Here is an interesting comment from Chuck Smith concerning the word vainglory:
(Chuck Smith)
(…And let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves (Php_2:3). You want to be great in God’s kingdom? Learn to be the servant. It is interesting to me, how that these words of Paul are so often disregarded by the church. I have shared with you before how my break came with the denomination, over the fact that they announced to the pastors that competition was carnal motivation, but we must realize that the majority of the people we minister to are carnal, and thus, have to be carnally motivated. So we have to use competition to motivate them. Well, competition is striving, because we were to call another pastor and challenge his church to an attendance contest. "We are going to strive with you to see who can have the largest attendance." And then the church that lost was going to have to treat the church that won to a dinner. And the church that won was going to be honored. You know, "We want to be first so we can be honored." Vainglory and strife, or striving for vainglory. And how many times, that is the motive that is being used with people within the church: get them into competition, get them into striving, and get them into vainglory. "We are going to put the names up here on the wall. In each windowpane we are going to inscribe your name. We are going to put stained glass in. The Lord has told me we should have stained glass windows, and you know, you can buy your window and put your name or the name of your loved one in a window." And everybody that comes, as they look down the window, they will see your name. Vainglory. Let nothing be done through strife and vainglory. Those are wrong motivations for serving God. But in lowliness of mind, just esteem others better than yourself.…)
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Post by Tabitha3319 on Jan 23, 2022 20:18:44 GMT -5
Good point.
I believe I used to struggle with this in certain areas of my life.
I certainly need a reminder to do all things in God's order and let Him be my priority and not myself.
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Post by Giller on Jan 23, 2022 21:34:00 GMT -5
Here is the definition of vainglory in Thayer's Greek definitions:
(Thayer’s Greek definitions)
(G2754 κενοδοξία kenodoxia Thayer Definition: 1) vain glory, groundless, self esteem, empty pride 2) a vain opinion, error Part of Speech: noun feminine A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G2755)
It is groundless, and seeks to esteem self.
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Post by Giller on Jan 23, 2022 21:46:31 GMT -5
Concerning Jesus, he made of himself no reputation:
Php 2:5-9 (5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Jesus did not promote himself, he did not seek to build some type of reputation, he was just simply following the Father's will, and from him being a genuine testimony and witness, and him clothing the naked, laying hands on the sick and them recovering etc., that from this, all by itself, it brought a testimony among the people, the Father exalted him, as Jesus the son of God, and very much God, humbled himself before the Father.
Concerning us, God does the promoting and not us, he exalts us, and not us.
Luk 14:11 (11) For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
In too many churches, it is about their ministry, they building, their programs etc., but as my friend Peter said, it is not about our ministry, but rather about being the body of Christ, and working together to exalt him, to walk in his ministry sort of speak.
It is about the testimony of Christ through us, and not just through us personally, but through us as a body, it is a body ministry.
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Post by watchful on Jan 24, 2022 8:06:10 GMT -5
Have to think vanity is involved with it as well. The way churches do things is of the flesh, it's a top-down worldly mindset and format, and not the simplicity of Christ, so it unfortunately feeds and promotes vainglory instead of minimizing it. John the Baptist came to exalt the valleys and lower the mountains in preparation for the Messiah...no more the old ways of the Law where there were was a "select" class and "clergy/laity division" existed. There is to be no schism in the Body. One accord doesn't happen where such schisms exist.
Being of no reputation is so important so that nobody is above benefitting from the ministries/giftings of everyone in the Body of Christ (which they all need) and where it is only normal to change one's mind about different things now and then as one grows and learns thereby....it's not a matter of destroying one's reputation, but just a part of life for everyone. Where there is growth and change there is life. (Excepting the foundational things of course - Christ and Him crucified.)
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Post by watchful on Jan 24, 2022 8:53:17 GMT -5
Good point.
I believe I used to struggle with this in certain areas of my life.
I certainly need a reminder to do all things in God's order and let Him be my priority and not myself.
Sister, you are not alone. A day came when by God's grace I realized that such things exist in me too, and in all our flesh without exception. Every negative character trait is in us all....in our flesh dwells no good thing.....it's really only a matter of "there by the grace of God go I" in terms of how much or how often different things manifest. It is for such things that we undergo the chastisements of the Lord as believers, and die to our flesh more and more. With God's help we can moderate our outward behaviour to some extent, and that we ought to try and do, but along with that I believe it's a work of the Lord to truly purify our hearts in the inward parts, rending the veil of our flesh so that more of His nature/spirit can manifest in us, for His glory. We tend to want to hide those corners of our hearts from Him, like Adam and Eve tried to do, but on the contrary, it's His great pleasure to do this work in us, as our Bridegroom, as we open our hearts to Him, examining ourselves in His light, being honest with Him, seeking His insight and allowing His light to shine on whatever areas of our heart and life we need Him to. Seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness, which none of us have of our own. It's wonderful to sometimes reflect on Him loving us like that in spite of all our shortcomings...Song of Solomon comes to mind!
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Post by frienduff on Jan 24, 2022 17:24:05 GMT -5
Here is the definition of vainglory in Thayer's Greek definitions: (Thayer’s Greek definitions)(G2754κενοδοξίαkenodoxiaThayer Definition:1) vain glory, groundless, self esteem, empty pride2) a vain opinion, errorPart of Speech: noun feminineA Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G2755)It is groundless, and seeks to esteem self.Yeah , the all inclusive lie is vainglory . Its cries your love and good works can save you . Humanity can save itself . What a pride filled mindset . Thinking we can save ourselves and dont need Christ .
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Post by Giller on Jan 30, 2022 8:49:51 GMT -5
Here is a comment from Albert Barnes concerning vainglory, I will highlight some key points:
(Albert Barnes)
(.Or vain glory - The word used here - κενοδοξία kenodoxia occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, though the adjective - κενόδοξος kenodoxos - occurs once in Gal_5:26; see the notes at that place. It means properly empty pride, or glory, and is descriptive of vain and hollow parade and show. Suidas renders it, “any vain opinion about oneself” - ματαία τις περὶ ἑαυτου οἴησις mataia tis peri eautou oiēsis. The idea seems to be that of mere self-esteem; a mere desire to honor ourselves, to attract attention, to win praise, to make ourselves uppermost, or foremost, or the main object. The command here solemnly forbids our doing anything with such an aim - no matter whether it be in intellectual attainments, in physical strength, in skill in music, in eloquence or song, in dress, furniture, or religion. Self is not to be foremost; selfishness is not to be the motive. ..)
When people get into vainglory, the pride of life, is brought on the scene:
1Jn 2:15-17 (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.
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Post by Giller on Jan 30, 2022 8:51:05 GMT -5
Rom 8:6 (6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
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