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Brother Job
YellowStone:
Lisa,
You posted a wonderful set of Scriptures.
John 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
So what does it mean by 'loving' and 'hating' our life in this world?
Many will take the words at face value and think they are as nothing, that their life means nothing and it matters not what they do to their bodies. What is more, there can be know enjoyment, because enjoying can be equated to loving. Right?
Wrong! :)
1Cr 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
Does God want us to starve his temple, to lock it away or self mutilate it? I think not. God has given us this life to partake in, to learn of God from and to enjoy and marvel at. However, he did not give us everything so that the "world" replaces Him as the #1 focus of our hearts. Satan wants that. Satan's aim is to make the world and everything in it our motivator and idol.
So whosoever loves the world more than God, will lose his life; whilst those who love God and honor him in everthing, even marveling the work of his hands will keep their life forever.
How can anyone begin to appreciate the works of Gods hands without him opening ones eyes?
2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2Pe 1:5 ¶ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
We have so much to be thankful and gracious to God for. These are not things made by man, as if man could compete. :)
Great post Lisa :)
Your brother in Christ,
Darren
Redbird:
Darren,
Thank you so much for that. That is right where I am now. Learning to walk in this Newness of Life and learning to Love God's way.
Love in Christ, Lisa
hillsbororiver:
--- Quote from: Kat on April 05, 2007, 11:27:22 AM ---
But we must continue and not become weary.
--- End quote ---
Hi Kat,
I certainly agree we should persevere but do you believe not becoming weary is possible in this present condition in the flesh? I am seeing that we are to work through the weariness by faith and to search His Word in prayer when we experience times of spiritual frustration or weakness.
We have an example here of Jesus being weary (in His flesh) but yet spiritually strong and His apostles being weak both spiritually (although the spirit was willing) and physically.
Mark 14
29But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.
30And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
31But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
32And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
33And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
34And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
35And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
36And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
37And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
38Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
39And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.
40And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.
--- Quote from: YellowStone on April 05, 2007, 12:39:26 PM ---
This life as such, is EXTREMELY appealing to me, not for the material possesion I might gain, for God has promised them.
--- End quote ---
Hello Darren,
I think I know what you are saying here; that the knowledge of Christ and His Father's plan and purpose for His children is an awesome and inspiring revelation I do believe that the day to day life of a believer is one of trial and tribulation. My experience has been things I thought were behind me once again come to life, dealing with these feelings and temptations have often brought me to despair, what to do, where to go?
In weak moments or even when old unrepented sins are brought into the light I know I should be thankful for the correction but my emotion is more likely to be a knotted stomach and consternation rather than shouts of joy, without a doubt I am not as far along in this journey as others but I do feel that there are many who have been experiencing these same emotions.
Some time ago when I was a "newbie" here I would read posts from some members on how they were always in this state of euphoria because of Christ in their lives, Him being in control and all was well, things are already all worked out in their journey.
When I would read posts like that I would truly question whether I was going in the right direction or whether I was doomed because there is no way I can honestly say I am content and at peace at all times in all situations, there are times when I truly want this body of corruption to be gone and to be spiritually one with our Lord, at other times I am thankful for the progress and knowledge He has so generously provided and the Light of His Word shines brightly in my spirit.
I guess what I am saying is this duality of spirit versus flesh is something I find very real and sometimes exhausting but I will not give up this fight, if I get knocked down, fall or stumble I know He will be there to pick me up once again.
Hebrews 12
5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye ********, and not sons.
9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
His Peace and Wisdom to you,
Joe
Deborah-Leigh:
Hello Joe
what you wrote here I can relate to : 11Thou hast clothed me with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews.
(Sounds like prison, feels like prison..) ........unquote
We are limited in so many ways. We can not see ultra violet or infra red spectrum's. We do not know everything and we can not be everywhere at the same time! In deed we are like in a prison!
We have to learn through these limits and restrictions and we have Christ to share our yoke. The yoke can be light only if Christ is on our side! We learn through our trials and our errors that we are weak, we fail and we are liable to temptations. It is not pleasant finding out that we are not there yet in the full image of Christ who has conquered all!
Hewbrews 4 : 15 for we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with OUR WEAKNESSES and INFIRMITIES and LIABILITY TO THE ASAULTS OF TEMPTATION,.....
I believe that the way to the Kingdom is through the limitations and there is much to inspire and encourage us in understanding through the beauty of the Creator reflected in the beauty of His creation.
Rom 14 : 17 After all, the kingdom of God is not a matter of getting the food and drink one likes, but instead it is righteousness that state which makes a person acceptable to God and heart peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
peace to you
Arcturus :)
Kat:
I guess I feel like this world is good in many ways. I love my family, enjoy being with them very much. There is much beauty in this world too. There is the beauty in nature; baby animals are precious, the oceans are filled with wonders, and I love to look at flowers and butterflies, there is so much to take pleasure in and admire about it all.
This life is well worth what we have to endure in it, and then for a few, we are given the knowledge of the truth. This began for me a journey of learning profound knowledge, and I hope for this to continue the rest of my life.
So I can see the good in this life, as Paul said;
2Co 4:15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
v. 16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day.
v. 17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
v. 18 because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
So it is the "eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison," that I look forward to. This life is transient, it is a momentary existence until we reach real life, if we endure to the end.
1Co 15:42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable.
v. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.
v. 44 It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body.
When I read this scripture I think of what we have now; physical body that's perishable, sown in dishonor and weakness.
What we will have if we obtain the first resurrection; spiritual body that's imperishable, raised in glory and power.
When I think of how wonderful to be given that spiritual body, and I don't even have the terrible suffering some here have, it can not compare to this flesh body.
I believe that what is to come is beyond anything we can imagine and I long for Christ to return to earth in power and glory.
Rom 8:18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
v. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God;
1John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He shall be revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
mercy, peace, and love
Kat
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