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Topic: DID JESUS TEACH MEN TO LOVE THEMSELVES? Part 3
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helpforhomeschoolers
Advanced Member
Member # 15
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posted
![[clap2]](graemlins/clap2.gif) Yes, excellent points! I believe that you are correct about this Aaron.
I have a friend that has trouble in this area. She cannot say no when asked to go and do something for the church. Then she whines and is miserable because she is over worked and under appreciated; then she is guilty because she wants to serve God. Half the things she does GOD is not asked her or led her to do!
When people talk on this they speak from the standpoint of caring enough for yourself not to "spread yourself too thin" that you become burned out and are no good to anyone.... but that is not the issue.... it is not about caring for ourselves. It is about being obedient to HIM... being available and willing and hearing HIS call and leading and not working our own works and calling them God's works or working FOR GOD. When when give up selves to HIM; HE takes care of us... supplies us... keeps us full.
It really is about giving ourselves to GOd as living sacrifice... dying to self that we are submitted to HIS will and to do nothing of our own but all that he directs.
When God leads us.. directs us... calls us.. God equips us... supplies us... is the one working in and through us. He is the Gas that runs our motor and HIS supply is infinite.
Posts: 4684 | From: Southern Black Hills of South Dakota | Registered: Jun 2002
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Aaron
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Hi sis,
I like this series of threads you've started. And regarding the "psychology in the church" criticism I could not agree more!
When I think of God's love I can't help but think of the scripture that reads "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."
Now, when I was young, I used to think that God wanted me to give up my life for my fellow man. When I thought of Jesus, and what He did for man (and me included) I thought of His death on the cross as payment for my sins. In fact, although I can not say for sure, I am almost certain that my teachers taught this sort of reasoning.
When I returned to the scripture a bit more mature I realized that I had read too much into the verse. For one, Jesus had yet to go to the cross so the way He had loved His disciples did not (yet) include the cross. Also, Jesus went to the cross not just for His disciples. I realized that my view of scripture was at once too narrow and too broad. So, the question arose in me "How then did He love His disciples?"
The answer, as far as I know, is this: He loved them by doing only what He saw the Father doing. The answer is found here "Then Jesus answered and said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.'"
Effectively He became a living sacrifice...not to people, but to God. He denied His carnal impulses and instead surrendered His life to His Father in Heaven.
For me, this was explosive. I realized that, had I taken the way it was originally taught and ran with it, I would have worked out a religious version of humanism. For if I reasoned that my life was subject to the perceived need of people I would have worked and worked and worked to no end. The need would never dry up but I would dry up quickly! However, when I realized that that I give my life NOT to people but to God, my Father, I then understood myself to be subject to the ONE WHO LOVES ME! And it is He who directs my work.
I wonder, although I am almost sure of it, if the majority of the religious ministers embrace the first understanding. That is, they think themselves subject to people. A man will put himself through terrible things if he thinks that, by doing so, he will reap the favor of God. I've seen such ministers and they are a haggard group of people. Burn out is inevitable. And, I believe, if such a minister is not burned out (like so many of the TV ministers) then one only has to look at their subordinates to find the fatigue.
In Christ,
Aaron
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helpforhomeschoolers
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Member # 15
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Here is part three of this series:
DID JESUS TEACH MEN TO LOVE THEMSELVES? Part 3
The Gospel of our LORD is to learn to "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment" and to "esteem others BETTER than ourselves. Look NOT every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus...(who) made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant...he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2:3-8)
Friend, what reconciliation does this text (above) have with the satanic, self-love message we hear peddled today in “Christian” circles? Obviously, the two messages are completely opposite and originate from two opposing entities. One of the ways we know and discern who is truly behind a leader is by whose message that leader is peddling/promoting - God's or Satan's. Let’s contrast: Doesn't the satanic bible say, "Do what thou wilt"? The Bible says, “God is love.” (1 John 4:8) Remember, Love Gives, Lust Gets. God says to "deny thyself." Satan says, "indulge, or, love thyself." Which of these two messages have you placed yourself under and internalized? Are you being called, through the messages you are hearing, to deny yourself or to indulge yourself?
Jesus came to be crucified. According to Holy Writ, the Christ-centered life is all about laying down our lives like Christ did for us, and living to bring His blessing to others, not ourselves. Let us consider what the Holy Spirit seeks to communicate to our hearts in these following words of Scripture, and may He grant us ears to hear what He is saying to us - that we might obey Him, be fully pleasing to the Savior, be kept from deception and evil, and be ready for the soon return of Christ.
“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1-2
“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15
“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2:6
God’s Love Gives
“God so loved the world that he GAVE....” so that all men could have eternal life now and in Heaven and life more abundantly, right? (Jn. 3:16, 10:10).
Contrasting Jesus Christ's and Satan's peddlers, the apostle Paul says:
"Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For MANY walk, of whom I have told you often (warned), and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly (self appetites), and whose glory is in their shame (they proudly teach what they should be ashamed of), who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself." Philippians 3:17-21
Self-love is the cry of the deceivers who prey upon the unpurged lusts of men. The exploding “seeker-sensitive” movement which is the path to building a “mega-church, is the epitome of this. The self-gratification messages of these smiling wolves causes people to live in sin against the holiness of Jesus, and self-focused and not God and others focused. Could this be the reason that there is so little evangelism and discipleship transpiring among those who call themselves Christians? The Balaam (false) prophets of this late hour teach people to seek self-gain. The “many false prophets” in our midst arrogantly twist God’s Word and teach us to use His Word for selfish gain and the betterment of self. In fulfillment of last days prophetic warnings……..
Posts: 4684 | From: Southern Black Hills of South Dakota | Registered: Jun 2002
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