Whosoever Denieth the Son

[Deadflesh]

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)

Friends, the gospel of all truth says we must be converted to Christ, not to Christianity. This may sound like a pedantic play on words to many, nevertheless the difference must be understood. Too many are preaching and receiving a gospel that denies the full New Testament doctrine of salvation that is founded on crucifixion of the flesh and new life in Christ.

This is literally a matter of eternal life and eternal death.

The full salvation gospel does not teach that we have been redeemed for the purpose of fulfilling our lives. It says that the only way to keep our life is to lose it. It does not say that our lives were given back to us, it says that the Life of Christ was given to us in place of ours. Our lives must be willingly surrendered for a spiritual death - that means every plan, every desire, every day, every night - every last breath! Christ did not die so that we could live our lives - He died so that we could live HIS life. That is why our lives are said to be hidden in Christ.

Listen, if you count yourself a believer but yet are not daily laying your life down on the altar so that He may live His Life in you, you are living on a precipice that may cost you eternity. I am not promoting a gospel of works over grace here. I am promoting a gospel of ALL TRUTH that does not deny the true cost of our redemption. What an insult to the Blood, what a slap in the Face of God, to believe that we may take the free gift of His Son, and go merrily on our way paying lip service while we continue to control and direct our own lives. How dare we tolerate any longer this false gospel in our midst!

It is not enough even to say, "Lord, please direct my life." Why? Because He doesn't want to direct OUR lives, He wants to crucify our lives! Realise that when we decided to live with Christ, we decided to die with Him. Realise that from that moment on we had absolutely no right to our lives - only to His Life! Is there not freedom in Christ? Yes, but only IN CHRIST. Did He not come to give us life abundant? Yes, but only IN CHRIST.

There is no life apart from Christ's life, and there is no holiness apart from Christ's holiness. We must receive a gospel that gives us to understand that God is not going to renovate, remake or renew our old Adam nature. He is not going to repair our former lives. He is giving us a new life, but it is His Son's life, in place of ours (Acts 5:20; Rom. 6:4). Our former lives are totally corrupt and unredeemable. We are fallen creatures whose flesh lives cannot be restored. The Cross is not about you and I being made right. The Cross is about you and I entering into the life of the First and the Last - Christ, the Firstborn from the dead and the last Adam (Col. 1:18; 1 Cor. 15:45). We are not able to be made holy in any way at all, except as we partake of Christ's holiness (Heb. 3:14).

When we come into THIS gospel, our lives will become all about Him instead of all about us. Even our language and the way we respond to the Lord will be different. Instead of saying "Lord, be with me today", we will be asking, "Lord, may I go with YOU, today!" Rather than "please bless what I'm doing today", we'll be crying out "Lord, how can I bless what You're doing today?"

A Cry for Repentance

Friends, this message is a plea for repentance. First corporately, because we, the church, all bear responsibility for tolerating and allowing this incomplete and demonically inspired gospel of denial of Christ's life in us to grow and prosper among us. In doing so we have born a false witness to the world - the very ones to whom we are to witness the Life of Christ. Second, we must repent individually, because we have each denied Him in ways we do not want to see or acknowledge. Let us not echo Peter who foolishly insisted "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You" (Matt. 26:35).

How is it that we deny Christ, and in the deceit of our hearts do not even recognise what we are doing to Him? Let me share with you a list He gave me personally, which I am now instructed by the Holy Spirit to present to the church. I encourage you to take time over what follows, in humility allowing the Holy Spirit to convict you to repentance wherever necessary. And let me assure you that I present this list as one "down among", and not as one "over and above". As the Lord led me through this list, He showed me that I had failed Him on each count except one. That was not a very encouraging revelation. However, it is God's goodness that leads us to repentance (Rom. 2:4).

As the Lord revealed His heart on this issue, He imparted the truth that denial springs from idolatry. Idolatry is simply the act of exalting something or someone other than Christ to the pre-eminent place of total Lordship and sovereignty that is rightfully His alone. By this I understood that the Lord considers it idolatry when we deny any aspect of Who He is in us.

1) When we judge our brother or sister by determining in mind or speech that brother or sister is unable to be changed, comparing them to others in whom we have perceived greater fruit - we DENY Him. This is denial of His Spirit, for we deny the power of His Spirit at work within that one to sanctify and conform them to the image of Christ. We are exalting human flesh above Him. First, we are exalting our own flesh to presume we understand His way of working in another. Second, we are exalting their flesh to presume it is stronger than His Spirit is.

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Phil: 1:6

2) When we judge ourselves by determining in mind or speech that we will never overcome a certain sin or destructive habit, we DENY Him. This is denial of His Blood, for we deny the power of the Blood to cleanse and heal us completely. We are exalting the power of sin and flesh above the complete sufficiency of His shed Blood to deliver us from sin's grip.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Heb. 9:14

3) When we deem our own worth as less than what He deems it to be, that is, judge ourselves unworthy, a failure or unforgivable, we DENY Him. This is denial of His Cross, for we deny the power of His love to heal and deliver us. Again, we are exalting our essential "badness" (sin nature) above His essential goodness, which is an attribute of His Glory (see Ex. 33:19)
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight-- if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard. Col. 1:19-23

4) When we give Him the leftovers of ourselves instead of the first and best, we DENY Him. This is denial of His Lordship, for we deny Him His rightful pre-eminence. When we choose to pursue other activities, such as career, pleasure or Christian service, at the expense of seeking out His Presence, we exalt our love of self above Him. When we exalt "self" we deny Christ. When we exalt Christ, we deny "self". We cannot exalt both of them.

If anyone desires to come after Me, let him DENY HIMSELF, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. Luke 9:23-24

Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Rev. 2:4
5) When we embrace another name more than His, we DENY Him, for we deny the power and glory of His Name. The early disciples of Christ were known only as "those who had been WITH Jesus" (Acts 4:13). How do we identify ourselves? Do we esteem the name of our nation, our denomination or even our family higher than His Name? When we fail to place all our other "identity tags" beneath the Name Above All Names, we exalt the world system above the Kingdom of Christ.

That the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thess. 1:12 I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My Name. Rev. 3:8

And they shall see his face; and his Name shall be in their foreheads. Rev. 22:4
6) When we replace the Word of God with the commandments of men, we DENY Him, for we deny Christ the Living Word (John 1:1). When we replace worship in Spirit and truth with denominational tradition and ritual we DENY Him, for we exalt fleshly man-made religion above God Who is a Spirit (John 4:24). When we choose and appoint a priestly class, bestowing on them authority to govern our spiritual lives in place of the Holy Spirit, we deny Christ the Resurrection and Life (John 11:25), proclaiming to the world that mortal men must now head the church because He is not able to (Eph. 4:15).
This people honours Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain the worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. Mark 7:7
.....making the Word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do. Mark 7:13

For he is not the God of the dead, but of the living: for all live to him. Luke 20:38

And with great power gave the apostles witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Acts 4:33

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3
7) When we choose to live the life we desire instead of surrendering to His Life in us, we DENY Him. This is denial of Christ, the Tree of Life, for we deny Him His right to Life in us. When we choose instead the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil by exalting our fleshly life above His Life in the Spirit, we claim that we have a right to life apart from Him. The truth is that we have no right to our lives at all. We only have a right to His Life. This is the ultimate denial for it is the denial Jesus experienced from Judas. Judas chose to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil which represents the reasoning power of man, rather than feed from the Tree of Life, which is CHRIST IN US, our hope of glory (Col. 1:27). He reasoned that his betrayal of Jesus would save his own life, but his reasoning in turn betrayed him and this choice cost Judas his eternal life (John 17:12).
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor. 2:14
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Gal. 2:20

 

[Deadflesh]

Denial or Witness

Whatever else each of us may believe to be our calling, gifting, or function within the Body of Christ, the scriptures teach there is one fundamental and primary calling above all others that belongs to every man, woman and child in Christ. It is the calling to provide witness for Him on the earth. To be part of the "ecclesia", the called out ones of Christ, is literally a calling to walk this earth as witnesses of Christ's resurrection (Rom. 1:6). None of us have any higher calling than this. The church has been left upon the earth until the Father's appointed time to give witness of His Son's resurrection, to principalities and powers (Eph. 3:10), and to the world (Luke 24:46-48). That witness, above all other things, is why you and I are here. This is not a witness worked out through active evangelism alone, though evangelism is certainly one aspect of it. This witness we are called to is primarily expressed through Christ's life being manifested in and through us. There is no other living witness on the face of the earth to the truth that Christ lives but the faithful, Spirit-empowered Bridal company of believers. When we deny Christ in any manner whatsoever, we are walking as false witnesses before demonic powers, before the world we live in and before the Father Himself.

While Peter hid in the shadows of the courtyard, inside the High Priest's palace the religious authorities were busy presenting false witnesses against Jesus to discredit Him. Outside in the courtyard, warming himself near the fire, Peter was presented with the opportunity to give a true witness to Jesus, but failed (Mat. 26:57-75). We are all familiar with the story - three times he was asked was he with Jesus, and three times he denied that he even knew Him. We cringe at the thought of placing ourselves in Peter's shoes that night. We cringe even more painfully when we contemplate the scripture that states "And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter" (Luke 22:61). In all of history, did ever a human being receive such a look? We don't like to think we could have done what Peter did. But the truth is, we have denied Him - again, and again.......

It would be easy for me to end this message with a prayer for forgiveness that we could all agree with and move on to other things more pleasant to our taste. How we love the prophetic message or the revelatory teaching that affirms and comforts us, but this is not such a message. This is a message that requires us to pause and come aside with our Beloved One, a message that demands a reckoning in the secret place of His grace and forgiveness. This message is a call to repentance, and my prayer is that we will humble ourselves to receive it. May we turn aside to Him and acknowledge the unspeakable. May the fear of the Lord return once again among His people. And when He comes, may He find us among a Bridal company of true witnesses who refuse to deny Him at any cost.


Copyright 2005 Cheryl McGrath, Great South Land Ministries, Australia. This article may be copied or reproduced freely providing copyright notice and contact details remain intact.

Cheryl McGrath
Great South Land Ministries, Australia
Website: Great South Land Ministries | Coffs Harbour | Church
Email: [email protected]

Whosoever Denieth the Son

 

[zone]

"It says that the only way to keep our life is to lose it." ?

~

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He that findeth his life ... - The word "life" in this passage is used evidently in two senses. The meaning may be expressed thus: He that is anxious to save his "temporal" life, or his comfort and security here, shall lose "eternal" life, or shall fail of heaven. He that is willing to risk or lose his comfort and "life" here for my sake, shall find "life" everlasting, or shall be saved. The manner of speaking is similar to that where he said, "Let the dead bury their dead." See notes at Matthew 8:22.


Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

He that findeth his life, etc. - i.e. He who, for the sake of his temporal interest, abandons his spiritual concerns, shall lose his soul; and he who, in order to avoid martyrdom, abjures the pure religion of Christ, shall lose his soul, and perhaps his life too. He that findeth his life shall lose it, was literally fulfilled in Archbishop Cranmer. He confessed Christ against the devil, and his eldest son, the pope. He was ordered to be burnt; to save his life he recanted, and was, notwithstanding, burnt. Whatever a man sacrifices to God is never lost, for he finds it again in God.

There is a fine piece on this subject in Juvenal, Sat. viii. l. 80, which deserves to be recorded here.

- ambiguae si quando citabere testis
Incertaeque rei, Phalaris liect imperet ut sis
Falsus, et admoto dictet perjuria tauro,
Summum crede nefas Animam praeferre Pudori
Et propter Vitam Vivendi perdere causas
- If ever call'd
To give thy witness in a doubtful case,
Though Phalaris himself should bid thee lie,
On pain of torture in his flaming bull,
Disdain to barter innocence for life;
To which life owes its lustre and its worth Wakefield


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

He that findeth his life shall lose it,.... That man that seeks to preserve his life, and the temporal enjoyments of it, by a sinful compliance with his friends and the world, and by a denial of Christ, or non-confession of him; if he is not, by the providence of God, deprived of the good things of life, and dies a shameful death, both which are sometimes the case of such persons; yet he is sure to lose the happy and eternal life of his soul and body, in the world to come: so that the present finding of life, or the possession of it, on such sinful terms, will in the issue prove an infinite and irreparable loss unto him. On the other hand, Christ observes,

he that loseth his life for my sake, shall find it. That man that is willing to forego the present advantages of life, to suffer reproach and persecution, and lay down his life cheerfully for the sake of Christ and his Gospel, for the profession of his name, rather than drop, deny, conceal, or neglect any truth and ordinance of his, shall find his soul possessed of eternal life, as soon as separated from his body; and shall find his corporal life again, in the resurrection morn, to great advantage; and shall live with Christ in soul and body, in the utmost happiness, to all eternity.


Vincent's Word Studies

Findeth (εὑρὼ&#957
The word is really a past participle, found. Our Lord looked back in thought to each man's past, and forward to its appropriate consummation in the future. Similarly, he who lost (ἀπολέσα&#962. Plato seems to have fore-shadowed this wonderful thought. "O my friend! I want you to see that the noble and the good may possibly be something different from saving and being saved, and that he who is truly a man ought not to care about living a certain time: he knows, as women say, that we must all die, and therefore he is not fond of life; he leaves all that with God, and considers in what way he can best spend his appointed term" ("Gorgias," 512). Still more to the point, Euripides:

"Who knows if life be not death, and death life ?"


Geneva Study Bible

He that {p} findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
(p) They are said to find their life, who deliver it out of danger: and this is spoken against the opinion of the people, who think those that die are certainly lost, because they think not of the life to come.


People's New Testament

10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it. Whoever counts his life of so much value that he will preserve it by sacrificing his Christian integrity, or will renounce his religion to save his life, will find in the end that he has lost his soul forever for the sake of a few fleeting years; while he who gives up all things, even life itself, will find an abundant reward in the life eternal. All self-seeking is self-losing. The Divine law is always to give in order to receive.


Wesley's Notes

10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it - He that saves his life by denying me, shall lose it eternally; and he that loseth his life by confessing me, shall save it eternally. And as you shall be thus rewarded, so in proportion shall they who entertain you for my sake. Mt 16:25; John 12:25.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

39. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it-another of those pregnant sayings which our Lord so often reiterates (Mt 16:25; Lu 17:33; Joh 12:25). The pith of such paradoxical maxims depends on the double sense attached to the word "life"-a lower and a higher, the natural and the spiritual, the temporal and eternal. An entire sacrifice of the lower, with all its relationships and interests-or, a willingness to make it which is the same thing-is indispensable to the preservation of the higher life; and he who cannot bring himself to surrender the one for the sake of the other shall eventually lose both.


Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

All these verses relate to the sufferings of Christ's ministers in their work, which they are here taught to expect, and prepare for; they are directed also how to bear them, and how to go on with their work in the midst of them.

This part of the sermon looks further than to their present mission; for we find not that they met with any great hardships or persecutions while Christ was with them, nor were they well able to bear them; but they are here forewarned of the troubles they should meet with, when after Christ's resurrection, their commission should be enlarged, and the kingdom of heaven, which was not at hand, should be actually set up; they dreamed of nothing then, but outward pomp and power; but Christ tells them, they must expect greater sufferings than they were yet called to; that they should then be made prisoners, when they expected to be made princes. It is good to be told what troubles we may hereafter meet with, that we may provide accordingly, and may not boast, as if we had put off the harness, when we are yet but girding it on.

We have here intermixed, I. Predictions of trouble: and, II. Prescriptions of counsel and comfort, with reference to it.

I. We have here predictions of trouble; which the disciples should meet with in their work: Christ foresaw their sufferings as well as his own, and yet will have them go on, as he went on himself; and he foretold them, not only that the troubles might not be a surprise to them, and so a shock to their faith, but that, being the accomplishment of a prediction, they might be a confirmation to their faith.

He tells them what they should suffer, and from whom.

1. What they should suffer: hard things to be sure; for, Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves, v. 16. And what may a flock of poor, helpless, unguarded sheep expect, in the midst of a herd of ravenous wolves, but to be worried and torn? Note, Wicked men are like wolves, in whose nature it is to devour and destroy. God's people, and especially his ministers, are like sheep among them, of a contrary nature and disposition, exposed to them, and commonly an easy prey to them.

It looked unkind in Christ to expose them to so much danger, who had left all to follow him; but he knew that the glory reserved for his sheep, when in the great day they shall be set on his right hand, would be a recompence sufficient for sufferings as well as services. They are as sheep among wolves, that is frightful; but Christ sends them forth, that is comfortable; for he that sends them forth will protect them, and bear them out. But that they might know the worst, he tells them particularly what they must expect.

(1.) They must expect to be hated, v. 22. Ye shall be hated for my name's sake: that is the root of all the rest, and a bitter root it is. Note, Those whom Christ loves, the world hates; as whom the court blesses the country curses. If the world hated Christ without a cause (Jn. 15:25), no marvel if it hated those that bore his image and served his interests. We hate what is nauseous, and they are counted as the offscouring of all things, 1 Co. 4:13. We hate what is noxious, and they are counted the troublers of the land (1 Ki. 18:17), and the tormentors of their neighbours, Rev. 11:10.

It is grievous to be hated, and to be the object of so much ill-will, but it is for thy name's sake; which, as it speaks the true reason of the hatred, whatever is pretended, so it speaks comfort to them who are thus hated; it is for a good cause, and they have a good friend that shares with them in it, and takes it to himself. (2.) They must expect to be apprehended and arraigned as malefactors. Their restless malice is resistless malice, and they will not only attempt, but will prevail, to deliver you up to the councils (v. 17, 18), to the bench of aldermen or justices, that take care of the public peace. Note, A deal of mischief is often done to good men, under colour of law and justice.

In the place of judgment there is wickedness, persecuting wickedness, Eccl. 3:16. They must look for trouble, not only from inferior magistrates in the councils, but from governors and kings, the supreme magistrates. To be brought before them, under such black representations as were commonly made of Christ's disciples, was dreadful and dangerous; for the wrath of a king is as the roaring of a lion. We find this often fulfilled in the acts of the apostles.

10:16-42 Our Lord warned his disciples to prepare for persecution. They were to avoid all things which gave advantage to their enemies, all meddling with worldly or political concerns, all appearance of evil or selfishness, and all underhand measures. Christ foretold troubles, not only that the troubles might not be a surprise, but that they might confirm their faith. He tells them what they should suffer, and from whom. Thus Christ has dealt fairly and faithfully with us, in telling us the worst we can meet with in his service; and he would have us deal so with ourselves, in sitting down and counting the cost.

Persecutors are worse than beasts, in that they prey upon those of their own kind. The strongest bonds of love and duty, have often been broken through from enmity against Christ. Sufferings from friends and relations are very grievous; nothing cuts more. It appears plainly, that all who will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution; and we must expect to enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations. With these predictions of trouble, are counsels and comforts for a time of trial.

The disciples of Christ are hated and persecuted as serpents, and their ruin is sought, and they need the serpent's wisdom. Be ye harmless as doves. Not only, do nobody any hurt, but bear nobody any ill-will. Prudent care there must be, but not an anxious, perplexing thought; let this care be cast upon God.

The disciples of Christ must think more how to do well, than how to speak well. In case of great peril, the disciples of Christ may go out of the way of danger, though they must not go out of the way of duty. No sinful, unlawful means may be used to escape; for then it is not a door of God's opening. The fear of man brings a snare, a perplexing snare, that disturbs our peace; an entangling snare, by which we are drawn into sin; and, therefore, it must be striven and prayed against.

Tribulation, distress, and persecution cannot take away God's love to them, or theirs to him. Fear Him, who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. They must deliver their message publicly, for all are deeply concerned in the doctrine of the gospel. The whole counsel of God must be made known, Ac 20:27. Christ shows them why they should be of good cheer. Their sufferings witnessed against those who oppose his gospel. When God calls us to speak for him, we may depend on him to teach us what to say. A believing prospect of the end of our troubles, will be of great use to support us under them. They may be borne to the end, because the sufferers shall be borne up under them.

he strength shall be according to the day. And it is great encouragement to those who are doing Christ's work, that it is a work which shall certainly be done. See how the care of Providence extends to all creatures, even to the sparrows. This should silence all the fears of God's people; Ye are of more value than many sparrows. And the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

This denotes the account God takes and keeps of his people. It is our duty, not only to believe in Christ, but to profess that faith, in suffering for him, when we are called to it, as well as in serving him. That denial of Christ only is here meant which is persisted in, and that confession only can have the blessed recompence here promised, which is the real and constant language of faith and love. Religion is worth every thing; all who believe the truth of it, will come up to the price, and make every thing else yield to it.

Christ will lead us through sufferings, to glory with him. Those are best prepared for the life to come, that sit most loose to this present life. Though the kindness done to Christ's disciples be ever so small, yet if there be occasion for it, and ability to do no more, it shall be accepted. Christ does not say that they deserve a reward; for we cannot merit any thing from the hand of God; but they shall receive a reward from the free gift of God. Let us boldly confess Christ, and show love to him in all things.

 

[Deadflesh]

Zone, if you dont lose the FIRST ADAM, you have no part in the LAST ADAM. you MUST LOSe THE FIRST ADAM FIRST give i up and deny it DAILY from being apart of your life in any way, THAT is possible ONLY IN JESUS CHRIST THROUGH HIS SPIRIT but it takes YOU makign the concious effort.

 

[zone]

Zone, if you dont lose the FIRST ADAM, you have no part in the LAST ADAM. you MUST LOSe THE FIRST ADAM FIRST give i up and deny it DAILY from being apart of your life in any way, THAT is possible ONLY IN JESUS CHRIST THROUGH HIS SPIRIT but it takes YOU makign the concious effort.

well thanks for telling me that!

i guess i better get sober, stop visiting the man 3 times week, stop hanging out with my unbelieiving buddies and family, start considering reading the bible....wow. that's a tall order.

maybe consider aknowledging other christians. i might try praying....

maybe i could minister to beggars and whores and junkies and mental patients?

hmmmm.....i MIGHT be able to submit to Jesus every morning and confess my sins every day.

ONLY PROBLEM, AS A CARNAL CHRISTIAN I DON'T KNOW I SIN.
I THINK ITS NORMAL AND IN FACT I LOVE IT AND PROMOTE IT!

thanks for the tip.

 

[Deadflesh]

I hope and pray that many read this articel and pray about it. That this article touches those who are DONE with there life and want JESUS ONLY. I hope and pray that many will wake up and see tht JESUS IS ALL THAT MATTERS. And that JUST becasue you say "lord lord" dosent mean you know him, or that you are OF him.


I hope many seek JESUS AND ONLY JESUS. please read this over and over this IS the truth of the Gospel. its CHRIST ALONE. And not just in word.

I surender all. Well have you?

 

[zone]

FOR CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE VOCATIONS AND WORK AT JOBS TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILES AND NEIGHBOURS:

I.E:

Christian....

dentists
doctors
janitors
shopkeepers
night watchmen
tailors
taxi drivers
mothers
teachers
historians
factory workers
cubicle dwellers
check-out clerks
hotel maids
business executives
accountants
tent makers
fishermen


while you are WORKING to provide for your families, so that you make certain you are able to live honorably and peaceably among all men (if possible), obey the laws of the lands, and so you may provide for those who have nothing.........

QUESTION:

while you are focused on doing the best job you can regardless of what it is, and while you labour for 4/8/12 hours per day.....if you are focused on your job and accomplishing what is required, if you stop thinking with your MIND, about Jesus for your 12 hour shift, HAVE YOU STOPPED ABIDING IN HIM?

ARE YOU SINNING?

i encourage and lift up all those who faithfully go to work each day, without complaining, and are content in all circumstances as you love God and neighbour, and family BY DOING WHAT IS DECENT AND RIGHT as you DO WHAT MUST BE DONE to provide for your family and those without. i pray you never feel unfaithful to Christ for not being on your knees praying while you ARE WORKING AT YOUR VOCATION, or WORKING to make a safe home for you wife and children....i now you are worshipping in spirit, and in truth. and when are not The Spirit is interceding for you.

those who do not provide for their families, God says are worse than infidels.

i encourage and uplift all the pastors and deacons who teach good doctrine and remain faithful to God's Word and feed His sheep, and in reverence administer the Lord's Supper to, with all the saints proclaim His death until He comes again.

i encourage and lift up men and women of God who have dedicated their lives to scholarship and linguistics and history. i pray you never feel unfaithful to Jesus because you love His Holy Scriptures and have chosen/been called to labour in it for those who need the help with languages and hermeneutics and literary principles.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

 

[LovingtheLord]

Probably the best thread i've ever seen on this forum, God bless you brother.

 

[AnandaHya]

FOR CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE VOCATIONS AND WORK AT JOBS TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILES AND NEIGHBOURS:

QUESTION:

while you are focused on doing the best job you can regardless of what it is, and while you labour for 4/8/12 hours per day.....if you are focused on your job and accomplishing what is required, if you stop thinking with your MIND, about Jesus for your 12 hour shift, HAVE YOU STOPPED ABIDING IN HIM?

ARE YOU SINNING?

i encourage and lift up all those who faithfully go to work each day, without complaining, and are content in all circumstances as you love God and neighbour, and family BY DOING WHAT IS DECENT AND RIGHT as you DO WHAT MUST BE DONE to provide for your family and those without. i pray you never feel unfaithful to Christ for not being on your knees praying while you ARE WORKING AT YOUR VOCATION, or WORKING to make a safe home for you wife and children....i now you are worshipping in spirit, and in truth. and when are not The Spirit is interceding for you.

those who do not provide for their families, God says are worse than infidels.

i encourage and uplift all the pastors and deacons who teach good doctrine and remain faithful to God's Word and feed His sheep, and in reverence administer the Lord's Supper to, with all the saints proclaim His death until He comes again.

i encourage and lift up men and women of God who have dedicated their lives to scholarship and linguistics and history. i pray you never feel unfaithful to Jesus because you love His Holy Scriptures and have chosen/been called to labour in it for those who need the help with languages and hermeneutics and literary principles.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

thanks Zone I needed to hear that.

Oh your words remind me of these scripture lol

God wants us to WORK and not be idle. not vainly torture or flesh or run around in hair shirts or punish ourselves but to love each other and that INCLUDES ourselves. He wants us to feed the hungry, care for the poor, comfort the sorrowful, laugh with the happy people, etc.

I found the verses that speak against Idleness/ laziness in the form of fake piety....


2 Thessalonians 3
Warning Against Idleness

6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he[a] received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

 

[AnandaHya]

While Peter hid in the shadows of the courtyard, inside the High Priest's palace the religious authorities were busy presenting false witnesses against Jesus to discredit Him. Outside in the courtyard, warming himself near the fire, Peter was presented with the opportunity to give a true witness to Jesus, but failed (Mat. 26:57-75). We are all familiar with the story - three times he was asked was he with Jesus, and three times he denied that he even knew Him. We cringe at the thought of placing ourselves in Peter's shoes that night. We cringe even more painfully when we contemplate the scripture that states "And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter" (Luke 22:61). In all of history, did ever a human being receive such a look? We don't like to think we could have done what Peter did. But the truth is, we have denied Him - again, and again.......

the article didn't tell the rest of the story of how Paul was one of the FIRST people to run to the TOMB when He heard JESUS had rose again.

If I could be as Peter was walking in the physical presence of my Lord, ....why would I cringe?

I would remember Jesus words on the matter instead:

Luke 7:47
Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.

too many rules in the article and not enough talk about How the HOLY Spirit teaches, leads and sanctifies.

the message about not judging people as they appear presently but looking and striving for what GOD wants everyone to be instead is good, but mmm ....

anyways.

you ever notices this verse does not say YOU but US as in it is a GROUP effort?

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,


the lie of independence autonomy from everyone else that society so likes to place upon people. that they should and must do everything on their own. the whole "self made man" that so much of society has bought.
and then people wonder why the families are falling apart.

I would people learn of interdependence rather than Independence.

I believe it would be a more Biblical lesson. the importance of pulling your own weight while still working as a team.

 

[damombomb]

Great post DF!It is important to put him first,and keep our passion for him and zeal!