"Love Not The World"

ElderChild · Mar 5, 2012

For "we know that we are of GOD and the WHOLE(not just a portion) world is under the control of the evil one”.......(I John5:19)

And John also testified, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves 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 will pass away, and the lust thereof: but he that does the will of The Only True GOD will abide for ever.”(IJohn2:15-17)

The Messiah testified, “If you were of the world, the world would love it’s own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his Master. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also.” (John15:19-20)

James testified, “Where do wars and fighting among you come from? Do they not come of your lusts that war in your members? You lust, and have not: you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: you fight and war yet you have not, because you ask not. You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts. You adulterers and adulteresses, don’t you know that friendship with the world is to be at enmity with The Only True GOD? Therefore whoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of The Only True GOD.” (James 4:1-4)

The Messiah testified, “The world cannot hate you; but the world hates Me, because I testify that the works of this world are evil.” (John 7:7)” And Paul testified, “The Messiah gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of The Only True God, Our Father.”(Gal 1:4)

The Messiah testified: “If the world hates you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”(John 5:18) Truly, Truly, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die it brings forth much fruit. He that loves his life in this world shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall have it unto Life Eternal.” (John 12:24-25)

John testified: “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hates you.” (I John 3:13)

James testified, “Whoever would be a friend of this world is the enemy of GOD!” (James4:4)

"Come Out of her, MY people"!

"Come Out" of the systems that are of this wicked world, and especially it's systems of religion, for they but carry on the legacy of the pharisee's ;-(

Global warming, polluted air, land and waters; toxic wastes, sexual perversion, evil inventions of destruction, systems of religion, lies, deception, delusion, greed, hate, carnal warfare, dis-ease(no-peace),,etc,, are all destructive processes that have their root in “the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life” which caused Eve to fall victim to 'd'evil, and which continue to fuel the fires of mankind’s “imag”ination ;-(

"Come out from among them and be separate"!

Why have your portion with those who are destroying Creation(air, water, land, vegetation, creatures) and perverting that which is Spirit(Truth, Light, Life, Love, Peace, Grace, Faith,,,, All that is Truly GOOD)! 

The brethren of The Messiah have "Come Out!"

So it is that we "Love Not The World" and choose to remain but "aliens and pilgrims while on the earth", for we have realized that our "citizenship(Life) is in Heaven" and that soon, and very soon, we will be taken Home, Home at last!

Till then:

Father Help! and HE does.......

Peace, in spite of the dis-ease(no-peace) that is of this world and it's systems of religion, for "the WHOLE(not just a portion) world is under the control of the evil one" indeed and Truth......(1 John 5:19)

Truth IS, a lie never was and is not.......

Abide in Truth....... francis

Avinu · Mar 5, 2012

חבר טוב מאוד שלי, אני נהנה מזה

ElderChild · Mar 5, 2012

Avinu said:

i appreciate the encouragement.......

Father Help! and HE does.......

(i needed to use a Hebrew to English online interpreter, however i am thankful that i am but a simple and unliearned man)

Grandpa · Mar 5, 2012

Ha Ha. Me too

Red33 · Mar 5, 2012

The Messiah testified: “If the world hates you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”(John 5:18) Truly, Truly, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die it brings forth much fruit. He that loves his life in this world shall lose it; and he that hates his life in this world shall have it unto Life Eternal.” (John 12:24-25)

How true are we to the above highlighted in blue.

Do we love our life enough to lose it so that we do not have a single thought or activity to satisfy anything that we are, even our Jewish heritage? How many of you who are of Israel can say that? You love the fact that you are Jewish and of Israel, but Jesus says, can you hate that also and lose that identity in Christ so that you can find who Christ has made you to be in Him through death? When we take up our cross we are nobodies. We are just vessels for God to pour His life into and then to be broken so God's life can come forth through that vessel. A Jewish and a Gentile vessel have the same capacity to hold the living God. Are we really crucified in our experience so that we can say as Paul could say, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Can we really appreciate what it means to die daily in the plan of God and lose our life for Christ's sake? Jesus was not talking about a religious martyr's complex or asceticism through having the world hate us or seperating ourself from it, He was talking about walking in the light and love of God every single second and with every thought so that the flesh and self nature of the old man has no place in our life to consume anything upon it. Try taking up your cross before you keep the commandments and then you will find your life and the love of God will motivate you to do the commandments because for you to live is Christ.

ElderChild · Mar 5, 2012

Red33 said:

"the blue" testifies to The Truth of "The "I" Must Die!"

In as much as i can 'see',
That which is of the "I(ego,id,self,pride)" in me,

So it is i yearn, and to Our Father cry,
For deliverance from all that is of the "I".

The "I", born of "imag"ination and selfish desire,
As lust, greed, and pride, stoked a consuming fire!

A fire burning out of control, as "I" leads the way,
It's smoke concealing the fleshly mind that leads one astray.

Yet even in the smoke, searing heat, and blindness of 'sight',
Truth can pierce the blackness of darkness, revealing "The Light"!

And nothing can hide from "The Light", so "Light" reveals the "I",
Allowing one to "see" clearly, and clearly the "I" must die.

But to live, yet die, seems an impossible task,
And so we need of "Our Father", the impossible to ask.

Help me to "deny myself(die to "I",ego,id,self,pride)" Father!

And as HE Helps, HE reveals more and more of "The Selfless One".

The One who testified, "I can do nothing of Mine own self"!

The One Who leads His brethren on "The Way to The Truth of The Life".

The One Who was and is The Messiah, The Son of The One and Only True GOD, Father(Creator) of ALL!

The Messiah, "The Light of the world"!

And as The Messiah desired above all else, so also will His brethren desire above all else, "Father, not my("I") will, But THY Will Be Done".......

The poem i have recorded above was begun in Creel, Chih, Mexico in '92, a time when i sought to live and experience a simple and spiritual life. Left Mexico in '93, yet returned in '04.

Then on 1/26/05 the poem was completed, and 'completion' is near for each and every one of us.

And for "the poor and needy" son's of GOD, thankfully so.

For "I" can't!

"Our Father", HE CAN!

And soon and very soon, translated!

"Corruptible to incorruptible" indeed and Truth.......

Home, Home at last.......

Forever free from the "I(ego,id,self,pride)".......

All Thanks and Praise Be Unto "Our Father".......

And while there is breath(spirit) there is hope many will "see",
"see" the "I" for what it is, and then desire to be set free!

And that Spirit that was in The Messiah can "set you free, free indeed"!

So, There Is Hope!

For Miracles do happen.......

Hope is there would be those who experience The Miracle that is receiving "a love of The Truth" for they will "see" The Light that is The Messiah, which clearly reveals that The Life is of The Spirit(not seen with the natural eye), and most certainly not of the flesh or fleshly mind("I",ego,id,self,pride).......

Peace, in spite of the dis-ease(darkness) that is of this world and it's systems of religion, for "the WHOLE(not just a portion) world is under the control of the evil one" indeed and Truth.......(1John5:19)

Truth IS, a lie never was and is not.......

Adide in Truth.......

(i have returned to this place they call the u.s.a. and am currently on what i like to call a no-mad-ness journey. Thankfully i am but "an alien and pilgrim while on this earth". Yet a return to the simplicity that is rural Mexico would be welcomed, however, i realize that in all things it must be "Father(Creator) not my will, But THY Will Be Done.......)

Father Help! and HE does.......

ElderChild · Mar 5, 2012

Grandpa said:

You're awful young to be a "grandpa".......

However, if you live in appalachia that would be considered a bit old.

Thankfully Our Father, HE teaches HIS children and makes certain the lessons are learned, no matter the pain, and in spite of us.......

Yet, "Joy that comes in the morning(mourning)"!

Father Help! and HE does.......

Grandpa · Mar 5, 2012

ElderChild said:

Yes. I'm young for a grandpa. I had kind of a hard time coming to grips with it. I was only 38. And didn't live anywhere near Kentucky...

I've had a hard time coming to grips with a lot of things.

But the Joy of the Lord is my Strength.

If it wasn't for the Lord Jesus Christ I would be in a very bad place now.

Thankfully, when we cry out with a contrite heart and a broken spirit, He is faithful to listen and respond.

Thank you, Lord Jesus.

ElderChild · Mar 5, 2012

Grandpa said:

Yes! "a broken spirit, and a broken and contrite heart" is within "the elect who cry unto Our Father day and night".

It is good to realize that as "The Messiah suffered so also will His brethren".

And suffering is a good thing, for Truth testifies that "love suffers long".......

"May The GOD of Hope fill you with all Joy and Peace in believing, that you may abound in Hope, thru The Power that is The Holy, Set Apart, Spirit".

Peace....... francisco

cfultz3 · Mar 5, 2012

To Elder,
I have but one thing to say,

pickles · Mar 6, 2012

Amen as to love not the world!

As I was reading this thread, a scripture came to mind.
God made the world by His wisdom, the earth by His power!
I have often wondered at this distinction, as another scripture speaks to God making the world fallible like man, so that when man is made perfect , so will the world be.
( Not a perfect quote, hopefully another can word it accuratly.

)
But is does bring wonder to Gods's glory and perpose.

God bless
pickles

Red33 · Mar 6, 2012

It is not possible to 'love not the world' without hating your own life for if you love your life then you will love the world. When Demas left Paul he loved this present world (2Tim 4:10). He never counted his life and all things but dung so that he could win Christ (Phil 3:8). The flesh won out in Demas' life and he forsook not only Paul; but the body of Christ. The love of the father stopped being operational in his life. He gave place and made a provision in his flesh through the pride of life instead of allowing the cross to work death in him. Too much of his old life was being cut away and he put a stop to it but not taking up his cross anymore and cut off God's supply of grace. He just wanted to a normal Christian but not one like Paul who died daily and let death work in him so that Christ's life could manifest toward others. How would Paul ever Know Christ in the power of His resurrection without being a partaker of His death.

Gal 2:20,21

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

ElderChild · Mar 6, 2012

Red33 said:

It is so! let it be so.......

Appreciated the testimony but i do question one statement?

A "normal christian"?

i question such because at one time, in The Life given me, i had determined i did not want to be a disciple and follow The Messiah on The Narrow Way, i just wanted to be what i then would have declared to be, a "normal christian" ;-(

During that time i was being "churched", cloned in a way, however such cloning was more of a "do your best and leave the rest to god", "cleanliness is next to godliness", "don't worry be happy", "love your country", "x-mass, easter, 4th of july", "song, song, prayer, message, collection, song, prayer", "one day, maybe two days a week", "grace, grace, grace",,,, of "normal christian" philosophical braindirtying processes ;-(

And i experienced such within the lutheran, catholic, baptist, aog, coc,,,,, and the so-called conservative mennonite way ;-(

Thankfully "Our Father", HE delivered from all such, and HE yet delivers me from my own self(fleshly, pride, ego, id, "I")ish desires and "imag"inings !

Father Help! and HE does.......

And so it is that i question being a "normal christian"?

For who are the brethren of The Messiah?

Would not a brother of The Messiah be seeking and desiring to follow Him on The Narrow Way, forsaking all that they have, YES! and their own life as well?

Certainly not an easy way, not the ease-of-life way, but Oh, the joy that floods my soul when i realize that Our Father, HE truly cares for each and every one of HIS children, those whose heart desire is to do "HIS Will and GOOD Pleasure" as revealed in The Life and Teachings of The Messiah!

Father Help! and HE does.......

Simply, the brethren of The Messiah are His disciples.

Not cookie-cutter clones by any means, yet their heart's desire is that which The Messiah desired above all else:

"Father, not my will, But THY Will Be Done"!

Father Help! and HE does.......

And the "normal christian"?

Seems "the father of lies" uses them in his war against The TRUTH ;-(

So it is that the money loving, love your own life in and of this world, ease-of-life, "i'm ok, you're ok", consumptive, destructive, perverse, lying systems of religion all war against The TRUTH ;-(

And systems of religion lead the way as babylon is re"imag"ined!

One wicked world, one language(english), and "nothing will be restrained that they have "imag"ined to do" (Gen 11:6) ;-(

So it is that those of this wicked world and it's systems of religion are destroying Creation(air, water, land, vegetation, creatures) and perverting that which is Spirit(Truth, Light, Life, Love, Peace, Grace, Faith,,,, All that is Truly GOOD)! 

"Come Out of her, MY people!"

Father Help! and HE does.......

Red33 · Mar 6, 2012

Many believers are content to be a nominal Christian. They work, raise a family, they have friends, they go on vacations and they read their Bible, they pray, they go to church once or twice a week and feel they have done their duty as a believer. All those things are good and we pray that God would bless them in these things, don't we?. Any religious person can do the same thing day in and day out and sit in the pew listening to the preacher and even tell him how good his sermon or message was. I know this to be true because I have lived with them, served with them, gone to church with them, prayed with them and watch them raise families. They are good people that seem to love God and live moral lives. However, when it comes to really laying their life down when it really costs them something and they have to lose their life, then you find out just how spiritual they really are and what kind of love they are motivated by.

All of a sudden they start making excuses why they can't do or be available for this or that, but they will be praying by proxy and wish you the best, but they won't be there. They read that they are to lay their life down for the brethren, but they make excuses why they can't. God has a plan in all these things so that believers won't live in the comfortability of the flesh. You see, when you make a provision for your flesh instead of laying your life down, that is loving the world and the things that are in the world because that is exactly how the world behaves. Shouldn't the world see something different about the love we have for one another by truly laying our lives down even to our own hurt? More believers kick against this one thing more than any other and they measure themselves to others to decide whether it would be beneficial and convenient for them to lay it down instead of laying it down no matter what it might cost them, even their reputation that has such a value attached today according to worldly standards.

When we lose our life for Christ's sake and the gospel's, we will offend the world and those carnal believers (not intentionally) that enjoy the things of the world to the satisfying of the flesh. It is so easy to tell if a person is living in the flesh or not, just see how they react to laying their life down and doing something they don't like to do or is not convenient for them. 'Honey, would you wash the dishes for me tonite, I am tired and would like to go to bed'. 'But there's a game on TV I have been waiting to watch all week'. That which is natural comes first and now he can be a spiritual man and lay his life down and do those dished with love and joy in his heart unto the Lord and bless his wife and reap an eternal reward in heaven.

tribesman · Mar 6, 2012

Red33 said:

Many believers are content to be a nominal Christian. They work, raise a family, they have friends, they go on vacations and they read their Bible, they pray, they go to church once or twice a week and feel they have done their duty as a believer. All those things are good and we pray that God would bless them in these things, don't we?. Any religious person can do the same thing day in and day out and sit in the pew listening to the preacher and even tell him how good his sermon or message was. I know this to be true because I have lived with them, served with them, gone to church with them, prayed with them and watch them raise families. They are good people that seem to love God and live moral lives. However, when it comes to really laying their life down when it really costs them something and they have to lose their life, then you find out just how spiritual they really are and what kind of love they are motivated by.

All of a sudden they start making excuses why they can't do or be available for this or that, but they will be praying by proxy and wish you the best, but they won't be there. They read that they are to lay their life down for the brethren, but they make excuses why they can't. God has a plan in all these things so that believers won't live in the comfortability of the flesh. You see, when you make a provision for your flesh instead of laying your life down, that is loving the world and the things that are in the world because that is exactly how the world behaves. Shouldn't the world see something different about the love we have for one another by truly laying our lives down even to our own hurt? More believers kick against this one thing more than any other and they measure themselves to others to decide whether it would be beneficial and convenient for them to lay it down instead of laying it down no matter what it might cost them, even their reputation that has such a value attached today according to worldly standards.

When we lose our life for Christ's sake and the gospel's, we will offend the world and those carnal believers (not intentionally) that enjoy the things of the world to the satisfying of the flesh. It is so easy to tell if a person is living in the flesh or not, just see how they react to laying their life down and doing something they don't like to do or is not convenient for them. 'Honey, would you wash the dishes for me tonite, I am tired and would like to go to bed'. 'But there's a game on TV I have been waiting to watch all week'. That which is natural comes first and now can be a spiritual man and lay his life down and do those dished with love and joy in his heart unto the Lord and bless his wife and reap an eternal reward in heaven.

Spot on. Good one.

ElderChild · Mar 6, 2012

pickles said:

Jer 10:12 and 51:15 "HE(GOD) has made the earth by HIS Power, HE has established the world by HIS Wisdom, and has stretched out the Heavens by HIS discretion."

i can not recollect, nor could i find any verse(s) that testify of "GOD making the world "fall"ible like man and then both will be perfected", but a jw should be able to do so.

It is well to remember that Peter testified that "the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished"....... And the surface of the earth was renewed.......

And today the scriptures clearly reveal that 'd'evil "father of lies" rules over the world that now is, for John testtifed, "the WHOLE(not just a portion) world is under the control of the evil one", and so it is that the brethren of The Messiah are exhorted to "love not the world, or the things in the world" for "whoever loves the world has not the love of The Father in him"!

Will share something i have considered for quite some time concerning "GOD establishing the world by HIS wisdom".

Why Creation? Why is the world so wicked and evil? Why?

GOD created the angels(HIS sons) 'perfect', yet even in that perfection one of those angels decided that he wanted to be like "god" and rebelled against HIM, as did 1/3 of the other angels that followed him.

The angels who remained faithful unto Our Father and GOD won that war, yet those angels who rebelled against HIM, i believe, left a void in GOD's Family, in the very Heart of GOD, and it could be that Life as we now know it was Created so that that void would be filled.

In HIS Wisdom GOD chose to create a creature(man) from the dust of the earth who would be given a choice, the "free will" to "Love HIM with all their heart, mind, soul and strength" while on the earth, or not to!

And those who freely chose and desired to "Love HIM and Serve HIM" rather than being self-serving. would be tried as gold, in the fires of pride, selfishness, affliction, persecution, temptation,,,, while on the earth!

All who chose to Love and Serve HIM and would willingly forsake all, YES! and their own life as well; those who were tried and tested midst the refining fires and remained Faithful to HIM would be translated into HIS Family to fill the Void left by those rebellious angels.

For Our Father knows that if we did not forsake and rebel against HIM while on the earth in our natural, fleshly, temporal, earthly bodies, we will not forsake or rebel against HIM when HE gives us our New, Spiritual, Incorruptible, Eternal, Heavenly Bodies!

Eternally Thankful we will be! and forever free from the fleshly "I(pride,ego,id,self)" that was in all of us!

Soon, and very soon, we will be taken Home, Home at last!

Till then:

Father Help! and HE does....... Now and Forever!

ElderChild · Mar 6, 2012

Red33 said:

Many believers are content to be a nominal Christian. They work, raise a family, they have friends, they go on vacations and they read their Bible, they pray, they go to church once or twice a week and feel they have done their duty as a believer. All those things are good and we pray that God would bless them in these things, don't we?. Any religious person can do the same thing day in and day out and sit in the pew listening to the preacher and even tell him how good his sermon or message was. I know this to be true because I have lived with them, served with them, gone to church with them, prayed with them and watch them raise families. They are good people that seem to love God and live moral lives. However, when it comes to really laying their life down when it really costs them something and they have to lose their life, then you find out just how spiritual they really are and what kind of love they are motivated by.

All of a sudden they start making excuses why they can't do or be available for this or that, but they will be praying by proxy and wish you the best, but they won't be there. They read that they are to lay their life down for the brethren, but they make excuses why they can't. God has a plan in all these things so that believers won't live in the comfortability of the flesh. You see, when you make a provision for your flesh instead of laying your life down, that is loving the world and the things that are in the world because that is exactly how the world behaves. Shouldn't the world see something different about the love we have for one another by truly laying our lives down even to our own hurt? More believers kick against this one thing more than any other and they measure themselves to others to decide whether it would be beneficial and convenient for them to lay it down instead of laying it down no matter what it might cost them, even their reputation that has such a value attached today according to worldly standards.

When we lose our life for Christ's sake and the gospel's, we will offend the world and those carnal believers (not intentionally) that enjoy the things of the world to the satisfying of the flesh. It is so easy to tell if a person is living in the flesh or not, just see how they react to laying their life down and doing something they don't like to do or is not convenient for them. 'Honey, would you wash the dishes for me tonite, I am tired and would like to go to bed'. 'But there's a game on TV I have been waiting to watch all week'. That which is natural comes first and now he can be a spiritual man and lay his life down and do those dished with love and joy in his heart unto the Lord and bless his wife and reap an eternal reward in heaven.

Appreciated the beginning however?

Simply, that tv(media,movies,etc) should not be.......

Is there a more destructive 'thing' that is of this world?

Wars, and all weapons of war, vehicles, etc, kill the flesh, but tv(media)?

But propagates that which is of mankind's "imag"ination and has it's portion in the killing of the soul and spirit within man ;-(

True it is that "nothing will be restrained from them which they have "imag"ined to do"!

Father Help! and HE does.......

WeStand · Mar 6, 2012

ElderChild said:

& for those who have & do transgress against US:

But most importantly Father YAHAVAH, i would ask you for Father, in and through the name of Your Son, and our Lord, King and Saviour's name, Jesus The Christ/ Yeshua Messiah, and thank you Father for granting unto me; and for the double portion thereof, if it be available to me through the house of Joseph, and ALL that there is available of it, to me at this time;

Of strength, courage, wisdom, paitence and endurance, to help ME Father, to forgive those who have and do transgress against us; Our vineyard of flesh families, planted by Your hand Father; But more importantly Father, for Your Holy Universal Family Father, which has been defiled, and has just not had the record set completely straight YET!

All of the terrible things that happen in these shadows of hell; that causes anybody to doubt as to whether there is a Creator or not; should understand, that He is NOT like that At All.

Can't even really look at it without reacting in His MoreNatural Way, which is to wipe it out of exsistance, in the speed of light, and because He never changes, won't look at it, until the end of The Lord's Day, at which time He WILL wipe out the Negative, in His Lake of Fire, and at the speed of light

No more pain, No more war, No more darkness/negativity, No more Tears and No more memories of this Temporal condition; as all its ever been in reality is war, and who wants to take into the Eternity?

Better IS the day of ones pass-over, in the flesh, than of ones birth.

Forever in Christ/Messiah

ElderChild · Mar 6, 2012

WeStand said:

& for those who have & do transgress against US:

But most importantly Father YAHAVAH, i would ask you for Father, in and through the name of Your Son, and our Lord, King and Saviour's name, Jesus The Christ/ Yeshua Messiah, and thank you Father for granting unto me; and for the double portion thereof, if it be available to me through the house of Joseph, and ALL that there is available of it, to me at this time;

Of strength, courage, wisdom, paitence and endurance, to help ME Father, to forgive those who have and do transgress against us; Our vineyard of flesh families, planted by Your hand Father; But more importantly Father, for Your Holy Universal Family Father, which has been defiled, and has just not had the record set completely straight YET!

All of the terrible things that happen in these shadows of hell; that causes anybody to doubt as to whether there is a Creator or not; should understand, that He is NOT like that At All.

Can't even really look at it without reacting in His MoreNatural Way, which is to wipe it out of exsistance, in the speed of light, and because He never changes, won't look at it, until the end of The Lord's Day, at which time He WILL wipe out the Negative, in His Lake of Fire, and at the speed of light

No more pain, No more war, No more darkness/negativity, No more Tears and No more memories of this Temporal condition; as all its ever been in reality is war, and who wants to take that into the Eternity?

Better IS the day of ones pass-over, in the flesh, than of ones birth.

Forever in Christ/Messiah

It is so! let it be so.......

Father Help! and HE does.......

Avinu · Mar 6, 2012

Many believers are content to be a nominal Christian. They work, raise a family, they have friends, they go on vacations and they read their Bible, they pray, they go to church once or twice a week and feel they have done their duty as a believer. All those things are good and we pray that God would bless them in these things, don't we?. Any religious person can do the same thing day in and day out and sit in the pew listening to the preacher and even tell him how good his sermon or message was. I know this to be true because I have lived with them, served with them, gone to church with them, prayed with them and watch them raise families. They are good people that seem to love God and live moral lives. However, when it comes to really laying their life down when it really costs them something and they have to lose their life, then you find out just how spiritual they really are and what kind of love they are motivated by.

All of a sudden they start making excuses why they can't do or be available for this or that, but they will be praying by proxy and wish you the best, but they won't be there. They read that they are to lay their life down for the brethren, but they make excuses why they can't. God has a plan in all these things so that believers won't live in the comfortability of the flesh. You see, when you make a provision for your flesh instead of laying your life down, that is loving the world and the things that are in the world because that is exactly how the world behaves. Shouldn't the world see something different about the love we have for one another by truly laying our lives down even to our own hurt? More believers kick against this one thing more than any other and they measure themselves to others to decide whether it would be beneficial and convenient for them to lay it down instead of laying it down no matter what it might cost them, even their reputation that has such a value attached today according to worldly standards.

When we lose our life for Christ's sake and the gospel's, we will offend the world and those carnal believers (not intentionally) that enjoy the things of the world to the satisfying of the flesh. It is so easy to tell if a person is living in the flesh or not, just see how they react to laying their life down and doing something they don't like to do or is not convenient for them. 'Honey, would you wash the dishes for me tonite, I am tired and would like to go to bed'. 'But there's a game on TV I have been waiting to watch all week'. That which is natural comes first and now he can be a spiritual man and lay his life down and do those dished with love and joy in his heart unto the Lord and bless his wife and reap an eternal reward in heaven.

You and I don't agree with each other on anything, but this is one I have to give you credit on. Red this is so right on target, that alot of claimed believers couldn't handle being told this kind of brutal truth. They would run.

"Love Not The World"

Banned

Banned

Banned

Senior Member

Banned

Banned

Banned

Senior Member

Banned

cfultz3

Guest

Senior Member

Banned

Banned

Banned

Senior Member

Banned

Banned

Banned

Banned

Banned