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Post by elizabeth on Jan 30, 2014 21:35:42 GMT
I read this devotional the other day. I thought about how true I thought it was, and how seldom I was at that level. It sure gave me something to think about. This is from Hungry Heart by Miles Stanford. Pembroke Bible Chapel
MATRICULATION - January 28, 2014
"My grace suffices for you, for power matures in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9, Weymouth).
There can be no true and intelligent rejection of the self-life without thorough heart preparation by the Holy Spirit. We read in the Word that self is to be hated and rejected, but the development of this attitude may be long removed from the initial revelation. Years of processing separate Romans Three from Colossians Three, in our experience.
"Why are we so deficient in divine power? Simply because we do not like the way it begins. Its beginning is to hate one's own life, and this is an awful start; but there is no 'tower' built without it. You must refuse human material, or you cannot build to true structure. Power enabled Elisha to take hold of his own clothes and tear them into two pieces. It begins with self-abnegation. This explains the reason why there is so little power. Very often one lingers over his losses like an exile, but he must rise out of it; he must bury his dead out of his sight; it is a great day when that comes to pass, and then he can be useful to others." -J.B.S.
"To be willing to accept crucifixion with Christ, to leave all yourself, your plans and your longings, your abilities and your possessions, all of them at the Cross, so that you only trust and love and live for the Lord Jesus, hurts a great deal. It requires an absolute venture of faith; but beyond it, God says, 'much fruit.' And the way to it is 'into the ground and die it is the only way; His way."
"Most gladly therefore will I boast of my infirmities rather than complain of them; in order that Christ's power may overshadow me" (2 Corinthians 12:9, Weymouth.).
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Post by shiloh on Feb 3, 2014 6:04:45 GMT
Hey, I really like this Elizabeth. This is something that really makes you think. Great post!
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Post by LS on Feb 3, 2014 7:11:25 GMT
Isn't this the true essence of the Christian life? Twice in my lifetime I've walked into The Lord's "classroom" at His leading. What I didn't realize (both times) was that I was in need of chastising. I was blinded to my own behavior and the presumptuous sin I'd allowed in. I lost everything slowly the first time, after taking a step of faith which had been directed by the Lord. I realized three things soon after: 1. I deserved it (Psalm 119:67) 2. I needed it (Psalm 119:71) 3. The Lord was demonstrating His faithfulness in doing it (Psalm 119:75) And finally, when that was over, I was able to see that He fulfilled Deuteronomy 8:16 as well. To sum up, was it pleasant? No. Was it worth it? Absolutely! So much so, that I'm once again on the backside of the desert Interesting times for sure.
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Post by Benjamin on Feb 3, 2014 9:01:00 GMT
I like the idea behind this article, but I find the wording somewhat painful. I understand what it's TRYING to say, but the concept that "We read in the Word that self is to be hated and rejected" is just blatantly false. There is nowhere that Scripture states these things.
Are we to "deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him"? Absolutely! Are we to "consider all things loss" for His sake? Absolutely!
But to "hate self"? Scripture tells me that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made"! Ephesians echoes that sentiment, saying that "For no man ever had hate for his flesh; but he gives it food and takes care of it, even as Christ does for the church".
This 'hatred of the flesh' is, as much as anything else, a hangover from the Middle Ages, where it was taught that the flesh was evil and sinful, forgetting that God Himself had created this flesh, and called it "good" on the Sixth Day.
I think the Church needs to reclaim the beauty of God's creation - acknowledging fully, wholeheartedly, that we live in a fallen, broken world - but there are, everywhere, echoes of His grace and reminders of the beauty of His handiwork. It is not, then, the "self" that is the issue, but the desire to satisfy self that is the problem. This is why Jesus says we must "deny ourselves"; not that we should despise our flesh, but that we should abandon the desire to fulfil our own sinful needs for the sake of His Kingdom.
Thoughts?
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Post by elizabeth on Feb 3, 2014 9:33:30 GMT
Benjamin, there is nothing wrong or sinful with our physical bodies. The self the author is talking about is our inner self - our personality, the 'real us' if you will. This part houses our pride, lust, envy, greed, etc.
This is all part of the sinner that had to die with Christ on Calvary in order to be born again.
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Post by elizabeth on Feb 3, 2014 9:56:08 GMT
I hope the following excerpt explains things better, Benjamin.
Evan Hopkins shares some important light on our subject: "How infinite are the forms in which self appears. Some are occupied with good self They pride themselves on their excellencies. Others are just as much occupied with bad self. They are forever groaning over their imperfections, and struggling with the flesh as if they hoped in time to improve it. When shall we be convinced it is so utterly bad that it is beyond all recovery? Our experience, upward, in the power of God, is just in proportion to our experience, downward, in ceasing from self.
"Is it, Reckon yourself to be weak in reference to sin? No, it is lower than that. Is it, Reckon yourself to be dying? No, lower still. ‘Reckon yourself to be dead—(Rom. 6:11)—indeed unto sin.’ Some believe they are very weak. But what does that imply? That they have some strength. But when a man is dead he has no strength. We must act on the fact that we are dead in reference to sin. We shall not then speak of difficulty as to resisting temptation in reference to ourselves. We shall take the lowest place, and say it is impossible. But we shall know that what is impossible with self is possible with God. We shall take our place on the resurrection side of the cross, and in so doing we leave behind the old self-life for the new Christ-life. To live in Him who is our Life, is to be in the power of God."
Someone has rightly said, "There are many ‘separated from the world’ Christians who are not ‘separated from themselves’ Christians."
Principles of Spiritual Growth Fair Use For Educational or Discussion Purposes
Elizabeth
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Post by Benjamin on Feb 3, 2014 10:17:04 GMT
...it does, actually. Or at least, it clarifies what he was getting at in the first place.
I guess that distinction needs to be made, though. I know I've bumped into people who seem to think that Christians have this warped view of physicality, even sexuality, that is repressive and unhealthy. I can understand that to a point; the Church has at times treated those subjects like they're untouchable. Instead, we need to engage with those things in a way that is... yes, respectful, yes, sensitive, but at the same time, open and honest... and that understanding of who we are in a physical sense needs to flow over into our understanding of exactly what is to happen in the future, too. After all, Jesus isn't going to destroy all things, but "make all things new". Why is this? Because in the beginning, it was GOOD... and that is what He died to repair, and comes again to restore (and more!).
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