Getting back to you regarding the book "No Cross No Crown". Very revealing book emphasizing the need for Christians to "deny ourselves". This "deny ourself" is a concept that is either misunderstood, ignored, or just minimized by most Christians today.
A few excerpts from the book I found interesting.
The work of the Cross is self denial. The way of God is a way of faith and self-denial. Christ conquered self. It is the most perfect pattern of self denial. Whosover he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.
Love their possessions more than Christ. This made those lawful fisherman quit their lawful trades, and follow Him. Their lawful enjoyments became their idols, they worshiped them more than God.
What, thy wife dearer to thee than thy Savior! and thy land and oxen preferred before thy soul's salvation!
Frankie, this book is a real eye opener for a Christian.The book is somewhat hard to read because of the language usage of 16th century timeframe, but it is full of insight regarding the overall topic "Deny Thyself"!
I've observed that it is hard to tell the lifestyle differences of Christains and secularists today. They live and share in the same worldly lifestyles. They may go to church on Sunday's but they live in the same manner as everyone else during the week.
If we think we are really a Christ follower: we need to ask ourselves this simple question; Have I picked up my Cross and am I denying myself?
1 John 2:15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
Yes, it took a number of reads in solitude with Holy Spirit to get a well grounded understanding, yet from the very first read, the Witness arose within me, testifying to the truth of the matter, with Scriptures & sound reasoning. It created an hunger & thirst after righteousness without deceit.
I pray all would consider reading this treasure, that God has given to us thru servant, but mostly John 7:17
Thank you for these excerpts. They are good for us to consider and pray for the Holy Spirit to help us deny what the world offers even lawful things, and use our time and treasures for following the will and example of our Savior. Those raising a family have responsibilities to their children, fulfilling these responsibilities is following the will of God. Others may have a business that supplies the income that pays for what we owe others for their services and for food and shelter. God would have us be faithful in these obligations, too.
But we all can examine our lifestyles to weed out ways we are "loving the world above loving Jesus". At our house, we are purging our belongings by donating many items to charity. We have accumulated too much over the 40+ years of marriage.
So, as seniors, we really do not need as much as we think, and so, we are going room by room to "downsize". I definitely realize that we just have so much more than we need. Others in need will benefit from our giving. I am glad for that.
But even after we downsize in this way, we still need to be sure that our hearts don't wander after things of the world that the Lord would not have us do.
Always enjoy your input, and glad to hear that you are on board with loving Jesus and not the world.I think today Christians (including me) have major difficulty divorcing ourselves from all of the fleshy worldly things. I believe this is a major roadblock that we place in front of true and real relationship with God.
Jesus tells us Matthew 6:25-34 If we are preoccupied with providing for ourselves, including and specifically more than we need, are we depending on ourselves more than we are on Him?
Wanting newer bigger homes, and more luxury, cars, clothes, jewelry, vacations, fancy meals/restaurants, opera, hollywood entertainment, sports, I could go on..All of the time spent pursuing these things take away from the time we can be spending with God..
I don't believe Gods Holy Spirit guides us, or approves us, to be pursuing all of the fleshy worldly things.serious problem here.who is keeping us involved with this world?
I really am starting to see the validity of this verse. Matthew 7:14 "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
I don't think we as Christians really take this verse to heart! If we think we can continue to live worldly lives and make it to heaven.I think we are fooling ourselves, and it's not just us fooling ourselves, it is the devil, and Matthew 7:15
Had a garage sale last weekend at my friends house and will do it again at my house in a few weeks. We both are purging our belongings. We just have accumulated more than we ought to have and I have been working at this since I retired a few years ago. Got rid of all my work clothes, shoes, etc. Been going room by room and giving much away over the past few years.
In this area of belongings, I am repenting, for sure. Having a house big enough for the kids to grow up in was great when they were young, but now they are grown, and we hope to downsize to a much smaller home in an area of the U.S. we can afford to purchase a lot and build a home I designed that is ADA favorable. We hope to be able to stay in the house we build for a few dozen years. Then we would be 90! But we have been in this home almost 30 years and my has things filled it up!
So this conversation is a very appropriate one for me. It hits me in the area I have working at mastering. When we were first married 43 years ago all of both of our belongings could fit into a small Subaru wagon in the early 80's. We did not have much and lived simply. Want to get back to that.
I grew up in poverty and didn't mind. But as our income has grown I must admit that I have enjoyed having some special things. But then I found too many special things and now must make a change. We have always been frugal, but looking for a bargain can be equally troublesome, as I found out.
Our culture is not just consumer driven, but in this present time, we are a throw away society that wants to change things up every few years/season. HD TV has helped this trend, for sure.
Well, got to get to dinner now. Please pray that I keep at this purging until God says I can stop.
Getting back to you regarding the book "No Cross No Crown". Very revealing book emphasizing the need for Christians to "deny ourselves". This "deny ourself" is a concept that is either misunderstood, ignored, or just minimized by most Christians today.
A few excerpts from the book I found interesting.
The work of the Cross is self denial. The way of God is a way of faith and self-denial. Christ conquered self. It is the most perfect pattern of self denial. Whosover he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.
Love their possessions more than Christ. This made those lawful fisherman quit their lawful trades, and follow Him. Their lawful enjoyments became their idols, they worshiped them more than God.
What, thy wife dearer to thee than thy Savior! and thy land and oxen preferred before thy soul's salvation!
Frankie, this book is a real eye opener for a Christian.The book is somewhat hard to read because of the language usage of 16th century timeframe, but it is full of insight regarding the overall topic "Deny Thyself"!
I've observed that it is hard to tell the lifestyle differences of Christains and secularists today. They live and share in the same worldly lifestyles. They may go to church on Sunday's but they live in the same manner as everyone else during the week.
If we think we are really a Christ follower: we need to ask ourselves this simple question; Have I picked up my Cross and am I denying myself?
1 John 2:15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
GBU
Yes, it took a number of reads in solitude with Holy Spirit to get a well grounded understanding, yet from the very first read, the Witness arose within me, testifying to the truth of the matter, with Scriptures & sound reasoning. It created an hunger & thirst after righteousness without deceit.
I pray all would consider reading this treasure, that God has given to us thru servant, but mostly John 7:17
in love & truth
Thank you for these excerpts. They are good for us to consider and pray for the Holy Spirit to help us deny what the world offers even lawful things, and use our time and treasures for following the will and example of our Savior. Those raising a family have responsibilities to their children, fulfilling these responsibilities is following the will of God. Others may have a business that supplies the income that pays for what we owe others for their services and for food and shelter. God would have us be faithful in these obligations, too.
But we all can examine our lifestyles to weed out ways we are "loving the world above loving Jesus". At our house, we are purging our belongings by donating many items to charity. We have accumulated too much over the 40+ years of marriage.
So, as seniors, we really do not need as much as we think, and so, we are going room by room to "downsize". I definitely realize that we just have so much more than we need. Others in need will benefit from our giving. I am glad for that.
But even after we downsize in this way, we still need to be sure that our hearts don't wander after things of the world that the Lord would not have us do.
Always enjoy your input, and glad to hear that you are on board with loving Jesus and not the world.I think today Christians (including me) have major difficulty divorcing ourselves from all of the fleshy worldly things. I believe this is a major roadblock that we place in front of true and real relationship with God.
Jesus tells us Matthew 6:25-34 If we are preoccupied with providing for ourselves, including and specifically more than we need, are we depending on ourselves more than we are on Him?
Wanting newer bigger homes, and more luxury, cars, clothes, jewelry, vacations, fancy meals/restaurants, opera, hollywood entertainment, sports, I could go on..All of the time spent pursuing these things take away from the time we can be spending with God..
I don't believe Gods Holy Spirit guides us, or approves us, to be pursuing all of the fleshy worldly things.serious problem here.who is keeping us involved with this world?
I really am starting to see the validity of this verse. Matthew 7:14 "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
I don't think we as Christians really take this verse to heart! If we think we can continue to live worldly lives and make it to heaven.I think we are fooling ourselves, and it's not just us fooling ourselves, it is the devil, and Matthew 7:15
God Bless
Had a garage sale last weekend at my friends house and will do it again at my house in a few weeks. We both are purging our belongings. We just have accumulated more than we ought to have and I have been working at this since I retired a few years ago. Got rid of all my work clothes, shoes, etc. Been going room by room and giving much away over the past few years.
In this area of belongings, I am repenting, for sure. Having a house big enough for the kids to grow up in was great when they were young, but now they are grown, and we hope to downsize to a much smaller home in an area of the U.S. we can afford to purchase a lot and build a home I designed that is ADA favorable. We hope to be able to stay in the house we build for a few dozen years. Then we would be 90! But we have been in this home almost 30 years and my has things filled it up!
So this conversation is a very appropriate one for me. It hits me in the area I have working at mastering. When we were first married 43 years ago all of both of our belongings could fit into a small Subaru wagon in the early 80's. We did not have much and lived simply. Want to get back to that.
I grew up in poverty and didn't mind. But as our income has grown I must admit that I have enjoyed having some special things. But then I found too many special things and now must make a change. We have always been frugal, but looking for a bargain can be equally troublesome, as I found out.
Our culture is not just consumer driven, but in this present time, we are a throw away society that wants to change things up every few years/season. HD TV has helped this trend, for sure.
Well, got to get to dinner now. Please pray that I keep at this purging until God says I can stop.
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