People like Solomon, Jehoshaphat, and on the list goes; FOLLOWED THE LORD for years, and did right in HIS sight, but then, slipped, probably because #1, their LOVE for HIM was not true, #2, they were over confident because HE had favoured them, #3, they began revering false gods through their relationships with other people, such as wives! There are certainly, more reasons, but all of them boil down to one thing, they allowed THEIR will to rule them OVER *GOD'S* WILL!!!
This is a good reason why we ARE to REMAIN steadfast IN THE LORD, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, and HIS WORD! A single second of stepping away from HIM sees the enemy rushing to do his dirty work in us, and unless a person's heart, firstly, is in the right place, in *GOD*, danger lurks all around us! Also, the enemy yearns for those who LOVE THE LORD to falter in that LOVE, thus, he uses everything in his arsenal of evil!!!
What happens, basically, is that the excitement, and the newness wears off, and coupled with over confidence, this is a breeding ground for trouble! We MUST keep our LOVE for THE LORD, fresh, and inspired, which we do THROUGH studying, pondering, learning, and existing IN HIS WILL, and HIS WAYS! I don't care who THINKS they know it all concerning THE LORD, it is NOT possible to ever know enough, let alone, all! EACH day I learn more because I AM OPEN to receiving, and do NOT believe I know enough! I RETAIN the fact that I AM like a baby, and have SO very far to grow! I REMAIN in AWE of HIM, and ALL HE IS, and DOES, because it IS CONSTANT, and EVER PRESENT, and INCREASING! THE LORD IS MORE THAN GENIUS, and INTRICATE ARE HIS works, therefore, HOW could I ever gather enough, to know enough???
The enemy IS as near as THE LORD, and IS bent on destroying us, ALL of us, and so, ANY opportunity to jump in, there he is, which IS made easier by the areas of psyche which let us believe we have arrived, if you know what I mean!?! In today's world we see, and hear of Pastors, Priests, and other people who have tripped; some of them have done so over their own egos, some because they lost their will to resist, some because they imagine they are ever safe; the reasons are diverse...
There are roughly 40 BIBLE references to over confidence, which can span out even farther when used in varying contexts...
6+++Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.
7+++Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY.”
8+++Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.
9+++Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.
10+++Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.
11+++Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
12+++Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
13+++No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
Carnal desires gain strength by indulgence, therefore should be checked in their first rise. Let us fear the sins of Israel, if we would shun their plagues. And it is but just to fear, that such as tempt Christ, will be left by him in the power of the old serpent. Murmuring against God's disposals and commands, greatly provokes him. Nothing in Scripture is written in vain; and it is our wisdom and duty to learn from it. Others have fallen, and so may we. The Christian's security against sin is distrust of himself. God has not promised to keep us from falling, if we do not look to ourselves. To this word of caution, a word of comfort is added. Others have the like burdens, and the like temptations: what they bear up under, and break through, we may also.
God is wise as well as faithful, and will make our burdens according to our strength. He knows what we can bear. He will make a way to escape; he will deliver either from the trial itself, or at least the mischief of it. We have full encouragement to flee from sin, and to be faithful to God. We cannot fall by temptation, if we cleave fast to him. Whether the world smiles or frowns, it is an enemy; but believers shall be strengthened to overcome it, with all its terrors and enticements. The fear of the Lord, put into their hearts, will be the great means of safety.
IN CHRIST JESUS, we ARE dead to the world, hence the carnal being! We ARE ALIVE IN the spirit, which IS THE TRUTH of our eternal existence; our REALITY! The body, like this world, IS temporal! IF we could understand temporal, we might place more value on our souls over all else! It is more than being temporary, it is that what is of the world works against what is of *GOD*, and *GODLINESS*! All which is of the world will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life (MATTHEW 25: 46)...
This is a description of the last judgment. It is as an explanation of the former parables. There is a judgment to come, in which every man shall be sentenced to a state of everlasting happiness, or misery. Christ shall come, not only in the glory of his Father, but in his own glory, as Mediator.
The wicked and godly here dwell together, in the same cities, churches, families, and are not always to be known the one from the other; such are the weaknesses of saints, such the hypocrisies of sinners; and death takes both: but in that day they will be parted for ever.
The happiness the saints shall possess is very great. It is a kingdom; the most valuable possession on earth; yet this is but a faint resemblance of the blessed state of the saints in heaven. It is a kingdom prepared. The Father provided it for them in the greatness of his wisdom and power; the Son purchased it for them; and the blessed Spirit, in preparing them for the kingdom, is preparing it for them. It is prepared for them: it is in all points adapted to the new nature of a sanctified soul. It is prepared from the foundation of the world. This happiness was for the saints, and they for it, from all eternity. They shall come and inherit it. What we inherit is not got by ourselves. It is God that makes heirs of heaven. We are not to suppose that acts of bounty will entitle to eternal happiness.
Good works done for God's sake, through Jesus Christ, are here noticed as marking the character of believers made holy by the Spirit of Christ, and as the effects of grace bestowed on those who do them.
The wicked in this world were often called to come to Christ for life and rest, but they turned from his calls; and justly are those bid to depart from Christ, that would not come to him. Condemned sinners will in vain offer excuses. The punishment of the wicked will be an everlasting punishment; their state cannot be altered. Thus life and death, good and evil, the blessing and the curse, are set before us, that we may choose our way, and as our way so shall our end be.
CHRIST JESUS came to SHOW US THE WAY, and HOW to MANAGE the journey, as much as HE came to ransom us! IF we FOLLOW HIM, like the Disciples/Apostles did, we LEARN HIS WILL, and WAYS, and ADAPT to them with great intent, and the understanding of THE WISDOM in doing so! The more we BECOME like HIM, the more we REFLECT HIM, which IS as a BEACON to the lost in this darkened world! Our ROLE in all of this IS TRUE, and IS mandatory! TOO many imagine there is nothing to be done, yet SCRIPTURE says there is!!!
IF I am OF THE LORD *GOD*, HOW could I continue on in ways which do NOT reflect HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, HIS WORD, HIS HOLY SPIRIT? While I will NOT be perfect in this world, I AIM to OPEN UP to HIS WORKS which ARE perfecting me, bit by bit, which SEE me improving, growing, and developing according to HIS WILL! I ALLOW HIS WILL to take precedence OVER my will, and I relinquish the world's hold on me in favour of HIS, because I KNOW THE TRUTH, and SEE it's wholesomeness, and usefulness!!!
Over confidence IS dangerous, and DOES lead to problems; be that in matters of THE LORD, or in any other...
The love of God is the first and great commandment, and the sum of all the commands of the first table. Our love of God must be sincere, not in word and tongue only. All our love is too little to bestow upon him, therefore all the powers of the soul must be engaged for him, and carried out toward him.
But the true Christian has the law of love written in his heart. The Spirit of Christ dwells in him; Christ's image is renewed in his soul.
Those who sincerely desire to be taught their duty, Christ will guide in judgment, and teach his way. He tells the scribe that the great commandment, which indeed includes all, is, that of loving God with all our hearts. Wherever this is the ruling principle in the soul, there is a disposition to every other duty. Loving God with all our heart, will engage us to every thing by which he will be pleased. The sacrifices only represented the atonements for men's transgressions of the moral law; they were of no power except as they expressed repentance and faith in the promised Saviour, and as they led to moral obedience. And because we have not thus loved God and man, but the very reverse, therefore we are condemned sinners; we need repentance, and we need mercy.
Bottom line; the SOUL is worth more than ANY thing of this world, and ALL of it combined! IF we are OF *GOD*, we KNOW that the body, mind, and spirit ARE as one, HIS TEMPLE, and from what we have learned about HIS TEMPLE, we realize that EVERY part of it IS SANCTIFIED, and set apart (CONSECRATED) FOR HIS USE; thus, where is the cause for over confidence, since we know we BELONG TO HIM, FOR HIS use, and HIS GLORY? IF we are HUMBLED, we are EVER conscious of our place which IS as Servant to THE MOST HIGH *GOD*, and so, we move forward aligned TO HIM, HIS WILL, HIS WAYS, HIS WORD, void of that which is carnally bound, more so as we inch closer to HIM!!!
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