Self-loathing, or pride- traps of self-focusing.

2Co_13:5  'Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith…'

We are to examine ourselves to what end? To KNOW whether or not we are in the FAITH.   We aren't to examine ourselves to judge whether we are good or bad.  If we examine ourselves to determine our own goodness, or badness, then we are convincing ourselves that we can be GOOD of our own self, and if bad of our own selves then we have the power to be good of ourselves and choose not to make ourselves good.  In TRUTH- only our Savior, only our GOD, only the Holy Spirit can claim goodness.  Jesus had this to say..

Luk_18:19  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

Why callest thou me good? (τί με λέγεις ἀγαθόν)

But the true reading is, τί με  ἐρωτᾷς περὶ τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ; Why askest thou me concerning the good ?

God is good, Jesus is good because He is a God, just as the Father is a God and the Holy Spirit is a God.

Jesus asks- Why ask me concerning good?  God is Good. 

When the man called Jesus a Good teacher he was in fact at that moment giving Him the title of God. And Jesus was letting that man know that in calling Him good, he had to recognize the truth.  The man did NOT argue with Jesus' reply. The man did not say that he didn't mean to call Him 'Good Master', the man knew. 

In truth only God is GOOD.  Not mankind. Not since we fell into sin. In fact all that we think might be good in us is filthy.

Isa_64:6  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…

Truly we are NOT to examine ourselves for goodness!

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

Act 2:39  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 

Act 2:40  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 

Act 2:41  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 

Save yourself-  how is Peter instructing others to 'save' themselves? By REPENTING and being BAPTIZED in the name of JESUS CHRIST, receiving the gift of the HOLY GHOST.

They weren't being saved by BEING good, but by accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior and repenting to receive Him and to receive the Holy Ghost- both OUTSIDE of self.

We do have a part to play in our salvation and that is turning to the ONE who saves us, not turning to ourselves.

Self-examination truly can be a vicious trap. Looking to our own goodness will only bring us despair or pride, both traps of Satan.  

But if we 'search for the source of our thoughts, feelings and desires' to KNOW where they are coming from- the soul or spirit we are truly doing something profitable, not detrimental to us. We have to get our minds OFF ourselves!  More on all this as we study further by the GRACE of God. We truly do need to know if our self-focus is to determine if God is working in us or Satan trying to lead us down his road.

'Believers ought to understand how the various parts of their being operate or they shall not be able to distinguish the spiritual from the soulical. When thinking, they should recognize the source of their thought; in feeling, they should detect the direction from which such feeling comes; and in working, they should be clear as to what strength they use. Only thus can they follow the spirit. We know our soul provides us with self-consciousness. One aspect of self-consciousness is self-examination. This is most harmful since it causes us to focus upon ourselves and thereby enhance the growth of self life. How often self-exaltation and pride are the consequences of such self-examination. But there is a kind of analysis of incalculable help to the spiritual pilgrimage. Without it we are incompetent to know who we really are and what we are following.  Harmful self-examination revolves around one’s own success or defeat, stimulating attitudes of self-pride or self-pity. Profitable analysis searches only the source of one’s thought, feeling or desire.'  The Spiritual Man- by Watchman Nee

Examine Yourself.

'Believers ought to understand how the various parts of their being operate or they shall not be able to distinguish the spiritual from the soulical.

When thinking, they should recognize the source of their thought; in feeling, they should detect the direction from which such feeling comes; and in working, they should be clear as to what strength they use. Only thus can they follow the spirit.

We know our soul provides us with self-consciousness.

One aspect of self-consciousness is self-examination.

This is most harmful since it causes us to focus upon ourselves and thereby enhance the growth of self life. How often self-exaltation and pride are the consequences of such self-examination.

But there is a kind of analysis of incalculable help to the spiritual pilgrimage.

Without it we are incompetent to know who we really are and what we are following.

Harmful self-examination revolves around one’s own success or defeat, stimulating attitudes of self-pride or self-pity. Profitable analysis searches only the source of one’s thought, feeling or desire.'

Excerpt - The Spiritual Man- by Watchman Nee

Tomorrow we are going to study this more in-depth and search the Scriptures for the TRUTH. We are so incredibly prone to focusing on ourselves just as the words above admit to. We are told to search our feelings, to know ourselves, to stroke our egos, to believe in ourselves… over and over we are told that real empowerment is centered on self, that it comes from within. Most people will know what I'm talking about, it's all around us. You can scarcely browse the magazine section at a store and not see self focused articles. We need to learn the truth of knowing ourselves, of examining ourselves and what it really means.

2Co_13:5  Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Lord, please help us as we search for truth, please let us know and live the truth You reveal to us! All through Jesus Christ our Lord, we thank you and praise Your holy name!

Sensitive Conscience.

Any who have been following the study for the last month or so should be able to comprehend the truth of our conscience.  The Bible tells us that our conscience is a very real thing.

Joh_8:9  And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

Convicted by their own conscience… we are convicted by our own conscience in many ways.

Read the following excerpt-

'The extent of spirituality is measured by the sensitivity to our conscience. Countless are those Christians who have disregarded their conscience in the past and are now unlively, merely holding some dead knowledge in their brain. May we be ever watchful lest we stumble into the same trap. Do not be afraid to be easily moved. Never fear to have the conscience exercised too much; only fear for it not to be moved enough. Conscience serves as a monitor for God. It informs us where something has gone wrong or needs to be repaired. We can avoid much destructive consequences later if we but listen to conscience earlier.'

The Spiritual Man- By Watchman Nee

Are you sensitive to your conscience?

Sometimes it can feel like a berating force within constantly condemning behavior and thoughts that are not of God.  When we listen to our convicting conscience instead of ignoring it, we truly seek forgiveness for those convicting thoughts and behaviors.  While we don't want to constantly be at odds with God's will, living in the world we do it is hard not to be. Satan is always trying to get us on his side and the closer it gets to the end of his reign, the end of his existence, the harder he is going to work to get as many people as he can on his side. He's not going to stop attacking. When he attacks and we are pricked in our conscience we need to seek God instantly, constantly never giving up hope of being His, wholly His.

We need to be sensitive to our conscience, not afraid of it, not resentful of it but aware of God using our conscience to convict us in order to teach us, to refine us so we can be His.

Please, Lord, please let us be convicted in our conscience of any wrong that needs forgiveness, of any act we need not to leave undone, of anything we must alter in our lives so we may live for YOU. Help us, we are so caught up in self-serving, please help us live for You!  Empty us of all that would keep us from you. May the Son of Jesus Christ bless us, and keep us in Him always! All through HIS LOVE!

Amen!

Obey God

This is truth-

Act 5:28  Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 

Act 5:29  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 

WE OUGHT TO OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN.

When we are convicted by God in our conscience to obey God rather than men, we must listen. Truly as we live in a world where evil is called good, and good is now called evil- we must follow God and not the dictates of the times we live in.  Just because mankind in a majority has deemed something acceptable does not mean God has deemed it so as well. People love to call the Bible old fashioned, filled with outdated, irrelevant knowledge, they do this because if they were to believe the truth it holds are still in affect then they'd be accountable to that truth. It is much easier for people to do away with the truth than to let it remain as an accusation while they commit evil.  God will allow our conscience to be convicted and if we have to talk ourselves OUT of a convicting conscience then we are fighting against God's will.

Satan will war against us and do all He can to lead us to NOT follow our conscience at all. We can kill our conscience, we can shut it up, we can fight against it, but by the GRACE of God we will NOT do any of those things!

We will obey God rather than men, and let our conscience convict us as God allows.

'Through our conscience God examines our motive—whether we desire to obey Him or we seek something else. Another thing one must guard against is the blocking of his conscience. It often loses its normal operation through a kind of blockage. When we are surrounded by those whose conscience is deadly numb, ours may be numbed also through their argument, conversation, teaching, persuasion or example. Beware of teachers with hardened consciences: beware of man-made consciences: reject all attempts of man to mold yours. Our consciences must be responsible directly to God in all regards. We ourselves must know His will and be responsible for executing it. We will fail if we neglect our conscience to follow that of another. '  The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee

Weak Conscience?

1Co 8:7  Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 

1Co 8:8  But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. 

1Co 8:9  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 

1Co 8:10  For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 

1Co 8:11  And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 

1Co 8:12  But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 

1Co 8:13  Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. 

Rom 14:19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 

Rom 14:20  For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence. 

Rom 14:21  It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak. 

'When one believer does what his conscience deems good he is obeying the will of God; but the conscience of another person may judge the same thing as evil, and he will be sinning against God if he does it. '  The Spiritual Man by Watchman Nee

In the above verses we read of doing things that offend others and cause them to stumble in their relationship with Christ.  Truly we each as individuals have a walk with Christ. Just as we cannot judge another LEST we be judged, we cannot assume our walk won't offend another. Paul had a spiritual walk beyond my full comprehension. Paul understood the he could eat any flesh and not offend God, but he also understood others couldn't comprehend how that would be possible, they hadn't reached that level of spiritual understanding.  Paul would rather dumb down his own knowledge to help those with weak consciences. Those with weak consciences were those whose knowledge had yet to advance to the comprehension of those with strong consciences. Would Paul have dumbed down his own beliefs if it were not possible for those who were weak to grow stronger?

We cannot judge others and understanding even more fully that another's conscience understanding is not necessarily our own is very important. God would have us know our Spiritual walk is an individual walk of conscience with love and understanding for all others as they journey on with their own spiritual path.

May God give us all the comprehension we need to be wholly HIS. May we have all the knowledge we need to live in good conscience before God.  Help us, Lord, help us, without You we are absolutely nothing.   All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! Now and forever, amen!

Convicted

Joh_8:9  And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

The men were being convicted by their OWN CONSCIENCE.  Jesus had done this…

Joh 8:6 … But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 

Joh 8:7  So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 

Joh 8:8  And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

Jesus said to them-  HE THAT IS WITHOUT SIN AMONG YOU LET HIM FIRST CAST A STONE AT HER.

And they HEARD Him, they heard His words of truth and they were CONVICTED by their own conscience. Their conscience had them feeling the weight of their own guilt. They acted on that conscience conviction and left off killing the adulterous woman.

Act_23:1  And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

Act_24:16  And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men

Paul lived in GOOD CONSCIENCE  before God.

Paul exercised himself to ALWAYS have a CONSCIENCE VOID of OFFENCE towards God and men.

When Watchman Nee talks about our conscience he is not talking about something that isn't Biblical, it's very Biblical and we need to study and pray that we learn what we need to learn. Please, Holy Spirit, bless us with understanding, guide us all through the love, the mercy, the grace of our Savior- Jesus Christ!

'If we live by what conscience teaches we have arrived at the place we should be for the present moment. It is therefore a prime factor in our daily walk after the spirit. In whatever matter we disobey the dictate of our conscience we shall be reprimanded by it. As a result we shall lose peace and shall be cut off temporarily from having fellowship with God. '  The Spiritual Man - By Watchman Nee

Lord, please help us to walk in the light revealed.

Have you ever been guilty of assuming someone knows something only to find out they don't? Have you ever tried to explain a situation to someone hoping for understanding only to realize they haven't a clue as to what you are talking about? We want people to understand along with us so we have someone that knows what we are going through. We want people to have similar experiences so we get ask them questions about how they react in the experience. When we realize others might not have the same experiences it can be a bit confusing. We generally do not like to be the lone wolf so to speak, in a situation because we can either believe there is something wrong that we are the only one, or we can believe we may have been singled out for something others have not. Neither scenario brings comfort really, or rather a full understanding from others.  We can't assume to know the situation of others. We can't KNOW their walk, their individual- very personalize walk with Christ through life. No two people ever experience something the exact same because from the get go our different personalities will cause different reactions. Two people facing the exact same problem will look at it from different points of view, their own. If by chance the people seem to look at the problem in the same way, it is all but guaranteed that down the line their thoughts will diverge into different ideas.  We are INDIVIDUALS with individual walks with Christ and my walk is not yours. I may look at your life and imagine that you aren't as close to God as I am, and instantly comprehend that I have to be much further away from God simply by having such a thought. We are NOT to judge others.  Even when we judge their actions, we are not to judge the results of their actions. I can't say that because I see someone stealing something that they aren't God's. I can say that person committed a wrong act, but how that affects their walk with God is between them and God. Truly each of us is the chief of all sinners, because we can't know another's life of sin.  We are not to judge anyone else based on our own conscience. We can try to ask if another has a similar conscience pulling, but if they don't we can't judge them. We may be either behind where they are in their ongoing walk with God, or in front, but it makes no difference because there is no behind or in front as being better or worse, but each of us walking according to our OWN learning. If we do get behind in our OWN learning, refusing to grow for whatever reason, that is something we have to seek forgiveness for. But to say another is behind would be only adding to our list of things needing forgiveness, they might be exactly where they need to be in their walk with God.

Mat 7:1  Judge not, that ye be not judged. 

Mat 7:2  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 

Mat 7:3  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 

Mat 7:4  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 

Mat 7:5  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 

'Due to varying degrees of knowledge in the conscience some are not conscious of sins regarded as very great by their fellow-believers. Hence, let us not judge one another. The Father alone knows how to handle His children. He does not expect to find the strength of “young men” in His “little children” nor the experience of “fathers” in the “young men.” But He does wait for each of his children to obey Him according to what he already knows. Were we to know for sure (which is not easy) that God has spoken to our brother on a particular matter and that our brother has failed to listen, then we can persuade him to obey. Yet we should never force our brother to follow what our conscience says to us. If the God of perfect holiness does not reject us because of our past unknown sins, how can we, on the basis of our current standard, judge our brother who only knows now what we knew last year? In fact, in helping other people we should not coerce obedience from them in small details but only advise them to follow faithfully the dictate of their own conscience. If their volition yields to God they will obey Him when the Holy Spirit sheds light on the words clearly written in the Bible. As long as his volition is yielded, a believer will follow God’s desire the moment his conscience receives light. The same is applicable to ourselves. We should not overextend ourselves to the point of exciting the strength of our soul to understand truths beyond our present capacity. If we are disposed to obey today’s voice of God, we are considered acceptable. On the other hand, we should not restrain ourselves from searching any truth which the Holy Spirit may lead us intuitively to search. Such restraint would mean lowering our standard of holiness. In a word, there is no problem for that one who is willing to walk by the spirit.'

The Spiritual Man- by Watchman Nee (Excerpt)