Esteeming Others Better.

Php 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 

Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 

Php 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus

Being likeminded.  We live in a world, as we were discussing yesterday, that has embraced being offended as if it's something to be proud of. To be of one accord and one mind is all fine and good until you aren't. We love having people agree with us but is that truly bring of one accord? We need to listen to the rest of it…

Let nothing be done through strife.

Let nothing be done through vainglory.

We need to be humble each of us esteeming others better than ourselves. Now there's the kicker, right? We don't esteem others better, we shun esteeming others better because in our minds it makes us a lesser person, a person who isn't as good as another, and not being as good as others is something that offends us. We tell our children they are just as good as anyone else, to never think otherwise. We promote the equality of each other in all ways and I'M NOT saying we should ever teach our children to… wait, I think I am saying that we need to teach our children that being better than anyone else is not something we need to pursue, but rather helping others be the best they can be is much better. We don't like to teach to serve, we just don't.

We need to lowly in mind- NOT HIGHMINDED. We need to esteem OTHERS BETTER than ourselves.

Can we do that? We need to do it. Jesus NEVER put on airs and if ANYONE had a right to put on airs it would have been Him. Jesus esteemed us ALL better than Himself- HE DIED FOR US!

More tomorrow by the GRACE and the MERCY of our LORD and SAVIOR, let HIS WILL BE DONE!

All through Jesus Christ our LORD!

One Mind In Christ.

Php 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 

Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 

Php 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus

Being likeminded.

Having the same love.

Being of one accord.

Being of one mind.

The world we live in today seems to promote the exact opposite of these things. Being different is lauded as good. Having our own minds, our own opinions are encouraged. Being decisive is the mind set we've applauded. We are now reaping the reward of such encouraging-- a world of super offended.

Even as I write this I know if I were some important writer with millions of readers that I would have just offended the majority of them. Telling people that Christ wants us to be likeminded, having the same love, be of one accord, of one mind, would set people to screaming CULT, FANATIC, LUNATIC, SOCIALIST, COMMUNIST! And many more things as well to deride the very idea that we should not be individuals with minds of our own, thoughts of our own, beliefs of our own, with our own opinion mattering equally to everyone else' opinion even if it is totally different to another's.

We are SO caught up in SELF we can no longer see GOD, but rather we see a false God we've imagined into existence to suit our need.

Satan has taught us to put self before all things as our right of existing.  Satan has used the abuses of religion to corrupt all religion. Satan has succeeded in making it so that there is very little faith on earth, and a lot of corrupted faith.

Luk_18:8  … Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

We can't even imagine why Jesus would say this because we say we have faith and know many- millions even that have faith. Yet Jesus knew then what we refuse to truly see now- that false faith will abound.

Mat 24:10  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 

Mat 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 

Isn't this the state of our world today?

Many shall be offended.

Many shall betray one another.

Many shall hate one another.

Many false prophets will rise.

Many will be deceived.

Iniquity abounds.

Love of many is cold.

This is truth.  Many are deceived and that deception causes them to have a false faith, yet soothing words are what they want, things easy on the ears and easy on lives filled with deception. 

Mat 24:24  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

ALL but the very elect will be deceived.  There will not be millions and millions and millions that have faith to salvation, there just won't. We are too self-absorbed for that not to be true.  Self rules in so many areas of our lives.

1Th 5:1  But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 

1Th 5:2  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 

1Th 5:3  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 

Heb 10:23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 

Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 

Jas 5:1  Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 

Jas 5:2  Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 

Jas 5:3  Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. 

Jas 5:4  Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. 

Jas 5:5  Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. 

Jas 5:6  Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. 

Patience in Suffering

Jas 5:7  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 

Jas 5:8  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 

Jas 5:9  Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. 

Jas 5:10  Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 

Jas 5:11  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. 

Jas 5:12  But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. 

By the grace and will of our LORD and SAVIOR may we study this more tomorrow!

All through the love and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ now and forever!

Supply of the Spirit.

Php 1:19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ

The supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 

We all need a supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, every single person who has claimed salvation through our Savior.  We need the Spirit living in us always, we certainly do not need to grieve the Spirit. We need the supply offered to us.

Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 

Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 

Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 

Gal 4:7  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 

We need the Spirit of God's Son in our hearts! We need to receive the end of our faith, the end of our believing- our salvation!

1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 

1Pe 1:10  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 

1Pe 1:11  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. 

1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 

The prophets had the Spirit of Christ in them - and the Spirit testified BEFOREHAND of the sufferings Christ would endure and the glory following that suffering.

We need the Spirit of Christ in us!

Joh_14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever

Joh_14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Joh_15:26  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me

Joh_16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Please, Lord Jesus our Savior! Please send the Holy Spirit to us, we need a supply of Your Spirit in us! Please! This is our prayer, our supplication and we thank You for hearing our prayer! 

Anger must not lead to sin.

 The anger comes, it's what we do with the anger once it hits us that matters.

Eph_4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath

Do we use our anger to get revenge, retaliating against those who wrong us? No.

Mat 5:38  Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 

Mat 5:39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 

Mat 5:40  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 

Mat 5:41  And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 

Mat 5:42  Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 

Our anger can be destructive if we use it to hurt anyone. Seriously, if our anger causes us to lash out physically or verbally wounding others we are sinning against them. So what are we to do with our anger?

Mar 3:1  And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. 

Mar 3:2  And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. 

Mar 3:3  And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. 

Mar 3:4  And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. 

Mar 3:5  And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. 

Mar 3:6  And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him. 

Jesus looked around at those in the synagogue just waiting to accuse Him of breaking the sabbath.  Jesus grew angry because their hearts were hard. Those in charge in the synagogue didn't have any compassion on the deformed man, none. There was NO love in them, none! What did Jesus do with His anger? He healed the man, doing GOOD on the Sabbath, saving a life. He didn't let the anger He had for those tempting Him to sin, distorting the truth of the Sabbath to fit their needs, interfere with His doing good.

Did Jesus use His anger? He was angry but He didn't turn on the leaders of the synagogue and yell them, He didn't abuse them in any way.

Our anger often gets away from us and we use it to sin.  We sin against God, or our fellow man, or both and this is something Jesus would NEVER do.

We can get angry, we WILL get angry, but we can't allow that anger to lead us into sin- all by the GRACE and MERCY of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Anger gone wrong.

The wrath of God.

Eph 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath

*

Psa_78:31  The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.

Joh_3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Rom_1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness

Eph_5:6  Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

Col_3:6  For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience

Rev_14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb

Rev_14:19  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

Rev_15:1  And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

Rev_15:7  And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

Rev_16:1  And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

Psa 69:24  Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.

Psa 76:7  Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?

Psa 90:11  Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. 

Nah 1:6  Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. 

Rom 2:5  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 

Rom 2:6  Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 

Rom 2:7  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life

Heb 10:31  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

*******

Why do we ignore the wrath of God, we pretend it shouldn't exist and if it does it is something grossly wrong for a loving God to have. Any parent can comprehend love and anger. Anyone in love with another can comprehend love and anger. We can love and experience anger.

Anger goes wrong when it is abused.

Eph 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath

Anger is not something we are to hang on to and nurture, feed, allowing it to grow.  Anger is not supposed to be used to commit sin in any way. Anger should be a righteous anger, not unrighteous.  Unrighteous anger is an anger created by selfishness, selfish motives.

We serve self with a lot of our anger. Think about when you get angry. Let's take road rage for an example. A lot of road rage is created by us because we are in a hurry to get somewhere and we lash out at the drivers around us seemingly driving inadequately- unlike we, ourselves and our driving. Even when a person cuts us off, there is a possibility that it wasn't intentional. I know I've personally made some bad decisions while driving that have caused people to probably curse me out big time.  They were bad decision made in a split moment, they were mistakes. If I can make mistakes others can too yet where is my forgiveness for them? Instead my instant rage is ignited. Sure this is just one example and it may not even apply to the majority of any who are reading this.

There are a lot of situations that involve selfish anger.

Remember this--

Mat 5:38  Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 

Mat 5:39  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 

Mat 5:40  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 

Mat 5:41  And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 

Mat 5:42  Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 

When we get filled with anger for those who wrong us- truly wrong us- it is a selfish anger if we do not get over it very quickly, giving it to God and seeking to follow His will.

Notice I said- wrong if we don’t get over it quickly.  The anger comes, it's what we do with the anger that once it hits us that matters.

By the grace of our LORD, may we study this still more tomorrow. All by HIS WILL.

In the name of our SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST now and forever!

Don't let the sun go down on your anger.

Anger.


Eph 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath


That old saying- don't go to bed angry has its roots here, yes?


Anger.


an·ger
ˈaNGɡər/

noun
1. 1.a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility.

synonyms:

rage, vexation, exasperation, displeasure, crossness, irritation, irritability, indignation, pique; More

verb
2. 1.fill (someone) with anger; provoke anger in.

synonyms:

infuriate, irritate, exasperate, irk, vex, peeve, madden, put out; More



From <https://www.google.com/search?q=anger&oq=anger&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l4j69i60.5566j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8>



*******
Strong feeling of ANNOYANCE.
Strong feeling of DISPLEASURE.
Strong feeling of HOSTILITY.


God's anger as we discussed yesterday- was a justifiable anger, a righteous anger it was NOT self wrought, it did NOT stem from selfish motives because God could NEVER be selfish, never it's not possible.


God in creating us was selfless- He gave us the freedom of choice from our creation.  If He had wanted He could have made us puppets, but He did not. His anger stems from the knowledge that His love - the only thing that can give Mankind what they need to be fully the creatures He knows they can be- is purposefully rejected by man's choice and though He tries to get mankind to comprehend they consistently and endlessly refuse His love.


I know what it is like to want someone to do something that is only good for them only to have them refuse. Do you know what that is like? It's frustrating isn't it? You love them, you want good for them, it breaks your heart that they will not listen. Now on the level of Creator with Creation God has ALL of Creation in His thoughts, not just a single person, but ALL. When PEOPLE refuse, absolutely refuse the truth He knows their end and it's not an end of love because they've chosen so. They've chosen. God's wrath has been unleashed in various events through natural occurrences as well as through those God chose, and this wrath was revealed in hope of turning people BACK to their Creator and away from themselves and gods that existed for them who were not their Creator - the Only TRUE God. In the days of Noah… evil had consume ALL but eight people. God could have ended the HUMAN existence, but He didn't.


Gen 6:5  And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 
Gen 6:6  And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 
Gen 6:7  And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 
Gen 6:8  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 


Noah found GRACE… Noah wasn't perfect, but Noah found GRACE in the eyes of the LORD.


There is anger in us, but it is not the anger of God. Our anger usually stems from selfish roots, not selfless. We can have a righteous anger, but no anger we have is an anger we should keep in us for long- righteous or not.


More on this tomorrow by the GRACE of our LORD, the WILL of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, our SAVIOR, our CREATOR, now and forever!!!!!!!

God remembers we are but weak flesh.

Psa 78:36  Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. 

Psa 78:37  For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. 

Psa 78:38  But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. 

Psa 78:39  For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. 

God, our Creator, has NEVER been a God who has forgotten His creatures. Paying close attention to us He has watched as we've rejected Him, over and over, and over again. He has grown angry at us, at our outright refusal to accept His love. He's had to watch us make such an awful mess of something He created to be beautiful beyond our imaginings.

As human beings we can comprehend anger, righteous anger.  Anger in itself isn't wrong.

Mar_3:5  And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

Jesus became angry and Jesus never sinned, not once in any way at all.  Like His Father, Jesus' anger was a righteous anger, a justified anger.

Eph 4:26  Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath

Jas 1:19  Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 

Jas 1:20  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 

We too can be angry and not sin, yet our anger MUST be a slow anger. Our anger won't work righteousness like God's, our anger can turn into something truly awful, sinful.  Is it any wonder our anger needs to be well in check.

God's anger is justified.

Psa 78:36  Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. 

Psa 78:37  For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. 

Psa 78:38  But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. 

Psa 78:39  For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. 

People flatter God with their lips all the time.

People lie to God every single day.

The heart of people are NOT right with God.

People are NOT stedfast in God's covenant.

Regardless of ALL our disobedience, God is filled with compassion.

God forgive us!

God hasn't destroyed us outright wiping all humanity out of existence.

God knows we are but flesh- weak, weak flesh.

We can't forget this, we can't ignore this aspect of our God, our Creator.

We aren't perfect in His eyes by a long shot, but He doesn't look to us for perfection. He looks to His Son's sacrifice and hears His Son's prayer--

Joh 17:1  These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 

Joh 17:2  As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 

Joh 17:4  I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 

Joh 17:5  And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. 

Joh 17:6  I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 

Joh 17:7  Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. 

Joh 17:8  For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. 

Joh 17:9  I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 

Joh 17:10  And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. 

Joh 17:11  And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. 

Joh 17:12  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. 

Joh 17:13  And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 

Joh 17:14  I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 

Joh 17:15  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 

Joh 17:16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 

Joh 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. 

Joh 17:18  As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 

Joh 17:19  And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 

Joh 17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 

Joh 17:21  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 

Joh 17:22  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 

Joh 17:23  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 

Joh 17:24  Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. 

Joh 17:25  O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 

Joh 17:26  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. 

More on this tomorrow by the GRACE, the WILL of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST now and forever!