Self Confidence can be a hinderance to living the Abundant Life

Chapter 12 of "The Normal Christian Life" by Watchman Nee is about the problem of self sufficiency.

Relying upon your "natural" ability is a problem for everyone to one degree or another.

I have always been very self confident in my abilities.

This means it's difficult for me to be "dependant" upon the Lord in the way He wants me to be.

Now, put me in the Emergency room having a heart attack, 

and I can be "very dependent" upon the Lord.

I had NO "self sufficiency" to rely upon.

I found it easy to put myself completely into the Lord's hands.

Looking to Him - Trusting in Him for my life ( whether it was to continue or end that night.. totally up to Him ).

And I had peace through the whole process ( being fully awake the whole night ).

But in everyday life....

I think I can "do things", 

and therefore forget or find it hard to "depend" upon the Holy Spirit.

To look to Jesus. 

To pray to the Father.

I just "do" what comes to my mind, and use my "ability" to "do".

So.... being a "self starter" and having "confidence" in one's own ability 

can prevent the Lord from doing His Work.

We must learn to rely on the "Vine" and be the "Branch", 

because without Him, we can do nothing. ( John 15:5 )

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Born Again - Into the Family of God - Made Sons / Heirs with the Firstborn

Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  

John 3:3

But as many as received Him, He gave them the authority to become children of God, to those who believe in His name; 

who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

 John 1:12,13

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, all things have become new. 

And all things are of God, who reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ,

2 Corinthians 5:17, 18a

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again unto fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
And if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer together, so that we may also be glorified together. 

Romans 8:15-17

Because whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified

Romans 8:29,30

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,

not by works of righteousness which we did, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
 that having been justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Faithful is this word, and concerning these things I want you to strongly affirm, so that those who have believed in God may take thought to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

Titus 3:4-8

For it was fitting for Him, on account of whom are all things and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the Author of their salvation through sufferings.
For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers,

Hebrews 2:10,11 

* Jesus Christ is the first born Son, of many son's.

The Gospel of John points out that Jesus is the Only Begotten Son in the beginning 

became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father

( John 1:14 )

And after His crucifixion / resurrection, we ( His brethren ) are referenced as part of the same family ( same father ).

 Jesus said to her, "... go to My brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' "

John 20:17 

Therefore we can "rejoice" in the knowledge that we  ( all the brethren - believers ) have been "born again" into God's family,

and that we can ( should ) call / think of God as "our Father" ( and His Great Love for us ).

The better you can understand ( know as a fact ) this new relationship,

the stronger your faith ( confidence ) in what God has done for you, the easier your "burden".

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Matthew 11:29, 30

 

And you can find "rest" in this knowledge ( your secure relationship and all that God has already done for you IN CHRIST ).

Therefore, a promise being left to enter into His rest, let us fear lest any of you should seem to come short of it. 
For also we have had the gospel preached, as well as them. But the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 
For we who have believed do enter into the rest, 
Since then it remains that some must enter into it, and since they to whom it was first preached did not enter in because of unbelief, 

Hebrews 4:1-3a,6

A Promise Remains of Entering His Rest

Heb 3:12  Take heed, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 

Heb 3:14  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 

Heb 3:19  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. 

Heb 4:1  Therefore, a promise being left to enter into His rest, 

let us fear lest any of you should seem to come short of it. 

Heb 4:2  For also we have had the good news preached, as well as them. 

But the Word preached did not profit them, 

not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 

Heb 4:3  For we who have believed do enter into the rest,

Heb 4:6  Since then it remains that some must enter into it, and since they to whom it was first preached did not enter in because of unbelief, 

Heb 4:9  So then there remains a rest to the people of God. 

Heb 4:10  For he who has entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from His. 

Heb 4:11  Therefore let us labor to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of unbelief. 

Heb 4:16  Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. 

***

Gal 2:20  I have been crucified with Christ, and I live; 

yet no longer I, 

but Christ lives in me. 

And that life I now live in the flesh, 

I live by faith toward the Son of God, 

who loved me and gave Himself on my behalf. 

Gal 3:2  This only I would learn from you: 

Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing of faith? 

Gal 3:3  Are you so foolish? 

Having begun in the Spirit, do you now perfect yourself in the flesh? 

Living Water - by the cup or flowing spring - Your choice

As children of God we have available "living water" to us.

Most of us do not realize what is truly available.

We think of it as a water fountain we can go to when we are thirsty,

and only get a cup or two at a time ( when the "thirst" or "need" is the greatest ).

What Jesus Christ is offering is so much more...

He wants to live IN You and THROUGH You.

And this is made possible by the Holy Spirit who is IN You.

There are a lot of scriptures on this relationship we have after we are born again,

but I just want to touch on the "offer" so you might see what you are missing in your Christian life ( walk ).

Joh 4:14  but whoever drinks of the water which I shall give him will by no means ever thirst again. 

But the water which I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life." 

Rivers of Living Water
Joh 7:37  Now on the last day, the great day of the feast ( Feast of Tabernacles ),

 Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
Joh 7:38  He that believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly will flow rivers of living water."
Joh 7:39  (But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him were about to receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.) 

***

To get this Living Water flowing in your life,

you must do two simply ( but not easy ) things:

1 ) "lose your life"

by giving 100% control of your life ( your whole body ) to the Lord. Complete surrender of every aspect of your life.

2 ) "By Faith"

You need to "believe" the "truth" about your new creation / new man / and the "POWER" that is available ( already IN YOU ) to accomplish everything the Lord would like to do through you.

A Living Sacrifice
Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. 
Rom 12:2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God. 

Let Christ live through you

Gal 2:20  I have been crucified with Christ, and I live; 

yet no longer I, 

but Christ lives in me. 

And that life I now live in the flesh, 

I live by faith toward the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself on my behalf. 

Lose your life to find it 

Mat 16:24  Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. 
Mat 16:25  For whoever desires to save his life shall lose it, and whoever desires to lose his life for My sake shall find it. 

 

God working IN YOU

Php 2:12  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, cultivate your own salvation with fear and trembling. 
Php 2:13  For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. 

--

Saved by Grace,

Andrew Cross

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 

not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, 

but exhorting one another, 

and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:23-25

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J. Hudson Taylor - but over our mantelpiece hung two scrolls written in the Chinese character -

"Ebenezer, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us."

  I Samuel 7:12

   

"Jehovah-Jireh", The LORD will provide.

Genesis 22:14

These helped them to keep believing, when the food and money would sometimes run out.

And always, the "need" was met in the nick of time.

Proving time and time again,

as J. Hudson Taylor would always say,

God's work done in God's way

will never lack God's supply.

A simple ABC method of understanding Spiritual Reality and finding Peace in all circumstances

Understanding our thought process,

and how our "belief" system affects are emotions is critical to having peace, confidence, and overall happiness.

A = ALL the things that happen to you ( an "event" in your life ).

B = BELIEF ( what you think this "event" means, or how you think it affects you ).

C = CREATED reaction ( how you FEEL about the "event" ). What you "believe" it means always determines how you end up "feeling" about the "event".

***

If this was a math equation ( and we use the  "reality" or promises that we have IN CHRIST to interpret the "event" ),

it could be expressed as:

A / B = C

"Event" ( A ) divided by the Infinite Love of God ( B ) equals His "REST" ( peace, courage, and joy ) the ( C ) in our equation.

Say you have a problem ( event ) in your life that is overwhelming your thoughts / emotions.

On a scale of 1 to 100, we will call it a "80".

If you divide the number 80 by infinity you end up with a sum of Zero ( 0.0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000.. never ending zeros 

and then if there was an ending, 

but there is not since it's infinity, 

there would be a lone number 1, 

but again, since it's infinity, you never would reach even that value ).

So, your "80" event is a "0" result when you realize God is in Control ( and He Loves You more than you can imagine ).

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, 

nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, 

nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(Romans 8:37-39 NASB)

Applied to your life, it would be the way to view ( perceive, interpret ) all "events" ( no matter how small or large, or how "bad" they appear to be ),

in LIGHT OF the unconditional, unfailing love of God.

If He is your "Helper", then you have nothing to fear. 

Hebrews 13:5-8

If He causes all things to work together for good, 

then you have nothing to fear ( or be anxious about ). 

Romans 8:28-39

You must "process" all of life's "events" through the Truth of your new life IN CHRIST 

You are a child of God, beloved, redeemed, forgiven, indwelled and powered by the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 4:4-13

It truly comes down to Faith.

What you are believing in your head, is what determines your happiness ( or lack thereof ).

The more you are able to have a complete Trust in God, 

the more you will have cause to Rejoice 

( no matter what life throws at you ).

Your faith is affected by your thoughts,

and that is why we must Read the Word daily. 

Praying ( talking to God ) Constantly. Thessalonians 5:17

Not filling your mind with the negative things of the world 

( and beware of what the world calls "entertainment" ).

Set your mind on the things of the Spirit to have true life and peace. Colossians 3:1-10, Romans 8:5,6

On any given day, you have 24 hours.

Choose to spend it with the Lord, and the things of the Lord,

and you'll have the fruit of the Spirit in your life.

And we all want those things.....

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. 

Galatians 5:22 - 25

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 
from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 
may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 
and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 
to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:14 - 21

Video version = https://youtu.be/UfH9FqlYKQo

PSALMS 46 - God - Current Refuge and Future Hope

1God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

* "Abundantly available" when in "tight places"

2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change

And though the mountains slip into the heart of the seas;

* Rev. 6:12, 16:20

3Though its waters roar and foam,

Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.

4There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

* Rev. 22:1

The holy dwelling places of the Most High.

5God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;

God will help her when morning dawns.

* At the turning of the morning - the dawn of a new DAY.

6The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;

He raised ( gave forth ) His voice, the earth melted.

7The Lord ( Y'hovah ) of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

8Come, behold the works of the Lord,

Who has wrought desolations in the earth.

* Which He has afflicted as desolations

9He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;

He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;

He burns the chariots with fire.

* Isaiah 2:4 , Isaiah 9:5 , Ezekiel 39:9 , Micah 4:3 , Isaiah 60:18 

10"Cease striving ( LET GO, RELAX ) and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

11The Lord ( Y'hovah )  of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.