Consider. What is God telling you personally through His Word?
We live in a time of material things, and pleasures, and comforts, such as the world has never known since Adam and Eve. Many young adults are spending hours a day on their hand–held devices.
Many are spending hours a day communicating with other people.
Others have their TVs on perhaps 7.2 hours a day.
Yet others spend hours and hours in front of their computer at home or on their laptop in all kinds of locations.
And a few might spend a few minutes a day in God’s Word, but that’s about all.
Then when they need to understand God’s Word, regarding some situation, their understanding is shallow and distorted. When their faith is tested, it fails.
Does this description fit you? And if it does, can you recognize it?
To those that God calls, there comes a time when He quickens His Word to their heart. They begin to understand that if they are to follow Jesus, their life will become a life of repentance, a life of getting rid of things and of seeking after riches. Their life will be a life of denying their own desires and following Jesus. It will be a life of dwelling in God’s Word. It will be a life of being laughed at, being persecuted, being ridiculed, and being falsely accused. For some, it will be a life of being tortured, being put in prison, and then being put to death for the name of Jesus. Indeed, if you do not die to yourself now, you shall not reign and rule with Jesus later.
This is not the life that most people are willing to live in the land of prosperity, pleasures, and things to do and buy and enjoy. And this is not the kind of message that most churches will preach in this latter day generation.
Two particular areas Satan attacks us in are: 1–Our immediate needs. These may include food, clothing, shelter, and transportation.
2–Our desires. We want to be comfortable. We want to experience the pleasures of life and have lots of nice things. We want to enjoy life. We want to be entertained. We want recognition. We want lots of friends. We want to be connected with people. We want people to love us. We don’t want to be lonely. We want people to think we are something very special. We want to be good at doing certain things. We want lots of money. We want lots of sex without marriage commitment. We never want our feelings to be hurt. We never want to die. We want to have good health always. And if there is life after death, we want that as well. The eyes and desires of man are never satisfied.
As Satan is, so is man. Satan has said in his heart: Isa 14:13–15–IWILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN, I WILL EXALT MY THRONE ABOVE THE STARS OF GOD: I WILL SIT ALSO UPON THE MOUNT OF THE CONGREGATION, IN THE SIDES OF THE NORTH: I WILL ASCEND ABOVE THE HEIGHTS OF THE CLOUDS; I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH. But God says to both Satan and man: YET THOU SHALT BE BROUGHT DOWN TO HELL.
Does God’s Word address all of these subjects? The answer is yes. Man spends much of his life striving for these things which have just been mentioned.
Who are those that are unsaved?
Phili 2:21–FOR ALL SEEK THEIR OWN, NOT THE THINGS WHICH ARE JESUS CHRIST’S. Are your thoughts centered on yourself, or are they centered on the things of Christ?
Paul tells us in Acts 20:24–BUT NONE OF THESE THINGS MOVE ME,
NEITHER COUNT I MY LIFE DEAR UNTO MYSELF,
SO THAT I MIGHT FINISH MY COURSE WITH JOY,
AND THE MINISTRY, WHICH I HAVE RECEIVED OF THE LORD JESUS,
TO TESTIFY THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD. Do things, and stuff, and pleasures, and sin entice you? Is your heart moved when a good deal comes up to buy something that may give you more pleasure, but take your mind off God Are you following Jesus with one eye, but looking at the bright lights and pleasures of this world with the other?
Paul says in Ro 12:1–I BESEECH YOU THEREFORE, BRETHREN,…
THAT YE—PRESENT YOUR BODIES—A LIVING SACRIFICE,
HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD,
WHICH IS YOUR REASONABLE SERVICE. Are you willing to present yourself a living sacrifice, even as Jesus did? Most professing Christians will not do this, and most that think they are going to heaven are not.
Paul gives a warning and command to you: Ro 12:2–BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD:
BUT BE YE TRANSFORMED
BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND…Indeed, you are to have the mind of Christ–ref 1 Cor 2:16.
You are to be transformed from loving this world and the things in this world to loving Jesus, having the mind of Christ, and being conformed to His image. It is a process that takes place in your heart as you allow God’s Word to work inside you. It is a process that takes place as you deny self and repent daily. During this process, there are many battles raging in your thoughts that contradict God’s Word. It is a process that many begin, but then fall by the wayside and return to the pleasures and sin of their original life. Indeed, many do shrink back from serving God, and their foolish heart is darkened, but they comprehend it not.
Ro 15:1–2–WE…ARE…NOT TO PLEASE OURSELVES.
Jesus commands you personally: Lk 9:23; Mt 16:24; Mk 8:34–AND HE SAID TO THEM ALL, IF ANY MAN WILL
COME AFTER ME, (or, we may say, if you want to be saved) LET HIM
DENY HIMSELF,
AND TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY,
AND FOLLOW ME. In three books of the Bible, these words appear. Don’t take them lightly.
Lk 14:33–WHOSOEVER HE BE OF YOU
THAT FORSAKETH NOT ALL THAT HE HATH,
HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE. God calls you to forsake everything. Forsake the pursuit of accumulating things, and your desires, your plans, and be conformed to the image of Christ and put on the mind of Christ. If you will not, you will not inherit eternal life.
Lk 14:27–AND WHOSOEVER DOTH NOT BEAR HIS CROSS,
AND COME AFTER ME (or follow Jesus),
CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE. If you will not follow and obey Jesus as the Bible commands you to do, you cannot go to heaven.
Lk 9:24–…WHOSOEVER WILL LOSE HIS LIFE FOR MY SAKE, THE SAME SHALL SAVE IT. You must forsake yourself, your desires, your lusts, your things, your stuff, your appetite for whatsoever and anything that could keep you from following Jesus; no matter where that might lead, even prison or death. For it is written:
Heb 12:1–…LET US LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT, (or every obstacle, or thing, or desire)
AND—THE SIN WHICH DOTH SO EASILY BESET US,
AND LET US RUN WITH PATIENCE
THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US. Run with patience, whatever course or whatever work God has for you to do, in following and serving Him.
Num 15:39–…SEEK NOT AFTER YOUR OWN HEART
AND YOUR OWN EYES,
AFTER WHICH YE USE TO GO A WHORING.
2 Cor 5:15–HE (Jesus) DIED FOR ALL, THAT THEY WHICH LIVE SHOULD NOT HENCEFORTH LIVE UNTO THEMSELVES.
2 Cor 5:15–AND THAT HE DIED FOR ALL, THAT THEY&…SHOULD (live)…UNTO HIM WHICH DIED FOR THEM.
Were the Apostles examples of these Scriptures? Hear Paul’s words: Phili 3:8–YEA DOUBTLESS, AND I COUNT
ALL THINGS BUT LOSS
FOR THE EXCELLENCY OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST JESUS MY LORD:
FOR WHOM I HAVE SUFFERED THE LOSS OF ALL THINGS,
AND DO COUNT THEM BUT DUNG,
THAT I MAY WIN CHRIST. Do these words describe you?
Those that later became apostles, when they began to realize who Jesus was, THEY FORSOOK ALL, AND FOLLOWED HIM–Lk 5:11. And later Peter said in Mt 19:27–BEHOLD, WE HAVE FORSAKEN ALL, AND FOLLOWED THEE; WHAT SHALL WE HAVE THEREFORE?
Mt 19:21, 22–JESUS SAID…GO AND SELL THAT THOU HAST,
AND GIVE TO THE POOR,
AND THOU SHALT HAVE TREASURE IN HEAVEN:
AND COME AND FOLLOW ME.
BUT WHEN THE YOUNG MAN HEARD THAT SAYING, HE WENT AWAY SORROWFUL: FOR HE HAD GREAT POSSESSIONS. Are you getting rid of possessions or accumulating possessions? That rich young merchant would now gladly sell all he had to get out of hell, but it is too late. But it’s not too late for you, if you have ears to hear and obey.
2 Tim 2:20–21–BUT IN A GREAT HOUSE THERE ARE NOT ONLY VESSELS OF GOLD AND OF SILVER, BUT ALSO OF WOOD AND OF EARTH…IF A MAN THEREFORE PURGE HIMSELF FROM THESE, HE SHALL BE A VESSEL UNTO HONOUR, SANCTIFIED, AND MEET FOR THE MASTER’S USE, AND PREPARED UNTO EVERY GOOD WORK. Have you given up, sold, gotten rid of, purged or freed yourself from the things of this world, so you can follow Jesus without distraction?
Lk 12:33–SELL THAT YE HAVE, AND GIVE ALMS; PROVIDE YOURSELVES BAGS WHICH WAX NOT OLD, A TREASURE IN THE HEAVENS THAT FAILETH NOT, WHERE NO THIEF APPROACHETH, NEITHER MOTH CORRUPTETH. FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE WILL YOUR HEART BE ALSO. In other words, get rid of things and follow and serve Jesus; learn to trust in the Lord to provide.
Many people have done this and found that the Lord is faithful; however, one must do this by faith and not by compulsion. Nevertheless, a person can expect to be tested. There may be times when you will have little to eat and some things you need will be very slow in coming. Life is a test. A person that has cravings for certain foods needs to be weaned from such. Satan has a stronghold in such a person. If food is a person’s god, then Jesus is not. Eve sold her soul for the enticing fruit. The Israelites in the wilderness murmured and complained when it came to food. Would you have been among them? Would you be content to eat only manna for 40 years? Is food your treasure? Is that where your heart is? Mt 6:21–FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE WILL YOUR HEART BE ALSO.
2 Tim 2:25, 26–IN MEEKNESS INSTRUCTING THOSE THAT OPPOSE THEMSELVES; IF GOD PERADVENTURE WILL GIVE THEM REPENTANCE TO THE ACKNOWLEDGING OF THE TRUTH; AND THAT THEY MAY RECOVER THEMSELVES OUT OF THE SNARE OF THE DEVIL, WHO ARE TAKEN CAPTIVE BY HIM AT HIS WILL. Has the devil taken your thoughts and heart captive, so that you just have to accumulate stuff, when Jesus tells you to give, sell, or get rid of things? Do you lust after certain foods? Is food your god? As it is written, WHOSE END IS DESTRUCTION, WHOSE GOD IS THEIR BELLY…WHO MIND EARTHLY THINGS–Ph 3:19.
Titus 2:11–12–FOR THE GRACE OF GOD…TEACHING US THAT, DENYING…WORLDLY LUSTS, WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY, IN THIS PRESENT WORLD. Do you deny your worldly lusts and desires as God commands?
1 Jn 2:6–HE THAT SAITH HE ABIDETH IN HIM OUGHT HIMSELF ALSO SO TO WALK, EVEN AS HE WALKED. Are you walking as Jesus did? Did Jesus accumulate all sorts of stuff and things? No. He lived by the very words He spoke. He forsook everything, even His place in heaven to come to this earth to die, so that people might have life.
Mt 8:20–Jesus said: THE FOXES HAVE HOLES, AND THE BIRDS OF THE AIR HAVE NESTS; BUT THE SON OF MAN HATH NOT WHERE TO LAY HIS HEAD. Jesus owned no home, no vehicle (or animal), but His heavenly Father provided whatever He needed.
Ref Ro 8:29–God the Father predestinated you TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON. Are you resisting God trying to conform you to be as Jesus, to walk as Jesus walked?
These very words are confirmed in the next verse. 1 Jn 4:17–AS HE IS, SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD. Are you as Jesus was? Are you buying or selling? Are you trying to obtain things, or give up things? Are you seeking to be like your neighbors, or are you seeking to be like Jesus? Are you denying yourself, or justifying yourself in what you are doing?
2 Cor 10:3–5–What we are to do is—pull DOWN…STRONG HOLDS. We are to (cast) DOWN IMAGINATIONS. We are to cast down EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTETH ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. We are to (bring) INTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST. Have you pulled down Satan’s strongholds in your thoughts? Satan says to do the opposite of what God says to do. Our fleshly nature, prompted by Satan, wants the better things of this life. It wants comfort. Buy, get gain, get more money, get ahead. Jesus shows us that you cannot do the things that you would–ref Gal 5:17. There is a battle going on inside your head, heart, and emotions. Life is a test. This battle is between the flesh, which lusts or fights against the Spirit of God. The two are contrary to each other. Thus, you must—you must resist Satan’s voice telling you to get, buy, lay up, obtain, as you need more things and better things. If your flesh wins, you die. If the Spirit wins, you live. For only if you are led by the Spirit, will you not be under the law–ref Gal 5:18.
Jn 3:30–John the Baptist confirms exactly what Jesus said. John said—HE (which is Jesus) MUST INCREASE, BUT I MUST DECREASE. If you have your eyes on the things of this life, you are not decreasing. LOVE NOT THE WORLD, NEITHER THE THINGS THAT ARE IN THE WORLD…FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD, THE LUST OF THE FLESH, AND THE LUST OF THE EYES, AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE, IS NOT OF THE FATHER, BUT IS OF THE WORLD. AND THE WORLD PASSETH AWAY, AND THE LUSTS THEREOF: BUT HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF GOD ABIDETH FOREVER–1 Jn 2:15–17. Are you following and obeying the Jesus of the Bible, or a Jesus of your own making?
Heb 12:4–YE HAVE NOT YET RESISTED UNTO BLOOD, STRIVING AGAINST SIN. Have you resisted to the point of shedding your blood, striving against all the wrong desires you have and all the things you have no need of?
Mt 6:24; ref Lk 16:13–NO MAN CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS: FOR EITHER HE WILL HATE THE ONE, AND LOVE THE OTHER; OR ELSE HE WILL HOLD TO THE ONE, AND DESPISE THE OTHER. YE CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON (or money). You cannot serve God and things. You cannot serve God and stuff. You cannot serve God and worldly desires. You cannot serve God and yourself. You cannot serve the “I will, I want, I shall”—and God. This is why God says—you must deny yourself.
Mt 19:23–THEN SAID JESUS…A RICH MAN SHALL HARDLY ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. Are you going in a direction of accumulating more possessions, more comfort, more fun, more pleasures, more worldly things to do? Or are you going in the direction of letting go of this world, denying yourself, and seeking God’s will for your life? For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Lk 16:15–(Jesus said) YE ARE THEY WHICH JUSTIFY YOURSELVES BEFORE MEN;
BUT GOD KNOWETH YOUR HEARTS:
FOR THAT WHICH IS HIGHLY ESTEEMED AMONG MEN
IS ABOMINATION
IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. When it comes to laying up things and stuff and riches on this earth, many so–called Christians justify themselves with thoughts given to them by the devil—which their heart agrees with. However, a person’s self–justification can condemn them to hell. The love of things, and seeking after riches, and storing up only for yourself, which is highly regarded by mankind, is an abomination in God’s sight.
How was the early church under the leadership of the apostles? Acts 4:32–AND THE MULTITUDE OF THEM THAT BELIEVED WERE OF ONE HEART AND OF ONE SOUL: NEITHER SAID ANY OF THEM THAT OUGHT OF THE THINGS WHICH HE POSSESSED WAS HIS OWN; BUT THEY HAD ALL THINGS COMMON. How far has the church of today strayed from these words?
Again, consider the early church under the direction of the apostles. Acts 4:34, 35–FOR AS MANY AS WERE POSSESSORS OF LANDS OR HOUSES SOLD THEM, AND BROUGHT THE PRICES OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SOLD. AND LAID THEM DOWN AT THE APOSTLES’ FEET.
And if you are laying up things and stuff (that is, treasure) in this life, you are in disobedience to God’s Word. For it is written: Mt 6:19–LAY NOT UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES UPON EARTH, WHERE MOTH AND RUST DOTH CORRUPT, AND WHERE THIEVES BREAK THROUGH AND STEAL.
Lk 9:25–FOR WHAT IS A MAN ADVANTAGED,
IF HE GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD,
AND LOSE HIMSELF, OR BE CAST AWAY? Consider what God has just said. Look at the whole picture. What profit is there, if a person gains the whole world for 70 years, but then loses the gift and reward of eternal life. That life is with peace, and joy and rewards beyond man’s comprehension. However, those that focus on the gain of this world will forever be in a place called the lake of fire; where there is darkness, crying, and gnashing of teeth and never any hope of parole or escape.
Lk 18:28–30–PETER SAID, LO, WE HAVE LEFT ALL, AND FOLLOWED THEE. AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THERE IS NO MAN THAT HATH LEFT HOUSE, OR PARENTS, OR BRETHREN, OR WIFE, OR CHILDREN, FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD’S SAKE, WHO SHALL NOT RECEIVE MANIFOLD MORE IN THIS PRESENT TIME, AND IN THE WORLD TO COME LIFE EVERLASTING.
1 Cor 2:9–BUT AS IT IS WRITTEN, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM.
A person following Jesus must beware of laying up stuff for his fleshly desires and lusts. These can be hidden traps for his soul; indeed, they often are.
He must also beware of being involved in associations, partnerships, or friendships with unbelievers and make–believe Christians. These can be hidden traps for his soul.
Further, he must beware of being involved or caught up in the affairs of this life. These can be hidden traps for his soul.
Jesus and the Apostles set the example that we are to follow. Follow and obey God’s Word. Follow and obey Jesus.
Nothing else should need to be said to the person that has a heart that is right toward God.
A person that has a heart that is not right toward God, that foolishly goes after the desires of his flesh when he could spend more time in God’s Word, and that does things without seeking Godly counsel and correction—if he does not change, will likely fall.
As it has been said—those that need correction the most, seek it the least; and those that need correction the least, seek it the most.
So, does the Bible say anything about buying?
God tells those that are His: 1 Cor 7:23–YE ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE; BE NOT YE THE SERVANTS OF MEN.
In the New Testament, there are few verses about buying. Most are about buying food, such as Mt 14:14; Mk 6:36,37; etc., or oil–ref Mt 25:8–9, but while they were doing so, they missed the Rapture.
Jn 13:29 tells of buying things that they needed for the feast, and Rev 13:17 speaks of the midst of the Tribulation when NO MAN MIGHT BUY OR SELL, SAVE HE THAT HAD THE MARK, OR THE NAME OF THE BEAST, OR THE NUMBER OF HIS NAME.
Jesus asked His disciples, when He sent them without taking provisions: LACKED YE ANYTHING? AND THEY SAID, NOTHING. Serve God, trust in Him as God tells you to do, and He will take care of your needs.
1 Cor 7:29–31 speaks about buying, but they are to be AS THOUGH THEY POSSESSED NOT. In other words, does what you own—own you, or do you own it? Is what you own something you boast of and have pride in? Is it something you may say, “Look what I have?”
Ja 4:13–14–GO TO NOW, YE THAT SAY, TO DAY OR TO MORROW WE WILL GO INTO SUCH A CITY, AND CONTINUE THERE A YEAR, AND BUY AND SELL, AND GET GAIN: WHEREAS YE KNOW NOT WHAT SHALL BE ON THE MORROW. FOR WHAT IS YOUR LIFE? IT IS EVEN A VAPOUR, THAT APPEARETH FOR A LITTLE TIME, AND THEN VANISHETH AWAY. Are you having to work more and more in order to pay for more and more things that you feel you just have to have?
Mt 6:25–34–Jesus said, regarding this subject: TAKE NO THOUGHT FOR YOUR LIFE, WHAT YE SHALL EAT, OR WHAT YE SHALL DRINK; NOR YET FOR YOUR BODY, WHAT YE SHALL PUT ON. IS NOT THE LIFE MORE THAN MEAT, AND THE BODY THAN RAIMENT?…WHEREFORE, IF GOD SO CLOTHE THE GRASS OF THE FIELD, WHICH TO DAY IS, AND TO MORROW IS CAST INTO THE OVEN, SHALL HE NOT MUCH MORE CLOTHE YOU, O YE OF LITTLE FAITH? THEREFORE TAKE NO THOUGHT, SAYING, WHAT SHALL WE EAT? OR, WHAT SHALL WE DRINK? OR, WHEREWITHAL SHALL WE BE CLOTHED? (FOR AFTER ALL THESE THINGS DO THE GENTILES SEEK:) FOR YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER KNOWETH THAT YE HAVE NEED OF ALL THESE THINGS. BUT SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS; AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.
Jesus does tell us to buy certain things:
Rev 3:18–I COUNSEL THEE TO BUY OF ME GOLD TRIED IN THE FIRE, THAT THOU MAYEST BE RICH; AND WHITE RAIMENT, THAT THOU MAYEST BE CLOTHED, AND THAT THE SHAME OF THY NAKEDNESS DO NOT APPEAR; AND ANOINT THINE EYES WITH EYESALVE, THAT THOU MAYEST SEE.
Let us hear again the words of Jesus: Mk 10:21–THEN JESUS BEHOLDING HIM LOVED HIM, AND SAID UNTO HIM, ONE THING THOU LACKEST: GO THY WAY, SELL WHATSOEVER THOU HAST.
Beware. Your inner desire to acquire more and more possessions may haunt you for eternity. If your eyes are on earthly things and also Jesus, how can you grow? If your life is going toward being conformed to the image of Christ, this is good; but if your life and desires are not going toward complete surrender to Christ, you are in danger. Remember, the eyes and desires of man are never satisfied.
Beware, for many HAVE FORSAKEN THE RIGHT WAY, AND ARE GONE ASTRAY,…WHO LOVED THE WAGES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS–2 Pe 2:15.
INDEED, WE ALL ONCE LOVED THIS WAY—WE FOLLOWED THE PASSIONS OF OUR OLD NATURE AND OBEYED THE WISHES OF OUR OLD NATURE AND OUR OWN THOUGHTS. IN OUR NATURAL CONDITION WE WERE HEADED FOR GOD’S WRATH, JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE–Eph 2:3 JNT.
What is God’s will for you? HE wants you to surrender every aspect of your life. He wants you to be led of the Spirit. He wants you to be conformed to the image of Jesus. His will for you is that YOUR HEART BE PERFECT WITH THE LORD–1 Ki 8:61. God’s will for you is that YE MAY BE PERFECT–Ja 1:4. Are you striving for that mark? Or are you compromising your walk with the Lord with lots of other unimportant things—TV, computers, games hand–held devices and other gadgets that eat up your time, distract you and cause you to be lukewarm in your walk with the Lord? Are you a compromiser that is trying to fulfill the fleshly desires of your heart and thoughts, while also trying to follow Jesus?
PRESENT YOUR BODIES—A LIVING SACRIFICE.
HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD.
BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD.
BUT BE YE TRANSFORMED.
renew YOUR MIND…
WE…ARE…NOT TO PLEASE OURSELVES.
DENY (yourself).
FOLLOW (Jesus).
COME AFTER (Jesus).
FORSAKE ALL THAT YOU HAVE.
FORSAKE ALL.
LOSE YOUR LIFE (for Him).
LAY ASIDE EVERY (obstacle, or thing, or desire).
(RUN) THE RACE THAT (He) SET BEFORE YOU.
SEEK NOT AFTER YOUR OWN HEART.
AND YOUR OWN EYES, (which you used to do).
(DO NOT LIVE TO YOURSELF ANYMORE).
COUNT ALL THINGS—LOSS.
(COUNT ALL THINGS AS DUNG).
FORSAKE ALL.
SELL ALL YOU HAVE.
(PURGE YOURSELF OF WORLDLY THINGS).
(STOP OPPOSING YOURSELF).
(RECOVER YOURSELF OUT OF THE SNARE OF THE DEVIL THROUGH OBEYING GOD’S WORD).
STOP LUSTING AFTER ANYTHING, INCLUDING FOOD.
WALK AS JESUS WALKED.
BE CONTENT WITH WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU.
BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF JESUS.
BE AS HE WAS IN THIS WORLD.
CAST DOWN IMAGINATIONS.
BRING ALL YOUR THOUGHTS INTO THE OBEDIENCE OF GOD’S WORD.
JESUS MUST INCREASE IN YOUR LIFE. YOU MUST DECREASE.
If need be, RESIST EVEN UNTO THE SHEDDING OF YOUR BLOOD STRIVING AGAINST SIN.
YOU CANNOT SERVE TWO MASTERS.
(The more you have in this world, the less chance you have of entering heaven).
STOP JUSTIFYING YOURSELF.
THE THINGS MEN ESTEEM HIGHLY, IS ABOMINATION IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD.
DON’T SAY THE THINGS YOU POSSESS ARE YOUR OWN.
SELL LANDS, HOUSES, etc., per Acts 4:34,35.
DON’T LAY UP STUFF AND TREASURES ON THIS EARTH.
LEAVE PARENTS, BRETHREN, WIFE, CHILDREN FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD’S SAKE, if called to do so.
Are you free from the chains and bondages of self, of greed or jealousy, of feeling rejected, of past hurts, or a need to have stuff and things, and friends, or of a need to fill your spare time with things other than God’s Word? Are you really willing to walk as Jesus did and follow Him as the Apostles did? How much buying and laying up of things did Jesus do? How much time did He waste on the pleasures of this life?
Do not be a forgetful hearer of God’s Word. Keep God’s Word in remembrance. Deny yourself. Those that shrink back, God shall have no pleasure in them.
1 Jn 2:6–HE THAT SAITH HE ABIDETH IN HIM OUGHT HIMSELF ALSO SO TO WALK, EVEN AS HE WALKED.
1 Jn 2:15–17–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. FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD, THE LUST OF THE FLESH, AND THE LUST OF THE EYES, AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE, IS NOT OF THE FATHER, BUT IS OF THE WORLD. AND THE WORLD PASSETH AWAY, AND THE LUST THEREOF: BUT HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF GOD ABIDETH FOR EVER.
If you have not been following Jesus, you can change that direction right now.
If you have been following Jesus, beware because:
Lk 14:34–SALT IS GOOD: BUT IF THE SALT HAVE LOST HIS (FLAVOR–NKJV), WHEREWITH SHALL IT BE SEASONED? If you did follow Jesus (if you had salt, but have shrunk back or the salt in you lost its flavor), how can it be seasoned again?