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Selfless - without consideration for oneself; unselfish
Self denial – denial of one’s own desires and passions Selfish - caring only for one’s own needs or desires; not generous What then is the Church’s love for Christ? The response of love to the mystery of love, the submission of love to perfect love. First love is the love of espousal. Its notes are simplicity, and purity, marital love, the response of love to love, the subjection of a great love to a great love, the submission of a self-denying love to a love that denies self. First love is the abandonment of all for a love that has abandoned all. (from Wycliffe Commentary) We love Him, because He first loved us with a selfless act of love. Not just in word, but in deed and in truth. With this in mind, how often do you submit yourself to a self-denying love to know the mystery of that love that allows you to deny yourself and follow it? Matthew 16:24-26 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (25) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. (26) For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (KJV) Do you love yourself less than Christ? Many will say that they do, but in works they deny it. Many endure for a season until they are asked to deny something that the Lord sees as unhealthy for them, and instead of relying on His wisdom and strength to overcome it, they turn and walk away. Not willing to die so that they can experience an even fuller life of a much greater love; a love that this world cannot even come close to. It is a love of deep affection, joy and peace. It is a love that will never fail you. Denying your fleshly wants and desires for a short time on this earth is worth eternity in Christ. Are you willing to die so that you can experience this love, and then be able to share this love with others? Willing to deny self and go about our Father’s business regardless of what the world says or does. Willing to hold fast and not be afraid of the faces of those against Him, but to trust in His love to get you through, and continue to speak the truth in love. To lay your life down for the brethren is selfless love. We know this because Jesus Christ did it for us. He gave us an example of how to love one another; and encourages us to continue to share His love and be there to help bare another’s burden. Do you want to gain the whole world only to lose your own soul? Really, it is not about you…so how about learning to love less by losing your life for Christ’s sake, so that you find eternal life in Him, and are able to encourage others to do the same. So I leave you with this… The duty of ministering to the saints is so plain, that there would seem no need to exhort Christians to it; yet self-love contends so powerfully against the love of Christ, that it is often necessary to stir up their minds by way of remembrance. (from Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary) God bless dearly loved and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. The elements of first love then are simplicity and purity…The love of the Church to Christ is typified by the love of the wife for the husband. What then is the love of Christ to the Church? Unselfish love, love in which there was no single thought of self. (from Wycliffe Commentary)
Romans 5:6-8 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. (8) But God commendeth (to prove, to show, to demonstrate) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (KJV) He first loved us; and He demonstrated it by having put into place before the foundation of the world a plan of salvation for each and every one of us. He gave us His only begotten Son who died for us that we might have life and life more abundantly. A selfless act of love. Selfless - without consideration for oneself; unselfish Self denial – denial of one’s own desires and passions Jesus of Nazareth, a man just like you and I, laid down his life continually; he denied his own fleshly desires and passions, learning to keep them in subjection to the Spirit of Christ within him which strengthened and encouraged him in the way of righteousness. He had a choice each and every day whether He would continue in what was being asked of Him, to continue in a selfless love; that being no single thought of self, but to continually desire and to do the will of God. Now remember without Christ he could do nothing; Christ being the Word brought to life within him. And yet Christ had to be willing as well, to separate himself from the comfort that He enjoyed. Willing to be sent in the likeness of sinful flesh, to condemn sin in the flesh; willing to take on the sin of mankind; willing to be separated from God and to help mankind who had sold out to pleasure for a season only to find out it had separated them from God; willing to be the way of reconciliation for mankind. The two became one new man, so making peace. Jesus and Christ became the perfect sacrifice by working together for the common goal, for the will of God which was being asked of them by our Father in heaven. Jesus Christ became the way of escape for all of mankind; but only those that truly desire and take the time to seek it will find it. They were willing to make peace with God for us and allow Him to reconcile us to Him. They were willing to forsake the pleasures of this life so that you could have the pleasure of eternal life. In the end they were willing to die for us to fulfill God’s will, and that His joy would be fulfilled to see that His children walk in truth. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Matthew 26:39 …O’ my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt. (KJV) Would you be so willing? Willing to deny yourself as He did; willing to go through what He did; willing to lay down your life for His sheep? Willing to operate in His selfless love? Something to ponder dearly loved. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. This commentary I had written down in some of my notes from a few years ago. I did not write down the verse that it is in reference to, but what matters is what it ministers to the heart.
From Matthew Henry’s Commentary Note, Union with Christ is a noble principle, productive of all good. A life of faith in the Son of God is incomparably the most excellent life a man can live in this world; it is regular and even, pure and heavenly; it is useful and comfortable, and all that answers the end of life. This is the life that we should desire; to continue to enter into His rest ceasing from our own works and be in union with Him. To continue to have an excellent life that ministers unto others the love, grace, and mercy of God through our union with Christ. To continue to light up a dark are dreary world with the hope that is within us. To continue to be an encouragement to others that they might desire to live a life in union with Christ as well. Most of all…to hear our Father in Heaven say unto us ‘well done my good and faithful servant’. And not for what we have done but for what we have allowed Christ to do within and through us. What type of life do you desire? An excellent life begins and continues in union with Christ; it is all that answers the end of life. God bless dearly loved and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (KJV)
Matthew Henry Commentary on John 16:7-15 He will guide them into all truth, as the skilful pilot guides the ship into the port it is bound for. To be led into a truth is more than barely to know it; it is to be intimately and experimentally acquainted with it; to be piously and strongly affected with it; not only to have the notion of it in our heads, but the relish and savour and power of it in our hearts; it denotes a gradual discovery of truth shining more and more: I like the way Matthew Henry describes this verse in that to be led into a truth is more than just hearing it or as he says to barely know it. Many barely know the truth that is in them. They have a surface knowledge through the change that took place in their hearts when they accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior; they know that something has changed within their heart, but few take the time to really seek a deeper more intimate knowledge of the truth that is now within them. Many began in the Spirit only to get caught up in the surface knowledge (head knowledge) of the man Jesus of Nazareth, but not an intimate knowledge of the truth that was in him. Many read the Bible, memorize verses, and hear other men speak of the scriptures; yet, as Matthew Henry spoke above, that it is not only to have the notion of it in our heads, but to have the relish and savour and power of it in our hearts. Few are willing to go beyond the head and look into the deeper things of God which lies within the new heart. The only way to an intimate knowledge of the truth that was within him (Jesus of Nazareth) is to become intimate with it yourself. Then you will know the truth having experienced it for yourself. Not by what man says, but by what the Spirit says. And like the skilful pilot that guides the ship into the port it is bound for, the Spirit of truth guides you into the truth it is bound for; which denotes a gradual discovery of truth shining more and more. The more you experience the truth of Christ within in you, the more the path of life becomes clearer and clearer. Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. (KJV) Knowing the truth will set and keep you free to walk on the path which has been lit up just for you. God bless dearly loved and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Consistent means to be free from self-contradiction; in harmony with. Harmony means agreement and co-operation. These definitions come from Webster’s New American Dictionary copyright 1947.
If you are in harmony with the Lord then you will not be denying the truth that is in Him; which is what self-contradiction means; to deny the truth of something or stating the opposite of something. Many are in self-contradiction and not in harmony with the Lord. Even, we who are of the household of God need to watch and pray always so that we do not fall into self-contradiction or out of harmony with Him. If our walk does not line up with the Word then our talk won’t either. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth will speak forth what is in the heart and so will our manner of living (our walk). Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. (KJV) Matthew 15:7-9 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, (8) This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (9) But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (KJV) James 1:22-25 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (23) For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: (24) For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. (25) But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (KJV) I use these verses because there are many who are denying the truth that is in them through their manner of life, deceiving their own selves. They are in a state of confusion (self contradiction) where there is no peace. They confess with their mouth that they know God, but in works they deny Him. In vain they worship Him teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. They are not in harmony with the Lord. For if they were in harmony with the Lord they would be free from self-contradiction. There would be liberty, peace, and contentment in their lives; a reflection of the truth. They would be constant (steadfast) in their relationship with the Lord, having had the eyes of their understanding enlightened to the truth that is in them. Instead, many chose to remain in self contradiction. The truth that was in Jesus of Nazareth is the same truth that is in you as well; Christ in you the hope of glory. He allowed Christ the word of God to continually transform him in all manner of life; in word and in deed. In doing so, He made peace with God for us; giving us the way and the truth which enables us to be in harmony with God, and the life in Christ, freeing us from self contradiction. All of this is available to us if we are willing to deny self and proclaim truth in all manner of our life; to remain in agreement and in co-operation with the Lord. Is your life today a reflection of harmony with the Lord and our Father in heaven? If not, today is the day of salvation. Today, you have opportunity to be consistent. God bless dearly loved and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Matthew 18:3-4 And said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (KJV)
Nothing works; because that is when we realize that our thoughts and ways have nothing to contribute as far as salvation goes. We see again that humility goes a long way in pleasing our Father in heaven. Do take note of the fact that, it is up to us to humble ourselves. 1 Samuel 15:16-19 Then Samuel said unto Saul, stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on. 17 And Samuel said when thou was little in thine own sight, was thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel? 18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. 19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD? (KJV) Saul was anointed king by God when he humbled himself and gave God someone to work with, but as time went on Saul decided to do things his way. Many people begin with our Lord and have good intentions; however it comes to a screeching halt when pride takes over. Proverbs 26:11-12 As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly. 12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him. (KJV) I have done some foolish things in life even after knowing the Lord. To be described as a fool is one thing, but then to realize a fool has more hope than I did is quite another. I guess in the end all I did was fool myself. Luke 18:11-14 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week; I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted. (KJV) Many today are fooled into thinking that because they go to some religious organization on a weekly, or should I say weakly basis they are better than others. Those that really know and understand salvation know that is not the case at all. Again we see it is up to us to keep ourselves humble. 1 Corinthians 3:18-20 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He takes the wise in their own craftiness. 20 And again, The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. (KJV) If you are going to do something foolish, then why not do it for the right reason? The wisdom of God begins when you realize how foolish your own thoughts and ways are. It is categorized as being vain, empty, and without results. Galatians 6:3-4 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. (KJV) In conclusion, if you desire to be someone in God’s kingdom then you will need to realize that you are nothing, because in the end nothing works. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Galatians 6:1-3 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (KJV)
The law of Christ is spiritual, based on faith in what our Lord has done on our behalf and would like to do in and through you if you will let him. The law of faith means that you are willing to surrender your thoughts and desires by putting others ahead of yourself. Anytime that process gets reversed we end up deceiving ourselves thinking that salvation is based on works and not faith. Philippians 2:7-9 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (KJV) In a world where people think bigger is better; we see our Lord’s way of operating is just the opposite. Many have made a name for themselves with their world wide ministries and in essence are exalting themselves. Our Lord was given a name and a position higher than any other because he humbled himself by putting others first. You don’t see much of that anymore when watching some of these holier than thou TV preachers. Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (KJV) That burden gets much heavier when you try to make a name for yourself and try to carry it on your own. Again we see our Lord describing who He is and why He was used of God effectively, which again involves being meek and lowly. Ephesians 4:1-2 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; (KJV) Oh I wish the Lord would use me more. Well I am sure He would like to use more of His people, if they would only get themselves out of the way. Lowliness and meekness means we have come to the end of ourselves and have allowed someone else to take over. We truly realize that our salvation is based on grace through faith, and certainly not anything to do with ourselves. James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. (KJV) Many people have heard the Word but have allowed the enemy to steal it from their heart. Those that receive the Word keep it; because they received it with meekness and not pride. Matthew 21:5-7 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes and they set him thereon. (KJV) It’s called the law of Christ because our Lord set the example of what it takes to be used by God. If our Lord is not using you maybe you need to check which direction you are headed in. Dearly loved, God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Galatians 6:1-3 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (KJV)
Our Lord was not a loudmouth finger pointing person, but a gentle humble person who came not to condemn but to save. Two of the words that accompany meekness are gentle and humble, words describing what it takes to be used by God. You may not have fallen in the area someone else is struggling with, but like our Lord who asked a group of people who thought they were rock stars, “he that is without sin may cast the first stone”. Matthew 7:3-5 And why behold thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considers not the beam that is in thine own eye? 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? 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. (KJV) Our Lord has a title for those people who that think they are really something, hypocrite. If we would really learn to examine our own life as much as others we would see things much clearer. If you notice our Lord requires His people to get the impurities out of their own lives first before moving on to others. Numbers 12:1-3 And Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 And they said, hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. 3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men who were upon the face of the earth.) (KJV) As you can see Moses own family members allowed a beam to cloud their vision and thought God was playing favorites, but God chose Moses for good reason, because this man did not think more highly of himself as the others did. Numbers 12:6-8 And he said hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. 7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. 8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? (KJV) As you see a meek and humble spirit will get you closer to our Lord than these loud mouth self-righteous ones that we seem to be surrounded with. Our Lord chose Moses because he did not allow pride to get in the way. Psalms 25:8-10 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. 10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. (KJV) Is the Lord working in your life and speaking to you personally, or does He seem distant lately? Maybe you have been calling the shots instead of Him? Matthew 5:4-5 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. (KJV) Do you desire to claim your eternal inheritance someday? Then you will need to realize what the term meekness means in order for that to happen. Dearly loved, humble yourself under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time; and cast all your care upon Him; for He careth for you. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Galatians 6:1-3 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (KJV)
A fool is known by a multitude of words; you know, those that think they are something special? In the end they only end up deceiving themselves, which is exactly where the enemy desires to see them, on the sidelines and out of play. You will see God is consistent in who He uses and why. The reason many are called, yet in the end only a few are chosen, is because of the deception which can be summed up in one word, religion. John 6:63-65 It is the spirit that quickened; the flesh profited nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65 And he said, therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. (KJV) When you were born again it is like our Lord describing Himself as the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. This new life in Christ means that you have come to an end concerning self, and are now willing to turn your thoughts and attention to a new spiritual realm. The more you realize how useless your thoughts and ways are, the more you give the Lord someone to work in and through. Psalms 107:26-28 They mount up to the heaven; they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end. 28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distresses. (KJV) Many Christians today are tossed to and fro like a drunk because of all the winds of doctrines the prince of the power of the air is throwing their way. Sometimes we end up at our wits end before we will finally surrender to what our Lord has for us. As one grows and matures in Christ they learn to avoid these hardships and spiritual hangovers. Isaiah 55:6-9 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (KJV) Just about the time you think you know it all and think you can dictate to God how things work, you need to go back and read the final few chapters of the book of Job and see how he got himself out of his funk. Faith is your ability to believe that our Lord’s ways and thoughts are much higher than yours, even though at the present moment it seems like you hit a brick wall. Dearly loved, let go and let God have control of your life; He is faithful, He knows the end from the beginning and has a more perfect plan for your life than you do. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Galatians 6:1-3 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (KJV)
This week we are going to take a look at a few words that come up quite frequently throughout the Bible; meekness being one which puts us in our place, realizing like Paul did, that we are nothing. Let’s just say that according to our own thoughts and ways we don’t have anything really that contributes to salvation. The more you realize that you are nothing without the Lord, the more you give Him something to work with. John 15:5-6 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (KJV) Salvation is a continual process that has to become a way of life in order to truly experience a quality life in Christ. My past life was one of getting lit up and torched by the enemy because of the stupid decisions I made based on what I thought would work. It is sad to say, but at times I have been my own worst enemy even after knowing the Lord when I would lean more to my own understanding, not walking by faith. 1 Corinthians 3:4-7 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollo’s; are ye not carnal? 5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollo’s, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollo’s watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planted any thing, neither he that waters; but God that gives the increase. (KJV) God can and does use people to deliver His message, but as you notice Paul knew his place in the body and the fact that he wasn’t really anything but a vessel. Many carnal Christians today seem to identify more with an organization or some big name pastor rather than establishing a quality, personal relationship with our Lord. The truth is that many pastors also know how to play the people and keep them in that mindset also. Isaiah 44:5-7 One shall say, I am the LORD's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the LORD, and surname himself by the name of Israel. 6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. 7 And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? And the things that are coming, and shall come, let them show unto them. (KJV) As you see this stuff has been happening for a long time, people putting other people on pedestals that they don’t belong on; because some people think more highly of themselves than they ought to. So in the end, if you truly desire to move forward in your walk with the Lord, you will put Him above anyone or anything else on this earth. Why settle for less? God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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