THAT I MAY KNOW HIM!(PHP.3:10)
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COMPROMISE HAS A PATTERN (PT. 2)
...mind you,most of us are compromising without knowing that we are...it begins very subtly,just like a proud person never believes he is proud,until it becomes really pronounced in most cases.
It's been hectic with me,and I believe, with everyone,so please bear with me!
When we looked at*Compromise and its dangers*, we parted with me telling us that Compromise has a pattern,and that's exactly what we're here to look into today. I fervently hope we honestly took it seriously to fish out areas of Compromise in our lives for the purpose of working on them.
It isn't easy, but with the Holy Spirit to help us ,and our determination, it's possible. It isn't to teach it or write about it that matters... it's identifying with it. I can confidently assure you I have my own devils to fight too,if not more than most of us...WHAT MATTERS AND MOVES THE HOLY SPIRIT TO INTERVENE,IS OUR ABSOLUTE DEPENDENCE ON HIM,AND OUR EVIDENT DETERMINATION TO SET THE RECORDS STRAIGHT.
Okay. Like I said, Compromise has a pattern, and understanding this patterns help us discern quickly,when we're letting down our guards.
Attraction;
This is when something gets our attention... ordinarily, the*something* is what we wouldn't even consider when given an option. But somehow,we see ourselves looking back,or looking twice or more.
For instance,in the office, there's a colleague who is on the same level with you,or probably lower. But his total carriage(makeup) exhibits an affluence beyond your official earnings...dress sense and spare cash to throw around, etc. Usually,this doesn't move you,but you suddenly find yourself taking interest...the door to letting down your guard has been thrown wide open...TEMPTED TO DO WHAT YOU KNOW YOU SHOULDN'T,yet during lunch, you ask how he affords it.
Justification
We make reasons for the wrongs to be okay, because of our desire. Having asked and knowing how he makes the spare cash, as a Christian, it's our duty to gently reprimand him,and preach the tenets of sincerity...work ethics. But no,our attention has been aroused. Next step...instead of withdrawing,we proceed by telling ourselves,that it isn't actually stealing,*TO LEAVE SOME "I"s UNDOTTED AND SOME "t"s UNCROSSED IN OUR REPORTS...afterall,we work hard all day with our bosses not appreciating us(enough).
Indulgence ;
The moment we find a plausible excuse why our newly developed habits(actions) aren't quite wrong, all restraints are removed, and the conscience is hardened. IT STARTS WITH* NOT QUITE WRONG* AND PROGRESSES TO * IT'S NOT WRONG* As at that point,the notion is, we all are reading the same Bible,and I perfectly understand what I read. IN EFFECT, BEFORE NOW YOU WERE BLIND,BUT NOW CAN SEE!
Re-definition
Cumulatively,we redefine what wrong is,and what it isn't, searching for Scriptures in the Bible that can be mistranslated to offer some form of reprieve to our hurting conscience, or present it in our lives, to remove guilt. But what most of us are ignorant of is this ...IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW IT READS LITERALLY, GOD'S WORD NEVER CONTRADICTS ITSELF. Wrong has always been wrong and right had always been right...no deviation whatsoever... from the Old to the New Testament.
You see the pattern...it begins with giving attention to what we shouldn't...ladies,men,money,lies, alcohol,drags,our time with God(personal or general) abandonment of once cherished values, ethics and principles...the list is endless...
COMPROMISE is simply changing the question to fit the answer. Compromised Christians make Christ Jesus want to vomit them out of His mouth (Revelation 3:15-16).
COMPROMISE is the parent of BETRAYAL...the moment you start redefining Something to meet your present desire,you are already a betrayer. Ask Judas Iscariot!
As Christians, we shouldn't be afraid to be bold and stand for what God's Word tells us is right. You can't eat your cake and have it...Christ Jesus calls us *lukewarm*,when we compromise our lives to have a balanced appearance of God and the world. There can be no balance. Choose GOD!
The responsibility of every Christian is to renew our mind and find the Will of God (Romans 12:1-2).
We cannot be conformed to this world, and yet hope to find ourselves at His Feet. It is our duty as Christians to show the attitude and character God desires within us. No one should compromise a walk with God to imitate the world for anyone or anything. Reflect God and the image He desires for each of us to display.
We should desire to serve Him with all our heart and mind, not because we feel we must do it, but from love and obedience to Him. Christians do not receive eternal salvation from works but through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and as Lord.
Now more than ever, we must decrease in our desires to be like the world and allow Christ Jesus to increase in our lives (John 3:30).
Things within life that reflect more of a life of sin and do not glorify God are counted as waste (Philippians 3:7-9).
Anything that a person gains for the flesh (the sinful nature) is wasted time, and wasted energy. We cannot afford to compromise in today’s time. Our lives, the lives of sinners, and the lives of other Christians may depend on the Word of God that should be coming forth out of our mouths and witnessed through our actions.
Let us LIVE an uncompromisingly bold life for Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour,Amen!
THAT I MAY KNOW HIM!(PHP.3:10)
***********************************
COMPROMISE HAS A PATTERN (PT. 2)
🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥🚥
...mind you,most of us are compromising without knowing that we are...it begins very subtly,just like a proud person never believes he is proud,until it becomes really pronounced in most cases.
It's been hectic with me,and I believe, with everyone,so please bear with me🙏!
When we looked at*Compromise and its dangers*, we parted with me telling us that Compromise has a pattern,and that's exactly what we're here to look into today. I fervently hope we honestly took it seriously to fish out areas of Compromise in our lives for the purpose of working on them.
It isn't easy, but with the Holy Spirit to help us ,and our determination, it's possible. It isn't to teach it or write about it that matters... it's identifying with it. I can confidently assure you I have my own devils to fight too,if not more than most of us...WHAT MATTERS AND MOVES THE HOLY SPIRIT TO INTERVENE,IS OUR ABSOLUTE DEPENDENCE ON HIM,AND OUR EVIDENT DETERMINATION TO SET THE RECORDS STRAIGHT.
Okay. Like I said, Compromise has a pattern, and understanding this patterns help us discern quickly,when we're letting down our guards.
👉Attraction;
This is when something gets our attention... ordinarily, the*something* is what we wouldn't even consider when given an option. But somehow,we see ourselves looking back,or looking twice or more.
For instance,in the office, there's a colleague who is on the same level with you,or probably lower. But his total carriage(makeup) exhibits an affluence beyond your official earnings...dress sense and spare cash to throw around, etc. Usually,this doesn't move you,but you suddenly find yourself taking interest...the door to letting down your guard has been thrown wide open...TEMPTED TO DO WHAT YOU KNOW YOU SHOULDN'T,yet during lunch, you ask how he affords it.
👉Justification
We make reasons for the wrongs to be okay, because of our desire. Having asked and knowing how he makes the spare cash, as a Christian, it's our duty to gently reprimand him,and preach the tenets of sincerity...work ethics. But no,our attention has been aroused. Next step...instead of withdrawing,we proceed by telling ourselves,that it isn't actually stealing,*TO LEAVE SOME "I"s UNDOTTED AND SOME "t"s UNCROSSED IN OUR REPORTS...afterall,we work hard all day with our bosses not appreciating us(enough).
👉Indulgence ;
The moment we find a plausible excuse why our newly developed habits(actions) aren't quite wrong, all restraints are removed, and the conscience is hardened. IT STARTS WITH* NOT QUITE WRONG* AND PROGRESSES TO * IT'S NOT WRONG* As at that point,the notion is, we all are reading the same Bible,and I perfectly understand what I read. IN EFFECT, BEFORE NOW YOU WERE BLIND,BUT NOW CAN SEE!
👉Re-definition
Cumulatively,we redefine what wrong is,and what it isn't, searching for Scriptures in the Bible that can be mistranslated to offer some form of reprieve to our hurting conscience, or present it in our lives, to remove guilt. But what most of us are ignorant of is this ...IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW IT READS LITERALLY, GOD'S WORD NEVER CONTRADICTS ITSELF. Wrong has always been wrong and right had always been right...no deviation whatsoever... from the Old to the New Testament.
You see the pattern...it begins with giving attention to what we shouldn't...ladies,men,money,lies, alcohol,drags,our time with God(personal or general) abandonment of once cherished values, ethics and principles...the list is endless...
COMPROMISE is simply changing the question to fit the answer. Compromised Christians make Christ Jesus want to vomit them out of His mouth (Revelation 3:15-16).
COMPROMISE is the parent of BETRAYAL...the moment you start redefining Something to meet your present desire,you are already a betrayer. Ask Judas Iscariot!
As Christians, we shouldn't be afraid to be bold and stand for what God's Word tells us is right. You can't eat your cake and have it...Christ Jesus calls us *lukewarm*,when we compromise our lives to have a balanced appearance of God and the world. There can be no balance. Choose GOD!
The responsibility of every Christian is to renew our mind and find the Will of God (Romans 12:1-2).
We cannot be conformed to this world, and yet hope to find ourselves at His Feet. It is our duty as Christians to show the attitude and character God desires within us. No one should compromise a walk with God to imitate the world for anyone or anything. Reflect God and the image He desires for each of us to display.
We should desire to serve Him with all our heart and mind, not because we feel we must do it, but from love and obedience to Him. Christians do not receive eternal salvation from works but through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and as Lord.
Now more than ever, we must decrease in our desires to be like the world and allow Christ Jesus to increase in our lives (John 3:30).
Things within life that reflect more of a life of sin and do not glorify God are counted as waste (Philippians 3:7-9).
Anything that a person gains for the flesh (the sinful nature) is wasted time, and wasted energy. We cannot afford to compromise in today’s time. Our lives, the lives of sinners, and the lives of other Christians may depend on the Word of God that should be coming forth out of our mouths and witnessed through our actions.
Let us LIVE an uncompromisingly bold life for Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour,Amen🙏🙇🙏!