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#34488 Thu Nov 23, 2006 12:31 PM
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William Offline OP
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So would any care to share how they have progressed in their sanctification this past year?
How about you older guys and gals did you grow?

For me I feel as if I have grown. I certainly have obtained a lot more brain knowledge. Also the Lord has taught me the importance of observing "the Lord's day". What I hope He will work in me next is the control of my tongue.

In all things give thanks.
William

William #34489 Fri Nov 24, 2006 10:03 PM
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William,

This year, I too have learned the blessings of the Lord's Day. Of course, there was the temptation to be legalistic, so I pray that I will remember that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. I now go to an independent Reformed Baptist church, and people usually stay the afternoon because of the distance they drive as well as the great opportunities for edification and fellowship that are to be had from being together!

I also have learned much about forgiving my brothers and sisters in Christ. I have a tendency to be overcritical of people. While it is important to confront sin that needs to be dealt with, I tend to mull over it and wonder if their apologies/repentance were real or not. Of course, a big part of the lesson came in seeing my own sin more and more.

Col. 3:8-17
8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.
9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,
10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him--
11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.


True godliness is a sincere feeling which loves God as Father as much as it fears and reverences Him as Lord, embraces His righteousness, and dreads offending Him worse than death~ Calvin
William #34490 Fri Nov 24, 2006 11:26 PM
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Quote
William said:
So would any care to share how they have progressed in their sanctification this past year?
How about you older guys and gals did you grow?


William,

It’s been said that the closer we draw to God the easier it is for us to see our sin. I think that’s true. At least it has been for me. However, we are not to be occupied with our sin, but to be occupied with God, and this will deliver us from self. When you asked the question about growth in grace the first thought that comes to my mind is my lack of true humility. Not that I have anything at all to be proud about, but I find it far too easy to think more highly of myself than I should. It’s been quite liberating for me to empty myself before the Lord and confess that He’s all in all and I am nothing apart from Him.

I’ve been reading quite a bit about this topic recently because I’ve come under conviction that I need to repent of my prideful attitude. Some of the things that I’ve learned are:

1. Pride is the root of every sin and evil. When the Serpent breathed the poison of his pride – the desire to be as God – into the hearts of our first parents, they fell like him from their high estate into the wretchedness in which man is now sunk. In heaven and on earth, pride – self-exultation – is the gate and the birth, and the curse, of hell.

2. Humility is a place of entire dependence on God. It is our highest duty and the root of every virtue.

3. Without humility there can be no true abiding in God’s presence. Nothing but the presence of God can reveal and expel self.

4. The highest lesson a believer has to learn is humility. Oh that every Christian who seeks to advance in holiness may remember this well.

5. His grace is sufficient for us, to meet every temptation of pride too. His strength is made perfect in weakness.

6. It is only in the possession of God that I lose myself. As it is in the height and breadth and glory of the sunshine that the littlest of the dust particle playing in its beam is seen, even so humility is taking our place in God’s presence to be nothing but a mote dwelling in the sunlight of His love.

No one has exemplified humilty more that our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. He tells us "Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest for your souls."

Quote
Philippians 2:4-8

"Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."

The more I study this topic the more I see how dependent I am on the grace of God and how little progress has been made in my life so far. Oh, I think there's progress in my life but I see much more work to be done. Thanks be to God, He's not finished with me yet.


Wes


When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died, my richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride. - Isaac Watts
MarieP #34491 Sat Nov 25, 2006 7:09 AM
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Thanks Wes and Marie,

I also think He has given me the grace to grow another eigth of an inch on the infinitely long standard and reality of His righteousness. Sometimes I think the Lord must laugh at us, like we were two year-olds trying to put on their fathers boots.

When I think of humility, I always think about the Lord when He paid His taxes. The One who created the universe and could have commanded all of the wealth and power of nature to His feet, miraculously commanded only two coins and only one of those for Himself.

Thanks Marie for those verses in Colossians, they would be very good ones to memorize.

Denny

Romans 3:22-24


Denny

Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." [John 6:68]
Wes #34492 Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:51 PM
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hi <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> i think what Wes discussed about his personal walk with the Lord is really a blessing.
it was nice of you to ask, William. (by the way, hi <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />) it made me reflect <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
my life this year tells me that our journey towards spiritual maturity isn't a matter of head knowledge about the facts of the Bible or even the number of verses we can recite. i have learned about death - that if i really wanted to grow in my relationship with the Lord, if i really wanted to be like Him, i have to do real surrender. i have to die to myself. when i accepted Him as my Lord and Personal Savior, i thought i've surrendered everything to Him but living my life, i have seen an unsurrendered life - the decisions, plans, dreams are mine. i have not died to myself and have not allowed Jesus to live in me. it feels awful to think about how i lived my life my own way, to think that i am a Christian. it's such a shame to even call Him Lord when i did things my way.
this year, i realized that dying to one's self isn't easy. but it's liberating. and the more i tell myself to die each morning i'm given a life to live, the more i understand my Lord's grace.


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