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Error post pls ignore

Decrease in selfishness.
Increase in selflessness.

Brother-Paul said:

The Increasing Christ

John 3:30 (NKJV)
He must increase, but I must decrease.

I have long been impressed with the thirtieth verse of the third chapter of John. Some of the disciples of John the Baptist come to him, reporting that everybody has gone after Jesus; the Baptist has been eclipsed, his popularity has passed its peak. But the rugged old prophet graciously replies in part, "He must increase, but I must decrease."

Nothing is more needed among Christians than the lesson of the decreasing self. It is an ego-centric age, a day of self-sufficiency. The world's creed is "Glorify Yourself," "Express Yourself." And just as a penny held close to the eye will hide the sun, so does the penny of self shut out God.

Several years ago, walking along the rim of the Grand Canyon, I came upon a girl reading a novel! With such a masterpiece of God to look at, what a place to be reading a novel! Yet, how many of us miss the far-flung horizons of the life that is hid with Christ in God, absorbed with the pitiful things of self.

Someone has pointed out that the word "sin" revolves as upon a pivot around the central letter "i." Verily, sin does revolve around I—self. That was the trouble with the Rich Fool: "This I will do: I will pull down my barns and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul," etc.—notice the "I's" and "my's." The Pharisee praying, in the parable of Jesus, was another of the same sort: "God, I thank Thee that I am not as other men." Both had I-trouble; they were self-centered.

The business of the Christian is to express Christ. To do that, he must decrease and Christ must increase. As at Cana, it is only when the wine of our own self-sufficiency gives out that we get the better wine which Christ provides. There must be the emptying of self if there is to be His infilling. Paul speaks of "Having nothing, yet possessing all things." One must come first to the first half of that phrase and realize his own nothingness before he truly can appropriate that other verse of Paul's: "All things are yours."

All of self and none of Thee!

Some of self and some of Thee!

Less of self and more of Thee!

None of self and all of Thee!

We ought to be careful how we endorse the world's creed of self-glorification. Magazines are full of self-development propaganda. Inspirational speakers' fads and isms tell us of our latent powers that can make giants of weaklings. Of course, there is a sense in which we must make the most of our personal capital as stewards of God, but one easily can drift here into self-sufficiency. God's strength is made perfect in our weakness, and Paul said that when he was weak he was strong. This is distasteful doctrine to a humanistic age that feels no need of the supernatural. One is a good Christian in proportion as he reveals Jesus rather than himself. When one buys glass for a picture, he is not interested so much in the beauty of the glass as in how well it reveals the picture. The real test of a Christian is his spiritual transparency.

The world asks, "Are you growing bigger?" Christ asks, "Are you growing less?"

Paul was a self-sufficient man on the Damascus road that morning. But with his conversion, a new process began: his en-Christment. The longer he lived, the less there was of Paul and the more there was of Christ, until he could say, "Not I, but Christ who liveth in me" and "To me to live is Christ."

"He must increase; we must decrease."

Reflections on the Gospels by Vance Havner


Prayer: Lord, as you know, in this world, at this time, there are so many things designed and marketed to tempt us to spend money and to take up our time. There are so many materialistic items we so often convince ourselves we need, yet probably don't. Forgive us Lord we pray, help us, guide us, protect us and strengthen us to resist the temptations that take us, and our time, away from you.
May you increase in my life Lord, and may I decrease in mine, to the Glory of God our Father, in Jesus Holy and Most Precious Name we pray. Amen.

Click to expand...

Amen
paul so good
so true
my prayer also is always
less n less of me (im a nightmare)
and more and more of Lovely jesus in me Amen

my time is never my own my whole day is care for family and home and this is good but i want to go out into the world and also do Gods will
daily life takes over

do this do that all day
i pray now for Gods will in my use of my time as every day can slip away im learning this
but would so Love a week in a cupboard with a light and my bible uninterupted lol
or a cave will do just fine
went to a log cabin once and hubby had a week long migraine
so i read all week under the trees perfect x
God bless you x

Nicola Jane said:

Amen
paul so good
so true
my prayer also is always
less n less of me (im a nightmare)
and more and more of Lovely jesus in me Amen

my time is never my own my whole day is care for family and home and this is good but i want to go out into the world and also do Gods will
daily life takes over

do this do that all day
i pray now for Gods will in my use of my time as every day can slip away im learning this
but would so Love a week in a cupboard with a light and my bible uninterupted lol
or a cave will do just fine
went to a log cabin once and hubby had a week long migraine
so i read all week under the trees perfect x
God bless you x

Click to expand...

Dear Nicola

Briefly.....

Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life.

Man is to work to provide for the family, unless there are reasons he cannot.

Woman is the look after the home and the family, unless there are reasons she cannot.

Then there are the items a man should do and a woman should do in marriage.

Ephesians 5:1-33 (NKJV)
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

For the Christian marriage/household
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.
29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.
30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Today in the world, especially the west, but not just the west, God's values and guidance have gone our of the window. But is wasn't like that from the beginning. Man is expected to labour and feed and supply for the family, woman is expected to look after the home and the family, marriage is of a man and a woman, brought together as one body, to love and care for one another according to God's Word.

We can want to this and want to do that Nicola, but should we just not be content to do God's will? Be content in all things.

If you have time on your hands, PTL, time for the Lord sister, we grow in faith, we feed on Home in our heart with thanksgiving and praise. Lord, give us this day our daily bread, The Word,

John 6:35
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Isn't that amazing

I was very active, then I lost my mobility, from around 53 year old I have needed to use a wheel chair, the sky went black, the curtains closed, everything I was used to was taken away. Life is not what the world says, we must have this and that, we must go here and there, we must, we want, etc. Life is learning to be content in all situations, trusting the Lord and not leaning on our own understanding. It is very easy for us all, no matter what situation to wish, to want, to hope for things that we may never have, and would we be happy if we got them, no I don't think so, we would wish and hope for something else. The grass 'always appears' greener on the other side sister, but rarely is.

Life is learning to be content in all situations, knowing God loves us more than we could ever imagine, loving others more than ourself, helping others when we can, learning from our Lord in all situation, sharing his love with our friends and those we love.

Philippians 4:12-14 (NIV2011)
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

That is what we are to do, share our troubles, encourage one another in Christ Jesus, trust in the Lord who teaches how to be content, what a man's duties are and what a woman's duties are in marriage and for the family.

Nicola Jane said:

my time is never my own my whole day is care for family and home and this is good but i want to go out into the world and also do Gods will
daily life takes over

Click to expand...

It isn't sister, your time is in God's hands, do what you do in love, PTL for everything good, you will be surprized how much good there is when we take our eyes of the negatives. PTL for everything that is good.

Jesus loves you, I do too.

w

Brother-Paul said:

Dear Nicola

Briefly.....

Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life.

Man is to work to provide for the family, unless there are reasons he cannot.

Woman is the look after the home and the family, unless there are reasons she cannot.

Then there are the items a man should do and a woman should do in marriage.

Ephesians 5:1-33 (NKJV)
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

For the Christian marriage/household
21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself.
29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.
30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.

31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh."
32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Today in the world, especially the west, but not just the west, God's values and guidance have gone our of the window. But is wasn't like that from the beginning. Man is expected to labour and feed and supply for the family, woman is expected to look after the home and the family, marriage is of a man and a woman, brought together as one body, to love and care for one another according to God's Word.

We can want to this and want to do that Nicola, but should we just not be content to do God's will? Be content in all things.

If you have time on your hands, PTL, time for the Lord sister, we grow in faith, we feed on Home in our heart with thanksgiving and praise. Lord, give us this day our daily bread, The Word,

John 6:35
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Isn't that amazing

I was very active, then I lost my mobility, from around 53 year old I have needed to use a wheel chair, the sky went black, the curtains closed, everything I was used to was taken away. Life is not what the world says, we must have this and that, we must go here and there, we must, we want, etc. Life is learning to be content in all situations, trusting the Lord and not leaning on our own understanding. It is very easy for us all, no matter what situation to wish, to want, to hope for things that we may never have, and would we be happy if we got them, no I don't think so, we would wish and hope for something else. The grass 'always appears' greener on the other side sister, but rarely is.

Life is learning to be content in all situations, knowing God loves us more than we could ever imagine, loving others more than ourself, helping others when we can, learning from our Lord in all situation, sharing his love with our friends and those we love.

Philippians 4:12-14 (NIV2011)
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

That is what we are to do, share our troubles, encourage one another in Christ Jesus, trust in the Lord who teaches how to be content, what a man's duties are and what a woman's duties are in marriage and for the family.



It isn't sister, your time is in God's hands, do what you do in love, PTL for everything good, you will be surprized how much good there is when we take our eyes of the negatives. PTL for everything that is good.

Jesus loves you, I do too.

Click to expand...

wow paul your a fast writer
thankyou
my thoughts were i feel useless for God as im just home looking after my own family and i just think is this what God wills for me
as there are so many Lost and i love to talk and share my faith in Jesus as no one really near who wants to hear me by me expecially with all the virus restirctions at this time so more isolated than usual
that was my thinking
but if God is happy with me just being home and loving my family then i am content with this

and paul i can see you have been through a lot yourself and you bless us all x
God bless you paul always your a real blessing to me x

Contentment in Godliness
5and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain. 6Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it.…

Nicola Jane said:

wow paul your a fast writer
thankyou
my thoughts were i feel useless for God as im just home looking after my own family and i just think is this what God wills for me
as there are so many Lost and i love to talk and share my faith in Jesus as no one really near who wants to hear me by me expecially with all the virus restirctions at this time so more isolated than usual
that was my thinking
but if God is happy with me just being home and loving my family then i am content with this

and paul i can see you have been through a lot yourself and you bless us all x
God bless you paul always your a real blessing to me x

Click to expand...

Not really Nicola, I was just here at the time. ;o)

I feel in my heart with everything we've shared that God wants you at home, the Light of Christ is needed in the Home, the Love of God is needed in your home, you are witnessing in the home, just by being there, by allowing the love of God, the Grace and Mercy come through you, and the peace of God that passeth all our understanding, when we keep our heart and mind on Christ Jesus our Lord.

Faith, Hope and Love sister, and the greatest of these is Love. Not as the world loves, but agape love, divine love; hesed love, steadfast love.

Let the Light of Christ that is within you, shine forth to everyone you meet, at home, in the street, where ever you go.

A woman's job, unlike a man's, is light work but constant work, from getting up to going to bed, but you will find periods when the Lord supplies you time, time for prayer, time to study, time to share with your brothers and sister in Christ, and this is after loving and caring for your family.

PTL for these special times Nicola

Bless you

Brother-Paul said:

Not really Nicola, I was just here at the time. ;o)

I feel in my heart with everything we've shared that God wants you at home, the Light of Christ is needed in the Home, the Love of God is needed in your home, you are witnessing in the home, just by being there, by allowing the love of God, the Grace and Mercy come through you, and the peace of God that passeth all our understanding, when we keep our heart and mind on Christ Jesus our Lord.

Faith, Hope and Love sister, and the greatest of these is Love. Not as the world loves, but agape love, divine love; hesed love, steadfast love.

Let the Light of Christ that is within you, shine forth to everyone you meet, at home, in the street, where ever you go.

A woman's job, unlike a man's, is light work but constant work, from getting up to going to bed, but you will find periods when the Lord supplies you time, time for prayer, time to study, time to share with your brothers and sister in Christ, and this is after loving and caring for your family.

PTL for these special times Nicola

Bless you

Click to expand...

Thankyou paul x

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Know this, and above all "chose" to believe it.