Dying to self. I wonder if we understand what that actually means. We are called to die to self and to take up our cross every day and follow Jesus. I’m beginning to realise how much I don’t understand; how much I don’t know; how much I want to know. Dying to self isn’t about letting your husband have the last piece of chocolate cake, although there is a bit of it there. It’s much more profound. If we die to self then we are dead. Dead. Dead people don’t get offended or hurt if they are obeying God and doing His will it will not matter if the world rejects you and says hurtful things. The example that was given in class today by Apostle Leigh: We are supposed to be dead in Christ so we should not care if we are rejected when we bring a rebuke. Offence is sin. You put yourself in 'a fence'. If you are offended then you should repent. A Godly rebuke sorts out all sorts of things in the body, there is awe and an appreciation of the heaviness of God when a rebuke is brought to the body and everyone benefits, not just the recipient of the rebuke. If the rebuke is received. That’s the key; the rebuke must be received. Are we too stubborn and rebellious to understand that we are not all-knowing, all-seeing beings? That we err and need correction in order that Christ be formed in us? I wonder if we would develop much more in God if this truth could be accepted. It is scriptural. First Timothy Chapter 5 verse 20 says: “Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.” NKJV or “Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.” NIV. Proverbs 27:5 tells us “Better is open rebuke than love carefully concealed”.
There's a thought,I think often our problem is that we question the right of the rebuker to do that to us. However we usually do have an idea that we may have said or done something wrong, so it is perhaps a case of regretting we have been found out. It is a harsh teaching and one I was brought up with. "Be sure your sins will find you out" Perhaps we are more concerned with other people knowing all about us- we already know that God knows all about us and really that should concern us far more - but does it? Definitely food for thought. Love Mum/Pam xx
ReplyDeleteDying to self is part of the kingdom gospel. Its the death and life lifestyle. We cannot follow without dying and denying. I have receiv ed and given rebukes and there is always an effect. Things are never the same again. When we receive a rebukeit moves us on quickly, to resist means we take longer to get to the place we need to be in. Enjoying the blogs, keep posting
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