Self
Let us take a look at ‘Self” one of the most important aspects when you think of repentance and reconciliation, the primary levels of a new Christian. A close look at self has to be an ongoing process for every disciple; the word of God is like a mirror for a person who wants to see self through it.
Luke 15:7 “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
A person walking with Jesus would never stop meditating word day and night and fine tuning oneself accordingly. God will speak through the word. The best practice is to submit in that particular area God has revealed and allow the Spirit to change self every moment. We may not have victory in many areas. When we fail over and over, we cry in total humility. And victory is given by Thy grace. Never stop this process with one victory, God will give you victory in every area of your life.
I am testifying this from personal experiences and not from theory or theology. God has cleansed me in many areas I thought I would never have victory. He is still doing it every day & every moment. God shows me each day and moment, how to be a little more Christ like.
Now let us look into what it takes,
1. Repenting about sins however small they are.
1 John 1: 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
Very often, believers take sins lightly, justifying themselves in comparison with others who are worse. In some cases, believers do not believe that it is humanly possible to live a sinless life so they set their standards low. In most of the cases, they have not meditated the word enough and found out that a follower is called to live a life which is unworldly, sinless and spiritual. A combination of the above reasons make them not desiring true repentance.
Once we establish a relationship with god to the extent, we continuously discuss our sins, weaknesses etc with Him and ask for grace, we would be cleansed.
Let us make this a practice to check our attitude, desires, goals etc every moment and converse with God.
2. Reconciling with God after reconciling with others.
Matt 5: 23, 24 “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering
Honestly, according to the word of God, we cannot offer any sacrifice acceptable to our God unless we set our issues right with others. Whatever be the case, whatever be the merits or justification, we need to reconcile with men before offering a sacrifice. This could be a major or minor thing. The spirit has to be of humility and sacrifice so that we are able to do it.
Now the problem with many is that they do not find any wrong in self! Every issue is due to the mistake in the other. That is a situation. Fine, now read the verse above, let it be the other’s mistake, you still need to reconcile.
Only a deep meditation of the word will give insights on errors of commission and errors of omission. Many believers commit a lot of sins of omission. That is another subject.
Suggested action is to meditate the word and realize the will of god in connection with others. Love, charity, support, fellowship etc are some areas.
3. Victory over pride.
James 4:6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”
Have you noticed the element of pride in you? If you haven’t so far, meditate the word and try to do certain things our Lord did Himself. He washed the dirty feet of His disciples, had fellowship with the sinners and tax collectors and many such humble things.
Having the attitude of a servant in our lives could mean small things including laying the prayer mats at a brothers house (in the church you may consider it a privilege), if needed, washing the vessels or toilets in a friend’s house (seeking no commend for the same), visiting brethren of humble circumstances at their place and making them feel part of the body of Christ etc, to name a few. You do all this? Great. Then what about your office or home? Are you a servant there too? Even when we hold positions, we can have this attitude. We all fall short of this wonderful nature which in fact makes us so powerful. If we stand, we may fall, if we sit or kneel also, we may fall. But when one prostrates, one cannot fall.
James 1: 9, 10 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away
The best practice is to look into self and hate all that attitude of pride and self centeredness. Ask God for more and more grace and sincerely pray and desire that you want to be the most humble. See what that can do for you.
4. Self righteousness
2 Cor 10:12 For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.
An area many of the ‘good’ believers stumble often. When one overcomes carnal sins, live a ‘religious’ life, be accepted in religious circles etc, there is a chance of self righteous creeping in, feeling great oneself for achievements and work.
On the other hand, a spiritual man can feel good for the reason he is in Christ and hence in grace. Self righteousness claims that goodness for self by feeling what is achieved is a result of all the good work and good life. Such men forget the past and haven’t understood grace. They look down at people, judging them by own standards.
Luke 18:9 -14 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.”The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’”But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’”I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Practice – look into self and be humble for what God has done for you. Look at others and be hopeful that what god has done for you He wants to do for them too. God wants you to show the mercy He had showered on to you.
5. Victory over lust of eyes
Matt 5:28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
The standard set by Jesus Christ is very high. He said He has not come to remove the Law but to fulfill it. In the Law, everything was external, rewards and punishments were also physical. In the New covenant, it is all in the heart. We do or abstain from things not because of any Law but because we love Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior more than the pleasures from such acts. He had to give His Spirit and grace for us to finally get victory from sin. If one falls, go back to the throne of grace in a sincere prayer and in total humility. You will receive the power from Him and be victorious.
6. Victory over lust of world
James 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
This is seldom understood or spoken by preachers today as it is definitely going to hit the conscience of people who are rich and worldly. World is a system which offers all kinds of pleasures to the carnal man. Kingdom of heaven is also a system which offers peace and happiness but of a different kind. It is near us. These two systems are in exactly opposite directions.
One has to really choose between these two to live a life of separation. It is not about running away from the world, it is not about living the life of an ascetic. The choice for a Christian is either of the two, the world and what it offers – or God. You cannot really love both equally. What it takes for one is exactly opposite the other.
Matt 6:24”No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
Practice – Again, let us not judge others but ourselves. There are small, simple steps we can take to walk away from the world and towards God. Let us do it.
7. Clarity and moderation in material needs
1 Tim 6:6 But godliness {actually} is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.
This too is another area even sincere believers are also confused about. What is the ideal standard of life a good Christian can have? The fact is that, no one can set standards for others to follow. We need to ask God what is good for us. It depends on many factors. A preacher or church should not ‘specify’ what is right or wrong. But the key we understand from the word is moderation and contentment. A spiritual man has to be moderate, simple, humble and unworldly.
1 Tim 6:7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.1 Tim 6:8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
Practice – to take stock of our needs, taking it to Thy presence and asking Him of His opinion. I am sure god would speak and guide us.
8. Being pure in words, deeds, thoughts
Col 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person
Speaking in an appropriate manner is not something we can get away with. Our spiritual life depends a lot on the grace we have to speak properly.
Matt 15:11 “{It is} not what enters into the mouth {that} defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.”
Matt 15:19 “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.
We usually don’t act at home when no one is watching. If one is pure and soft spoken at home, probably has got victory in this area! I have seen many ‘spiritual’ people speaking arrogantly and disrespectfully in public and private. Even if their point is valid and justice is in their side, they are at fault in the eyes of our Lord.
Let us desire more grace to speak the way we are supposed to – softly, compassionately and patiently. It comes only from true love, humility and concern.
9. Speaking truth in love
Eph 4:14, 15 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ
Being soft spoken shouldn’t amount to avoiding truths when one speaks. We need to be speaking the truth in love. If we love a person, we need to speak the truth even if it hurts. But it can be done in a compassionate manner.
11. Victory over self centeredness
Phil 2: 1-5 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus
Most of the ‘good’ Christians believe what they believe is the perfectly balanced truth. It is simply an attitude of ‘my will and my way is the best’. We need to have discernment, we need to choose and be careful. But we need to learn from Jesus every moment. Jesus was accessible even for the worst of the people. Unless one is able to relate with all kinds of people (while not getting corrupt by that) one cannot win their hearts.
Today, we see churches and denominations fighting a cold war with each other! Which God are they following? I am sure it is not Jesus Christ in Spirit. May be they use the name of Jesus Christ, but the Spirit is of someone else.
Let us strive to have the attitude in ourselves that was also in Christ Jesus.
12. Nature of living in front of God and not men
John 12: 42, 43Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.
Fear of men –spiritual leaders, preachers, prophets etc is much prevalent than fear of God. We need to respect a ‘genuine’ spiritual leader. While we do not show disrespect to fakes also, stay away from them. Even when we respect a genuine spiritual leader, it should not amount to a fear of the person, a desire to please, an urge to be in good books etc.
Acts 4: 18-20 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
Be humble but courageous. Let us learn to live in front of God.
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