Thursday, January 15, 2009
Some Personal Biblical Counseling
Okay...well it was not completely personal...not exactly one on one help...but it was received as Biblical counseling, because I needed to hear it. I must add here how much I love and appreciate my church and their leadership. I am blessed beyond measure.
Our pastor is teaching through the book of 1st John right now. It has been so good...so applicable...so practical...and so helpful for my heart! This past Sunday he taught on the topic of *Do You Love The World* from 1st John 2:15-17. What a wonderful sermon to hear since I have been struggling with understanding this topic more. I know what worldliness is enough to know I am guilty of that sin often. So much that at times I doubt my salvation...and after hearing what the Bible teaches on this topic I do see that it is a good reason to examine my own heart as see if I am truly loving God and delighting in Him alone. I know we are all guilty of this sin at times...but does this sin characterize our lives?
Here are some of my notes from the sermon and I hope it will help you as it did me. It reminded me so much of my sinfulness and my lack of ability to rev up more godliness...it has to come from a heart that has been changed by Christ alone.
Do you love the world or do you love the Father? Your eternal destiny depends on your answer.
Our pastor is teaching through the book of 1st John right now. It has been so good...so applicable...so practical...and so helpful for my heart! This past Sunday he taught on the topic of *Do You Love The World* from 1st John 2:15-17. What a wonderful sermon to hear since I have been struggling with understanding this topic more. I know what worldliness is enough to know I am guilty of that sin often. So much that at times I doubt my salvation...and after hearing what the Bible teaches on this topic I do see that it is a good reason to examine my own heart as see if I am truly loving God and delighting in Him alone. I know we are all guilty of this sin at times...but does this sin characterize our lives?
Here are some of my notes from the sermon and I hope it will help you as it did me. It reminded me so much of my sinfulness and my lack of ability to rev up more godliness...it has to come from a heart that has been changed by Christ alone.
Do Not Love the World
1st John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
There are 2 drives in our life:
Love of the World or...
Love of the Father
"Authentic love for God exists only when it has no essential rivals" Robert Yarbrough
What are the rivals to God in your life? There should be no rivals.
What drives you? What and whom do you really love?
There are some desires that manifest our drive:
1)Desires of the flesh
2)Desires of the eyes
2)Pride in Possessions
What is a desire? It is a craving. We crave things that gives us pleasure. This is what characterizes a depraved heart, one that has not been changed by God.
Characteristics of having Pride in Possessions:
Pride of life
Vain glory of life...living for your own glory
The pride in one's lifestyle
Desire of possessions and worldly arrogance
Arrogance produced by material possession
Boastful pride of life
Being too proud of what we have
Boasting of what we have and what we can do
Pride in our achievements and possessions
Pride in riches
The Result of these 2 drives (love of the World or love of the Father) are in 2 destinations...The passing world or Eternal abiding.
Do you love the world or do you love the Father? Your eternal destiny depends on your answer.
I am a stay at home mother to 4. I am very blessed to have a godly husband who loves the Lord and his family. I welcome the days of much needed grace,the times of sweet victories,and the tears of trials,knowing it is all for God's glory. I want my lifesong to sing to Him,the author and finisher of my faith. Soli Deo Gloria--To the Glory of God alone.
4 Comments:
Good, sound words, Kim. Thanks for sharing your sermon notes! We had a Christ-centered evangelism conference at our church this week and the minister referenced 1 John (talking about true evidences of a changed heart) a lot.
Very powerful teaching. I think all of us could present ourselves with this question on a consistent basis!
I love your blog! I love your faith in Jesus Christ. I also love Him and know that He is my Savior and Redeemer, and we try to make him the center of our home. I am a grandmother now and trying to pass on the love and faith that He has given me and still gives me daily. Here is another quote I love: "We can have Eternal Life if we want it, but only if there is nothing else we want more." (Bruce C. Hafen)
I'm so glad you expressed your love for BCLR..and the leadership. It was so sad for us to leave 3+ years ago for Hong to attend grad school. But, God provided a wonderful Bible church for us in Berkeley. We're currently studying I John in our women's Bible study and it's been so encouraging and nourishing to my soul! I LOVE First John!!!
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