1.NAIVE FOOL
The first degree of Character Deficiency Syndrome is described as the
Simple One, or the Naive Fool. This is folly in its latent stage.
The Hebrew word pethi (pe-THEE) comes from a root meaning to be open,
spacious, and wide. It's tempting to call this fellow an "airhead";
but that would be missing the point. Actually we're dealing with
someone who is immature, who lacks the judgment and discernment that
should come with experience. He is easily enticed, gullible.
Proverbs 14:15, "The simple one believes
every word, but the prudent person looks well to his going."
Proverbs 22:3, and 27:12, "A
prudent person foresees the evil, and hides himself; but the simple
pass on and are punished.
"Neither does he realize that there are moral
causes and effects.
Proverbs 14:18, "The simple inherit folly, but the prudent
are crowned with knowledge."
Back in the 4th century A.D., St.
Augustine observed that the wages of sin is...more sin!
DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOU?
2.SELF- CONFIDENT FOOL
The Hebrew term kesil (ke-
SEEL) suggests someone who is full of himself. Like the simple one, he
is inclined to make the wrong moral choices, but even more so. The
Naive Fool might stumble into a disastrous setup. The Self-Confident
Fool will swagger in, convinced that he is the master of the
situation.
Proverbs describes the Self-Confident Fool as a soul with no moral
understanding. He "has no delight in understanding. " Remember, we are
talking, not about intellect, but about doing right and not wrong.
A fool does not delight in understanding, But only in revealing his own mind.proverbs 18:2
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
3. THE COMMITTED FOOL
The Hebrew 'evil (eh-VEEL) describes the full-fledged fool, the person
who is morally perverse and insolent. He or she has decisively
rejected wisdom, and has made a decisive commitment to rebellious
ideas and destructive behaviors that the Bible calls 'ivveleth (ihv-
vel-LETH), folly or foolishness. The contrast is set forth in the key
verse of
Proverbs, 1:7. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of
knowledge, but (committed) fools despise wisdom and instruction. "
WHAT IS YOUR COMMITMENT TOWARDS?
4.THE SCORNER
"Blessed is the man who . . . sitteth not in the seat
of the scornful."
The Hebrew luts (rhymes with "boots") is a scoffer, a contemptuous
person, a mocker who scorns spiritual truth and moral righteousness.
He is an evangelist for folly.
ARE YOU A SCORNER,SCOFFER OF GOD AND HIS TRUTHS?
MATTHEW 7 - PARABLE - BUILDER .
5.NOT LIVING ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS,PRESCRIPTIONS AND COMMANDS OF GOD IS FOOLISHNESS.
MOROS - GREEK heedless , morally blockhead,absurd
"Everyone who keeps on hearing these messages of mine and never puts them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.-jesus MATTHEW 7:26.
WISDOM
. LIVING ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTIONS,PRESCRIPTIONS AND COMMANDS OF GOD IS WISDOM
Phronimos-greek-Discreet,thoughtful
"Therefore, everyone who listens to these messages of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock."MATTHEW 7:24
A.FOOLISHNESS -
A LIFE DOMINATED BY SIN .
A LIFE CONTROLLED BY SINFUL NATURE(THOUGHT ,WORD AND DEED).
A PERSON WHO IS POWERLESS TO THINK ,SPEAK AND LIVE IN A CHRISTLIKE MANNER.
A LIFE WHICH IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHRIST'S TEACHING. BUILDING WITH A SANDY FOUNDATION
A LIFE WHICH BRINGS OUT THE FRUITS OF THE FLESH.
sexual immorality, impurity, promiscuity,dolatry, drug use, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambition, conflict, factions,
envy, drunkenness, wild partying, and similar things.
people who do these kinds of things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
B.WISDOM -
A LIFE DOMINATED BY LOVE FOR GOD AND OTHERS.
A LIFE CONTROLLED BY THE NEW NATURE AND THE HOLYSPIRIT.
A LIFE OF HOLINESS.
A LIFE OF CONTINUAL VICTORY OVERSIN AND A LIFE WHICH IS CHANGING MORE AND MORE INTO THE LIKENESS OF CHRIST.
A LIFE LIVED ACCORDING TO THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST. BUILDING WITH A ROCKY FOUNDATION
A LIFE WHICH BRINGS OUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control.
It is because of God that you are in union with the Messiah Jesus, who for us has become wisdom from God, as well as our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.
1 COR 1:30
1.WHAT IS THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR LIFE?rock of Jesus/Sand of anything else
WHAT IS THE DOMINANT / OUTSTANDING THING IN YOUR LIFE?fruit of spirit /fruit of flesh
DO YOU KNOW GOD LOVES YOU DOESNT' WANT YOU TO BE DESTROYED?
2.DO YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
IF YES - HOW IS IT NOW?LIVING ACCORDING TO HIS WORD?
IF NO - DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE?
3.HAVE YOU EVER REPENTED OF YOUR SINS AND ARE YOU LIVING THE NEW LIFE IN CHRIST?
WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORD REPENT/REPENTANCE?
4.DO YOU KNOW ,HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT WHAT IS THE MEANING OF "NEW LIFE IN CHRIST"?
5.HAVE YOU BELIEVED IN CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOUR FROM THE JUDGEMENT OF GOD BECAUSE OF YOU SINFULNESS AND DISOBEDIENCE?
6.HAVE YOU RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT?
7.ARE YOU LIVING ACCORDING TO THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST AS REVEALED IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT IN MATTHEW 5?
IF ANY OF THE ANSWERS TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS IS NO, SET THAT RIGHT WITH GOD.
FOR MORE INFO ON HOW TO DO THAT, CONTACT ANY OF THE SENIORS FOR MORE HELP AND GUIDANCE .IT WILL BE A REWARDING
EXPERIENCE.
BE WISE.BUILD ON THE ROCK.!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
learning @ Christian fellowship hospital
I will be leaving CF hospital at th end of the month of september.
There are few things which i learnt here and did here ,namely
1.Teaching Bible ,every week , to a group of sisters
2.Teaching Bible everyday to a brother,literally a mentoring work
3.Giving message in chathirapatti village church
4.Sharing Gospel with many patients...i ve done it before but not at this rate
All these things were not new , but God gave me exposure at a rate which was new.Taking Biblestudy daily is something i did before consisitently...but not daily..not for a given group for a whole year on a weekly basis.
I was not new to evangelism but the rate at which i was sharing @ CF was very much higher than my sporadic evangelism.Evangelism became pandemic...i even shared with a couple of elective students from england.
Academically i learnt a lot .
1.Management of DM,HT,BA....etc
2.Managing emergencies
3.Managing psychiatric cases
4.Managing Alcohol deaddiction
5.Counselling
I thank God for all these things he enabled me to learn.
There are few things which i learnt here and did here ,namely
1.Teaching Bible ,every week , to a group of sisters
2.Teaching Bible everyday to a brother,literally a mentoring work
3.Giving message in chathirapatti village church
4.Sharing Gospel with many patients...i ve done it before but not at this rate
All these things were not new , but God gave me exposure at a rate which was new.Taking Biblestudy daily is something i did before consisitently...but not daily..not for a given group for a whole year on a weekly basis.
I was not new to evangelism but the rate at which i was sharing @ CF was very much higher than my sporadic evangelism.Evangelism became pandemic...i even shared with a couple of elective students from england.
Academically i learnt a lot .
1.Management of DM,HT,BA....etc
2.Managing emergencies
3.Managing psychiatric cases
4.Managing Alcohol deaddiction
5.Counselling
I thank God for all these things he enabled me to learn.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Living daily as disciples of Christ
What is my daily routine as a follower of
Christ? To follow him.
How do i follow him in my daily routines?
Let me get the answer straight from the words of Jesus himself. In luke 9:23
,Jesus says,"If anyone wants to come after me ,let him deny himself ,takeup
his cross daily and follow me."
This means rejection and death to desires of the self which are sinful and willing submission to live according to the commands and teachings of Christ.The self here represents the sinful self,carnal nature.This self is ruled by it's appetites ,wants and needs. The self craves to satisfy itself in many ways apart from God.The cravings of the self are called lusts. These lusts when fulfilled gives satisfaction to the sinful self but the whole process and the end result is sin.The lust filled slave of sin never thinks he is bad .He just thinks he is normal.For that is what is normal according to this world.This
attitude of the self is called pride. Pride and lust are glorified, advanced and propogated by satan through family,society,media etc.The proud and lust filled man cannot and does not submit to God.
Paul in his epistle to the galatians 5 describes the manifestations of the carnal nature.They are the fruits of the flesh or carnal nature.The self which is nothing but the sinful nature stands in opposition to the ways and character of
God.So if you want to do what God says you have to naturally and logicaly deny the self ;the cravings , ambitions ,plans of advancement ,fulfilment of the self. Now how can anyone deny himself what he is addicted to? If he tries to
deny his self in his own strength ,he is unable to sustain the abstinance and goes back into self indulgence.The reason for this phenomenon is the human beings slavery to sin .In other words he is a slave of sin.That is his nature.So
to be freed from sinful nature and acquire a new nature is essential and necessary.But how can that happen ?Be certain of one thing ,it cannot be accomplished by the self.You cannot free yourself from your sinful nature.God
has the solution for this problem and everyone who wants deliverance from his sinful nature has to come to him.
But many don't even think they are wrong or sinful.Don't worry! God keeps calling people helping them to know their own sinfulness.This work of the HolySpirit is called convicting people of their sinfulness.When a man responds
to the conviction of the holy spirit with repentance and faith in Christ ,seeking forgivness for his sins,God forgives and cancels his sins and the holy spirittakes residence in that person.God accepts him as his child.This process is Called spiritual birth and who are spiritually alive are called "Bornagain".After the spiritual birth comes spiritual growth.
1
During the process of spiritual growth,the spiritual nature grows by the work of the holy spirit as the man is transformed more like Jesus.This transformaton is an ongoing process.The new nature nature with the help of the holy spirit can only be brought out when the old sinful carnal nature is denied the oppourtunity to respond to any situation or stimuli that comes about in everyday life.On a daily basis when the old nature is denied and we respond with the new nature and obey the commands of Christ and follow him.This is easily written and discussed as practising it very difficult but not impossible as the holy spirit is in the believer.
As the old nature is denied oppourtunity to respond ,the devil continually attacks you and the world starts to hate you for not confirming with it's values as expressed by the old nature.The believer must bear this suffering to the point of death or else he will be dragged back into the old life and worldly pattern for fear of suffering or death that may come
the way of living the new life.So without denying the oldnature and bearing the suffering or death that comes the way of
such a denial,it is impossible to follow christ.Denying the self and bearing the suffering are prerequisites for following
Christ to the end.This is the daily grind of christian life.Denying the old nature ,taking up the cross of suffering and
then obeying the commands of Christ. If you want to really follow christ, then this central teaching should find
expression in every aspect of your life.The new nature expressions are described in the Galatians 5 as the fruit of the spirit.The expressions of the fruit of the spirit in different areas of life includesgoodstewardship,right relationship,fellowship with other believers ,Witnessing, helping the poor and needy,making a stand against prevalent sins in society like bribery,making a stand in campus life against all forms of ungodliness and so on.
In the light of the revelation of scripture on discipleship and it's practical day to day application ,how will you decribe your life? Are you his true disciple?
Christ? To follow him.
How do i follow him in my daily routines?
Let me get the answer straight from the words of Jesus himself. In luke 9:23
,Jesus says,"If anyone wants to come after me ,let him deny himself ,takeup
his cross daily and follow me."
This means rejection and death to desires of the self which are sinful and willing submission to live according to the commands and teachings of Christ.The self here represents the sinful self,carnal nature.This self is ruled by it's appetites ,wants and needs. The self craves to satisfy itself in many ways apart from God.The cravings of the self are called lusts. These lusts when fulfilled gives satisfaction to the sinful self but the whole process and the end result is sin.The lust filled slave of sin never thinks he is bad .He just thinks he is normal.For that is what is normal according to this world.This
attitude of the self is called pride. Pride and lust are glorified, advanced and propogated by satan through family,society,media etc.The proud and lust filled man cannot and does not submit to God.
Paul in his epistle to the galatians 5 describes the manifestations of the carnal nature.They are the fruits of the flesh or carnal nature.The self which is nothing but the sinful nature stands in opposition to the ways and character of
God.So if you want to do what God says you have to naturally and logicaly deny the self ;the cravings , ambitions ,plans of advancement ,fulfilment of the self. Now how can anyone deny himself what he is addicted to? If he tries to
deny his self in his own strength ,he is unable to sustain the abstinance and goes back into self indulgence.The reason for this phenomenon is the human beings slavery to sin .In other words he is a slave of sin.That is his nature.So
to be freed from sinful nature and acquire a new nature is essential and necessary.But how can that happen ?Be certain of one thing ,it cannot be accomplished by the self.You cannot free yourself from your sinful nature.God
has the solution for this problem and everyone who wants deliverance from his sinful nature has to come to him.
But many don't even think they are wrong or sinful.Don't worry! God keeps calling people helping them to know their own sinfulness.This work of the HolySpirit is called convicting people of their sinfulness.When a man responds
to the conviction of the holy spirit with repentance and faith in Christ ,seeking forgivness for his sins,God forgives and cancels his sins and the holy spirittakes residence in that person.God accepts him as his child.This process is Called spiritual birth and who are spiritually alive are called "Bornagain".After the spiritual birth comes spiritual growth.
1
During the process of spiritual growth,the spiritual nature grows by the work of the holy spirit as the man is transformed more like Jesus.This transformaton is an ongoing process.The new nature nature with the help of the holy spirit can only be brought out when the old sinful carnal nature is denied the oppourtunity to respond to any situation or stimuli that comes about in everyday life.On a daily basis when the old nature is denied and we respond with the new nature and obey the commands of Christ and follow him.This is easily written and discussed as practising it very difficult but not impossible as the holy spirit is in the believer.
As the old nature is denied oppourtunity to respond ,the devil continually attacks you and the world starts to hate you for not confirming with it's values as expressed by the old nature.The believer must bear this suffering to the point of death or else he will be dragged back into the old life and worldly pattern for fear of suffering or death that may come
the way of living the new life.So without denying the oldnature and bearing the suffering or death that comes the way of
such a denial,it is impossible to follow christ.Denying the self and bearing the suffering are prerequisites for following
Christ to the end.This is the daily grind of christian life.Denying the old nature ,taking up the cross of suffering and
then obeying the commands of Christ. If you want to really follow christ, then this central teaching should find
expression in every aspect of your life.The new nature expressions are described in the Galatians 5 as the fruit of the spirit.The expressions of the fruit of the spirit in different areas of life includesgoodstewardship,right relationship,fellowship with other believers ,Witnessing, helping the poor and needy,making a stand against prevalent sins in society like bribery,making a stand in campus life against all forms of ungodliness and so on.
In the light of the revelation of scripture on discipleship and it's practical day to day application ,how will you decribe your life? Are you his true disciple?
Extraordinary in the ordinary
God is not calling us to do extraordinary things ,but to do the routine things in an extraordinary way.
This does not mean he will not call people to do extraordinary things.
But this does mean that he expects us to take even the small things seriously and with a sense of calling and to do them exceptionally well to gain his appretiation.
Colossian 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
God is calling us to do ,ordinary things in an extraordinary way,to do everything for him.
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