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The Origin of Self
by Charles R. Swindoll
It’s been my experience that before I can fully conquer any problem, I need to understand the problem as well as possible, especially its origin.
To do that with “self,” we must go back, way back, to that ancient scene pictured for us in the second and third chapters of Genesis: the garden of Eden. What a super spot! Beautiful beyond description, a perfect, pollution-free atmosphere, luxurious foliage, fragrant flowers, crystal-clear water—that garden would make Tahiti look like a pigsty by comparison.
And on top of all the physical beauty, there was absolute innocence. No sin. Which means that Adam and Eve had a relationship that was free of hang-ups. The last verse in Genesis 2 verifies that: “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed” (Genesis2:25).
Naked. Laid bare. Open. Not just physically but emotionally as well. That explains why they were not ashamed. The Hebrew construction suggests they were not ashamed “with one another.” There was this remarkable openness, a lack of self-consciousness in each other’s presence. Talk about the ideal marriage! Their discussions, their actions, their entire existence were non-defensive, unguarded, and absolutely unselfish.
How could it be? No sin. Therefore, no selfishness. Until . . . You guessed it.
Enter the Devil with his alluring offer, and exit innocence with its pleasurable benefits (Genesis 3:1–6). And the result?
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. (3:7)
Don’t miss what that says about their eyes. They were opened. There was a sudden, shocking realization they were naked. Seems amazing to us, doesn’t it? You and I couldn’t be more aware of those times when we are naked. Just a half-opened zipper makes us blush.
But remember the difference. Suddenly, those two became self-conscious. They’d never known those feelings before. You and I have never known anything else.
What we read here in the Genesis account is the origin of self-awareness, self-concern, and selfishness. And it all started with willful sin.
Excerpted from Improving Your Serve: The Art of Unselfish Living, Copyright © 1981 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.
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Finding Clear Guidance
How can you be sure you’re making the right decision? Sometimes it may seem as if God plays hide and seek when we’re trying to know His will, but that’s not the way He operates. He wants to give us clear direction. The real question is, What do you need to do to hear His voice?
Clear the pathway. We have two main obstacles that hinder our discernment: sin in our life and our own strong desires about the situation. To receive the Lord’s guidance, we must repent of all known sin and make our desires secondary to His.
Exercise patience. Sometimes it takes a great deal of strength to stand still when everything within you is shouting, “Hurry! Time is running out!” But if you rush ahead of God, you may miss His will.
Persist in prayer. The Bible clearly instructs us to keep coming to the Lord with our concerns. As we continue to pray, He will gradually weed out anything confusing until we come to His conclusion about the matter.
Search the Scriptures. The Word of God has an answer for every need, and the Holy Spirit knows just how to point us in the right direction. I remember times while I was reading the Bible that a verse jumped off the page and supplied the exact answer I needed to make an important decision.
So often when we’re faced with a critical choice, all we want from the Lord is a quick answer. But He delights to meet with us in order to deepen our relationship with Him. Don’t let the urgency of your need keep you from enjoying the intimacy of His presence as you seek His will.
For more biblical teaching and resources from Dr. Charles Stanley, please visitwww.intouch.org.
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February 3
Fullness
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. – John 6:35
Contemporary culture is fascinated by the wolf, celebrated as the symbol of the full, uninhibited life. Actually, the wolf is a slave to fear, haunted by the night shadows. A better symbol of fullness would be the domesticated dog. The wolfish nature has been tamed. The pet finds a fullness of life denied the wild wolf. The dog with his master enjoys more freedom than the wolf, who inhabits the anarchy of the forest. Liberty is found when one is “domesticated” under the Master, Jesus. No longer is such an individual compelled by the quest for survival, but he or she lives in the fullness of the Master’s supply.
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Revelation One – We are all Priests – Video & Audio
Revelation Two – Jesus Talking – Video & Audio
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You Can’t Spoil a Baby
BIBLE MEDITATION:
“But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way….” Acts 9:27
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
I’ve heard that in the first year of his life, it is virtually impossible to spoil a baby. You can’t give one too much love. Now you can spoil kids, but it is virtually impossible to spoil a newborn baby. All of the love, all of the attention, all of the hugging, all of the kissing, all of the coddling you want to do; just do it.
And I want to say, correspondingly, it is virtually impossible to spoil a newborn Christian. He needs to be loved. Barnabas took Saul to the apostles and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord. While the apostles were scared of Saul, Barnabas introduced him, made him feel a part, and encouraged him in this way. Thank God for Barnabas!
ACTION POINT:
Some of us have known firsthand what it’s like to have a Barnabas in our lives. Others, new believers, may be wishing they had one—or not even realize how much they need one. Keep your eyes and ears open. Let the Holy Spirit show you if there is someone you can befriend and help to grow, as Barnabas did Saul/Paul.
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We are more than Conquerors – Video & Audio
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Read and hear each Chapter from the Book of Revelation:
Revelation One – We are all Priests – Video & Audio
Revelation Two – Jesus Talking – Video & Audio
Revelation Three – We will sit beside Jesus – Video & Audio
Revelation Four – The Judgment of God on Earth – Video & Audio
Revelation Five – Jesus Breaks the 7 Seals – Video & Audio
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Revelation Twenty – 1,000 Year Reign of Christ on Earth – Video & Audio
Revelation Twenty-One – The New Earth and New Jerusalem – Video & Audio
Revelation Twenty-Two – The Throne of God and The Lamb – Video & Audio
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96. Who was the author of Revelation?
J____________
Revelation 1:1,4,9 ; 22:8
97. Which of these is one of the seven churches in Revelation?
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Revelation 2:1-7
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H_____________
Revelation 6:1-8
99. The fifth trumpet in Revelation is a plague which was also a plague upon Egpyt in Exodus. Which one?
L____________
Revelation 9
100. In Revelation, what is the number of a man?
6 _ _
Revelation 13:18
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