Dying to Self

Dying to Self 

by David Brenneman 

The wonder of self. We either lift up self or we have self step aside because we are wanting the Lord to be the one who's truly seen. 

Self is a very unstable, potentially volatile part of us.  

Self has its roots in our sin nature. 

Self is a very cunning, often deceitful part of us. Never takes the blame for anything. Yet is there throughout most everything in our lives. Either as witness or as the guilty party. 

When we read throughout the Old Testament we see all the good, the bad and the ugly of self in the lives of everyone from slaves to harlots to shepherds to kings and rulers.

We are subject to the same dangerous situations concerning self. We aren't immune for our coming to Christ for salvation. Our struggle with self will continue until either we are called home or Christ Jesus returns.  

Self runs from the consequences to actions taken. Self does not want others to be in a better position or place than us.

Self often places the blame for many situations at the feet of Satan rather than to accept responsibility.

Self is dangerous. Jesus spoke concerning self many times.

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds." Matthew 16:24-27.

"And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38.

"And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." Luke 9:23-26.

Paul points to this as well with: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21.

We who are in Christ are to die to self daily. To put on Christ daily.  

We aren't to fool ourselves just because life is going great or even when it seems that what we're going through is the worst we've ever experienced. Self will take advantage if we're not careful to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  

We who are in Christ do not have the luxury of taking a vacation or a break from guarding our hearts and minds. Both our self, the inner person of each of us, and the forces of wickedness in this world, are wanting to stop what the Spirit is doing in our lives. And as if stopping what the Spirit is doing wasn't enough, they want to get us to help them by way of craftiness and deceitful schemes.  

Dying to self daily isn't something that's optional for the Believer in Jesus Christ, the forgiver of their sins and the leader of their lives. 

The battle begins each day we wake up until they close again at the end of the day. 

Prayer keeps us in Christ as well as dedicated time in the Word of God daily. 

You can't fight a spiritual war with feelings of positivity and good vibes. You likewise cannot feed on the Word of God sparingly either. A worldly soldier gets lots of nourishment to be whom he or she is to be with whom they're serving as a soldier. Likewise to be a well armed well trained soldier of Christ we need fed and need to understand what our responsibilities are and what needs to happen for us to be successful in Christ.  

Being successful in Christ requires dying to self and living to Christ. 

Each day there ought to be among our prayers that God would help us to die more to self and to be more alive in Christ. 

Consider these things as you go about your days this week.

Who receives the glory in your life? 

Who's the one most seen by others?

How much of your days gets spent with your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ?

Are you serving you or are you serving Jesus? Have you deceived yourself as to what's motivating you?  

"Take up your own cross and follow Me".

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

The Anger of Man

The Anger of Man...

by David Brenneman 

"This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." James 1:19-27.

It's a really difficult thing this issue of anger and the human body. Anger, stress, several other emotions tend to warp reality and twist what is really real.

As followers of Jesus Christ we are not to react in the flesh as we would like but rather to see how Jesus did and do likewise. 

Being mad at people and them not either knowing or realizing it is you drinking the poison you mean for them as well. It has never nor will it ever end well. 

Add to this, regardless of how we rationalize it, when we stay angry we aren't forgiving and if we aren't forgiving then our sins aren't being forgiven.  

We can see, and if we stop to understand, there's few times it's recorded that Jesus got angry.  

Now consider this too that probably more than a few of those times and more He was being tempted to step into His powers and abilities that He set aside and judge people right then and there.

But He didn't.

His focus was on the cross. 

We too should consider the cross before we launch into words or actions seeded in anger. 

We very well could be unraveling days, months, or even years of work by the Spirit of God in someone's life towards salvation. 

Even by proxy. Even if it's someone else our reactions could be impacting others meant for the Kingdom of God. 

Not just in anger either. Our wants and desires could just as easily trip us up and ruin the work of God in the lives of people who are to be added to the Kingdom of God. 

Our hobbies and recreational activities can get in the way of the work of God. Anything can if it's taking the place of a deeper relationship with Jesus. Even putting our children up on a pedestal can do the same. 

Our sin nature isn't going away when we come to Christ for salvation...it's just now not calling the shots anymore. It's not in sole control of our hearts and minds anymore. It's now at war with both.  

It's no surprise that there's much to be learned from guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

We cannot live a solo life in Christ. 

We cannot live as though we're saved in Christ Jesus and also live life with festering anger or other negative emotions towards others. 

We cannot hold grudges. We cannot create our own rules for our dealings with people. It's to only be how the Word of God says it's to be in order for the will of God for us, that is our sanctification through Godly transformation, takes place in us.

Are you wholly seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness or only when it suits you? Only when you're done being angry at others?

"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell." Matthew 5:22.

"For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." Matthew 6:14-15.

There's no other way to go through life and to be approved of by God than to live it the way the Word of God intends us to. 

Note that in Matthew 18 it also says that if WE know that our brother has something against US it's on US to go to them. 

Not let it fester. Not ignore it n hope it goes away or that they 'get theirs'.

We are also to pray for those who persecute us. Not any other response but prayer to start with. 

Consider these things today as you go about your day. 

Lastly know that no matter what it is...let go of it and let God deal with it. You'll lead a life that is going to glorify God in that which you do. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

What He Said...

What He Said...

By David Brenneman

“While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭17‬:‭5‬.

In Matthew 17 at the Transfiguration, the Father spoke. The words spoken, if taken properly, were the 3 Disciples hearing the Will of God the Father. To ‘listen to Him’. Then Jesus speaks to them about what is about to happen. He speaks to them about Elijah, and that the people had done to him as they wished. They realized He was speaking about John the Baptist. 

People wonder what the will of God is for them, well it starts here: “Listen to Him!”.

We tend to over think things, from the big to the mundane. We ‘Google’ our symptoms. We ‘Google’ instead of taking the time to learn. We ‘trust our gut’ because that’s what we get told to do. We don’t use libraries that are at our disposal because we’d rather not put forth the effort to go beyond our fingertips.

Do you want to know and to do the will of God the Father? Here’s where it begins. “Listen to Him!”.

We read in 1 Thessalonians 4:3a “This is the will of God for us, our sanctification”.  

Listening to God, listening to the Spirit when we read the Word of God, is God’s will for us.

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30.

"So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.” Luke 8:18.

"And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.” Mark 4:24-25.

Throughout the Bible, over 100 times, there's references to listening to the Lord. You think that it's being conveyed that it's important?

We live in a global economy that's sole bent is to get us to listen to what all it has to say in order to sway us towards its desires.

We have movies, music and all other forms of entertainment designed to sway our thoughts in subtle ways.

We have those in political positions attempting to use words to sway our minds. 

We have those in sports circles attempting to sway us in either politics or towards the over glorification of themselves. Wanting us to be consumed with all aspects of them...not any different than some in the music industry as well. 

Who are you listening to? 

Who have you given access to your heart and mind?

So you think it foolishness to guard your heart and mind?  

It's a war zone out there and here in your own home. The battlefield is of our minds. The endgame is either to spend eternity in Hell or in Heaven, depending on who you listened to.  

You can't fully escape the pressures to sway your mind and heart. Your sin nature is ready at all times to sway your thoughts. 

God the Father said, at His baptism "Listen to Him". He said it again at the Transfiguration, "Listen to Him". 

Listen to Him aligns perfectly with "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

Now comes the next harder part. We need to be in that particular position of being quiet in order to listen. Martha's sitting at the feet of Jesus was to listen and Jesus said she chose the better thing and it would not be taken from her. 

Choose the better thing. 

Choose to be intentional about listening and seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness. 

Choose to obey God the Father and "listen to Him!".

Cut out as much of the noise of the world as you can. Get away from those things of the world that are going to try to change the way you think and away from the will of God the Father.  

CERTAINLY do not think "I can handle it. It's ok. It's not as bad as you say it is". My Dear Reader...it's not me saying it's that bad...read the Scriptures...God the Son...says it's that bad...therefore it's that bad.

Satan's minions can't take the life of a Believer, a child of God, but they can get permission to sway your thinking in order to make you not follow Christ as you ought to be doing. They can't kill you but they can get you to be totally useless to God the Father and God the Son and God the Spirit.

Set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. That's listening to God the Father. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

The Importance of What is Important

The Importance of What is Important 

by David Brenneman 

It's incredibly important to know what is indeed important if we're going to live an approved life in Christ. 

For those who spurned the voice of the Spirit of God and left this world without coming to Christ for salvation...they immediately find themselves in great pain and torment, full of sorrows if they get past their rage.

Nobody in Hell or in Heaven has concerns about what they had while here. Possessions mean nothing to either.  

Those in Hell are now paying for their own sins and have a complete understanding of what they rejected that the Creator of the Universe offered them.

Those in Heaven are now no longer impeded by their sin nature and are now far more informed about their salvation in Christ than they ever came to know while they lived.

Looking at what Jesus taught the Disciples to know is important. 

Looking at what Jesus's last instructions were to them is important.  

Realizing that we are those whom, through the ages, are commanded -not suggested- to continue to teach all that Jesus commanded to others. 

We are to look forward to His return as if it were to be today.  

We are to set our minds on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. 

We are to have the mind of Christ in that relationships are of utmost importance. Create relationships, cultivate relationships, building relationships to that end that Christ is shared and He wins them unto salvation. We are workers in His harvest. He planted the seeds. He watered. He caused the growth. He ripened the fruit. We are oftentimes there to pick the fruit at the right time and are there when someone comes to Christ for salvation. But it's all Jesus Christ and the Spirit in everything. 

These things are what's important. 

Guarding your heart. Guarding your mind. Praying as often as possible. Remembering others in prayer. Praying for the salvation of others even above praying for their health. Praying for those who persecute us. Praying for our leaders and those in authority over us.  

The more we live lives that reflect what is important to our living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the more people escape the path to Hell. 

As workers in His harvest that is our ultimate purpose...to do our very best as unto the Lord.  

In every way possible the enemy of God will try every overt or seductive way to get our minds off of these important things.  

Even to get us to consider a person's health or well-being as more important than their salvation in Jesus Christ.  

For a Believer who has Christ as their personal Lord and Savior...death is regarded as an answer to prayer. It's not to be considered as a failure or as defeat.  

Just because it's not what we want emotionally, it doesn't mean it's not what Jesus wants eternally. This too is important. 

Raging with the world against this leader or that leader isn't in accordance with what is important in Christ. Praying at all times for those in authority over us is what changes nations on every level. 

Wasting time on things that have no eternal benefit is something important to be watchful for. Jesus said its important to note to be careful of how you listen. To take care of what comes out of your mouth...because it reflects what comes from your heart. 

Is what's important to Christ important to you? The most successful Kings of the Old Testament were those who were commended for their passionate desire to obey God rather than man. To cause the people to turn away from false gods to the Living God. 

Are you wasting your life that the Spirit desires to bring to you that would glorify your Father in Heaven?

Do you waste it in pursuit of things and experiences that are doing nothing to teach you more about Jesus and how to reflect Him to those He specifically ordained to come in contact with you?

Is what's important to Jesus important to you?  

What Comes From the Heart

What Comes From the Heart 

by David Brenneman 

Peter said to Him, “Explain the parable to us.” Jesus said, “Are you still lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.” Matthew 15:15-20.

"Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them; For their minds devise violence, And their lips talk of trouble. By wisdom a house is built, And by understanding it is established; And by knowledge the rooms are filled With all precious and pleasant riches. A wise man is strong, And a man of knowledge increases power. For by wise guidance you will wage war, And in abundance of counselors there is victory. Wisdom is too exalted for a fool, He does not open his mouth in the gate. One who plans to do evil, Men will call a schemer." Proverbs 24:1-8.

"If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?" Proverbs 24:12.

What comes from your heart can't be contained...ever think about that?

"You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:34-37.

What's coming forth from yours?  

What shines in your life? Is it you or is it Jesus?

Jesus not only taught about what comes out of the heart but He also taught to be careful of how you listen. What you listen to instigated, or rather more aptly agitates, your heart.

When your heart is stirring, what comes out of it?

Something happens, something gets said, to agitate it...what comes from it?

Look at the Gospels from a different perspective. Look at what comes out of the hearts of the people Jesus interacts with when He stirs their hearts. 

You, my Dear Reader, are no different than the Disciples. You are being taught by the Spirit, hopefully, and your heart will bring forth whatever is in it.  

Someone once put it that it's much easier for a good person to portray a bad person than it is for a bad person to portray a good person. 

Truthfully good can be faked or imagined but genuine good from the heart that mirrors Christ is impossible. Many will talk about what all they did in Jesus's Name but the frauds they are will be revealed by Jesus by the words of His revealing of truth. 

What comes from your heart? 

What goes into your heart?

Do you feed it daily with the Word of God, Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs? 

Do you feed it secular music, games, movies, facts and figures, fiction even, that do nothing to fill your heart with the things of God that make for a life well pleasing to Him?  

It's much to my own shame that I do have a ton of information in my head that is useless towards the Kingdom of God. The wasted times from my youth that weren't invested better in studying God's Word. 

Guard your hearts is taught over and over again in the New Testament. 

Take time today and see what's going in and out of your heart.  

Perhaps today is the day you need to have a heart-to-heart with yourself and Jesus about it.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Get Your Shields Up!

Get Your Shields Up!

by David Brenneman 

"See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;" Colossians 2:8-10.

Anything that clashes with what is true is not of the Spirit. Therefore, to walk in the Spirit, we must get serious about

guarding our minds. - Dr. Charles Stanley. 

We don't take this seriously enough in our days. Certainly, ever since the idea of parchments and the written language we have been derelict in our steadfastness of guarding our hearts and minds. 

We don't realize how easy it is to sway our minds from one position to another. Oftentimes we do so so subtly that it easily escapes our notice. 

What are you feeding your mind and heart? What do you absent-mindedly allow access to you?

"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37.

"So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.” Luke 8:18.

"Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life." Proverbs 4:23.

"Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You." Psalms 119:11.

"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." Colossians 3:2.

Then there is: "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ," 2 Corinthians 10:5.

The battlefield is our minds and hearts. It is here where the enemy of God and our sin nature try to hamper our life in Christ.  

We so easily dismiss the ads the commercials. We so easily dismiss what we listen to as 'entertainment'. We easily dismiss the seeds being planted within us by what we listen to and what we watch. 

The worst thing we do in this context is to not use the standard of the Word of God but rather our own standard of what constitutes good and evil. What's right and acceptable and what is bad and should be avoided.  

My Dear Reader it won't be by our standard that we give an account of our lives before Jesus. It will only be His standard of measurement.  

Our thoughts and intentions of the heart will be hit with the fire of His Truth.

Take care how you listen and guard your mouth.  

The Berean Church were those who certainly went over everything being taught to be sure it measured up to God's standards.

We do ourselves much harm in saying "It's not that bad" or "I am ok. I've got this".

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33.

The best Kings of the Old Testament were those who didn't rely on themselves but sought the Lord first. The best didn't throw gold n silver at a problem but went to the Lord about what to do. 

We have so much trying to vie for our attention. We have so much temptation that it's honestly overwhelming at times. 

We need to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 

Pray for His protection.  

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Who Do You Seek?

Who Do You Seek?

by David Brenneman 

"Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge; For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, That they may be ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I have taught you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, To make you know the certainty of the words of truth That you may correctly answer him who sent you?" Proverbs 22:17-21.

Every Christian ought to be of the mind to seek the Lord while He may be found each day.  

Our lives, contrary to popular belief, are actually beyond us in our comprehension to live in the way that is fully approved of by Christ our Savior.  

We need to spend time in prayer.  

We need to spend time in God's Word.  

We need to pray for understanding. 

We need to pray for those whom He's put in our lives.

A full life in Christ isn't running around doing whatever suits our fancy. It's not about collecting money towards retirement. It's not about awards or accolades to put on walls. 

A full life that the Spirit brings to us is a transformed life where we live out a life reflecting Christ to the world around us.

It's forgiving as He forgave. 

It's loving as He loved. 

It's showing grace as we have been shown grace. Mercy as we've been shown mercy.

It's praying for those who persecute us. It's praying for their salvation. 

Our lives are to reflect the light of Jesus Christ. We're to have ears that hear and eyes that see and a heart that responds to the calling by which we have been called in Christ. 

Read the Gospels again. Look for the times when Jesus said that phrase "he who has ears to hear..." and be mindful of the same words in the letters to the Churches in the book of Revelation. 

Are you seeking Him every morning? Are you so busy you forget your living Lord and Savior?

Jesus said to be careful how you hear. Are you? Do you feed your ears accordingly? Do your ears get junk food or that which enriches the soul?

When the Disciples were first called one of the responses from Jesus to them was "Who do you seek?".

Are you seeking the Christ, the Son of the Living God? Are you seeking the Messiah?  

Eventually Jesus did ask Peter point blank who he thought Jesus was. 

If we believe...then we should seek.

If we believe...then we should live as He wishes us to live. 

If we believe then we should seek to be taught by God. 

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org