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Mind Your Own Business - part 2 of 2Eph. 3:13-21 (KJV) “Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 14For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;” This scripture tells us what our responsibilities are to others. First of all pray! We should ask for spiritual blessings, which are the best blessings. We should ask for strength from the Spirit of God in the inner man, strength in the soul, and strength of faith to serve God and to do our duty. “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;” If the law of Christ is written in our hearts, and the love of Christ is shed abroad there, then Christ dwells there. Where his Spirit dwells, there he dwells. We should desire that good affections may be fixed in us. How desirable to have a fixed sense of the love of God in Christ to our souls! The apostle speaks powerfully of the love of Christ: The breadth shows its extent to all nations and ranks. The length, that it continues from everlasting to everlasting. The depth, it is saving those who are sunk into the depths of sin and misery. The height, it is raising them up to heavenly happiness and glory “19And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Because we do not know the Father, we live life feeling unloved. Those who receive grace from Christ’s fullness may be said to be filled with the fullness of God. Should not this satisfy us? We spend our lives so worried about others that we lose our own salvation. Christ is bringing the balance. Yes minister to others. Listen to them. But we are not the Holy Spirit. We cannot bring change. We cannot bring judgment. We must let God be God. Some just need to let go. Expecting too much out of people, produces a downward spiraling affect on ourselves and our loved ones. First, we lose the fear of God by not releasing the other person to the Lord. Then, we lose faith in God by trying to get results ourselves. Next, we get involved to the point of trying to make the change happen. And finally, we then lose hope because of the poor results. Sometimes in our desperation of wanting something, we create the reverse of what we intend. When the fear of the Lord is our first priority, we will stay out of others’ faces and more in His. We also will not repel others from the Lord and from ourselves. Instead, we will draw others to the heavenly Christ and to the Christ in us. This is a stressful society. Sometimes we think our lives would be easier if it were not for people. But, oh how lonely we would be. A big part of life is living with others. We must accept others where the Lord has them and focus more on where God has us. When we blame everyone else for our problems, we place ourselves in a dangerous place. Ultimately, we are in control of lives until we give Him control. Then through humility we may be pleasing to the Lord and to others. May the Lord bless our friendships and prosper the fruit of our prayers. Let’s let God be God. -S. Chad Ross March Newsletter 2001 | Stewardship | Mind Your Own Business - part 2 of 2 Pastor's Journal March 2000 | Think About It | Inside-Out & Upside-Down - part 3 of 3
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Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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