2nd Cor.5:14] For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
[15] And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
1st Peter 4:2] That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
There is a preacher named Joel Osteen, he has millions of followers, millions of dollars, and has sold millions of books. Some of the titles of his books are the power of I am,” “I declare,” and “your best life now.” And there are millions of people who not only have purchased these books, but have read them, and they live their Christian lives by his teachings. But is this the way that our father would have us to think about ourselves, is this the way that God would have us to walk, and to think, and to live our lives? This type of teaching is a self-centered thinking, and it has a me first type of thinking associated with this thinking. But where do the men like this get this type of thinking from? Is this what God’s word teaches about ourselves, is this how the man will live godly today? As we can see in the verses above, our Lord and Savior teaches us through His word his selfless love, and that godliness is walking with selfless love and the Spiritual mind of Christ according to the living word of the living God that ought to live within us. And as we can see in second Corinthians chapter 5, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ died for all that we which live should henceforth not live unto ourselves but unto him which died for us.
Rom.12:2] And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
[3] For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Gal.6:3] For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
And so, We are taught in the word of God that we ought to have the mind of Christ and walk with his loneliness of mind not only toward our father with selflessness, but also onto others as well with godly selfless charity. And as we can see in Philippians chapter 2, Paul says we ought to walk not high-minded, “but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” But this type of thinking is not according to the spirit of man which is in him, this type of thinking we are taught by the living word of the living God. This type of thinking is giving on to us and as we can see also in Philippians chapter 2 Paul says, “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” And by operating upon the word of God through the renewing of our mind as we see in Romans chapter 12, the Saint could “let” this mind be in him. This type of thinking is according to the Spiritual mind, it is according to the living word of God, and it is according to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s mind.
2nd Cor.10:3] For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
[4] (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
[5] Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Moreover, it is by the vain imagination of the man that he feels he ought to be ‘exalted,’ and thought of “more highly” than others. But this type of thinking goes after the attributes of Satan. This type of teaching is of the “doctrines of devils,” and those who take heed unto it are those that are “lovers of their own selves,” but could also walk with a “form of godliness” as well. And it is by man’s vain imagination that he assumes that he himself is ‘entitled’ to receive praise from others, and that his goals and achievements ought to be at ‘the forefront’ above others. And this thinking is taught in today’s Churches as what godliness is truly all about. And as earlier mentioned, preachers like Joel Osteen teach that you are ‘blessed and highly favored’ by God (this is always based upon the Saint’s physical and health, and wealth, and standing among men), this teaching has the believers ‘believing in themselves’ as God’s ‘chosen ones.’ And instead of understanding and appreciating the truth that God has ‘set us apart’ from those ungodly world, they assume that God has set them ‘above’ the men of this world.
2nd Tim.3:1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
[2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
[3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
[4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
[5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Therefore, it is by the spirit of man and his imagination, that he feels that the power of God, and the will of God is defined by God as it is by men. The men of this world assume that the things that are powerful and glorifying in his sight are also powerful and glorifying in the sight of God also. And because man claims that he is now saved, he feels that he walks with this ‘imaginary thinking’ that God will physically help, intervene, and protect, and bless him in his daily life. But God has not promised these things unto the man, but it is our inward man that God has promised to ‘renew day by day.’ But it is by His word alone that we are justified, and it is also by His word alone that we are sanctified unto holiness. And far too often many are ignorant unto the will of God, they have changed the truth of God into a lie that they have chosen to believe based upon the ‘lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life.’
Rom.15[1] We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
[2] Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
[3] For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Finally, we are beseeched to “let” our minds be renewed unto the selfless love of Christ. We are given Christ’s selflessness as an ensample to walk in. We are taught about this identity for example in Romans chapter 15 as a Bible minister, and as we see in the verses above, Paul mentions bearing the infirmities of the weak, and he says that out of selfless love we ought to “please” our neighbors for their godly “good,” and not to please ourselves. And then we are shown the identity likeness of Christ, Paul says, “for even Christ,” this comparison is given us being likened as a Bible minister bearing infirmities of the weak to their good to edification. This is how God would have us to think today, and not with the ungodly thinking of, ‘I’m number one,’ or ‘I am His anointed,’ saying things like, ‘ God loves me because I love myself.’ And the doctrine of ‘self-love’ is not of God, but is of this world, and is a counterfeit way of godliness in the sight of God, but in the eyes of men this is how today’s Churches measure themselves as the blessed of God or not.
Phil.2:5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
[6] Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
[7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
Rod Jones
SUPPLY OF GRACE 
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