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“Commands Of Messiah Mightily Apply Nurture, Delivering Scripturally! (C.O.M.M.A.N.D.S)!”

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

SCRIPTURE:
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4,NIV)

Approach Question:
How do you look at yourself compared to others?

Observations:
I asked myself what two things should not be done?
Two things I should not do:
1. Do nothing out of selfish ambition.
2. Do nothing out of vain conceit.

I asked myself what two things should I do?
Two things I should do:
1. In humility consider others better than myself.
2. Not only look to my own interests but also to the interests of others.

Interpretation:
I asked myself why is it 'selfish-ambition' and 'vain conceit' are the commands mentioned that we should not do?
Of all the vices, I believe these two vices are at the core of man's sinfulness and fall. It started with Lucifer who got the ball rolling by tempting Adam & Eve after his own fall. The temptations of 'selfish ambition' and 'vain conceit' hinged on PRIDE. It is pride that causes selfish ambition and vain conceit. It is because of 'selfish ambition' and 'vain conceit' that the Ten Commandments are not even followed. Man has fallen and cannot get up. As long as we hold on to selfish ambition and vain conceit, we have given a mighty foothold to Satan. The focus becomes always on 'I'. These two vices have the capability to destroy relationships, communities, etc when done and that is why God commands the Philippians through Paul,  “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.."

I asked myself what is 'selfish-ambition' and 'vain conceit' contrasted with and the significance of that?
Selfish-ambition and vain conceit is contrasted with humility. We are asked to have humility considering others better than ourselves. We are commanded not only to look to our own interests but also to the interests of others because it is in humility, there is a fulfilled relationship whether it is with God or man. If Lucifer was humble, he would not have tried to usurp God's authority thinking he could do better. But, Lucifer was the most prideful of all beings and became Satan! He used that pride to corrupt Adam and Eve too.  Adam and Eve should have known better because they walked with God and yet they stumbled because they were not humble anymore. They thought they could know as much or more than God if they ate the fruit. So, they sacrificed humility for selfish ambition.  The fruit they ate continues to bear fruit in their offspring. Now, humanity is so filled with selfish ambition and vain conceit that humility is a bygone word. That's what the fall of man did.

Yet, thanks be to Father God, we can be confident that we can exhibit the quality of humility because of what Jesus Christ did for us. Because Satan displayed his pride, Adam and Eve fell when they gave in. Because Jesus Christ displayed humility, we are able to be restored and reconciled to God and can follow the commands of God's Word through Christ Jesus, our Lord. Thank you Jesus!

Implications:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?
The purpose of today's study, of God's Word for me, is to understand that humility should govern our life over selfish ambition and vain conceit so we will be following the Lord's ways instead of Satan's ways.

If God's Word does prohibit me from doing something, I should not do it even for the sake of others. These commands in Philippians are for believers in Christ who are already called saints. So, it is implied whatever I do for other's sake too, it should be in line with God's Word.

Even though the temptation is to think it's my life, I realize it is not really my life. It is a life given to me by my Creator who has the copyright protection on me. He created me and He owns all the rights to me. It is not the rights owned by a cruel master but a Loving master who thinks about my own welfare and best interests at heart. I thank you Jesus. The commands of the Lord are there to give us life and light when we follow them. Sadly, I don't always think about others over myself but that is something Jesus will have to work in me and through me. I know He will. I praise the Lord for that!

The wrong attitude would be to think, 'It's my life and no one should interfere!'. Again, if that becomes the attitude, I have succumbed myself to the greater sin of pride from which all other sins flow.

It is pride that began the fall of Lucifer and the fall of man. Lucifer, through his pride wanted to become equal or greater to God and fell with 1/3 of the angels. That just shows there will always be someone to follow evil and good. I want to follow after good! Because Lucifer fell, he wanted to take as many with him and still wants to take God's creation into Hell's pit deceiving, lying, and conniving. You and I will not escape Satan as long as we think we are worthy of anything. We are not worthy of anything and need Jesus.

With Jesus, we are so worthy in God's eyes and through Jesus Christ, He justifies us and sanctifies us by His power. He will give anything because He loves us more than anything. It is His free gift we share to a world that needs it. His love is always with us. His love is so great and so strong. (This is a also a children's song)

I should be able to say and mean: "Lord Jesus, ANYTHING, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, I am ready"

But I don't always follow the commands of God because I let sin rule over me instead of finding my freedom in Christ. It is to save me that Jesus paid the ultimate price so I can be reconciled and restored to Him. It is so I can have abundant life as I obey His commands, not on my own ability but, by His grace where He allows me to have the ability to obey His commands.

It starts with me having humility and realizing it is not all about me and I need the Savior to transform me by His grace like only He can. Thank you Jesus. All the commands of God can be fulfilled only in an active relationship with Jesus when I walk in the Spirit, so I will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. I need Jesus' help so much. Each day I realize how frail I am without the Master's touch in my life.

I ask you now dear friend, how do you respond to God's C.O.M.M.A.N.D.S in life?
Dear friends, I do not know what kind of commands you face in your life. But this I know, the commands the Lord has given us are for our own good and we can be confident in following them. It will not be always easy but with the Spirit of the Lord working in us we can abide by the commands of the Lord. Yes, they will know we are Christians by our love, by our love as we follow the Lord.

It is God's commands that do save us in Christ Jesus too. When we obey the command of 'Call upon me and your will be saved' then we do become saved and have Eternal Life. When we obey God's commands, we will realize how worthless and wretched we are because we will fail more often than succeed. This itself as Martin Luther realized will make us see that on our own merit we cannot attain perfection nor Salvation if it were not for the LOVING GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ who paid the Ultimate ransom with His Blood to purchase us back from Satan.

Being Set Free
By Ramesh C. Reddy

When we belong to the world and Satan's ways
He will control us all of our days
Selfish ambition and vain conceit become a vice
Where pride reigns and humility dies
Now to think about others
Always us it bothers
Now, allegiance to him, he will demand
So we won't follow Christ's every command
But we have to acknowledge the throne of God above
Knowing He will show us unconditional love.
I now can be set free
Realizing Christ alone can stop my sin spree.
Jesus did that by dying on the old rugged cross tree. 
So that in His love, He can ransom me
This I have come to see
When Jesus purchased me by His blood
Delivering me from sin's flood!
It is all by His free gift of grace
That helps me run life's race
Not focused on works to bear fruit
But in Christ my Lord, I take root
So fruit will come and that's the truth!
Amen!

Bearing fruit is what Pastor Ridge, Pastor Josh, and Pastor Mike have shared as we have been going through John 15 in Community Bible Time, Sermon, and Small group Bible study. To be able to bear fruit, I realized how important it is to follow the commands of staying away from the two vices: selfish ambition and vain conceit.

Jesus loves you all so much and wants you to follow His commands to help you in life and not hurt you. May you find the strength from the Lord to be obedient to His commands knowing commands of Messiah make all new daily saving!

"Commands Of Messiah Mightily Apply Nurture, Delivering Scripturally!" (C.O.M.M.A.N.D.S)/"How do you respond to C.O.M.M.A.N.D.S in life?"

PRAYER:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for your Word. I thank you for the power of your Word to teach us and exhort us. You tell us to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. But, instead you want us to be humble, thinking about others better than ourselves. You also want us to look to the interests of others too rather than our own interests. Lord, it is easier said than done! We always need your help. Please help us Lord and let us not rationalize when we want to do things our own way when you have given us commands to follow. Help us to be your servants and fill us please with your Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus for the power of your love! I love you Jesus. Thank you for loving us so much and for being there to forgive us and set us free. Thank you Lord for not being silent but available for us! We turn our lives over to you and thank you for hearing our prayers and answering us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Please pray this prayer to receive the Lord Jesus into your life or to rededicate your life to the Lord.

PRAYER:
Dear Jesus, I heard that you became my sacrificial Lamb of God to save me from my sins. Thank you for shedding your blood for me and coming back to life to save me. I turn to you now. At this moment Lord, I confess to you all my sins and am so sorry for them Lord. I repent of my sins and ask you to help me overcome them for I cannot on my own strength. Cleanse me with your cleansing blood and I will be clean again. Wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Come into my heart Jesus. Please make my heart your home. I believe only you can justify me by your grace. Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and I will serve you the rest of the days of my life as you begin your sanctification by your grace in my life. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart! Thank you Jesus for making my heart your home and living in me! I acknowledge you as my Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you for being my Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and that you have answered me. Thank you for being part of my life now and giving me a new beginning. Thank you for my Salvation. Thank you no matter how I am feeling inside, you have saved me. I love you Jesus and want to live for you. Help me to find fellowship with other believers and most of all to have daily fellowship walking with you through your Word and talking to you. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

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