.
Hello everyone for context I am far too young to be ordained a deacon yet, However I believe God is calling me to it, anyways for context I plan on selling my possessions and living a minimalistic lifestyle and have already started doing with some, when I move out of my parents house and finish college I hope to find a city where I can walk everywhere so I don’t need a car and I think God has shown me where to go temporarily. However in Luke he says Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. Great I attempt to follow this however later in Luke he says Luke 14:33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. So am I not a disciple until I sell everything why do I experience God’s presence in my life 24/7 then? Also next question what if having a small home/apartment allows me to serve better he says in Matthew For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, How can I invite somebody in if I don’t own a small house? does renting a house and moving every two years pretty much negate that it’s my possession? I’ve heard some people say that by saying bye to my possessions that means giving them to the use of God (while still being minimalistic of course) I prayed on this and got Acts 28:30 into mind which states For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. this changed my whole perspective Ok fine I’m willing to be homeless and have no car and serve, however he commands me to let people in and frankly I can reach more people that way with a cheap car and home and those being the only tools I have, so this creates a whole domino effect of questions such as am I not allowed to own tools? if he tells me to work with my hands then sell things how will I work with my hands? can deacons live in the church? I plan to make a good amount of money specifically to serve and live super minimal even If not a deacon does he still see my effort or am I not seen as an apostle until I sell all, Is that really how narrow the gate is? or is my plan enough I’ll be honest I prayed on this tons and would love to hear yalls answers! God bless P.S. As im writing this a bible verse comes to mind, 1 peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. and also 1 peter 4:10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. so with this context what would y’all do if you were me and GOD BLESS <3
.
Those who pursue the hope of Christ, following after the love of Christ who gave even His own life, are always troubled before God about what they cannot do, and therefore they continually ask, so that they may fill up what is lacking, accomplish, correct, and be changed. But the foolish faith of the flesh, since it only looks at what it can do well, always rationalizes with excuses and cunning about what it cannot do, and thus cannot correct the evil habits of sinning.
Religionists cannot escape the sinner’s path of endlessly repeating sin until death. These are by no means true Christians. The praise or reward given to those who do not live the life of a true Christian is called “the righteousness of man.” But the righteousness that is worthy to lead into heaven and salvation is called “the righteousness of God.”
The most important question is: For what purpose do I believe in God? Those who believe in God only for their own happiness, hope, ideals, success, and blessings, while serving Him alongside the world and material wealth, will inevitably pursue all sorts of corruption, heresies, and lies that depart from the Word of Scripture. Therefore, serving God while sinning repeatedly can never lead to being born again. In other words, “the righteousness of man,” which comes from one’s own will, stops at a few good deeds, but cannot be sustained as a way of life. True Christian good works are not carried out in lust and greed, and they are works of love empowered by God’s love that frees from sin, a divine power that puts to death the sinful habits inherent in human nature. Because they are within the grace of God, who grants the power of love, believers obtain the wisdom of divine power that continually kills the evil habits arising from lust and greed. It is always with the spiritual praise of God’s love.
What is most important is to obtain the wisdom of God that follows His love, in which the power of God works to put to death the evil habits arising from man’s nature, which cannot help but give birth to lust and desire. The righteousness of man, when praised by others, loses its reward and thus cannot be the righteousness of God. Yet today, countless churches and pastors do not even know the difference between the righteousness of God and the righteousness of man.
Human good deeds are always shaken by circumstances, emotions, or passing moods. Every human being, by the habits born of their own lusts and desires, unconsciously commits the seven emotional sins—envy, jealousy, hatred, pride, lust, wrath, and falsehood—which are punishable by death (Romans 1:28-32). God’s love, however, is not of human lust and desire, but is good works performed by divine authority through the hope of Christ, following after the power of the love of Christ, who gave His very life on the cross. Therefore, it is not the good works that appear and disappear according to human zeal, pride, awakening, or mood, but rather it is the power of God’s love that endures.
All human beings, from a very young age, are inevitably raised indiscriminately under these seven hidden emotional sins: the spirit of envy works in those who envy, the spirit of jealousy in those who are jealous, the spirit of hatred in those who hate, the spirit of pride in those who are proud, the spirit of lust in those who harbor lust, the spirit of anger in those who harbor wrath, and the spirit of falsehood in those who practice lies. In other words, it is the same seven demons that once worked in Mary Magdalene. Moreover, the acts you have performed are influenced by the spirit of morality, not by the righteousness of God. The righteousness that leads to salvation is the power and strength of God’s love that molds His divine nature within you.
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.(Ephesians 4 : 15~16)
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.(Romans 5 : 3~5)
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.(Titus 2 : 11~15)
Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.(Colossians 2 : 18~19)
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.(Titus 3 : 3~7)
Only the goodness and righteousness that follow the hope of Christ reveal the unshakable righteousness of God. Good deeds born of human will, however, cannot help but collide with reality and circumstances. Therefore, while committing the sins of the seven emotions, their practice of goodness and righteousness cannot help but lose its lasting meaning.
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.(Proverbs 26 : 24~28)
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:(Proverbs 9 : 1)
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.(Luke 11 : 24~26)(Matthew 12 : 43)
On the path of sinners belonging to the world and the flesh, where sin cannot but be repeated until death, within the carnal faith that is bound by the evil habits of the flesh, goodness and righteousness may provide some help in directing one toward the love of God, but they cannot bring about the character of God that is worthy of leading to heaven and salvation. Instead, it only results in missing the opportunity and occasion to receive the power within God’s love, where the power of God works to kill the sinful habits and members of the flesh that cannot help but repeat evil until death. All deeds born of human emotion and human will are by no means the love of divine power manifested within the unwavering love of God.
All of this is written throughout the Scriptures. For deeper understanding, enter into Dialogues with the Almighty—there you will truly see the great and marvelous mysteries and truths of God. Your salvation is here.