7567	Forums / Theology Forum / Perseverence	on: April 10, 2007, 06:42:32 PM
In perseverance we must believe that the promises of God as stated in the text go beyond our ability to reason in all situations. Once we begin to incorporate our reason what could happen in the future to us or by us we are going to apply our own logic to what is a predominately faith paradigm of growth. We must see that all of the situations that we are confronted with either bad or good are there in a general way as common to man, and in a more specific way intended to effect our thought process so that we will not be proud but we will learn how to think dependently. The first lesson in all trials is to curb our flattered carnality so that we are brought into a mindset of complete trust in someone and something outside of our own abilities. Flattery starts in our thinking of our own ability to achieve our goal. Self flattery is the opposite of self distrust. God designs trials so that we are brought to the end of ourselves so that we learn to distrust ourselves and men in general. God must be our all in all. For to Him, and through Him, and by Him are all things. He must be the only protection that surrounds us. His convincing us is to send enemies from within and without to test the shield of faith. It is flattery that these enemies use to cause us anxiety. Our future victories are only believed when we have a sense of God surrounding us in our present experience. We attempt to build a system of self righteousness when we turn to men in an attempt to mix our flattered views with another mans unmodified renewal. We must come to the place where we identify His voice by leaving us with no where else to turn but to Him. What works is in that supernatural personal experience of resting in Him. It is very seldom attained because men usually are not that desperate. We really really and i mean really are beggars. Dont let anyone flatter us.