Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
This past week, the subject of a TV show came up in a conversation and a very strong opinion was expressed.
After I got off the phone, I began to think about strong opinions about fleshly things and I felt it was better not to have such. I asked God about this and immediately I was reminded of the following examples.
Jesus said ... I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. Jn. 5
Paul said ... And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I Cor. 2
Strong fleshly opinions can be very harmful and destructive without cause. They are usually born out of personal pride. Evil can swiftly come from such.
Instead we need to express that which God has told us or that which God has shown us. This is worth dying for.
Paul said he "determined" not to know anything except Jesus Christ and HIM crucified. Determined implies to make a firm decision in this direction.
That should be our course also, giving up our intellect in order to exalt God's view. Deliberately resisting our personal opinions as "nothing", "dung" ... and seeking God's view on the issue. Most secular things are unimportant anyway. And much strife between humans can come by secular things. It is foolish. We can do as Paul and deliberately set our course to avoid such when it comes to secular matters.
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Phil. 4
Moderation means: avoidance of excess or extremes ... act of making less extreme, less intense.
When it comes to secular things we need to control ourselves.
When it comes to things of God, we need to hold fast.
Most strife over secular things is just pride of man exalting itself. We exalt ourselves when we participate in these opinions.
We exalt God when we put our own flesh down and express HIS word.
Those of us who are of God must work to keep our flesh under.
Col. 3
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
By a deliberate act of our will, we set aside fleshly opinions which we once cherished and determine to go another way. We lay down our lives for HIS sake and the gospel but not for our own opinions about fleshly matters. We just give it up and purpose to go another way.