Study Guide  


Overcoming Your Harmfulness



love the Lord: they way our heart should be

Closest related principles - Core Interrelations


Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting [testing] him, and saying, Master, which is the great [greatest] commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great [greatest WU] commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Mat 22:35-40 Part of loving God involves loving His ways and principles, and living by them. (Click gold Scripture references for Principle Interrelations)

And Jesus answered him, The first [greatest] of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first [greatest WU] commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. Mk 12:29-31 Lk 10:25-37

I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. Jh 5:30

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harm from within

Closest related principles - Core Interrelations


And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications [sexual sins], murders, thefts, covetousness [greed WU], wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness [lustful desires], an evil eye [envy WU], blasphemy [slander WU], pride [arrogance WU], foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. Mk 7:20-23 Mat 15:11-20

And the Pharisees also, who were covetous [lovers of money], heard all these things: and they derided [scoffed at] him. And he [Jesus WU] said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before [in the sight of] men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination [detestable WU] in the sight of God. Lk 16:14-15

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first. Mat 19:30 God often values things differently from the way we do. He's more concerned with the condition of our heart than our intellect, power, or beauty. (Our heart condition includes what we deeply value, our internal belief structure and deep feelings associated with it. These contribute to reflecting the kind of person you are, the way you react to things, what distresses you, what you want, what you do.)

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what’s inside comes out

Closest related principles - Core Interrelations


Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the [his] heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle [careless WU] word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in [for on WU] the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Mat 12:33-37

Woe unto you, scribes [experts in the law WU] and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion [greed WU] and excess [self-indulgence WU]. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Mat 23:25-26 Focus on cleaning yourself up on the inside, your heart (where there may be greed and self-indulgence) first, and then your good fruit will follow naturally. You’ll need God’s help in cleaning up your heart. Believe He can and will do it, and believe that you'll be changed so that your are thankful for the result, that you will like living the good way.

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the [those who are WU] proud in the imagination of their hearts. Lk 1:51 He knows.

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human frailty and vulnerability

Closest related principles - Core Interrelations


Pray that ye enter not into temptation. Lk 22:40 When temptation does come along, ask for help in resisting it, and not entering into it. Also, pray this when things are turning bad, and when you're tired and exhausted.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: Mat 6:13 Lk 11:4

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily [most assuredly], I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant [slave WU] of sin. And the servant abideth [slave remains WU] not in [with WU] the house [family] for ever: but the Son abideth [for]ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Jh 8:34-36

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted [oppressed], and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of [by] all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended [turn away from the faith WU], and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity [wickedness WU] shall abound, the love of many shall wax [grow] cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Mat 24:9-13 Hard-heartedness makes it easy to be deceived and to hate people, and makes it hard to endure persecution for righteousness sake, makes it easy to turn away from the faith.

Wherefore [therefore] I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven [he who is forgiven little WU], the same loveth little. Lk 7:47 Fairly often, someone who has done a lot of sinning (harm to themselves and others) finally gets sick of it, the harm gets to be too much to bear. When they see Jesus, they want to receive the compassionate relief and healing He brings. They are ready to admit they need help, and long for the good way, see Jesus is The Way, and put their faith in Him, no longer in themselves. The proud are blind to it all, plunging forward on their own course.

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bad things to do

Closest related principles - Core Interrelations


And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough [plow], and looking [if he looks WU] back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Lk 9:62

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee [causes you to sin WU], pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable [better WU] for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. Mat 5:27-29.

But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea [yes]; Nay, nay [no]: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil [from the evil one WU]. Mat 5:34-37

Take heed that ye do not your alms [charitable giving] before men, to be seen of [by] them: otherwise ye have no reward of [from] your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms [merciful deeds], do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of  [from] men. Verily [most assuredly] I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms [merciful deeds], let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of [by] men. Verily [most assuredly] I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Mat 6:1-6

For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for [to pay WU] a penny [denarius] a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire [wages], beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny [denarius]. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman [owner WU] of the house [land WU], Saying, These last have wrought [worked WU] but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that [which] thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will [want] with mine own? Is thine eye evil [are you envious WU], because I am good [generous WU]? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. Mat 20:1-16 We ought to appreciate that God is generous to others; He is generous to us too.

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money and worldly things

Closest related principles - Core Interrelations


No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold [be devoted] to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [money WU]. Mat 6:24

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Mat 6:19-21

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. LK 12:32 Sell that [which] ye have, and give alms [to the poor WU]; provide yourselves bags [purses] which wax not old [don't wear out WU], a treasure in the heavens [in heaven WU] that faileth not [is not exhausted WU], where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. LK 12:33 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. LK 12:34 Lk 12:32-34

And I say unto you, Make to [for] yourselves friends [by means] of the mammon of unrighteousness [worldly wealth WU]; [so] that, when ye fail [it runs out WU], they may receive you into everlasting habitations [dwellings WU]. Lk 16:1-9 Give a large portion of your wealth to the poor, and gain God as your friend.

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of [from] thee turn not thou away. Mat 5:42

Take no thought [do not worry about WU] your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life [not life] more than meat [food], and the body [more] than raiment [clothing]? .... Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles [unconverted WU] seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you [as well]. Take therefore no thought for the morrow [do not worry about tomorrow WU]: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto [for WU] the day is the evil [trouble WU] thereof. Mat 6:25-34

Give us this day our daily bread. Mat 6:11 Look to God for your daily needs.

And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares [worries WU] and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection [maturity]. Lk 8:14

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness [greed WU]: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Lk 12:15

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought [crops WU] forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits [store my crops]? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater [bigger ones]; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul [life WU] shall be required of [demanded from WU] thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided [for yourself WU]? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. Lk 12:17-21

It is the spirit that quickeneth [gives life]; the flesh profiteth [counts for WU] nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Jh 6:63 The flesh is physical things.

Verily, verily [most assuredly], I say unto you, Except [unless] a corn [grain] of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth [remains by itself] alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit [grain]. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto [for WU] life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. Jh 12:24-26

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overcoming

Closest related principles - Core Interrelations


And now come I to thee; and these things I speak [while WU] in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled [made full] in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them [safe WU] from the evil [one]. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them [set them apart WU] through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Jh17:13-19 We have overcome when we are no longer of the world, no longer participating in its ways, having been set apart by knowing God's true word, and our overcoming is blessed with the joy of God.

Wherefore [therefore WU] if thy hand or thy foot offend thee [causes you to sin], cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt [crippled] or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. MT 18:8 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. Mat 18:8-9 Stopping sin may seem like killing a part of yourself, part that you like, a part of yourself you don’t want to loose and maybe think is good. But it must be done; it's really doing harm to yourself and others, and will eventually lead you to a terrible end in and of itself.



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