Agree to Being Emptied Of Self

Romans 8:12  "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors--not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.  For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."

Romans 13:14  "But put on the Lord Jesus  Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."

2 Corinthians 7:1  "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

Galatians 5:24,25  "And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

1 John 2:16,17  "For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lustt of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father b;ut is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever."

The Lord bids us empty our hearts of the selfishness which is the root of alienation.  He longs to pour upon us His Holy Spirit in rich measure,  and He bids us clear the way by self-renunciation.  When self is surrendered to God, our eyes will be opened to see the stumbling stones which our un- Christlikeness has  placed in the way of others.  All these God bids us remove.

We cannot retain self and yet be filled with the fullness of God.  We must be emptied of self.  If heaven is gained by us at last, it will be only through the renunciation of self, and the receiving of the mind of Christ.  Pride and self-sufficiency must be crucified, and the vacuum supplied with the Spirit and power of God.  Are we willing to pay the price required of us for eternal life?  Are we ready to sit down and count the cost, and conclude that heaven is worth the sacrifice of dying to self, of having our will brought into perfect conformity with the will of God?  Until we are willing, the transforming grace of God will not b manifested upon us.  When we present our emptied nature to God, He will by his Holly Spirit supply the vacuum made by the renunciation of self, and give us of his fullness.
Grandma Joan