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Online! | | Loving Jesus Above All Things by Thomas A Kempis | |
Blessed is he who appreciates what it is to love Jesus and who despises himself for the sake of Jesus. Give up all other love for His, since He wishes to be loved alone above all things.
Affection for creatures is deceitful and inconstant, but the love of Jesus is true and enduring. He who clings to a creature will fall with its frailty, but he who gives himself to Jesus will ever be strengthened.
Love Him, then; keep Him as a friend. He will not leave you as others do, or let you suffer lasting death. Sometime, whether you will or not, you will have to part with everything. Cling, therefore, to Jesus in life and death; trust yourself to the glory of Him who alone can help you when all others fail.
Your Beloved is such that He will not accept what belongs to another -- He wants your heart for Himself alone, to be enthroned therein as King in His own right. If you but knew how to free yourself entirely from all creatures, Jesus would gladly dwell within you.
You will find, apart from Him, that nearly all the trust you place in men is a total loss. Therefore, neither confide in nor depend upon a wind-shaken reed, for "all flesh is grass" and all its glory, like the flower of grass, will fade away.
You will quickly be deceived if you look only to the outward appearance of men, and you will often be disappointed if you seek comfort and gain in them. If, however, you seek Jesus in all things, you will surely find Him. Likewise, if you seek yourself, you will find yourself -- to your own ruin. For the man who does not seek Jesus does himself much greater harm than the whole world and all his enemies could ever do.
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SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
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|  2017/1/29 7:28 | Profile |
| | Re: Loving Jesus Above All Things by Thomas A Kempis | | Thomas a Kempis served "Mother Rome." Many evangelical Christians wrongly believe that his IMITATION OF CHRIST is a godly tome. It is a mere imitation, parroting truths that are better explained in the epistles of the Bible. Where his true colors really come out is at the end when he writes about communion. Roman Catholic doctrine takes over, and Biblical truth is laid aside. Roman Catholicism is a false, sacramental "gospel" of works. Those in the Romish religion who truly love Jesus need to come out of her. |
| | 2017/1/29 8:46 | | sermonindex
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Canada
Online! | | Re: | | Brother,
There were many godly believers in Catholism and Orthodox Church before the reformation as that was the main and many times only church in countries. The modern doctrines of these churches have changed and the further you go back the more pure or less problems are in them.
A.W. Tozer read and encouraged saints to learn from godly men in church history:
“Pick at random a score of great saints whose lives and testimonies are widely known. Let them be Bible characters or well known Christians of post-Biblical times…how unlike each other were John and Paul, St. Francis and Luther, Finney and Thomas a Kempis…
“Yet they all walked, each in his day, upon a high road of spiritual living
far above the common way…I venture to suggest that the one vital
quality which they had in common was spiritual receptivity…”
All the reformers themselves were catholic priests and in some cases were born-again in that Church before the actual reformation started to take place.
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SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
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| | 2017/1/29 9:04 | Profile | Pnutty
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Joined: 2016/3/14
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Branson, MO
| | Re: | |
Greg, howz about Brother Lawrence? St. Therese of Lisieux?
These were always 2 of my favorites. Along with Kempis.
Thanks
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Linda
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| | 2017/1/29 13:39 | Profile | sermonindex
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Online! | | Re: | | Quote:
Greg, howz about Brother Lawrence? St. Therese of Lisieux?
These were always 2 of my favorites. Along with Kempis.
Sister,
we have "Practicing the Presence of God" book available here to listen to by Lawerence:
https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/myvideo/viewcat.php?cid=305
I personally take the view that many of the believers that were anointed and in the catholic system where in monasteries and other orders, thus they had freedom to pursue the Lord and know Him. The Catholic church sought to ensure they had them under their wing but they were in many ways autonmous orders and groups. So I see the great value in these groups especially older ones that were instrumental in preserving the copying of Scriptures.
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SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
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| | 2017/1/29 13:54 | Profile | Pnutty
Member
Joined: 2016/3/14
Posts: 162
Branson, MO
| | Re: | | Thank you.
I dont flinch about beliefs in the Eucharist or The Blessed Mary. Nor that a Christian can lose salvation (many Protestants). Let God sort all that out right?
You can TELL who is in a close walk through their writings.
I doubt some funny beliefs can usurp the ONE belief that counts and the faith to walk in it.
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Linda
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| | 2017/1/29 15:05 | Profile | drifter
Member
Joined: 2005/6/6
Posts: 1025
Campbell River, B.C.
| | Re: | | Alec, I used to take the same approach towards catholics as you. But please remember that anyone who seeks Jesus with all their heart will find Him. I definitely disagree with some official catholic doctrine, but there are many sincere, born again catholics.
And it sure sounds to me like Thomas a Kempis served Jesus, regardless of some of his doctrinal stances.
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Nigel Holland
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| | 2017/1/29 22:27 | Profile | drifter
Member
Joined: 2005/6/6
Posts: 1025
Campbell River, B.C.
| | Re: | | "Greg, howz about Brother Lawrence? St. Therese of Lisieux?
These were always 2 of my favorites. Along with Kempis."
Madame Guyon is great as well, especially her autobiography.
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Nigel Holland
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| | 2017/1/29 22:29 | Profile | EAGLEFLYING
Member
Joined: 2012/9/25
Posts: 886
| | Re: Loving Jesus Above All Things by Thomas A Kempis | | Love Him, then; keep Him as a friend. He will not leave you as others do, or let you suffer lasting death. Sometime, whether you will or not, you will have to part with everything. Cling, therefore, to Jesus in life and death; trust yourself to the glory of Him who alone can help you when all others fail.
Your Beloved is such that He will not accept what belongs to another -- He wants your heart for Himself alone, to be enthroned therein as King in His own right. If you but knew how to free yourself entirely from all creatures, Jesus would gladly dwell within you.
Amen Brother Greg..
SO True nothing like being in HIS PRESENCE..
Nothing.
Frannie
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Frannie
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| | 2017/1/30 15:41 | Profile |
| | Re: | | A. W. Tozer wrote: "...how unlike each other were John and Paul, St. Francis and Luther, Finney and Thomas a Kempis…"
I loved Tozer's writings, but am surprised at his endorsement of these last four. Francis of Assisi was quite bizarre: he prayed to the sun, stars, and moon, baptized animals, and climbed a mountain with his companion/biographer Brother Leo who claims that an angel, nailed to a cross, and with wings of fire, flew right into Francis' head whereupon he fell back and received the stigmata (a counterfeit sign of bleeding hands and feet). No, this is all bad fruit. I'll stick with the Scriptures, thank you. |
| | 2017/2/1 15:58 | |
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