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Be Careful What You Treasure
If we treasure a counterfeit, we suffer for it.

Sources of Counterfeit “Self-Esteem”
- Your education, work, or income
- Your appearance or dress
- Your kindness, niceness, sweetness
- Your reputation, accomplishments, “success”
- Your religion

Ro 12:3
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

1Co 3:6-7
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

1Co 4:7
For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive [from God]? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

2Co 3:4-5
Such is the confidence [aka “self- confidence” or “self-esteem”] that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God...

1Co 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

The “Secret” To Strength Is Humility
Humility is our greatest source of strength and courage (aka “applied faith”). Why? Because we put the onus of victory on the Lord’s strength instead of our own.

Judg 7:2
The LORD said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’

The “Secret” To Strength Is Humility
Humility is our greatest source of strength and courage (aka “applied faith”). Why? Because we put the onus of victory on the Lord’s strength instead of our own.

Remember How You Got Here!
Once you think you’ve “arrived,” be careful you don’t forget where you came from and WHO, exactly, sanctified you! David forgot and ultimately suffered dearly. You might just be miserable because of this ONE reason - you’ve become familiar, entitled, arrogant. (cp. 1Sa 17, 1Chr 21)

Mt 5:39
But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Gal 4:16
Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?

The Source of Your Misery
You want the FRUIT of righteousness, but you refuse to actually BE righteous!

The Source of Your Misery
​We believers can never really be truly happy if we stand opposed to God, ESPECIALLY once we know better.

Don’t be a hypocrite.

A person’s nature is revealed by the type of advice he accepts.

Gal 4:16
Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?

Seeking Advice
Most people prefer partiality over integrity when they seek advice from others.