OUTLINE:

“Tug of War”
Confidence in self depletes/disturbs/ distracts from our confidence in the Lord. Pride destroys our spiritual lives - it is an agent of death.

Ro 12:9-10 [Amplified]
Love is to be sincere and active [the real thing—without guile and hypocrisy]. Hate what is evil [detest all ungodliness, do not tolerate wickedness]; hold on tightly to what is good. Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection [as members of one family], give preference to one another in honor.

Freedom Comes From Trusting the Truth
When we approach the Truth (e.g., read our Bible), we must do so in faith/trust. Without trust leading the way, it’s too easy to reject what we find. If we reject what we find, we are stunting our own growth, and freedom!

Freedom or Bondage
The approach to truth dictates what you find. Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Matthew 11:15).

Perverse Respect for Worldly Measurements
"A just balance and scales belong to the LORD; all the weights of the bag are His concern" (Pr 16:11). We must be careful to disallow worldly measurements (e.g., numbers) become the impetus for the respect we give. (Mt 10:28; De 20:1-4; Lev 26:7-8; Ps 33:16-21; Is 31:1-3; Jer 9:23-24)

Mt 10:28 [Amplified]
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. [e.g., Do not respect worldly fears]

Perverse Respect for Worldly Measurements
"A just balance and scales belong to the LORD; all the weights of the bag are His concern" (Pr 16:11). We must be careful to disallow worldly measurements (e.g., numbers) become the impetus for the respect we give. (Mt 10:28; De 20:1-4; Lev 26:7-8; Ps 33:16-21; Is 31:1-3; Jer 9:23-24)

Freedom or Bondage
The approach to truth dictates what you find. Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Matthew 11:15).

Trust (aka Faith)
It’s a counterfeit quest for truth if you reserve the right to reject it once you find it.

The Sphere Of Love (Jn 15:9-17)
“Abide in My love”...“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love”...“but I have called you friends”...“This I command you, that you love one another.”

Isn’t honesty what makes true love so grand?

Pr 10:12b ...But love covers all transgressions.
Ro 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Jn 10:17-18a
“For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative.”

Fear or Faith
What is our base of operations? Which dominates us: fear or faith? Does sharing the Truth scare us or excite us? Are we selfish or selfless (self-less, aka "less" of "self").

Selflessness (“less” of “self”)
The predominant feature of selflessness is faith. The motivation is love. Our hope is the Truth changes others. (1Co 13:13)

Truth or Lies
Do we seek friends that lie to us? Have our friends sought us because we've lied to them?