It is not easy to change one's way of thinking or behavior that have formed over a long period of time. It's because they tend to accept and understand the truth only within limits. Moreover, if they formed self-righteousness and self-frameworks as well, then it's difficult to realize God's true will. This is because with such things we are apt to have fleshly thoughts without even realizing it.
'Self-righteousness' is the insistence on the things that personal beliefs and ways of thinking are correct. A self-framework is a hardened way of thinking that a certain thing is right. Unless we demolish fleshly thoughts that come out from such self-righteousness and self-framework we cannot but stay at the threshold of spirit without actually going into spirit.
Therefore, we should try to discover ourselves unceasingly by applying the word of the truth to ourselves and with fervent prayer. Then, to enter spirit, what kinds of fleshly thoughts that arise from self-righteousness and self-framework should we demolish?
1. The fleshly thoughts from one's temperament that are inherited from their parents
Some people do not realize their shortcomings nor cast them away because they have the fleshly thoughts that come from the temperaments that they inherited from their parents and are hidden deep inside their 'chi', or life-energy.
Some people are born with an introversive temperament. These people are usually quiet. They generally do not get angry, quarrel or break peace. If such a person becomes the leader of a group, they have to be confident and decisive according to the situation; however they might just remain passive. They have to actively care for others and lead them with confidence, but they lack such characteristics. Nevertheless, they do not have evident trouble with others and because they consider others with goodness, they don't realize the problem.
Some others are born with outgoing characters. While they have fervor, they tend to lack service. They do not really consider others better than themselves. They don't give comfort to others. Even when they take a step back from a certain situation, they want to take the lead thinking it is 'longing for spirit' and they feel that they should take a hold of it.
2. The fleshly thoughts from the frameworks of personality that are formed while growing up
Some people look at the world with sorrow and resentment, and such a viewpoint becomes their personality. They lead a life in Christ but feel the difficulties because of the fleshly thoughts that come out from their negative characters.
For example, they try hard to pray and work for God's kingdom to cast away sins and receive answers. If a person who was in a similar situation and received the blessing that they wanted to receive, they feel that the person is getting ahead of them and become nervous and disheartened.
Also, some people condemn and are critical of themselves in every matter. They blame themselves harshly even for small mistakes. They lose the strength to pray, and they cannot go before God. They can't feel the love of God deeply, so in their self-righteousness and frameworks they see others' shortcomings first rather than understanding and accepting them. They have the desire to bring the shortcomings to their attention and teach them.
3. Fleshly thoughts from minute untruths
Some people have cultivated their heart with the truth to a significant extent, but they have fleshly thoughts because there are some minute fleshly attributes remaining. When coworkers or supervisors give advice, they desire to follow it, but the problem is that they also have uncomfortable feelings. Even if there is just 0.1 percent of discomfort in their heart, it can't be said they have a heart of spirit. But because the other 99.9 percent is the heart of goodness, and because such uncomfortable thoughts pass by very quickly, such individuals just forget that 0.1 percent. That is why they cannot cast off the minute untruth that remains, and thus they cannot go into spirit.
4. The fleshly thoughts hidden in a spiritually good environment
Though neglecting the circumcision of heart, some people mistakenly think they are having spiritual thoughts. Because of the happy feelings coming from the circumstances, they just forget about their fleshly thoughts that they have from time to time. But if they face any hardship, they cannot overcome it with faith. Only by circumcising even the depth of their hearts, can they have the perfect fullness of the Spirit and, moreover, achieve true hearts and perfect faith.
5. The fleshly thought from deficiencies of the body
A deficiency of the body is the lack of a commonly acquired ability due to not having the experience and training they should have undergone growing up.
For example, when children are not trained to concentrate on the words of the teacher in school, they may not be able to focus on what others are saying even after they become adults. They cannot focus on the sermons. They might not listen to others carefully in conversations. In case of church workers, they may not be able to pay close attention while listening to what their boss is saying and they make mistakes. It's not that they want to disobey the will of God, but they cannot obey because they cannot keep it in their mind. In the end they use their own fleshly thoughts.
Some people are raised in a kind of restricted or cloistered environment, and they lack communication skills. They do not really understand other people's ways of thinking or ways of expressing themselves. So, they do not really understand others and they lack common consideration for others. Within their own experience, they think, 'I like this, and I'm sure he thinks the same way too.' But their thinking is often not right.
6. The fleshly thoughts from self-frameworks of the truth
Frameworks of self-righteousness and self-centered goodness are formed when people interpret the word of truth in their own way and consider certain things to be right and good, and solidify those ideas. In some situations, some of their thoughts derived from such frameworks are shown to be right, and they are even more convinced of their own thoughts and ideas.
Suppose a worker in the church is touched by the pastor who is forgiving and covering the faults of a church member. This worker forms a framework of goodness thinking, "It is goodness to forgive and understand." The problem is that he tries to forgive and cover up the faults of the flock even in situations where he must not just keep on forgiving. That is, in some situations we should reprimand or punish someone so that he can turn back from sins, but the fleshly thought from the framework of goodness hinders them from deeply understanding God's love for the person.
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