Grace Fellowship Church Pastor/Teacher Jim Rickard Thursday, March 14, 2013

1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.— Amen.

The Book of Proverbs Chapter 5 “Avoid the Adulterer”

Prov 5:3 Lips Dripping with Honey and Smoother than Oil!

Doctrine of Flattery: I. Definition: A Verbal Sin where you practice excessive, false or sycophantic complimenting and praise trying to arouse favorable attention towards yourself.

Flattery Related to: II. Arrogance Complex of Sins. III. Cosmic Evangelism. IV. The Men-Pleaser Syndrome. V. The Con-Artist. VI. False Teaching and Religion. VII. Conspiracy Theory. VIII. Marriage and Flattery. Flattery Related to: II. Arrogance Complex of Sins. III. Cosmic Evangelism. IV. The Men-Pleaser Syndrome. V. The Con-Artist. VI. False Teaching and Religion. VII. Conspiracy Theory. VIII. Marriage and Flattery.

IX. The Defense against Flattery. A. Spiritually Immature Believers are Susceptible to Flattery. B. Having Wisdom in your Soul gives you Discernment regarding Flattery.

C. Achieving Spiritual Self- Esteem (SSE).

C. Achieving Spiritual Self- Esteem (SSE). Virtue of the P 3 oG where your confidence is based on Bible doctrine learned through PMA, and your respect for self is linked to Grace-Orientation.

The secret to SSE is respect for God and His Word.

Characteristics of SSE:

Characteristics of SSE: 1. The beginning of contentment, 2 Cor 12:10; Phil 4:11; 1 Tim 6:6-8; Heb 13:5.

Characteristics of SSE: 1. The beginning of contentment, 2 Cor 12:10; Phil 4:11; 1 Tim 6:6-8; Heb 13:5. 2. Mental stability, Phil 4:12-13.

Characteristics of SSE: 3. Composure marked by self- assurance, James 1:22-25.

Characteristics of SSE: 3. Composure marked by self- assurance, James 1: Grace orientation to life, Rom 6:1; 12:10.

Characteristics of SSE: 3. Composure marked by self- assurance, James 1: Grace orientation to life, Rom 6:1; 12: Doctrinal orientation to reality, Rom 12:3; Eph 4:23.

Characteristics of SSE: 6. Good decisions from a position of strength, Eph 6:10; Phil 2:2; Col 1:11.

Characteristics of SSE: 6. Good decisions from a position of strength, Eph 6:10; Phil 2:2; Col 1: The beginning of personal control of your life, Col 2:7; Heb 12:2-3.

Characteristics of SSE: 8. The beginning of a Personal Sense of Destiny, Psa 23:4; Mat 6:26-27; Rom 8:31-32; 1 Peter 1:13; Heb 6:18-19.

Characteristics of SSE: 9. The exercise of self-control, self-restraint, poise and self- regulation, Prov 19:11; 1 Cor 14:33; 2 Tim 2:10.

Characteristics of SSE: 9. The exercise of self-control, self-restraint, poise and self- regulation, Prov 19:11; 1 Cor 14:33; 2 Tim 2: A new attitude toward life, John 15:10-17.

It is the “declaration of independence” of the believer’s Royal Priesthood. You are no longer tempted, nor vulnerable to flattering lips.

You are empowered by God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to overcome the disingenuous complements of others.

Spiritual maturity develops common sense, a sense of humor, and flexibility in life that shows you when, how, and where to stop and go no further, and to keep going forward in God’s Plan. Cf. Eph 3:16-19

D. Impersonal / Unconditional Love (I.U. Love) Combats Flattery.

I.U. Love emphasizes the virtue of the subject rather than attraction to an object or rapport with an object.

You function under the standards of Bible Doctrine in your soul rather than being influenced by the flattery, attraction, attention, or reciprocity that those of the world try to offer you.

It is mandated in all dispensations under the phrase, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Lev 19:18; Mat 19:19, 22:39; Mark 12:31; Rom 13:9; Gal 5:14

Personal Love can be manufactured by human viewpoint, including sin nature control, lust, emotion, vanity, arrogance, human desires, and self-gratification, and is therefore susceptible to flattery.

I.U. Love never depends on approbation, flattery, patronage, hypocrisy, attention, social climbing, etc.

I.U. Love is a RMA toward all men from having spiritual momentum in you life.

Therefore, I.U. Love cannot be corrupted by flattery, human rapport, emotional rapport, or the exploitation of arrogance. Therefore, it is free from any mental attitude sins. Cf. 1 John 2:4-5, 9-11.

Grace Fellowship Church Thursday, March 14, 2013 Tape # Proverbs Chapter 5 Spiritual Self Esteem and Impersonal Love Combat Flattery Impersonal Love Combat Flattery Prov 5:3; Eph 3:16-19; Phil 4:11-13; 1 Tim 6:6-8; 1 John 2:4-11 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2013