Its All About Me

• Putting Self at the Center
• Philippians 2:1-4
• Satan’s lie …
• Genesis 3:4-5 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
• The world promotes self ..
• The purpose of life becomes our quest for self-esteem and self-actualization …
• Humanism replaced God …
• Gives man God’s preeminence and makes man autonomous …
• Results of self-centeredness …
• 1. Self-absorption (narcissism).
• 2. Self-glorification (vanity, boastfulness).
• 3. Self-service (selfishness, greed).
• 4. Self-will (stubbornness).
• 5. Self-obedience (lawlessness).
• Paul’s timely advice…
• Romans 15:1-3 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. 3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me."
• Our Religion becomes Idolatry…
• Romans 1:18-32 Gentiles abandoned God …
• Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
• Pure religion centers on serving others …
• James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
• Dethroning God and making ourselves preeminent …
• Our relationships deteriorate …
• Philippians 2:1-4 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
• Example of Christ
• Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
• Matthew 16:24 "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
• Relationships thrive when we consider others …
• Prov 17:17 – A friend loves at all times, & a brother is born for adversity.
• Prov 18:24 – A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
• We come to detest ourselves …
• Matthew 20:25-28 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave — 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
• Last days prediction…
• 2 Timothy 3:1-5 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power.