Others Above Self Motif

Whats the biggest problem that we face as a church and as individuals when it comes to following Christ? SELF Mark 8:34 “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”

Almost every problem I have ever seen in the church had at its core selfishness. Someone thought too highly of themselves. Even when the problem is a sin, it was still driven by selfishness. After all sinning is simply going our own way. I want to do it and so I do it.

It is the number one threat to unity, its the number one threat to church growth. Selfishness is a huge problem especially since we we are told every day that we the mighty consumer are the center of the entire world. think about some of the slogans that we here and live by...”express your self, your worth it, have it your way, “There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else, there’s MasterCard.” Just do it, everywhere you want to be. We are told that the wold revolves around us, and if I want it I should have it, If I want to do it then I should do it. But Jesus and the Bible tell us of another way, they show us another way and that is the way of selflessness.

Another way of putting would be we need to be humble 1 Pet. 5:5-6

1 Peter 5:5–6 NASB95

You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,

How can we first we need to...

REMEMBER WHAT WE HAVE IN CHRIST

Do find encouragement in Christ - the word means to draw along side - does Christ draw along side us and help us? Does your life in Christ give you strength? The answer is an overwhelming yes. Of course he does then should’t we?

Do you find consolation/comfort in Christ - does his love comfort you and warm you where you need to be filled?

Do you have fellowship in Christ - thru the Holy Spirit. You are children of God we can cry out abba father.

Do you have any affection & compassion in Christ - do you know the love of Christ, it was demonstrated and felt at the cross. Colossians 3:12 “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;”

Then do those things for others live out in your own life what Christ has done for you and you will not be selfish but self less.

MAKE PAUL’S JOY COMPLETE (OVERFLOWING) HOW?

thinking the same thing

one in soul

thinking one thing

one heart or mind/life

note the correlation between what we have in Christ and Paul is asking us to do. This is what Jesus prayed for John 17:21 “that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:23 “I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.”

there is power in unity Ecclesiastes 4:12 “And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”

LIVE TO PUT OTHERS ABOVE YOURSELF

empty conceit - empty glory - look foolish and end up empty

humility doesn’t mean seeing yourself as useless or of no value. It’s not thinking badly of yourself. it s being so concerned about others that you give little thought to yourself. Opposite of what the world tells us. Think of it this way hold others above - love your neighbor better than yourself.

only the lowly minded can like minded.

why should I? they’re not better educated than me, more talented than me, more skilled than me, stronger than me, better looking than me, or more godly than me…so why should I do this?

others are not better than you but you should regard them as better than you more important than you. Put them in line first ahead of you.

can you imagine what this church would look like if we were all selfless and so concerned about others that we thought little about ourselves. Imagine what it would be like. Imagine the unity and fellowship we would have. Imagine the lack of arguments and fights, the lack of division.