You Wanna Piece of Me?

You Wanna Piece o’Me? That’s Right, I’m Talking to You, the Person Reading this Title.

So What’s Up?

Yes or No?

You Gonna Decide, Son? Or Just Stand There Silent?

Humility is a confusing subject.

Most people think it means to hate yourself, or to think terrible things about yourself.

A lot of people think it means just saying “it wasn’t me, it was God.”

How do we live in a world where we are required to take actions and some of them be successful, but that the same time, not be prideful about our accomplishments, talents, looks, or successes?

Humility requires both a corrected mentality and actions.

You can’t just do prideful things and *say* “it wasn’t me it was God” and that count as humility.

You can’t just do prideful things and *say* “it wasn’t me it was God” and that count as humility while you take credit for everything and never give God glory or thanks for the things in your life.

The balance problem:

When the devil tempts us with pride, how do we overcome that when we legitimately have awesome things we’ve done? or awesome things about us?

When the devil crushes us with condemnation that we’re worthless, how do we combat that?

What does it mean to be “good”?

drug addicts CONSTANTLY say, “I’m a good person.”

Pretty much anyone anywhere, if you ask them, “are you a good person?” will say, “Yes.”

Bad News & Good News

Bad News:

Romans 7:18 NKJV

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.

in me nothing good dwells

Revelation 3:15–18 NKJV

15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

Romans 3:9–18 NKJV

9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. 10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” 13 “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; 14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 And the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

wretched miserable poor blind & naked

No matter what else is happening, remember this!

You can bee “good” even GREAT in the world’s eyes, and if that’s all you care about, you’re right! You don’t need God, & you are good.

Romans 3

However, if you love God, if you care about His kingdom, if you want your life to actual “count,” then you must understand, you ARE NOT GOOD! We’re ALL wretched. We’re all miserable, poor blind & naked!

We have to balance what is good in man’s eyes, with what GOD considers good.

Why do people get so angry if you call something a sin? Who cares if they don’t follow God? Because everybody knows what God thinks of us matters. Deep down, EVERYONE knows that at the end of the day, even if they entire world thinks you’re great, if God doesn’t approve, you’re nothing.

Good News:

James 1:16–17 NKJV

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Ephesians 4:22–24 NKJV

22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Romans 5:17 NKJV

17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

Colossians 1:26–27 NKJV

26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

new man that is created according to God in TRUE righteousness & holiness

THERE IS NOTHING GOOD EXCEPT HIM!

Christ COMPLETELY understood the problem. COMPLETELY!

He knew something. HE is good. If we were to be good, there was NO OTHER WAY!

THERE IS NO OTHER SOURCE OF GOOD, Except Christ.

Christ is looking at you right now and saying, “You wanna piece of me?”

“You want some actual goodness in you?” “You want a piece of my righteousness, my mentality, my power in you?”

He offers us a piece of Himself, because that is the ONLY way we could EVER have anything about us at all that could be called “Good.”

You ARE good. You ARE righteous. You ARE pleasing to God. because of CHRIST IN YOU! THAT’S IT! THAT’S IT! NO OTHER REASON!

The Balance:

When the devil knocks on your door trying to pump you up with pride, remember you’re wretched.

When the devil knocks on your door trying to condemn you and tell you your worthless, remember the goodness & righteousness of Christ dwells in you now!!!

drug addicts CONSTANTLY say, “I’m a good person.”

One thing always accompanies humility: gratitude.

Pretty much anyone anywhere, if you ask them, “are you a good person?” will say, “Yes.”

Humility carries its own vocabulary.

"Blessed.” "Thankful.” “God willing.” “Sadly.”

Ephesians 5:18–21 NKJV

18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Philippians 2:2–4 NKJV

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.

Always recognize, without Christ’s goodness in you, you’re the person in romans 3. But you DO have Christ’s goodness in you!