Putting To Death The American Dream

Text: Philippians 2:1-14

Introduction:

While in Haiti, I experienced a revival. But, that revival came only after I experienced complete brokenness. God stripped away all of my cultural assumptions that colored my version of Christianity and brought me back to the basics of His word. Being in another context afforded me the opportunity to examine God’s word without my cultural assumptions, and it revealed many of the American ideals that I bring to the scripture.

I. The American Dream is not God’s dream.

A. The ideals of the American dream are fundamentally opposed to those of God.

1. James Truslow Adams coined the phrase “American Dream” in 1931

2. American Dream—“a dream…in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are.”

3. The basic assumptions of the American Dream:

a. We can do anything we wish, as long as we work hard.

b. Our greatest asset is ourselves.

c. The goal—to make a name for ourselves and be recognized.

B. What is God’s dream for us as his children?

1. While the American dream says that we can do anything through our own determination, God says:

a. Phil 4:13—“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

2. While the American Dream says that our greatest asset is ourselves, God says:

a. II Cor 12:7-10—“…my strength is made perfect in weakness…”

b. John 15:4-5—“…for without me, you can do nothing…”

3. While the goal of the American Dream is to make much of us, the goal of the gospel is to make much of God.

a. John 3:30—“He must become greater; I must become less.”

b. As long as we’re busy making a name for ourselves, we can never experience the revival that comes by making a name for God.

c. We must realize that this world does not revolve around us!

II. The mind of Christ is one of humility.

A. Why revival isn’t possible in our version of Christianity:

1. The American Dream is the single biggest cause of apathy in the American church today.

a. If we think that our accomplishments are simply a result of our own determination, then God’s power can’t be manifested in our lives.

b. If we are too busy glorifying ourselves, God cannot be glorified.

2. Philippians 2:6-8a Christ humbled himself as a servant.

B. We have unknowingly applied the American Dream in the context of our churches.

1. Many churches approach church growth as merely the result of hard work, resources, and nice programs.

2. Programs, performances, and resources aren’t what cause revival

3. Large churches with lots of resources often fail to realize that God must be the source of growth, and small churches often assume that because of their lack of resources, that growth is not possible.

4. God adds the people to our church, not us.

5. God can only add people and cause growth when his people are spirit-filled, and you can only be spirit-filled if you are emptied of yourself.

C. God has always chosen to do his biggest works through unlikely methods.

1. Battle of Jericho

2. Judges 7:1-7—Gideon vs. the Midianites

3. Twelve misfits (aka—twelve disciples)

4. Before God can work, his people must realize that God is the source of revival, and that we cannot accomplish it ourselves.

III. The “mind of Christ” is one of obedience to the Father.

A. Obedience is fundamentally intertwined with your understanding of your own salvation.

1. What is the commonly held view about the purpose of salvation? “God loved me so much, that he sacrificed his son.” “God loved me.” Salvation’s object/purpose is me.

2. Salvation is not just about Heaven and Hell.

a. Why did God create humans? For His glory.

b. Why did God send His Son? For His glory.

c. Why were we saved? For His glory—NOT just to escape Hell.

d. Yes, the cross was a demonstration of God’s love for us. But, it was more.

3. To state John 3:16 as the sole reason for our salvation is to give an incomplete gospel.

a. Ephesians 2:1-9—Part of the reason for our salvation is simply because God loved us.

b. Ephesians 2:10—“…created in Christ Jesus for good works…”

c. Matthew 5:16—“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

d. The second part of our salvation, however, is to bring glory to God and take the gospel to the nations.

B. We are saved to live a new life of obedience to God.

1. A soldier does not enlist in the military just for the perks.

2. A soldier enlists to serve his country.

3. Can a soldier rightfully call himself a soldier if he is unwilling to take his weapon and follow his commander into battle?!?!

4. We are to have the “mind of Christ”—humbled and obedient, “even to the death of the cross”

5. We have accepted the perks, but not the obligations of Christianity:

a. Matthew 11:28—“Come to me…and I will give you rest…”

b. Matthew 28—“Go take the gospel to the ends of the Earth…”

c. John 10:10—“I come that they may have life…abundantly…”

d. Luke 14:33—“Unless you sell all your possessions, you cannot be my disciple…”

6. Matthew 7:16-23—“Not everyone that says Lord, Lord…”

a. Jesus isn’t talking to atheist or pagans

b. Jesus is talking about those who outwardly appear to be saved, but inwardly never acknowledged him as Lord.

c. Salvation is not by works, but salvation should instill a new heart with new desires—God’s desires.

C. An “attitude of gratitude”

1. Our entire concept of revival is self-defeating.

a. What is the purpose of revival?

b. For me to get revived.

c. Me. I am the object of revival.

2. When we approach our salvation with a “Look what Christ did for me” attitude, and the throne of God with a “what can God do for me” attitude, and church with a “what can this church do for me” attitude, and revival with a “what can this revival do for me” attitude—when it’s all about “me”—there can be no revival.

3. When you start living your life confessing Christ as LORD, God is glorified.

4. When you relinquish your life in servitude and obedience, then God can take control and you will experience true revival.

Conclusion:

Revival comes when God’s people strive to have the mind of Christ. That attitude—one of humility and obedience—is fundamentally opposed to our cultural norms, but it is the attitude we must accept if we are to be used by God. As Christians, we must put our dreams—our American Dreams—to death and humbly submit ourselves in obedience as a living sacrifice to God.

II Corinthians 12:7-10: And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

John 15:4-5: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

*Many of the ideas in this sermon are drawn from Radical, by David Platt.