No Comparison Series

08/26/07

“NO COMPARISON” GAL 6: 3-6

INTRODUCTION:

EMPERORS NEW CLOTHES:

WELL KNOW SELF CENTERED, ADVANTAGE TAKEN BY DECEIVERS

CLOTH SO SPECIAL / BEAUTIFUL ONLY HIGHLY INTELLIGENT, MORALLY IMPECCABLE CAN SEE

SIMILAR TENDENCIES BY MOST

OTHERS SAID THEY COULD SEE IT, KING PARADES IN NEW ATTIRE

BUBBLE BURST BY HONEST CHILD

EMPEROR IS NAKED!

SOMETIMES WE NEED TO HEAR "EMEROR IS NAKED!"

I. SELF DECEPTION

CONTINUATION OF THOUGHT FROM V1-2

WATCH YOURSELF

DO NOT THINK TOO HIGHLY OF YOURSELF

THINKING YOU ARE SOMETHING WHEN NOT

CHILD STARS BRITTNEY. LINDSEY L, PARIS H., MICHAEL J, ETC

SURROUNDED BY "YES" PEOPLE, NO NATHAN TO REBUKE THEM

BELIEVE THEIR OWN PRESS

CRASHES WHEN THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER SITUATION

IN CHRISTIANS:

YOU MAY HELP SOMEONE

BUT YOU ARE GODS TOOL, YOU HAVE NO POWER OF YOUR OWN

BEGIN TO FEEL SUPERIOR/ INVINCIBLE

LIKE IT WAS YOUR POWER, YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

FEEL NO NEED FOR HELP / SELF SUFFICIENT

OUR SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS A HOUSE OF CARDS

WALL/HOUSE OF CARDS VS. SEMI TRUCK

SET UP FOR DISASTER

Phil 2: 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves

SEE YOURSELF AS SERVANT TO OTHERS

FIRST WILL BE LAST, LAST WILL BE FIRST

SERVANT’S HEART KEEPS US USEABLE

II. TEST YOUR OWN ACTIONS WITHOUT COMPARISON

SCENARIO FROM LAST WEEK’S MESSAGE OF RESTORATION (SEE HE’S NOT HEAVY, HE’S MY BROTHER), APPROACH BY OTHER NOT IDEAL

2Cor 1:12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace.

TESTIMONY OF CONSCIENCE

H.S. / CONSCIENCE = TEAM

MEASURED AGAINST SCRIPTURE

BIBLE IS THE STANDARD, JESUS THE IDEAL

NEVER MEASURED AGAINST SOMEONE ELSE

COMPARISON DANGEROUS

SOMEONE ALWAYS BETTER

ME / JEFF (EXCELLENT SPEAKER/PREACHER, MORE EXPERIENCE)

DIFFERENT, NOT BETTER

GODS PLAN DIFF. FOR EACH

III. CARRY YOUR OWN LOAD

Ro 12:3 ...Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

LEADING UP TO SPIR. GIFTS LIST

ONLY YOU CAN BE YOU

GOD ONLY MADE ONE YOU

YOUR SPIR. GIFTS, HEART, ABILITIES, PERSONALITY EXPERIENCES

GOD HAS SPECIFIC PLAN FOR YOU TAKES INTO ACCOUNT EVERYTHING

GOD HAS WORK FOR YOU TO DO

SPECIFIC PEOPLE

SPECIFIC AREAS / TIMES

WORK, FRIENDS,FAMILY,CHURCH

ONLY YOU CAN BE

WHO GOD MADE YOU TO BE

GOD WILL PLACE YOU

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT

ON HIS DIRECTION

IV. SHARE W/ INSTRUCTOR

NOT 1 WAY STREET

BLESS THE BLESSOR

NOT ONLY ON 1 SIDE OF EQUATION

BLESS THOSE WHO BLESS YOU

INCLUDES PASTORS/TEACHERS

PROFESSION

IDEA OF PAID MINISTERS

NOT JUST MONEY - OTHER BLESSINGS

ALSO ANY WHO MENTOR / ADVISE

RETURN THE FAVOR

THEIR TURN WILL COME

YOU SHOULD BE 1RST IN LINE

GIFTS

MATERIAL STUFF, GARDEN PRODUCE, ITEMS NO LONGER USED

TIME, FELLOWSHIP/ FRIENDSHIP, LISTENING, LABOR

HELP W / CHORES, MOWING, COOKING, ETC

NOT JUST WHEN SICK, BECAUSE WE LOVE

CONCLUSION:

EXAMINE: SELF DECEPTION WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO DIFFERENTLY?

BUSINESS OWNERS, SELF EMPLOYED

UNETHICAL PRACTICES

EVERYONE DOES IT

ONLY WAY TO SUCCEED

CASH TO AVOID TAX

OTHER TAX LOOPHOLES

OMITTING THINGS

ARE YOU TELLING GOD HIS PRINCIPLES OF HONESTY AND FAIRNESS DO NOT APPLY TO THAT AREA OF YOUR LIFE?

FAMILY, RELATIONSHIPS

PROVIDING FOR FAMILY

HAVE TO COMPROMISE TO GET AHEAD

THESE ARE SATANS WHISPERS

BIGGEST SELF DECEPTION OF ALL

I CAN LIVE LIFE WITHOUT JESUS

MAKE MYSELF HAPPY

WORK, HOBBIES, OTHER PEOPLE

YOU WERE MADE TO LOVE HIM

A HOLE NOTHING ELSE CAN FILL

YOU NEED JESUS FOR REAL LIFE

PRAY