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
