The Upside Down Kingdom

The Upside Down Kingdom

May 29, 2011 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: Pride has no place in the heart of a born-again child of God. If it is filled with the Holy Spirit, there’d be NO ROOM for pride!

Focus Passage: Mark 9:33-37

Supplemental Passage: And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? (Luke 9:23-25 NASB)

Introduction: Wakefield tells the story of the famous inventor Samuel Morse who was once asked if he ever encountered situations where he didn’t know what to do. Morse responded, "More than once, and whenever I could not see my way clearly, I knelt down and prayed to God for light and understanding."

Morse received many honors from his invention of the telegraph but felt undeserving: "I have made a valuable application of electricity not because I was superior to other men but solely because God, who meant it for mankind, must reveal it to someone and He was pleased to reveal it to me." Tim Hansel, Eating Problems for Breakfast, Word Publishing, 1988, pp. 33-34.

Psalm 84:10 says, “... I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Psalms 84:10 ESV) Or put in today’s words, “It’s better to be a doorman in Heaven than a manager or master in Hell.” Our world looks at power, status, and money as marks of success. They are exactly upside down from the things that God values as marks of success; servanthood, humility, and love.

THE UPSIDE DOWN KINGDOM:

I. Last of All

a. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-8 NASB)

b. Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished. (Proverbs 16:5 NASB)

c. "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. (Matthew 23:12 NASB)

d. … 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, (1 Peter 5:5-6 NASB)

II. Servant of All

a. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4 NASB)

b. "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." (James 4:6 NASB)

c. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (1 Peter 4:10 NASB)

III. Lover of All

a. For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." (Galatians 5:13-14 NASB)

b. "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35 NASB)

Invitation: Confess and repent of the pride in your heart! Submit to God! Submit to one another! If you have offended someone, go to them RIGHT NOW and make it right. Come and confess! Cut the pride out of your heart, your mind, and your life! Humble yourself before God and let HIM lift you up when it is time.

For some of you, you have never humbled yourself before God and confessed that you don’t meet His expectations. Today is the day of Salvation! Do Not Delay!

The Difference Between PROUD and BROKEN People

by Nancy Demoss of Life Action Ministries

Proud, Unbroken People

(1). Focus on the failure of others

(2). Are self righteous; have a critical, fault finding spirit; look at own life/faults with a telescope but others with a microscope

(3). Look down, in a condescending spirit, at others

(4). Are independent; have desires for everyone else to meet own personal needs