What Is The Center Of Your Universe

Intro: Something about Copernicus and goals.

Aristotle and Ptolemy among others (including the RCC) adhered to the Earth centered model of our galaxy

However when someone gets comfortable there is always called in (it seems) an agent of change.

Along comes Copernicus he was not willing to accept the status quo. He studied many ancient Greek documents that argued for a heliocentric or sun centered galaxy. At the time of His death he published his work arguing for a sun centered Galaxy.

Aristotle and Ptolemy and others like them saw the Universe as centered around man.

But Copernicus saw it centered around the sun.

Today from Paul’s writing we will see that the universe should truly be Son centered.

2 Cor 5.9 (Niv)

“So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.”

Background. (Eternal and Temporal) Earthly body, Glorified Body, Judgment seat of Christ.

I believe there are three types of people with three very different types of Goals for life.

I. People that seek to please them self.

A) Focus on the physical brings pleasure for a season.

1) Ecclesiates – 2.1-11

a) Solomon tried everything under the sun.

b) 2.4-6 Mansion w/ swimming pools, gardens, parks

c) 2.7 Slaves to do his work.

d) 2.8 Money, entertainment, sex

e) 2.9 Wise beyond his years

f) 2.10 He says I did it all

g) He considered all that stuff vanity, 12.8 same vanity—

12.7 When your dead ashes to ashes dust to dust. Spirit belongs to God

-- 12.13-14 Read.

2) Drugs, alcohol, food.

a)

2) Peter – Matt 16.16 peter has done if finally Jesus says God has (Spiritual high) be careful about the fleshly fall.

3) Matt 16.21-23 Jesus foretells His shown you this. purpose to suffer and be killed and rise on the third day.

-- Peter God forbid it Lord!

-- Jesus says Get behind me Satan!

a) Get behind me self exalting, self pleasing, prideful person

b) Jesus’ words 16.23 – you are not setting you mind on God’s interests.

c) Jesus then talks about denying oneself.

4) Self-pleasing is the ultimate rejection of God.

You set you mind on your interests rejecting the interests or will of God.

B) Focusing on others

1) Romans 15.1-3

2) 15.2 Pleasing others

a) To accommodate on self to the desires and interests of others, or to be agreeable.

b) Paul here has the idea of loving God with all you heart and loving you neighbor as youself.

c) Those trying to please themselves will stand condemned as Satan does.

3) Focusing on others takes you from self to service.

Seeking to please ourselves is not a goal to strive for. Every time we think we have come to the finish line, or are about to cross the goal line.

The tape is moved back, or the goal line is repainted 100 yards further down the field.

We are to seek to build others up through love but we are not to make our goal in life to be people pleasers.

II. People that seek to please others.

A) A form of Idol worship

1) Why idol worship?

2) These folks usually try to please people that only seek to please themselves.

B) Exodus 20.3 “You shall have no other god’s before Me.”

1) Our God is a jealous God.

2) His Jealousy comes from us giving His love, and His devotion to other things or people.

C) Finding Fulfillment in pleasing people will leave you empty.

1) Col 1.16 Everything Finds its purpose in pleasing the Lord.

The praise of people can never compare to the presence of an Almighty, Loving, compassionate God, in whom we know He is well pleased by our service.

III. People that seek to please God.

Faith linked with Salvation, works with reward.

A) Motives for pleasing God

Paul’s ambition or Goal was to please God. Why? He was in it for people as well as rewards.

God has already richly rewarded us who believe and accept his truth in the form of His Son.

--- But He also promises rewards for faithful service.

1) A life based on self

a) Proverbs 11.28

“He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.” Nasb

“A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.”

b) Jeremiah 17.7-8

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is in the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes But its leave will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.