The Miracle of Selflessness (sermon notes)

The Miracle of Selflessness

My life as a born again believer in Jesus Christ has been anything but a continuous climb upwards. Like those who have gone before me, there have been tremendous highs and catastrophic lows. There have been times of great spiritual success and times that I wished I could turn my back on the faith because of discouragement and not being able to “get it”. I have learned many lessons along the journey, most of them the hard way.

However, there is one primary lesson that I have learned and that is the absolute necessity of being able to rid myself, as much as possible, of self seeking, self centeredness, and self pity. My buddy Mark loves to take Goody Powders when he feels physical pain in his body, what I have learned and hope to communicate tonight, is like the Goody Powder for the heart and mind of the Christian. It just works! It brings instant relief and it eradicates pain. The pain relief I am speaking of, I will call “the miracle of selflessness.”

I grew up rather spoiled. I was adopted as a kid and afforded all that a young man would desire. I had a great family growing up but being in private school for 12 years and being a part of a family that provided the way mine did, led me to having a spoiled brat mentality. As I was learning to deal with the adoption as a young boy I went through childhood sexual abuse and later into drug addiction. All of these situations in my life greatly contributed to a preoccupation with self that would almost kill me in my late twenties and early thirties.

This narcissistic way of life ranged from a selfish need to always try to fit in, to a self loathing and self pity, to the extreme selfishness of addiction. Though I grew up in the church and have been in the church my entire life, there was no real conversion in my heart until 1999 and when that happened, all of the self-related preoccupations came with me. It has taken the better part of the last 10 years to come to grips with the Goody Powder of faith that is the relinquishing of self.

Am I totally there? No, not even close. But I have experienced enough of the freedom that comes from the desire to make the choices to follow Jesus instead of my own selfishness. Jesus tells us in John chapter 8, verses 32 and 36 that “ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” and that “if the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” - so why such a lack of freedom in the life of the believer and in the church today? Because many times we profess our faith and trust in Him as Savior but sometimes we do not submit on a DAILY basis to Him as Lord!

In Luke 9:23 Jesus tells us that “any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow [Him].” The freedom comes in the absence of self.

THERE ARE 3 POINTS THAT I WANT TO MAKE CONCERNING ALL OF THIS:

…. TO ISAIAH CHAPTER 58 AND LETS LOOK AT WHAT THE LORD TELLS THE NATION OF ISRAEL:

· Freedom for the Believer (Is 58: 1-11)

1. Heart inclined to selfishness and self-centeredness.

2. Many times we may tend to practice spiritual discipline w/ selfish motives.

3. God’s “fast” is others-centered and focused on the oppressed and less fortunate.

4. God promises freedom to His people when they meet the needs of others.

…. TO PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER 2 AND SEE WHAT PAUL SAYS TO THE CHURCH AT PHILIPPI:

· Grace for the Brethren (Php. 2: 1-4)

1. Selflessness brings a fellowship that is in the Spirit of grace.

2. Leaders experience joy when followers are united and like-minded.

3. Selfish gain or vain glory prevents us from granted or receiving grace.

4. Because of grace, we are to always esteem or consider others greater than ourselves.

· Unity for the Body (Ps. 133:1, Eccl. 4:8-12)

1. God has designed the church to function as on Body, in unity.

2. Unity is like precious oil that brings an anointing and blessing.

3. Unity brings strength, safety in numbers and protection for the Body.

4. Unity in the Body unites us with Christ as our head.