The Idol Of Narcissism - Part 2

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ that we know that in the beginning was the word the word was with God and the Word was God. We know from the book of Colossians. All things were created by him and for him in all things hold together.

I am we know all this we know we said.

He stooped down and he took on the form demand, not just the man, a bondservant is this going to be a servant, being found in the appearance of a man notice, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even a debtor.

God becomes an man becomes a monster bondservant goes bondservant joining us today on this additional fellowship of the word pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana Pastor Bill Gebhardt now is once again he shows us how God's word meets our world.

He said if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself when anyone thinks he is something, when in fact he is nothing, he deceives himself point for the believer in Jesus Christ. Who were we to think were something.

Who are we to think that I'm something means clear in the word of God. We only saved by the grace of God in what you added to your salvation. Nothing in who did all the work he did all you did was appropriated by faith.

Even Paul said, you know I am I am I by the grace of God know anything good in me comes from the grace of God, so home I who am I to think this way have this empty glory about myself. He also says with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves. Humility of mind. That's one of the most unusual words I've ever find in the New Testament, it is High.

No flow. Soon a day how rare it is. It's not does not show up in coordinator classical Greek anywhere. It's a word Paul made up. It's a New Testament word.

It's a word never used humility of mind. Paul says, humility in your mind and think about it. The reason it originated in the New Testament not agriculture Greeks didn't think much of humility it and like it, and they certainly didn't like about the way you think they were proud for the way they thought they got. That's a good quality and so Paul says with humility of mind, doing nothing from selfishness or empty conceit. He says not let me see how this is all that by itself out. He said this way.

He said regard one another as more important than yourselves. So simple.

Do not merely look out for your own in personal interest you're looking for the interest of others is not natural that France and not the way we were raised.

I mean it has been for certain generations, when no one had the pitching for other generations not so much. I mean, that's the problem when you spoil generation you run a very good risk of having a whole generation of narcissist. That's the way they think about it.

Chuck Lind also sometimes God just helps you, he said, and I love as he wrote this about is only said it can become a way of life is is what Chuck Swindoll one of my favorite pastors in the world what he says. He said I have found that just having a large family safe for five kids is enough to teach us how selfishness vows up the works. He said I recall and soothing.

I began to have children. He said I thought two would be perfect. Alpha and Omega pay said ideal, and then along the third game. Not too many years later. The fourth game is not you need understand what kind of guy am I like my shoes spit shined rather than stepped on and scuffed up.

I like my close hanging in the closet in an orderly and neat manner rather than drooled on a wrinkled up.

He said I really like my milk in a glass on the table not on the floor is. I especially liked my clean car with no fingerprints on the windows and no leftover school assignment spread across the floorboards.

So what does God do to help broaden my horizons and assist me in seeing how selfish I really am is a very simple, he gives me for busy kids.

He said who step on my shoes and went on my close they spilled milk on me.

They lick my car windows in a drop sticky candy on the carpet. He says you haven't lived until you've walked barefoot across the floor in the middle the night and stepped on a full force on it.

Jack and he says are a couple of those little Lego landmines a put out is and I'll tell you. You learn real quick about your level of selfishness. He said you see this is not some kind of a deep casserole or theological subject were thinking about being unselfish is an attitude that strikes at the very core of our being.

It means that we are willing to forgo our own comfort our own preferences our own schedule and our own desires for someone else's benefit. I love that forgo our own comfort own preferences on schedule for another's benefit. I can tell you how often even in the context of the church people are always saying or I'm not comfortable with people. The computer room like this are in a Bible study. In this am uncomfortable and like the way the thermostat set. I'm uncomfortable that people get up and change the thermostat because I'm not comfortable the rest of you, and I'm really care that much. I'm not comfortable with people to say all the time. To us I'm not comfortable in the toddler room. I'm not comfortable in the nurse, comfortable with babies.

That's a good thing. I'm glad you're not comfortable because in fact you're not comfortable. This gives you a phenomenal opportunity to be unselfish. You see, this gives you an amazing opportunity because you know some people very comfortable like that. But you say I'm uncomfortable good because that's the whole idea being unselfish and attitude stretch of the very core of our being. It means we are willing to forgo our comfort, our preferences, our own schedule and our desires for the benefit of someone else and people like in those rooms in the nursery on the time around somebody's got to be in their is a wound care as long as somebody else is he always uses Seo easy it is to be selfish in your home with your family in your marriage at work. It's easy I mean were just like ducks the water when it comes to being selfish. It's easy for us to be selfish see how I do this while maybe need to see yourself for what you really are and I was thinking of the apostle Paul here. He's writing this, Paul said about himself may not understand how I venerate Paul.

The greatest theological minds in Jesus Christ. I would say there's been no greater believer whose walk the planet Earth. Since Jesus Christ and a possible here's what Paul says about himself. I am the least of the apostles and I'm not fit to be called an apostle, he said I am the very least of all the saints. I would include you and me.

That's Paul's assessment, Paul. I'm the very least of them all.

He said I am the foremost or the chief of sinners. That's how Paul saw himself not really seem that way but that's all he saw himself. I want you to understand something.

Paul knows something. Paul said I made the transition. I've been worshiping at the idol of me I have been selfish.

I have been a narcissist.

I have been impressed with myself, but I got over it. Notice if you look at chapter 3 verse four. Notice what Paul says Paul says, although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. He said if anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh I for more no notice what he saints will clear. If you think your impressive I'm a lot more oppressive than you are in the flesh. That's what you say anything say a little more. He said far more will why is he so impressive in the flesh, he says, look, I was circumcised on the eighth day and you have to understand what that means is an arm of the nation Israel is one thing on the chosen people in Jewish you see him a direct lineage to Abraham's and oh by the way I might just Jewish. I'm of the tribe of Benjamin.

Benjamin yeah I mean we know Joseph and Benjamin were the only two sons that Rachel gave Israel and noticed something else about Benjamin.

They had one model first in war. Whenever there was a war, Israel was involved in the tribe of Benjamin led the way. He said that tribe well. He said I was a Hebrew of Hebrews. In other words, if you want to look what humor was like you said I was more Hebrew than Hebrews is that not just try to Benjamin but in the tribe of Benjamin exit will lose the most.

Benjamin Mike guy in the whole tribe of Benjamin Paul Salters's monopoly that he said as the law was a Pharisee.

I wasn't just a hero. I was a Pharisee. In fact even goes on and says I one time I was the Pharisee of Pharisees. There was no buddy of a Mormon Pharisee than me and I told you before, don't read your prejudice back into the New Testament about Pharisees. I say it all the time but I mean it if you were a parent of a Jewish girl, you would pray that they would marry Pharisee. They were the most respected people when their culture incredibly religious people and Paul says as to the law Pharisee as this. Eli was a persecutor of the church as the righteousness would you find the law blameless in that amazing if you took the long road up and said how many of the violations of using solve Tarsus do. Everyone knows them say none is blameless follows the law perfectly now watch but whatever things were gain to me those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. He said more than that icon all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, from whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and I count them all but rubbish that I may gain Christ.

He said once I found Christ. He said you have to understand something.

My family didn't speak to me anymore.

All the business ties I had deserted me and you know what I don't care.

Everything I ever achieved in my flesh I count but rubbish and rubbish is a very kind word said how that happened. See Paul said look I I could've been the narcissist of narcissist because I've done some stuff I am somebody, but I counted all but rubbish he made to translate notice he made the transition he made it to this idea of writing back here to us in chapter 2, he said I've done nothing. This was selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mine. I regard every one of you is more important than me.

In fact, even in this letter, Paul says, look, let me be candid with you if if it were up to me. I'm in prison right now. I'll take what I like to pray for. For me, I would hope that they will execute me.

He said he said if it were my choice. I would like to die right now because I want to be with the Lord face-to-face. That's what he said that's how much I I couldn't wait to be with them. I like to be the right now and then he says this because you because of you I stay if he wants me to stay I'll stay for your sake. Notice that wasn't Paul's preference. You see, that wasn't his preference. His preference was I better go now but I'll stay because you may need me, and he does day and he does go eventually, but he doesn't go here you see that rejecting the idol of me may be the most Christlike thing you ever do in your life as you finally get the right person on the throne of your life and the one person off now notice.

He then expands the idea, he said, look, have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus in verse five pulses I didn't invent this. This is in me is that this is Jesus Christ Cilento Jesus Christ God. He said have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he existed in the form of God, the more Faye the exact representation of although he was God. In other words, he did not regard equality with a God to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking on the form of a bondservant, and be in made in the likeness of men.

You see, whenever you think that mine wanted one of my comfort zone. That's not my preference.

I don't really want to stoop down that low.

He says look, no matter how what it is. Someone ask you to do, no matter who it is.

Someone ask you to relay to you are never going to stoop as low as the son of God stoop when he became one of us.

You will never stoop that low.

You see, he is God. In fact, we know that in the beginning was the word word was with God and the Word was God. We know from the book of Colossians at all things were created by him and for him in all things hold together by him. We know all this we know who is a city stoop down and he took on the form of a man, but not just the man, a bondservant is this going to be a servant, being found in the appearance of a man notice, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. God becomes a man.

The man becomes a bondservant, the bondservant goes the cross bondservant dies.

That's what happens. CS Lewis I love his view of this great passage of emptying himself the can… CS Lewis says the imagery in his head. Is this you have this great God. He says when he comes to earth.

You can't see him because he's underneath humanity. So far that's why was born in a manger.

That's wise in Bethlehem any cities under this whole power following humanity and he said and what is about 30 years old. He begins the stand up. He said humanity is there. He said he starts standing up and he said when he stands up.

He is almost fully stood all of humanity is on the shoulders and he goes the cross for that humanity lifts all of us up and he said, and then when he was raising the dead on that Easter morning that very first Easter morning. He said he said notice exactly what he writes are therefore also God highly exalted him, he setting to stoop so low we got unders we couldn't see them for a long time, but when he did what he did he lift all of us up on his shoulders. That's an amazing statement. Therefore also God highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name you see that's what God thinks of humility. You see, that's what God thinks of humility. Narcissistic people don't see it that way, we often don't. It's only about me while I want to be humble want to be self-promoting. God says look I really think a lot of humility. Moses wrote in numbers that Moses was the most humble man on the face of the earth. Now that would be a proper statement. If you want inspired by the Holy Spirit to write it. He said I was a homeless man on the face of the earth. Solomon wrote that to the humble. God gives wisdom in Jesus Christ say, Blessed be the meek, Blessed be the lowly. Then Jesus Christ in Matthew chapter 11. Didn't he say I am humble and gentle in spirit. Humility is part of who Jesus Christ is and should be part of who we are, after all, what we done. You see how impressive barley. Have you ever really got a good looking you see that's what Paul was trying to say here in this amazing thing. Paul Reese wrote a book called the adequate man.

The apostle Paul, and he makes a comment about this very passage he says don't forget Christ. Paul that, in all this wide universe and all the dim reaches of history. There is never been such a demonstration of self-effacing humility is when the son of God in sheer grace descended to this errant planet. Remember that, never, never in a million eons what he done it if he were the kind of DD who looks at only for his own interest and closes his eyes to the interest of others, you must remember my brother and he said that though your union with through your union with him in living, redemptive experience this principle, one passion by which he was moved must become the principal and passion by which you are moved in other words, his passion for the principle of humility should be. My passion should be your passion sees the most Christlike thing we do gotta watch out for the idol of me in such an easy easy idol to bow down to so the next time you want to complain, don't. The next time you want to brag about yourself.

Don't.

The next time you become totally preoccupied with you. Don't. The next time you're tempted in conversation to put somebody else down so you can feel better about yourself. Don't. The next time you're driving and you're tempted to jeopardize the safety of everyone around you so you can text don't. The next time you're tempted to look in the mirror and walk away pretty impressed with yourself about this. How about looking into your soul.

See yourself for what you really are.

You see, I think for some of us for many of us. It's time to bury the idol of me spray father.

This is such an easy idol that for some of us it's like second nature. It's it's the kind of thing that were not even aware of except in the way we see life in general. It's always about ourselves. It's always about our preferences, our rights are comfort level.

It's always about us. Father what we end up becoming is something very different than Jesus Christ.

Father, I thank you that when he came, he humbled himself and wasn't about him. It was about us.

Father I pray that as Paul said, we have this attitude in ourselves that was in Jesus Christ that was in the apostle Paul that we stop with this card. Total affirmation of only ourselves at the expense of everybody else. Father, I would pray that we become a people, a group with no narcissism under the law. Father, I would pray that your spirit is next week will give each and every one of us opportunities to be unselfish or to be selfish reoriented to others or be totally preoccupied with ourselves and in those opportunities.

May we feel the sting of conviction because we find ourselves being what we shouldn't be at all. Father, I thank you for great examples that you put in my life and I'm sure the lives of these people of people who are impressive on so many levels, but from their own point of view. Walk in the military and contrite before you. Thank you father for the example. Most of the example hormones. Pastor Bill Gebhardt on the radio ministry of fellowship, nor if you ever miss one of our broadcasting or maybe you just like the message one more time. Remember the good a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the fellowship and the word online event website you will find on today's broadcast. So many of our previous audio programs as well have Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible. We ask all of our listeners to prayerfully consider how you might help his radio ministry continuous broadcast on this radio station by supporting a monthly with just a one-time gift support for ministry can be sent to Fellowship in the Word. 4600 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, LA 7006 if you would be interested in hearing today's message in its original format that is is a sermon that Pastor Bill delivered during a Sunday morning service at Fellowship Bible church visit our website FVC Nola.org that SBC and oh LA.O RG at our website you will find hundreds.

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