THERE IS A CRUEL DESPOT THAT
WANTS TO RULE OVER YOUR LIFE AND KEEP YOU IN BONDAGE. HE IS,
BEYOND THE SHADOW OF DOUBT, YOUR WORST ENEMY. AND IF YOU WANT TO
SEE MORE ABOUT HIM, GO LOOK IN THE MIRROR. HIS NAME IS SELF,
KING SELF. HIS THRONE IS THE HUMAN HEART. HIS KINGDOM
CONSISTS OF THREE PEOPLE: I, MYSELF, AND ME. ADRIAN ROGERS
WAS A MOTIVATOR, AN ENCOURAGER AND A LEADER OF THE FAITH, WHO
PRESENTED A CLEAR INVITATION TO FOLLOW JESUS AT EVERY
OPPORTUNITY. HE WAS ALSO PASSIONATE ABOUT PRESENTING
SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION TO EVERYDAY LIFE CIRCUMSTANCE AND
YOU’LL SEE THAT IN TODAY’S MESSAGE. HAVE YOUR BIBLE READY
AND JOIN US FOR THIS STUDY FROM GOD’S WORD. AND IF YOU’RE
ENCOURAGED BY TODAY’S MESSAGE, REMEMBER YOU CAN STREAM THIS
MESSAGE AGAIN AND DOWNLOAD OUTLINES, NOTES, A TRANSCRIPT
AND OTHER RESOURCES TO GO ALONG WITH THIS MESSAGE ALL AT
LWF.ORG. NOW, LET’S JOIN ADRIAN ROGERS. BE FINDING, IF YOU WOULD,
PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER TWO. IF YOU DON’T HAVE A BIBLE, THERE MAY BE
ONE THERE IN THE PEW BEFORE YOU. AND PICK IT UP AND TURN IT TO
PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER TWO. I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY ON THIS
SUBJECT, “THE CRUCIFIXION OF KING SELF.” THERE IS A CRUEL
DESPOT THAT WANTS TO RULE OVER YOUR LIFE AND KEEP YOU IN
BONDAGE. HE IS, BEYOND THE SHADOW OF DOUBT, YOUR WORST
ENEMY. AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE ABOUT HIM, GO LOOK IN THE
MIRROR. HIS NAME IS SELF, KING SELF. HIS THRONE IS THE HUMAN
HEART. HIS KINGDOM CONSISTS OF THREE PEOPLE: I, MYSELF, AND ME.
HE COMES FROM A DYNASTY. IT BEGAN WITH ADAM AND IT CONTINUES
ON DOWN TO THIS PRESENT AGE. SELF WANTS TO RULE IN YOUR
HEART. NOW LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING. WHEN SELF IS ON THE
THRONE, CHRIST IS ON THE CROSS. WHEN CHRIST IS ON THE THRONE,
SELF IS ON THE CROSS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A CRUCIFIXION OF
KING SELF. NOW HIS MAJESTY, KING SELF, WAS BORN A KING. HE CAME
INTO THIS WORLD WANTING TO RULE, WANTING SELF-ATTENTION. HE CRIED
WHEN HE WAS YET A BABY AND WANTED TO BE SERVED. LIKE IT OR
NOT, WE’RE ALL BY NATURE SELF-CENTERED. NOW YOU MAY THINK
THAT YOUR PROBLEM IN LIFE, HA, HA, IS YOUR WEAKNESS. YOUR
PROBLEM IN LIFE IS NOT YOUR WEAKNESS; YOUR PROBLEM IN LIFE
IS THE STRENGTH OF KING SELF, WHO IS RULING OVER YOU IF YOU’VE
NOT YET PUT KING SELF TO DEATH. NOW WITH ALL OF THIS IN MIND,
I’M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT WE NEED A COMPLETE CHANGE OF
THINKING. WHAT WE NEED IS A MIND TRANSPLANT. NOT A BRAIN
TRANSPLANT. THAT’S NOT POSSIBLE, HA, HA, HA, HA, BUT A MIND
TRANSPLANT IS. LET’S LOOK IN PHILIPPIANS CHAPTER TWO, “IF
THERE BE THEREFORE ANY CONSOLATION IN CHRIST, ANY
COMFORT OF LOVE, ANY FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT, IF ANY BOWELS OF
MERCIES, FULFILL YE MY JOY THAT YE MAY BE LIKEMINDED, HAVING THE
SAME LOVE, BEING OF ONE ACCORD, OF ONE MIND.” UNDERSCORE THAT,
“OF ONE MIND,” EVERYBODY HAVING ONE MIND. WOULDN’T THAT BE
UNUSUAL FOR EVERYBODY HERE IN THIS BUILDING TO HAVE ONE MIND?
“LET NOTHING BE DONE THROUGH STRIFE OR VAIN GLORY, BUT IN
LOWLINESS OF MIND,” UNDERSCORE THAT AGAIN, “IN LOWLINESS OF
MIND LET EACH ESTEEM OTHER BETTER THAN THEMSELVES. LOOK NOT
EVERY MAN ON HIS OWN THINGS,” THAT IS, WITH KING SELF RULING,
“BUT EVERY MAN ALSO ON THE THINGS OF OTHERS.” NOW, WATCH
THIS, “LET THIS MIND,” THERE IT IS AGAIN, “LET THIS MIND BE IN
YOU WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS, WHO, BEING IN THE FORM OF
GOD, THOUGHT IT NOT ROBBERY TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD. BUT MADE
HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION, AND TOOK UPON HIM THE FORM OF A
SERVANT AND WAS MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MEN. AND BEING FOUND
IN FASHION AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF AND BECAME OBEDIENT UNTO
DEATH, EVEN THE DEATH OF THE CROSS. WHEREFORE GOD ALSO HATH
HIGHLY EXALTED HIM AND GIVEN HIM A NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY
NAME, THAT, AT, AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, OF
THINGS IN HEAVEN, THINGS IN EARTH, THINGS UNDER THE EARTH,
AND THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS
LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER.” NOW, I’VE SAID IN ORDER
TO DEAL WITH KING SELF, WHAT WE NEED, REALLY, IS A NEW MIND. WE
HAVE TO HAVE THE MIND OF THE LORD JESUS. NOT A NEW BRAIN. IF
YOU DO WHAT I TELL YOU TO DO, AND WHAT GOD’S WORD URGES US TO
DO TODAY, IT’S NOT GONNA INCREASE YOUR IQ, BUT, OH, MY
BROTHER, MY SISTER, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. NOW, WHAT IS
THE MIND OF CHRIST? WHAT IS THE MIND OF CHRIST AS OVER AGAINST
THE MACHINATIONS AND THE, AH, DESPOTIC RULE OF KING SELF? I
WANT TO TELL YOU THREE THINGS ABOUT THE MIND OF CHRIST. I’LL
SPEND MORE TIME ON THE FIRST ONE AND LESS TIME ON THE SECOND TWO,
BUT, FIRST OF ALL, THE MIND OF CHRIST IS A SELFLESS MIND, A
SELFLESS MIND. LOOK AGAIN IN VERSE FOUR, “LOOK NOT EVERY MAN
ON HIS OWN THINGS, BUT EVERY MAN ALSO ON THE THINGS OF OTHERS.”
UNDERSCORE THE WORD OTHERS. “LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU WHICH WAS
ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS, WHO, BEING IN THE FORM OF GOD, THOUGHT IT
NOT ROBBERY TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD. BUT MADE HIMSELF OF NO
REPUTATION, AND TOOK UPON HIM,” LISTEN TO THIS, “THE FORM OF A
SERVANT AND WAS MADE IN THE LIKENESS OF MAN.” NOW, THE
PURPOSE OF LIFE IS THIS: IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU; IT IS ABOUT GOD,
AND GOD WANTS TO USE YOU TO BE A BLESSING. NOW, A
PURPOSE-CENTERED, A PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE IS NOT A
SELF-CENTERED LIFE. MOST OF US, BY NATURE, ARE SELF-CENTERED.
MOST AMERICANS ARE SELF-CENTERED, AND ON TOP OF
THAT, THEY’RE PROUD OF IT. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY VALUE
SELF-CENTEREDNESS. AND, AH, IT’S GOOD TO HAVE A GOOD SELF-IMAGE.
YOU NEED A GOOD SELF-IMAGE, BUT CHURCHES TODAY, AH, ARE NOT
TALKING ABOUT, AH, HAVING A GOOD SELF-IMAGE. MANY CHURCHES TODAY
REALLY ARE TALKING ABOUT SELF-CENTEREDNESS. THEOLOGY HAS
MIGRATED INTO ME-OLOGY. IT’S ALL ABOUT ME. NOW, AGAIN, I WANT TO
SAY THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING A GOOD SELF-IMAGE. AS A
MATTER OF FACT, I HOPE YOU DO HAVE A GOOD SELF-IMAGE. HAVING A
SS, GOOD SELF-IMAGE AND BEING SELF-CENTERED ARE TWO DIFFERENT
THINGS. A WISE MAN HAS SAID, “THERE IS NOTHING SO EMPTY AS A
SELF-CENTERED LIFE, AND THERE’S NOTHING SO FULL AS A LIFE
CENTERED IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.” NOW, MADISON AVENUE AND
THOSE WHO MARKET KNOW THE, THE POWER OF SELF-CENTEREDNESS. “YOU
OWE IT TO YOURSELF.” “YOU DESERVE A BREAK TODAY.” “HAVE IT
YOUR WAY.” NOW, FRIEND, THAT’LL SELL HAMBURGERS. [AUDIENCE
LAUGHTER] THE BOOKSELLERS KNOW IT. YOU GO INTO THE BOOKSTORE
TODAY AND, AND LOOK AT, AH, BOOKS IN THIS GENRE, AND YOU’RE
GOING TO FIND OUT THAT ALL OF THESE BOOKS ARE TALKING ABOUT
SUCCESS, SELF-ESTEEM, REALIZE YOUR POTENTIAL, BE THE BEST, BE
FULFILLED. THE SOCIAL ENGINEERS KNOW IT, AND, EH, THAT’S THE
REASON WE HAVE THE PROBLEM OF ABORTION. THEY SPEAK OF WHAT? A
WOMAN’S RIGHT TO CHOOSE. NOW, THEY DON’T, THEY NEVER FINISH
THE SENTENCE. TO CHOOSE WHAT? TO CHOOSE TO KILL A BABY.
[AUDIENCE: THAT’S RIGHT] NOW PEOPLE SAY, “WELL, WE’RE NOT
GOING TO HAVE THIS BABY.” YOU ALREADY HAVE THIS BABY. YOUR
CHOICE IS WHETHER YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE A DEAD ONE OR A LIVE
ONE. [AUDIENCE: THAT’S RIGHT] HMM. THAT’S HARD, BUT IT’S TRUE.
WHAT, WHAT IS MOST ABORTION TODAY ROOT IN, IN AMERICA? KING
SELF, QUEEN SELF ON THE THRONE. AH, WHY DO WE HAVE THE DIVORCE
EPIDEMIC IN AMERICA TODAY? I’LL TELL YOU WHY. THE NUMBER ONE
REASON IS A MAN, A WOMAN SAYS, “I OWE IT TO MYSELF TO BE
HAPPY.” MAY I SAY, YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO KEEP YOUR HOLY VOWS
BEFORE A RIGHTEOUS AND A HOLY GOD, THAT’S WHAT YOU OWE! YOU
OWE SOMETHING TO YOUR CHILDREN. BUT WE ARE A SELF-CENTERED
SOCIETY. AND EVEN THE CHURCH TODAY IS TRYING TO MAKE GOD IN
MAN’S IMAGE. AND, AS I SAY, CHURCHES HAVE BECOME A
SELF-SERVICE CAFETERIA LINE. NOW, THE PURPOSE OF THE
PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE IS NOT TO FIND OUR FREEDOM, BUT TO FIND
OUR MASTER. AND WHEN WE FIND OUR MASTER, WHEN WE ARE ABANDONED TO
HIM, FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME WE WILL FIND OUR FREEDOM, FOR, “IF
THE SON SHALL MAKE YOU FREE, YOU’LL BE FREE INDEED.” NOW, THE
PASSAGE THAT I READ TO YOU WAS TAKEN FROM THE BOOK OF
PHILIPPIANS THAT WAS WRITTEN TO THE CHURCH AT PHILIPPI, A VERY
WONDERFUL CHURCH, BUT THERE WAS SOME DIVISION IN THE CHURCH. AND
SO, PAUL IS WRITING TO THESE PEOPLE TO BE LIKEMINDED. LOOK IF
YOU WILL IN VERSE TWO, “FULFILL YE MY JOY THAT YE BE LIKEMINDED,
HAVING THE SAME LOVE, BEING OF ONE ACCORD, OF ONE MIND. LET
NOTHING BE DONE THROUGH STRIFE OR VAINGLORY.” NOW, GOD HAVE
MERCY ON US WHEN WE’RE NOT OF ONE MIND. GOD HAVE MERCY UPON US
WHEN A CHURCH IS FILLED WITH STRIFE AND VAINGLORY. WHAT
CAUSES STRIFE IS VAINGLORY. WHAT IS ANOTHER WORD FOR VAINGLORY?
PRIDE. AND PRIDE CAUSES STRIFE, AND STRIFE CAUSES DIVISION, AND
WHAT PAUL WANTED WAS, AH, A UNIFIED CHURCH. NOW, WHAT WAS
THE REASON FOR THE DIVISION? PRIDE, VAINGLORY; KING SELF IS
ON THE THRONE. NOW, WHAT IS THE ANSWER TO THIS? LOOK AT IT
AGAIN, “LET NOTHING BE DONE THROUGH STRIFE OR VAINGLORY,”
VERSE THREE, “BUT IN LOWLINESS OF MIND LET EACH ESTEEM THE
OTHER BETTER THAN THEMSELVES. LOOK NOT EVERY MAN ON HIS OWN
THINGS, BUT EVERY MAN ON THE THINGS OF OTHERS.” NOW LET ME
SAY AGAIN WHEN I’M TALKING ABOUT KING SELF, I’M TALKING ABOUT AN
OLD, SINFUL PRE-DISPOSITION TO SIN AND SELFISHNESS AND PRIDE.
I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT A GOOD SELF-IMAGE. HUMILITY IS NOT
THINKING BAD OF YOURSELF. YOU ARE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN
CHRIST. GOD MADE YOU. GOD LOVED YOU. YOU ARE SOMEBODY IN THE
LORD JESUS CHRIST. NOW, WE’RE TO BE LIKE CHRIST. WAS CHRIST
HUMBLE? INDEED, HE WAS, THE VERY LORD OF GLORY, BUT WAS HE
CLOTHED WITH HUMILITY? HE WAS. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU HAVE A GOOD,
WANT A GOOD TIME OF MEDITATION, TAKE YOUR BIBLE AND TURN TO JOHN
CHAPTER 13 AND READ SLOWLY HOW JESUS IS WASHING HIS DISCIPLES’
FEET. HERE HE IS, THE LORD OF GLORY. THE BIBLE SAYS, “AND
JESUS, KNOWING THAT HE HAD COME FROM GOD, KNOWING THAT HE IS
GOING TO GOD, KNOWING THAT THE FATHER HAD COMMITTED ALL THINGS
INTO HIS HANDS.” IS THAT A GOOD SELF-IMAGE? YOU BETTER BELIEVE
IT. HE’S COME FROM GOD, GOING TO GOD, AND ALL THINGS ARE IN HIS
HANDS. THE BIBLE SAYS, “THEN HE LAID ASIDE HIS GARMENTS, TOOK A
ROBE, GIRDED HIMSELF, AND WASHED HIS DISCIPLES’ FEET. KNOWING
HE’S COME FROM GOD, GOING TO GOD, ALL THINGS ARE IN HIS
HANDS, HE IS WASHING HIS DISCIPLES’ FEET. I’LL TELL YOU
THERE’S ONE THING YOU’LL NEVER DO, AND, FRIEND, THAT IS TO LOOK
DOWN ON SOMEBODY WHILE YOU’RE WASHING THEIR FEET. IT’S
IMPOSSIBLE. IT’S IMPOSSIBLE. HERE HE IS, WASHING THE SMELLY,
DIRTY FEET OF FISHERMEN! THE LORD OF GLORY! THAT IS HUMILITY.
NOT THINKING LOWLY OF YOURSELF. KNOWING WHO YOU ARE, AND YET
THINKING OF OTHER PEOPLE. IT IS A SELFLESS LIFE. NOT KING SELF
ON THE THRONE. NOW THE KEY WORD IS OTHERS. LOOK AT IT IF YOU
WILL HERE IN VERSE FOUR. LOOK AT IT CLEARLY, PHILIPPIANS TWO AND
VERSE FOUR, “LOOK NOT EVERY MAN ON HIS OWN THINGS, BUT EVERY MAN
ALSO ON THE THINGS OF OTHERS.” WILLIAM BOOTH FOUNDED THE
SALVATION ARMY. HE WAS GETTING UP IN AGE, AND HE WAS A LITTLE
FEEBLE. THEY WERE HAVING A GRAND CONVENTION. THEY SAID IT WOULD
BE WONDERFUL IF WILLIAM BOOTH, THE FOUNDER OF THE SALVATION
ARMY, COULD COME. HE COULDN’T COME. THEY SAID, “WELL, SEND US
A LETTER.” HE WASN’T ABLE TO DO THAT. “SEND US A TELEGRAM.” HE
SENT A ONE-WORD TELEGRAM. DO YOU KNOW WHAT WAS ON IT? ONE WORD,
“OTHERS.” [SLAP] OTHERS. THAT’S WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT! OTHERS!
IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU; IT’S ABOUT GOD, AND, THEREFORE, THROUGH GOD
IT IS ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE. HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE “ONE
ANOTHER” COMMANDS IN THE BIBLE? LET ME GIVE YOU SOME. I’M GOING
TO GO THROUGH THEM REAL QUICKLY; I WANT YOU TO JOT THEM DOWN.
TALKING ABOUT HOW WE’RE TO DEAL WITH OTHERS. FOR EXAMPLE, AH, WE
ARE TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. THESE ARE WHAT WE WOULD CALL
RECIPROCAL COMMANDS, THE “ONE ANOTHER” COMMANDS. LISTEN TO
THIS, JOHN 13 VERSE 34. JESUS SAID, “A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE
UNTO YOU, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER.” THIS NOT A SUGGESTION;
IT IS A COMMAND. IT IS THE LAST COMMAND THAT JESUS CHRIST GAVE
BEFORE HIS ARREST, TRIAL, AND CRUCIFIXION. FRIEND, YOU DON’T
NEED A BUMPER STICKER, OR A FISH ON YOUR CAR, OR A CROSS AROUND
YOUR NECK, OR A LAPEL PIN TO SHOW THAT YOU’RE A CHRISTIAN.
JESUS SAID, “BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YOU’RE MY
DISCIPLES IF YOU HAVE LOVE ONE FOR ANOTHER.” THAT’S THE MARK OF
A CHRISTIAN! IT’S NOT OPTIONAL, BUT IT’S NOT AUTOMATIC. IF IT
WERE AUTOMATIC, HE WOULD NOT HAVE GIVEN THE COMMAND. YOU MUST
CHOOSE TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. WE’RE TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER. DO
YOU LOVE? NUMBER TWO, WE’RE TO RECEIVE ONE ANOTHER. PUT THIS
VERSE DOWN, ROMANS 15 VERSE SEVEN, “WHEREFORE RECEIVE YE ONE
ANOTHER.” WHY? “AS CHRIST ALSO RECEIVED US, TO THE GLORY OF
GOD.” WHEN YOU COME TO CHURCH, DO YOU RECEIVE EVERYBODY? WE’RE
TO RECEIVE THEM. YOU KNOW, THIS CHURCH AT PHILIPPI WAS AN
UNUSUAL CHURCH. IF YOU SEE HOW THE CHURCH GOT STARTED, DO YOU
KNOW WHO MADE UP THE CHURCH AT PHILIPPI? THE INTELLECTUAL
APOSTLE PAUL HAD ABOUT THE EQUIVALENCY OF A TRIPLE PH.D., A
BRILLIANT MAN. AND THEN THERE WAS ALSO A JAILER AND HIS
HOUSEHOLD THAT HAD BEEN, AH, CONVERTED. THERE WAS ALSO A
DEMON-POSSESSED GIRL WHO HAD BEEN SAVED AND WAS A PART OF THE
CHURCH. AND THERE WAS ALSO, AH, IN THIS CHURCH THERE AT, AH,
PHILIPPI, A LADY WHOSE NAME WAS LYDIA. SHE WAS A TRAVELING
SALESLADY. AND, AND TOGETHER THEY BECAME THE NUCLEUS OF THIS
CHURCH. YOU COULD NOT GET A GROUP WITH MUCH MORE DISPARITY
THAN THIS GROUP, AND YET THEY ALL HAD THE SAME MIND. NOW, EVEN
WHEN PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE FAITH, WHEN PEOPLE ARE
WEAK IN THEIR THEOLOGY, THAT DOESN’T MEAN THEY’RE TO BE
EXCLUDED. THAT MEANS THEY’RE TO BE INCLUDED ALL THE MORE. ROMANS
14 VERSE ONE SAYS THIS, “HIM THAT IS WEAK IN THE FAITH,
RECEIVE YE, BUT NOT TO DOUBTFUL DISPUTATIONS.” THAT IS, DON’T
ARGUE WITH HIM ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TWEEDLE-DEE
AND TWEEDLE-DUM. RECEIVE HIM! RECEIVE HIM. THE PARAPHRASE
LIVING BIBLE GIVES IT SOMETHING LIKE THIS, “RECEIVE A BROTHER
INTO THE CHURCH, EVEN IF HE SCARCELY BELIEVES CHRIST CAN
SAVE HIM.” NOW, WE, WE’RE NOT HERE TO CAUSE PEOPLE TO JUMP
THROUGH ALL THESE KIND OF HOOPS BEFORE THEY CAN COME INTO THE
FELLOWSHIP. WHO NEEDS THE FELLOWSHIP BUT BABIES IN CHRIST?
WE ARE TO RECEIVE ONE ANOTHER. AND WHY DO WE RECEIVE THEM? WE
RECEIVE THEM BECAUSE CHRIST HAS RECEIVED THEM. AND I WANT TO
TELL YOU THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM IN THE FAMILY, UH, FOR THESE.
NOW, THAT DOESN’T MEAN WE’RE TO RECEIVE HERETICS. IT DOESN’T
MEAN THAT WE’RE TO RECEIVE WILLFUL SINNERS. THE BIBLE SAYS,
“IF ANY COME UNTO YOU AND BRING NOT THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST,
RECEIVE HIM NOT INTO YOUR HOUSE, NEITHER BID HIM GOD’S SPEED.”
FRIEND, YOU CAN HAVE A SOFT HEART; YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE A
SOFT HEAD. BUT WE ARE TO RECEIVE PEOPLE. NOT ONLY ARE WE TO LOVE
ONE ANOTHER, RECEIVE ONE ANOTHER, LISTEN TO THIS, WE ARE
TO GREET ONE ANOTHER. WHEN WE HAVE THIS LITTLE TIME OF
FELLOWSHIP AND WE GREET ONE ANOTHER, DO YOU DO THAT? OR DO
YOU JUST KIND OF STAND THERE LIKE THIS? WELL, IF YOU’RE A NEW
CHRISTIAN, WE’RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO GROW. BUT IF
YOU’RE AN OLDER CHRISTIAN AND YOU HAVEN’T LEARNED HOW TO
RECEIVE ONE ANOTHER, YOU’RE MISSING A BLESSING, AND OTHERS
ARE MISSING A BLESSING. LISTEN TO FIRST CORINTHIANS 16 VERSE
20, “ALL THE BRETHREN GREET YOU, GREET ONE ANOTHER WITH A HOLY
KISS.” NOW, WHEN I TELL YOU TO SHAKE HANDS, YOU OUGHT TO GLAD
THAT I DON’T TELL YOU TO KISS. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] THE BIBLE
SAYS, AH, WE’RE TO, “GREET ONE ANOTHER WITH A HOLY KISS.” WELL,
I, EH, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN KISSED IN CHURCH? I HAVE PLENTY OF
TIMES. IF YOU GO TO THE MIDDLE EAST TODAY, THEY’LL STILL KISS
YOU. I, I TOOK MY FATHER OVERSEAS, AND I INTRODUCED HIM
TO A FRIEND IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AND HE KISSED MY FATHER ON BOTH
CHEEKS. MY FATHER’D NEVER BEEN OVERSEAS BEFORE AND DIDN’T KNOW
A LOT ABOUT BIBLE CUSTOMS BACKED OFF. HE SAID, “WELL, THAT’S THE
FIRST TIME THAT’S EVER BEEN DONE.” [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] BUT
HE WAS KISSED ON THIS CHEEK AND KISSED ON THAT CHEEK. THAT WAS A
CUSTOM, A CUSTOM IN BIBLE TIMES. WELL, YOU SAY, “PASTOR ROGERS,
ARE WE TO BE BIBLICAL, THEREFORE. WE’RE TO KISS ONE
ANOTHER?” NO, YOU’RE MISSING THE POINT. THE BIBLE SAYS: “RENDER
UNTO CUS,” EH, HEH, “CUSTOM UNTO WHOM CUSTOM IS DUE.” WHAT IS OUR
CUSTOM TODAY? TO SHAKE HANDS. IT’S THE SAME THING. ASK WHAT
THIS MEANS TODAY. HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO US TODAY? IT MEANS THAT
WE ARE TO RECEIVE ONE ANOTHER. WE’LL FIND SOME WAY TO
DEMONSTRATE OUR LOVE AND OUR WELCOME. IT SHOULD BE PERSONAL.
IT’S NOT JUST SIMPLY SINGING A WELCOME SONG. AH, EH, THE RADIO
CAN’T DO IT. TELEVISION CAN’T DO IT. THE PASTOR CANNOT DO IT FROM
THE PULPIT. YOU MUST DO IT! NOT ONLY PERSONAL, IT IS TO BE
IMPARTIAL! A GREAT CHURCH IS A CHURCH WHERE EVERYBODY IS
SOMEBODY AND WHERE JESUS CHRIST IS LORD. IT IS TO BE THOUGHTFUL.
NOW, FRIEND, BE CAREFUL. OUR CHALLENGE AS A CHURCH IS TO STAY
SMALL AS WE GROW. WE’RE TO KEEP OUR CHURCH NOT PROGRAM-CENTERED.
I THANK GOD FOR OUR PROGRAMS, BUT PEOPLE-CENTERED AND
RELATIONAL-CENTERED. AND WE’RE TO CREATE A CLIMATE FOR GROWTH.
LISTEN. EVANGELISM IS AS MUCH CAUGHT AS IT IS TAUGHT. LOVING
CHURCHES GROW AND GROWING CHURCHES LOVE. SOMETIMES PEOPLE
SAY, “WELL, I DON’T BELIEVE IN A BIG CHURCH. I WANT A LITTLE
CHURCH THAT’S FRIENDLY. BIG CHURCHES ARE NOT FRIENDLY.”
WELL, NOW, LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION: HOW DO YOU THINK THEY
GOT BIG, BY BEING UNFRIENDLY? [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] THINK ABOUT
IT. NO! IN A BIG FAMILY THERE’S PLENTY OF LOVE. BUT WE NEED TO
BE THOUGHTFUL AND WISE. IT’S A MYTH THAT LARGE CHURCHES ARE
COLD. BUT, FRIEND, THEY’VE TAKEN SURVEYS TO SEE WHAT MAKES A
CHURCH GROW. DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS? NUMBER ONE, NUMBER ONE, IT
IS FRIENDLINESS, THE KEY FACTOR. WE ARE TO RECEIVE ONE ANOTHER.
WE’RE TO DO IT PERSONALLY. EVERYBODY WHO COMES IN NEEDS A
TOUCH. THEY NEED A HANDSHAKE. THEY NEED A SMILE. THEY NEED A
LOOK, A WORD! LOVE! WE NEED TO TELL YOUR FACE ABOUT IT. I, I, I
HAD A MAN, I LED A MAN TO CHRIST IN ANOTHER CHURCH. HE SAID, “I
CAME TO YOUR CHURCH. I WANTED TO CRITICIZE,” BUT HE SAID, “I
WATCHED PEOPLE WALKING OUT OF THE SERVICE, ONE SERVICE BEFORE
I WENT INTO THE NEXT.” HE SAID, “THEY, THEY, EVERY ONE OF THEM
HAD A SMILE ON THEIR FACE. THEY LOOKED LIKE THEY’D BEEN CHEWING
LOTUS LEAVES.” THAT’S WHAT THE MAN SAID TO ME. WHATEVER CHEWING
A LOTUS LEAF WILL DO FOR YOU. I’VE NEVER CHEWED ONE. [AUDIENCE
LAUGHTER] BUT HE SAID, “I SAW, I SAW THE RADIANCE OF JESUS CHRIST
ON THE FACE OF THESE PEOPLE.” LISTEN. LEARN TO LAUGH, LEARN TO
SMILE. IT’S MORE IMPORTANT TO INFLUENCE PEOPLE THAN IT IS TO
IMPRESS PEOPLE. I HAVE LEARNED FROM MY STUDY OF CROWD
PSYCHOLOGY AND WHAT PEOPLE SAY THAT PEOPLE MAKE UP THEIR MIND
THE FIRST 12 MINUTES THEY COME TO A CHURCH BUILDING WHETHER
THEY LIKE IT OR NOT. I MEAN, AFTER THEN, EH, EH, YOU, YOU’VE
LOST YOUR OPPORTUNITY. THE FIRST 12 MINUTES! NOW, HOW OF MUCH IS,
IS WHAT YOU’RE GOING TO DO? YOU USHERS. HOW MANY USHERS? LIFT
YOUR HAND. NOW, LISTEN, I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. AN USHER
MAY BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THESE DUDES SITTING ON THE CAT, ON THE
PLATFORM. WHO IS MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU WHEN YOU GO OUT TO THE
AIRPORT, THE PRESIDENT OF THE AIRLINES OR THE PERSON AT THE
TICKET COUNTER? THE PERSON AT THE TICKET COUNTER, NOT THE
PRESIDENT OF THE AIRLINES. YOU MAY NOT EVER EVEN MEET THE
PRESIDENT OF THE AIRLINES. CHANCES ARE YOU WILL NOT. BUT
YOU’LL DEAL WITH THAT PERSON AT THE TICKET COUNTER, RIGHT? YOU
WALK IN THIS CHURCH. THESE USHERS. NOW, IF AN USHER LOOKS
LIKE HE’S BEEN WEANED ON A DILL PICKLE, [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] THAT
MAY BE THE VERY FIRST IMPRESSION THAT YOU’RE GOING TO GET OF THIS
CHURCH. AH, YOU SIT BY SOME PERSON WHO CLAIMS TO BE A MEMBER
OF THIS CHURCH AND TREATS YOU COLDLY AND INDIFFERENTLY.
FRIEND, I WANT TO TELL YOU, WE NEED TO RECEIVE ONE ANOTHER.
PEOPLE WANT TO BE WAR, WANTED. THEY WANT TO BE WELCOME. BUT
THEY DON’T WANT TO BE WATCHED. THEY DON’T WANT TO BE STUCK OUT.
AND WE NEED TO PRACTICE HERE AT BELLEVUE BAPTIST CHURCH
NON-JUDGMENTAL LOVE. THAT DOESN’T MEAN WE ACCEPT OR
APPROVE THE WRONG THINGS THEY DO. JESUS DID NOT ACCEPT OR
APPROVE WHAT THE WOMAN DID AT THE, THE WOMAN AT THE WELL DID.
THIS WOMAN BEEN MARRIED FIVE TIMES AND WAS LIVING WITH A MAN
WASN’T HER HUSBAND. BUT JESUS LOVED HER AND JESUS MINISTERED
TO HER AND CARED FOR HER. CHURCH, THIS IS A NEEDY WORLD.
AND OUR MINISTRY IS TO OTHERS. WE’RE TO RECEIVE ONE ANOTHER.
NUMBER TWO, AH, NUMBER, NEXT: WE’RE TO CARE FOR ONE ANOTHER.
FIRST CORINTHIANS 12 VERSE 25, “THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO SCHISM
IN THE BODY, BUT THAT THE MEMBERS SHOULD HAVE THE SAME
CARE ONE FOR ANOTHER.” YOU’RE TO CARE FOR ME. I AM TO CARE FOR
YOU. THERE’S NO ROOM IN A CHURCH FOR ARROGANCE. THERE’S NO ROOM
IN A CHURCH FOR ENVY. THERE’S NO ROOM IN A CHURCH FOR RIVALRY.
THERE’S NO ROOM IN A CHURCH FOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY OR DISUNITY.
GOD PUT YOU HERE NOT TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE! TO
MINISTER TO OTHERS. AND WE’RE TO ENDURE ONE ANOTHER. YOU SAY,
“WELL, YOU DON’T KNOW SOME OF THE MEMBERS OF THIS CHURCH LIKE
I DO. IF YOU KNEW THEM, YOU’D FEEL ABOUT THEM LIKE I FEEL
ABOUT THEM.” [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] WELL, NOW, LISTEN, EPHESIANS
CHAPTER FOUR VERSE TWO, THE BIBLE SAYS, “WITH ALL LOWLINESS
AND MEEKNESS, WITH LONGSUFFERING, FORBEARING ONE
ANOTHER.” FORBEARING. WELL, LET ME JUST CHANGE THAT TO ENDURING
ONE ANOTHER. NOW, WE’RE NOT ALL LOVELY. IF YOU DON’T BELIEVE IT,
GO LOOK IN THE MIRROR. [AUDIENCE [LAUGHTER] I USED TO THINK THAT A
PERFECT CHURCH WAS A CHURCH WHERE EVERYBODY WAS A S, A
MATURE, SPIRIT-FILLED BELIEVER. THAT’S NOT A PERFECT CHURCH.
THAT’S A FAILING CHURCH. A PERFECT CHURCH IS WHEN THERE, IS
WHERE THERE’S BABY CHRISTIANS. WOULD YOU SAY THAT A PERFECT
CHURCH IS A CHURCH, OR A PERFECT FAMILY IS A FAMILY WHERE THEY
ARE ALL PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS AND NO BABIES COMING IN? NO. IF
AT ALL POSSIBLE, WE’RE, WE’RE MADE TO REPRODUCE AND TO KEEP
OUR FAMILY GOING THAT THERE MIGHT BE A GODLY SEED. AND SO,
SOME OF YOU THIS MORNING ARE BABY CHRISTIANS AND YOU MAKE,
AH, YOU, YOU HAVE TO ENDURE CERTAIN THINGS WITH BABIES.
YOU’VE HAD ANY AROUND YOUR HOUSE YOU KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT.
NOW, WE’RE ALSO TO FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER. EPHESIANS FOUR VERSE
32, “AND BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED,
FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST’S SAKE HATH
FORGIVEN YOU.” HOW MANY OF YOU’VE BEEN FORGIVEN? LET ME SEE
YOUR HAND. ALL RIGHT. NOW, WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE, THEREFORE,
NOT TO FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER? GOD HAS QUICKLY, WILLINGLY, GLADLY,
GRACEFULLY FORGIVEN US. WE’RE TO FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER QUICKLY AND
GENUINELY AND COMPLETELY. NOW, THAT’S WHAT A CHRIST-CENTERED
LIFE IS LIKE, THE MIND OF CHRIST. IT IS OF OTHERS. NOW,
WHAT IS, WHAT IS KING SELF LIKE? WHAT ARE THE MARKS OF A SELFISH
LIFE? I WANT TO MENTION SOME, AND I WANT YOU TO JOT THEM DOWN.
HERE’S THE PROFILE OF KING SELF, THIS KING WHO IS YOUR WORST
ENEMY, WHO RULES OVER THE KINGDOM OF SELFISHNESS. AH, KING
SELF HAS SELF-WILL. REMEMBER LUCIFER SAID, “I WILL EXALT MY
THRONE ABOVE THE STARS OF GOD.” FIVE TIMES IN THAT PASSAGE IN
ISAIAH CHAPTER 14, HE SAYS, “I WILL, I WILL, I WILL, I WILL, I
WILL, I WILL.” THAT WAS HIS MARK. WHAT DID JESUS SAY? “NOT
MY WILL, BUT THY WILL.” THERE’RE TWO WAYS OF LIVING. THE MIND OF
SELF, I WILL; THE MIND OF CHRIST, THY WILL. SATAN SAID, “I
WILL ASCEND.” JESUS SAID, “I WILL DESCEND.” HE STEPPED OUT OF
HEAVEN AND CAME TO THIS EARTH. KING SELF IS SELF-WILLED. NOW,
YOU WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS? LISTEN TO JOHN CHAPTER FIVE
VERSE 30. JESUS SAID, “I SEEK NOT MY OWN WILL, BUT THE WILL OF
THE FATHER WHICH HATH SENT ME.” AND WOULD YOU SAY, “O GOD, I
WANT YOUR WILL. I WANT YOUR WILL.” KING SELF IS SELF-WILLED.
KING SELF IS SELF-SEEKING. SELF LIVES FOR ITS OWN PLEASURE,
PRIDE, AND GLORY. WHAT DID JESUS SAY IN JOHN CHAPTER EIGHT VERSE
50, “I SEEK NOT MY OWN GLORY.” “I SEEK NOT MY OWN GLORY.” I CAN
REMEMBER PLAYING SPORTS WHEN IF YOU DID SOMETHING GOOD, YOU JUST
KIND OF BOWED YOUR HEAD AND YOU DIDN’T STRUT. IT ALL STARTED
WITH “THE MOUTH OF THE SOUTH,” MOHAMMED ALI, WHO WAS THEN
CASSIUS CLAY. AND NOW, IT’S, IT’S THE BIG THING IN SPORTS TO
STRUT YOUR OWN GLORY. AND SOMETIMES THAT HAPPENS IN
CHURCHES. I KNOW CHURCH MEMBERS WHO CAN STRUT SITTING DOWN.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] JESUS SAID, “I SEEK NOT MINE OWN GLORY.”
KING SELF IS NOT ONLY SELF-SEEKING, HE’S
SELF-ASSERTIVE. HIS THREE FAVORITE WORDS ARE: I, ME, AND
MY. AND HE’LL TURN EVERY CONVERSATION TO HIMSELF. IN THE
SOUTH PACIFIC THERE’S A BIRD CALLED THE ME-ME BIRD. [AUDIENCE
LAUGHTER] TRUE. THEY CALL IT THE ME-ME BIRD BECAUSE IF YOU LISTEN
TO THE SONG OF THE ME-ME BIRD, HE JUST HAS TWO WORDS IN HIS
VOCABULARY: ME-ME, ME-ME, ME-ME. I’VE NEVER SEEN ONE WITH
FEATHERS, BUT I’VE MET A LOT OF THEM. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] I
MEAN, WHEN YOU TALK TO THESE PEOPLE, IT WON’T BE LONG TILL
THEY’LL BE “ME-DEEP” IN CONVERSATION. [AUDIENCE
LAUGHTER] YOU TELL THEM ABOUT YOUR SURGERY; THEY’LL TELL YOU
THEIR SURGERY. YOU TELL THEM A JOKE; THEY’LL TELL YOU A BETTER
JOKE, AH, THEY THINK, AH. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] THEY, THEY
ARE CONCERNED. THEY TURN EVERYTHING TO THE NAU, TH,
THEMSELVES. AH, THEY ARE SELF-ASSERTIVE, WRAPPED UP IN
THEMSELVES. THEY ARE SELF-INDULGENT. KING SELF
INDULGES HIMSELF. HE’S MOTIVATED BY SELFISH DESIRE AND NOT BY
PRINCIPLE. THERE’S NO ROOM FOR DENIAL IN KING SELF. KING SELF
EATS AND DRINKS BECAUSE HE WANTS TO EAT AND DRINK. THERE WAS A
MAN WHO SAID, HE WAS A HEADHUNTER FOR ORGANIZATIONS,
TRYING TO FIND TRUE LEADERS. HE SAID, “HOW DO YOU DETERMINE A
TRUE LEADER? HOW DO YOU FIND A MAN WHO’S GOING TO EXCEL?” SAID,
“NOT BY GIVING HIM RESPONSIBILITIES,” LISTEN TO
THIS, “BUT GIVING HIM PRIVILEGES.” HE SAID, “YOU CAN
GET A MAN TO DO HIS RESPONSIBILITIES IF YOU PAY HIM
ENOUGH, BUT IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT A MAN REALLY IS, DON’T GIVE
HIM RESPONSIBILITIES; GIVE HIM PRIVILEGES AND SEE HOW HE USES
THOSE PRIVILEGES.” A MAN WHO WILL NOT GROW, WHO’S
SELF-CENTERED, WILL USE THOSE PRIVILEGES FOR HIMSELF. BUT A
MAN WHO IS A TRUE LEADER WILL USE HIS PRIVILEGES TO DEVELOP
OTHER PEOPLE. NOW, MANY OF US HAVE PRIVILEGE IN THE LORD JESUS
CHRIST, BUT WHAT DO WE DO? AH, WE TAKE THESE PRIVILEGES AND WE
BECOME SELF-INDUL, INDULGENT. AH, AH, KING SELF IS FULL OF
SELF-PITY. HE’S ALWAYS LICKING HIS WOUNDS, COMPLAINING,
MOANING, GROANING. AH, YOU DON’T DARE ASK HIM HOW HE FEELS
BECAUSE YOU’LL GET AN ORGAN RECITAL. [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER]
NOW, I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE TRULY HURTING,
BUT I’M TALKING ABOUT THOSE WHO ARE CONSTANTLY FEELING SORRY FOR
THEMSELVES, EXAGGERATING THEIR SORROWS. AH, KING SELF IS
SELF-CONSCIOUS. HE’S EASILY WOUNDED. HE ENJOYS A POUT. HE,
TRUE LOVE IS NOT EASILY PROVOKED. KING SELF IS
SELF-DEPRECATING. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD A PERSON SAY, “WELL, I
JUST KNOW I’M NO GOOD. I’M, I’M JUST NOT MUCH.” UH, THAT’S NOT
HUMILITY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT’S ONE OF THE WORSE FORMS OF
PRIDE. AND THESE PEOPLE ALWAYS SAYING, “I’M SO HUMBLE.” YOU
WATCH THEM. ONE MAN SAID, “WELL, AT LEAST I’M NOT PROUD.” A
FRIEND SAID, “WELL, WHY SHOULD YOU BE? YOU HAVE NOTHING TO BE
PROUD OF.” [AUDIENCE LAUGHTER] HE SAID, “OH, YEAH! I’VE GOT AS
MUCH TO BE PROUD OF AS YOU DO.” YOU SEE HOW, YOU SEE HOW SUBTLE
THIS THING OF PRIDE IS. SELF-DEPRECATION.
SELF-EXALTATION. AGAIN, PEOPLE NOT, WHO PUT THEMSELVES DOWN,
BUT WHO PUT THEMSELVES UP. THEY CLAIM TO BE SELF-MADE MEN AND
THEN THEY WORSHIP THEIR CREATOR. SELF-JUSTIFICATION. SELF, KING
SELF IS NEVER WRONG. HE CAN GIVE YOU A GOOD REASON FOR EVERY
NEGLECT OR EVERY FAILURE. KING SELF ALWAYS WANTS TO EXACT HIS
RIGHTS AND REVENGE THE WRONGS AGAINST HIM, AND AN APOLOGY WILL
STICK IN HIS THROAT. HE CAN’T GET IT OUT. SELF-CONFIDENCE. YOU
SAY, “WELL, PASTOR, THAT’S ONE THING WE NEED TO DEVELOP IS
SELF-CONFIDENCE.” NO! IT’S ONE OF THE WORST THINGS AROUND. WHO
WAS FILLED WITH SELF-CONFIDENCE? PETER, WHEN PETER SAID TO JESUS,
“I’LL GO WITH YOU TO PRISON AND TO DEATH.” THAT WAS
SELF-CONFIDENCE THAT FAILED HIM. SOMETHING THAT MAY SOUND LIKE
SELF-CONFIDENCE IS NOT SELF-CONFIDENCE. THE APOSTLE
PAUL SAID, “I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS
ME.” THAT’S CHRIST-CONFIDENCE. NOW, ALL I’M TRYING TO SAY IS
THAT A, A, THE MIND OF CHRIST IS A SELFLESS MIND. NOW I SAID THE
FIRST POINT WILL TAKE MORE TIME. THE SECOND POINT, I’VE ONLY GOT
A COUPLE OF MINUTES. NUMBER TWO; THE MIND OF CHRIST IS A SERVING
MIND. A SERVING MIND. LOOK IN PHILIPPIANS TWO VERSE SEVEN,
SPEAKING OF JESUS, “BUT HE MADE HIMSELF OF NO REPUTATION, AND
TOOK UPON HIM,” LISTEN, CHURCH! “HE TOOK UPON HIM THE FORM OF A
SERVANT.” DO YOU WANT TO BE LIKE JESUS? DO YOU WANT THE MIND OF
CHRIST? WE HAVE BEEN SHAPED TO SERVE! GOD MADE YOU TO SERVE!
JESUS CAME AS A SERVANT. THE APOSTLE PAUL, THE MIGHTY APOSTLE
PAUL, GREATER THAN ANYONE IN THIS BUILDING, SAID OF HIMSELF
IN FIRST CORINTHIANS CHAPTER NINE VERSE 19, “FOR THOUGH I BE
FREE FROM ALL MEN, YET HAVE I MADE MYSELF SERVANT UNTO ALL.”
PAUL, A FREE-BORN ROMAN CITIZEN, MADE HIMSELF SERVANTS TO THE
GREEKS AND THE BARBARIANS, THE WISE AND THE FOOLISH. ALL WERE
PRECIOUS TO HIM. NUMBER THREE. YOU SAY WHY WASN’T NUMBER TWO,
NUMBER ONE THAT QUICK? [AUDIENCE [LAUGHTER] NUMBER THREE, THE MIND
OF CHRIST NOT ONLY IS A SELFLESS MIND AND A SERVING MIND, BUT THE
MIND OF CHRIST, THEREFORE, IS A SACRIFICIAL MIND. LOOK IN VERSE
EIGHT. HERE’S JESUS, WHO MADE HIMSELF A SERVANT. NOW, WATCH
THIS, “AND BEING FOUND IN FASHION AS A MAN, HE HUMBLED
HIMSELF AND BECAME OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, EVEN THE DEATH OF THE
CROSS.” SACRIFICE. HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US. A PREACHER OF
YESTERYEAR, DR. JOWARTS, SAID, “THE MINISTRY THAT COSTS NOTHING
ACCOMPLISHES NOTHING.” NOW, MANY OF US ARE WONDERING WHAT THOSE
OTHER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SIGN UP FOR. BUT WE DON’T THINK THE
MESSAGE THIS MORNING APPLIES TO US. NOW LET ME TELL YOU, THE
FIRST SACRIFICE THAT IS TO BE MADE IS A CRUCIFIXION. AND THE
ONE WHO IS TO BE CRUCIFIED IS NOT JESUS: HE’S BEEN CRUCIFIED.
HE CRUCIFIED, EH, HE WAS CRUCIFIED TO DIE FOR THAT OLD
MAN THAT WE ARE BY NATURE. AND, THEREFORE, WE ARE TO DIE WITH
HIM. THERE IS TO BE THE CRUCIFIXION OF KING SELF. I WARN
YOU, SELF WILL PLEAD ELOQUENTLY FOR ITS LIFE. SELF WOULD EVEN
MAKE CHRIST KING, IF SELF CAN MAKE SELF PRIME MINISTER. WE DO
NOT WANT TO LITERALLY DIE TO OUR SELF. “NOW, IN ME, IN MY FLESH,
IS NO GOOD THING.” WHEN I SAY, “DENY SELF,” I’M NOT TALKING
ABOUT DENYING YOURSELF THINGS. SIMON PETER DENIED, AH, HIMSELF
THINGS BEFORE HE DENIED SIMON PETER. HE GAVE UP HIS NETS
BEFORE HE GAVE UP HIMSELF. WELL, YOU SAY, “PASTOR ROGERS, HOW AM
I GOING TO CRUCIFY MYSELF?” YOU CAN’T. YOU CAN’T. HUH, HUH. YOU
MIGHT GET ONE HAND NAILED UP, BUT YOU’RE NOT GOING TO NAIL THE
OTHER ONE UP. [AUDIENCE [LAUGHTER] NO MAN HAS EVER
CRUCIFIED HIMSELF. GOOD NEWS. YOU’VE ALREADY BEEN CRUCIFIED
WHEN JESUS DIED FOR YOU. BUT NOW WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS TO
RECEIVE IT, TO RECOGNIZE IT, TO ACT ON IT. THE BIBLE SAYS, AH,
“RECKON YOURSELVES, THEREFORE, DEAD UNTO SIN AND ALIVE UNTO
GOD.” YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH KING SELF; SELF-WILL, SELF-ASSERTION,
SELF-PRIDE, SELF-ARROGANCE, AND SAY, “IT’S NOT ABOUT ME; IT IS
ABOUT GOD.” NOW, WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED? FIVE THINGS. I WAS
PLANNED FOR GOD’S PLEASURE. THAT’S WORSHIP. NUMBER TWO: I
WAS FORMED FOR GOD’S FAMILY. THAT’S FELLOWSHIP. NUMBER THREE:
I WAS CREATED TO BE LIKE CHRIST. THAT’S DISCIPLESHIP. NUMBER
FOUR: I WAS SHAPED FOR SERVING GOD. THAT’S MINISTRY. NUMBER
FIVE; I WAS MADE FOR A MISSION. THAT IS EVANGELISM. OH, OH, OH,
FRIENDS, BROTHERS, SISTERS, LISTEN. WHEN WE SAY, “DEAR GOD,
IT IS NOT ABOUT ME; IT IS ABOUT YOU, AND, THEREFORE, ABOUT
OTHERS,” WHAT DO YOU THINK’S GONNA HAPPEN TO BELLEVUE? WHAT
DO YOU THINK’S GONNA HAPPEN IN YOUR FAMILY? WHAT DO YOU THINK
IS FINALLY GOING TO HAPPEN IN YOUR LIFE? KING SELF IS A CRUEL
MASTER. DON’T LET HIM RULE. HE WAS CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST. MAY I ASK YOU A PERSONAL
QUESTION? DO YOU KNOW JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL LORD AND
SAVIOR? IS HE REAL TO YOU? ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN IF YOU
DIED TODAY YOU WOULD GO TO HEAVEN? NOW FRIEND, THERE’S NO
ONE SO GOOD THEY NEED NOT BE SAVED; NO ONE SO BAD THEY CANNOT
BE SAVED. AND SALVATION IS NOT A REWARD FOR THE RIGHTEOUS, IT IS
A GIFT TO THE GUILTY. IF YOU KNOW YOU’RE A SINNER, TELL GOD
THAT YOU ARE, CRY OUT FOR MERCY AND TRUST HIM TO SAVE YOU. AND
IF YOU DO, WOULD YOU WRITE TO US AND LET US KNOW; WE WILL REJOICE
WITH YOU AND WE’LL SEND YOU SOME LITERATURE TO HELP YOU GET
STARTED IN YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE. WE HOPE THAT TODAY’S MESSAGE HAS
BEEN AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO YOU AS WE’VE STUDIED GOD’S WORD
TOGETHER. FOR MORE RESOURCES FROM ADRIAN ROGERS, INCLUDING
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IT IS FAITH IN A GREAT GOD.HE DOESN’T LOVE YOU BECAUSE YOU’RE
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