When When

Is At The CenterIs At The Center

Philippians 2:1-4Philippians 2:1-4

SELFSELF

Being Being SELFSELF-centered-centered

• Religion becomes idolatryReligion becomes idolatry

James 1:27James 1:27

Pure & undefiled religionPure & undefiled religion before before God & the Father is this: God & the Father is this: to to visitvisit orphans & widows in their orphans & widows in their trouble, & to trouble, & to keepkeep oneself oneself unspotted from the worldunspotted from the world. .

Colossians 3:5Colossians 3:5

AMPAMP - - So killSo kill ( (deaden, deprive of deaden, deprive of powerpower) ) the evil desire lurking in the evil desire lurking in your membersyour members [ [those animal those animal impulses & all that is earthly in you impulses & all that is earthly in you that is employed in sinthat is employed in sin]: sexual vice, ]: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, desires, & all greed & & all greed & covetousness, for that is idolatrycovetousness, for that is idolatry ((the deifying of self & other created the deifying of self & other created things instead of Godthings instead of God). ).

Being Being SELFSELF-centered-centered

• Religion becomes idolatryReligion becomes idolatry

• Relationships collapseRelationships collapse

Philippians 2:3-5Philippians 2:3-5

Do nothing from selfishness or empty Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 than yourselves; 4 do not merely do not merely look out for your own personal look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests interests, but also for the interests of othersof others. 5 Have this attitude in . 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, Jesus,

Proverbs 17:17; 18:24; 27:9Proverbs 17:17; 18:24; 27:9

A friendA friend lovesloves atat allall timestimes, & , & a brothera brother is is bornborn forfor adversityadversity..

A manA man who has friends must himself be who has friends must himself be friendlyfriendly, but there is , but there is a frienda friend who who sticks sticks closercloser thanthan aa brotherbrother. .

Ointment & perfume delight the heart, Ointment & perfume delight the heart, & & the sweetness of a man’s friend the sweetness of a man’s friend gives gives delightdelight byby heartyhearty counselcounsel. .

Being Being SELFSELF-centered-centered

• Religion becomes idolatryReligion becomes idolatry

• Relationships collapseRelationships collapse

• Detest (dislike) selfDetest (dislike) self

John 13:14-17John 13:14-17

If I then, your Lord & Teacher, have washed If I then, your Lord & Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 another’s feet. 15 For I have given you For I have given you an example, that you should do as I an example, that you should do as I have done to youhave done to you. 16 Most assuredly, I . 16 Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17 he who sent him. 17 If you know these If you know these things, blessedthings, blessed [ [happy, full of God’s happy, full of God’s blessings & self respectblessings & self respect] ] are you if you do are you if you do themthem. .

Matthew 20:26-28Matthew 20:26-28

……whoever desireswhoever desires to become to become greatgreat among you, among you, let him be yourlet him be your servantservant. 27 And . 27 And whoever desireswhoever desires to be firstto be first among you, among you, let him be let him be youryour slaveslave — 28 — 28 just as the Son of just as the Son of ManMan did not come to be served, but did not come to be served, but [came][came] to to serveserve, & , & to to givegive His life His life a ransom for MANYa ransom for MANY.” .”

Men will be lovers of Men will be lovers of pleasure & selfpleasure & self ( (2 Tim 2 Tim

3:23:2).).

Let’s notLet’s not be a statistic! be a statistic!

Let’s notLet’s not fulfill of that fulfill of that prophecy!prophecy!

Let’s notLet’s not join the masses join the masses who love SELF more than who love SELF more than

GODGOD!!

SELFSELF

Center yourself inCenter yourself inthe Lord & Savior the Lord & Savior

• Believe the gospel of ChristBelieve the gospel of ChristJohn 8:24; 20:30-31; Rom 1:16; 10:10John 8:24; 20:30-31; Rom 1:16; 10:10

• Repent or turn from your sinsRepent or turn from your sinsLuke 24:46-47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30-31Luke 24:46-47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30-31

• Confess your faith in ChristConfess your faith in ChristMatt 10:32-33; Rom 10:9-10Matt 10:32-33; Rom 10:9-10

• Be immersed in waterBe immersed in waterMatt 28:19; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38; Rom 6:3-4; 1 Pet Matt 28:19; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38; Rom 6:3-4; 1 Pet 3:213:21

• Live in obedient faithLive in obedient faith1 Peter 1:14; Rev 2:101 Peter 1:14; Rev 2:10

Jesus Jesus CHRISTCHRIST