7/25/2021

And good morning again and let's go open in prayer. All be quiet before I get started. So I don't forget those you know Grandpa he sent a thank-you note and it is on the, the lectern out outside out before you leave. So, take a look. If you'd like to and I know he appreciates communication correspondent, any kind of any kind of reaching out to him. So you preciate that, so there's no thank you on the podium to look at if you want to, that's open in prayer.

Heavenly Father, we just thank you for this time. You give us to come together and worship you on this beautiful summer morning. Lord. And we just are grateful for the opportunity to gather and your presents. And with a c open our our hearts and opens up to the listen and learn from your word Lord in that that that you help us to grow when you. We just pray this in your name. Amen.

And before we don't have no, we're going to start with just just a fun, kids course, not just kids a fun course, I've been reading Spider-Man.

Nice kind of hoping I could just go to get on into heaven in a rocking chair myself that I guess that's not the way it works. Anyway, then chorus and you know what? I'm so glad I'm part of the family of God and I'm glad to see all of you here today to celebrate together. The next Amazon number 314 and you have no, the family of God.

Play brother and sister.

Share the day.

Today's scripture reading is taken from Titus Chapter 3 verses 1 through 8. Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities to be obedient to be ready to do. Whatever is good to slander. No one's be Peaceable, and considerate. And always be gentle toward everyone. At one time, we too were foolish disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and Pleasures. We lived in Malice and envy being hated and hating one another. When the kindness and love of God, our savior appeared, you save this. Not because of righteousness, we had done, but because of his Mercy, he saved us to the Washington rebirth for the washing of rebirth. And Renewal by the holy spirit, will be poured out on us generously through Christ Jesus through Jesus Christ, Our Savior, So that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy. Same And I want you to stress these things. So that those who have trusted in God, may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. Before we got a prayer, just like that is any request? Letting it be known as a praise hands?

Heavenly Father, we just again, come to you thankful for the opportunity to be here and we just Pray that you help us to learn and grow on you today as we as we gather together and and support each other and bway Falls to be as a congregation. We know there's there are different things that are happening right now. There's a struggle for people and we just, you know, what? They are Lord and we just pray that you or provide comfort for them. and reassure them and, and We know you're there with them, make them feel your presence, make them recognize your presence that you are there, and we're never alone. And it even in our darkest times, there's comfort knowing that you're with us Good evening. Other other things that are seem like mountains, some people may be more, just take some of that burden Wayne and help them realize that your, your your light. Your blessing is coming and we have it and we are No. Thanks to our own selves. We are blessed by your grace and your generosity is crazy. Continue to guide us throughout the rest of the time here together. And and just thank you for it again for our time together, in your name, we pray. Amen.

All right, we'll just continue on.

I will enter his gates with Thanksgiving in my heart. I will enter.

Toys for birthdays May 8th.

My heart. I will enter his courts. With big is May Day.

He has made me glad I Will Rejoice for he has baby.

I will return.

I Will Rejoice for he is baby.

Amy, I will return to you.

Here I am, here, I am to say that.

Play together, we are the all together.

Here I am to say that all together, once I am inside the all together.

How much it cost, how much it cost?

I am too. But here I am to bow down.

You're my God.

I am to be all together. We're all together, 1.

Everybody. Thank you so much for this opportunity to get together to Worship in the and just enjoy your creation and a wonderful day that you brought before us be with Gabe, as he delivers his message today. Lord speak nightly through in Jesus name, amen.

Well, I don't know if there is or not.

I made myself a no cuz usually I forget I don't know if anybody's. Open today. I don't want to say the words. Cuz I know. No. Okay. I won't say the words then.

so, today I'm going to talk about And as always, I'm pleased again. I look forward to these opportunities. And maybe I should have sent say this, but if you listen closely to my messages, they're usually self-revealing. So, if you read between the lines, you'll find the things that I'm working on myself. And I said that before, I find stuff that I find useful for myself to talk about. And so I'm going to do that again today. What I'm going to talk about a little bit is about advice. We get from other people, sometimes we get good advice, sometimes the advice as we get is not useful or worse than useful in. So they advise what I want to talk about, how little bit. You know what the question is? How do we tell? What's good advice was bad advice.

And I think the basic General principle is that we should filter advice. We get through the filter scripture, use that as our basis for. If it's something that's something we should be Taken seriously or something. We should discard. I'm going to share a few examples of. Thanks I found on the internet that are very solid. I'm sure some advice that is out there. Do this. You might, I don't seem to be getting it in a pencil. Will you take notes if you want to, or I can dial Sharon later if you need them? One of the first things, one thing device, you know, sometimes you read the book late at night and you're getting tired starting to fall asleep, and you can't find your bookmark. Here is a piece of advice that, if you can't find a bookmark use, ketchup status quo, a little bit of catch-up on that page, and I'll, mark her up for you so you can use that.

Another piece of advice and who isn't in a hurry in the mornings. Lot of times if you're in a hurry to get to work, if you're running late I don't know. Anybody that's ever running late in your in a hurry and you don't have time to brush your teeth. Just take your tooth to toothpaste and whatever you eat for breakfast with that toothpaste on your breakfast and if you're going out the door and they're eating, you got your toothpaste and breakfasts all together. So do that. Mix it up together or if your coffee drinker, Squirtle, toothpaste and coffee Stir It In sweetened mint. Tea coffee who doesn't like that I'm sure your dentist would I would back this up. That's definitely going to be helpful for you. For those of you who want to maybe she had a pound or two dieting tips or even who I mean. I'm trying to lose. I'd like to drop a little bit. Sometimes what I've read this and I think other people I heard this too, sometimes when you are hungry, what you really are as it's your brain playing a trick on you, you're thirsty. So instead of eating something, what I like to do is just make a nice, big chocolate milkshake and drink a milkshake and so really, it's your thirst a lot of times. That gets you drop that. If you just went through Thursday, will be fine. Another piece of advice. Now, this one's a little bit. I don't know about this one. This one doesn't make a whole lot of sense. When you're frying bacon. I know. I get in trouble when making bacon cuz I splatter all over the place. It gets bacon, grease everywhere, one thing, it suggests it is, if you're frying bacon, take your shirt off and you won't get bacon, grease on your shirt. So, there's there you go, and that will help you out. And then the last one I'm going to share through right now is if at first you don't succeed, don't go skydiving.

So there's all kinds of advice out there and if you if you guys are well-behaved I might drop a few more pearls before I finish that today. What I want to focus on is one particular common piece of advice. We get That is maybe not quite as ridiculous as those other ones, we get it a lot is and I and I kind of got put onto this by a podcast I listened to and the Prisoner for. So he's not he's not a Christian but he actually talks about he believes in a simulation. They were simulation when she's he's so close. We do have a Creator but it's not the way he thinks it is and if you could just turn that until he he would it would make a huge difference one bit.

the idea that he put me on to and it makes sense as a Christian point to is that

But we are told often that we should just be our self. We should just be who we are. B are still don't worry about what anybody else thinks or what the world thinks about, you just be yourself and that, you know, that some ways that's useful. Maybe when you're going into an interview, is there what your they're wanting to do? Is just be relaxed and let your, let your strength show.

But that advice really in the big picture is not that solid because we really should not be ourselves out, sounds a little bit. I don't know what the word is. Sounds a little bit. Like you're down on yourself, you're being hard on yourself that it's not meant that way. It's not meant to be to be a fraud or to be anything like that.

But I'm going to try to explain why being yourself is not necessarily the best piece of advice. You'll get today or you'll get I'm going to break it down into three pieces. First, I'll try to explain why we shouldn't just come to being ourselves. And then second, I'll remind you of some people from scripture who shed their selfishness and serve, God and amazing ways. And then I'm going to conclude with some more scriptural support on how to strengthen our walking our relationship with Christ.

Before we keep going. Here's another one. I just I want to share with you This one should be careful here cuz I could get in trouble accidentally, buy potato chips, that, you know, your spouse doesn't like, so then you don't have to share.

But that last tip also points to why. We shouldn't be ourselves. All the time was being ourselves. Leads us to buy and potato chips. Then we don't have to share being ourselves. Leave this one in the put ourselves first to be selfish and self-centered. And I've been thinking about this quite a bit lately and was interested in about this this whole thing has been one is percolating. It actually woke me up in the middle of the night was the first time that's happened to me when I heard what had I was woken up in the middle of sleep and I had to write. So I got up about 3 in the morning and woke me up some of this. So it's kind of a unique experience for me. Have that happen? We're going back to going back to being ourselves loose. When we put ourselves first to be selfish and self-centered and what what I've been thinking about a lot to his what is the root cause of sin. Almost all sin. If you think about it, what is the basic reason why we sin? We Stand because we want something for ourselves. We stand because we are not being satisfied on our personal selfish level. Why do we lie to people? Rely to cover up, something. We don't want them to know. Why do we steal? We steal because we want something that's not ours. We we covet something. Why do we? Why do we abuse? Substances are abused substances because and I'm talking all kinds of substances, drugs, alcohol food, whatever substance you want to come up with, it has an addiction for it. We use those substances to satisfy ourselves satisfy. Our internal sales not in a healthy way. so the root cause in my estimation of sin is we are satisfying our selfish nature

So in putting ourselves or others in our wants ahead of others and we end up putting ourselves ahead of God and we put ourselves first, in our selfishness, in our heart becomes an impediment to our relationship with Christ.

In Matthew 15, Jesus has this discussion about the tradition of washing of hands. And this is where he says, what goes into someone's mouth. Does not defile them but what comes out that is what the files them. He later in the chapter speaks to the root of sin and verse 19 through 20. He says Out of the heart comes evil, thoughts murder, adultery sexual immorality theft false, testimony slander. These are what the file a person the eating with unwashed hands does not defile them. Our hearts were thoughts or what we must overcome. It is our selfish nature that leads us astray and into sinful Behavior. All of the Santee list, murder adultery sexual immorality theft, false, testimony slander. They all stem from a fallen selfishness from being self-centered. I'm trying to get what is best for us or what we perceive is best for us. When really is destructive for us, and we don't often times somewhere in that state. We don't have the wisdom or the foresight to see that what we are doing is truly destructive to ourselves. And to the ones we love most off the time.

James chapter 4 reiterates, this team of selfishness, head of doing what God would have us to do verses 1 through 3. It says what causes fights and quarrels among you, don't they come from your desire that battle within you. Your desire but do not have, so you kill you covet. What you cannot get? What we've covered that? You cannot get what you want. So you quarrel and fight. you do not have because you did not ask God and when you ask, you do not receive because you ask with the wrong motives that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. Again, this talks about the Battle within people. Our battle over our selfish motives what happens when we allow each other to be ourselves.

That's what happens. We end up doing selfish things. Again we must Rise Against being ourselves where we fall into deadly simple traps. We become ensnared and traps of selfishness. We set ourselves.

In Genesis, from the very beginning. We see Adam and Eve sin in to satisfy their selfishness, the reason they eat the forbidden fruit is because of devil tempted them with Temptations. They're selfish. Adam and Eve Eve needed nothing for the Garden of Eden had all that, they needed to have a pleasant and joyful life. But unfortunately, the selfishness snuck in and existed for even them. And even more than that, selfishness, overpowered him or whether God has provided for them. And so they send

A little commercial, hear another little piece of advice. This one take this one. As I see this. Every once while unfortunately, no matter how good the soap smells do not come out of the bathroom, sniffing your hands. Don't do it. If you need a couple more minutes in the bathroom you sniffing there but don't come out.

now, let's take a look at 3, biblical examples of people who overcame their hearts, their selfishness, to change their lives and serve God.

Imagine if the following people have been left to be themselves, how things might have been different for all of us. I'm just going to give a brief summary of these different figures, but there are countless examples throughout the Bible of people sacrificing herself for the greater good or for what for God's glory and put in their personal desires. Aside. The Bible is full of redemption stories. The first one I wanted to look at is Moses as one of the most famous Old Testament, examples of selflessness, at different times. Although he had his own problems, he was human. He had his failings as well, but he was willing to give both his physical and eternal life for the Salvation of Israel when they made idols. Exodus chapter 32 vs, 32 32 saves the next day. Moses said, people you have committed a great sin but now I will go up to the Lord perhaps I can make atonement for your sin. So, Moses went back to the Lord and said, oh, what a great Saint. These people have committed, they have made themselves gods of gold, but now please forgive their sin. But if not then block me out of the book, you have written.

He so loved and respected God's character. His personality at all bound up in his name, that he was willing to forgo. All personal blessings, even life itself. Just because of the Wonder of God, A less spiritually mature. Moses have been motivated. 40 years earlier by his respect of the Recompense of the reward. But now his motive is in the glory of God's name, Personal possession of the kingdom is held up as a motivator in our lives. So we do have that motivation like we do have that internal motivation so that is kind of a selfish motivation the way but that's our Eternal motivation but it gets that we have to mature and desire. What God desires to get that rather than being obsessed with firstly? Finding He's here or or pleasure here on Earth, we have to find the internal motivation which will give us the ultimate reward.

Another Old Testament example, as a stir when she learned about the Jews that they were going to be annihilated. At first, she was reluctant to be involved because she was worried about herself first. And those times nobody was allowed to go before the king rainy reason, without an invitation, even though she was married to the king, she still was not allowed, and she was afraid for her own life. And understandably she was nervous and didn't really want to do it. She didn't want to put herself at risk. Eventually, however, she realize that she must act to save the Jewish people from certain death. She also probably realize it and I think she was told us that she probably would not be spared either. Cuz she have Jewish she was Jewish as well. The first refused to succumb to rode hard and put herself at risk and saved the Jews. But then ultimately, she did take that risk, and was ended up. Making a difference in saving the lives of the Jewish people.

In the New Testament, we see examples and examples of people who leave the comfort of their daily lives and their relative, the safety of the familiarity they have. To Boldly follow Jesus. Off that at Great, personal risk, both financially and physically. The disciples and others left jobs and familiarity to serve Jesus. In some ways, they quit being themselves.

But the example that stands out to me of somebody to find a desire of the heart serve God comes from Jesus himself. Jesus understood. Well, what? Lay ahead of him. He knew his faith. He knew he was going to be crucified on the cross and yet he willingly suffered for our sin. Believe In Christ. Gave a glimpse of his personal human desire to avoid suffering. Matthew 26, verse 39. So is s Jesus talking to the father?

Going a little further. You fell with his face to the ground and prayed. My father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me yet? Not as I will, but as you will. Understandably, Jesus did not want to endure the physical Agony, guaranteed on the cross. And in his self-interest, he prayed that God would find another way. All the while still willing to do what was needed when he said not as I will, but as you will,

to me, that is The most powerful example of somebody Jesus was perfect. He had no send no no flaws but even he was asking God for going to be another way. When there was not another way, he's still obediently complied. And we can do the same thing. Sometimes the way is not fun way, is not easy, but we're going in the way of God in this is the right way.

Here's another commercial for you.

How many of you? And I don't want to age in Mass. You're all ATM. How's that sound? Matt, if you noticed

Matt said he doesn't put this out publicly Mass reading glasses now, and I won't make too much fun of him cuz I'm sure it's in my future 2. But for those of you, I have that issue and I'm sure I'm on my way to it. You get the phone sometimes and Sam's not here either. He has Sam has it set up so it sounds like huge letters.

but if you're having trouble reading stuff on your phone, here's a piece of advice for you. Get a big glass of maybe a jar of water, fill it up with water, drop your phone in the jar of water and it will be like a magnifier for your phone. So, you can try that and see if it'll work guaranteed.

I'm going to finish now. By offering some some some Biblical advice on what, how to avoid our selfish desires? And instead live for Christ. How do we avoid being ourselves and avoid it to our own detriment?

The first of all, one tip I seriously give is follow the examples of people in our lives. There are strong Christians in this body. That would gladly, gladly, help you come to know Christ better. I know, I've been blessed to have so many people here. Help me with my walk from childhood on. They make, they helped me in Sunday school class, which I strongly suggest the Sunday school class is a great way to, to get a deeper fuel for the word and learn

it is, it is a continuous continuous effort, effort to become a stronger Christian.

I'm cost a challenge to find myself learning when I place myself in position to learn, allow fellow Christians in your life allowing fellow Christians. As I've helped, you get strength from them and strengthen your affair. If I strengthen your own face will be, it better be able to help those who love straight for their own face, who made lack relationship with price. Hebrews chapter 10. Verse 25 says, let's not give up meeting together as summer in the habit of doing Let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the day approaching. We are called as various passages to go together and gather as a congregation. This is an important part of growing as well much like surround yourself with people who are Chris and going to church helps. You create habits that will lead you to Christ in a way that sheds. The selfish temptations that reside in our hearts. I hear people saying I'm sure everybody here. Has heard it. And maybe even thought it. They don't need to go to church in order to be a Christian.

but if you're Christian usually want to go to church, I'm not going to church, makes it easy to slip into bad habits or neglect your relationship with Christ.

we all get busy and everybody has an excuse but it is important to gather in Fellowship together. I know it is something that I need to work on myself at times and it's easy to get lost and he got all kinds of things. You feel like you have to get done around the house or there's other things are pressing but it doesn't It doesn't look like that is important to gather as a family of Christ and be together.

And it's easy to scum that selfish nature to just be lazy and sit around and watch a football game or working the yard or whatever. Whatever, excuse you, dig up to avoid to not go to church.

Obviously, reading scripture will help will help you. And try your best to copy, the behaviors and heart of Christ. Read about him and learn at the same time. Perfection is a daunting task. Instead of striving for Perfection improve improve every day. Even even then don't be disillusioned by setbacks, And I want this isn't in the script. This isn't in the thing, Michael. So this is another verse immature. Hebrews 12 verses 1 through 2

There's my phone number for me. Luckily, I thought of that field house smarter than Hebrews Hebrews. Says it says chapter 12. Verse one. Through two says, therefore since we are surrounded by such great cloud of witnesses, let us throw up everything that hinders and this and that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance, the race marked out for us. Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith for the joy set. Before him. He endured the cross warning, his shame and sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God,

so, we can improve, we keep our Run our race with perseverance in each race, the individualized? No. Two races are the same. Everybody has their own challenges. and I go back to, I think about In 2013 and in January of 2013, right? Beginning Channel 2013, I started running because I was going to do the

Erase the Saint Patrick's Day. But which one is it? The Shamrock Inn Portland. Shamrock run in Port. I was going to do the 5K and I hadn't ran since I was in high school and I started out by going for run walks. I will run for a little bit and then I would walk and I had to run a little bit and then I walk And it took a long time but eventually, I could run a 5k without stopping. Just like her walk and price. It takes time dedication and support. For my running, I had to have some sort of my family from Joanne and and eventually Olivia would go running with me and she would crack the lips. You would tell me go faster, go faster. And she didn't realize I was going as fast as I could as pushing her stroller too.

so, Growing growing stronger and your face is like any type of exercise or challenge ahead of you grows, stronger through practice to work and dedication.

It's it takes a team it takes the forward into takes endurance in your spiritual endurance can be strengthened as well.

And if you are the spiritual leader in your house, that is why is all that and more important for you to, to surround yourself with a church family and for people to help you grow on your face as well as you help your family members, your loved ones grow in their face,

Be strong, be patient and love like Christ.

Ephesians chapter 5 1. Through 12 tells us to be imitators of God as beloved children, and walk and love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.

Another verse I'd like to share as she has first John chapter 2 verses two through six.

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and not only for our sins for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world. We know what we have come to know. We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, I know him but does not do what he commands a liar and the truth is not in that person that if anybody obeys his word love. For God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him, whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

You must live as Jesus. Did we must try our best and again It's a struggle. We try to improve. We try to make ourselves Stronger Everyday.

Because we are not called by Christ to be ourselves in Christ. We are called to be christ-like. We must rise above ourselves above. Our Earthly desires fail and some flaws must realize what a rise above, what is called Human Nature. Because we are called to be so much more than ourselves.