Selfishness, Self-reliance, Self-condemnation

“This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” 1 John 3:19-20 (NIV)

We need God…and we need each other!

God created us that way!  Just take a look at the climax of God’s good creation as recorded in Genesis and you’ll see that it built to the point of “NOT good” that we suffered “aloneness” without one another.  God completed his creation and resolved the problem of aloneness by creating human beings…in the plural.  We are made for a love relationship with God and with one another.

John’s “love one another” (1 John 3:11) is not new.  We’ve heard it from the beginning but we’re still learning the lesson of love.  Look through the “one anothers” of the New Testament and you’ll see how integral is loving one another in self-sacrificing, practical ways.  One list of these “one anothers” is linked here as “Ten Important Relational Needs.”  Download the document, review the relational needs, identify your needs and the needs of those close to you, then get busy “loving one another.”

Three sin-dangers prevent us from loving each other in these ways:

• Selfishness—We become preoccupied with “my needs” and try to force others to meet those needs.  We demand that “my needs” be met, and we expect it from others trying to take what can only be given.
• Self-reliance—We deny that we have relational needs and ignore our need for authentic, open relationships with others.  We pretend that everything is okay and become an isolated island cutting ourselves off from genuine, intimate relationship with God and with others.
• Self-condemnation—We recognize our needs but feel guilty that we have needs.  We condemn ourselves because we feel undeserving and self-responsible for being needy.

Note that SELF is the root of each of these sin-dangers.  John challenges us to turn our attention away from self toward others by giving ourselves away in love.  Interestingly, when we give ourselves away in meeting the needs of others, that is when our needs are best met.  Acknowledging that we have needs…and other people do, too…frees us to open ourselves to others in giving and receiving love.  Resting in God’s love liberates us from condemnation and releases us from the guilt that prevents us from giving and receiving love.

Stop for just a moment and think about your own needs.  Admit that you have needs.  Accept the fact that God has made you that way so that you would depend upon him to meet your needs.  Thank God that he has met everyone of your needs directly through Jesus Christ and is continuing to meet your needs indirectly through others.  Confess your sin of selfishness, of demanding that your needs be met, of trying to take what you can only receive.  Turn to God in faith, open yourself to others in vulnerability.  Allow God to draw you toward others by giving and receiving love by meeting these practical relational needs.

One word of caution:  Relationships are messy!  You will be disappointed in people!  You will often find yourself falling short!  However, the rewards are worth the effort!  You draw closer to God, your spouse, your family, your friends, your group, your church.  So, roll up your sleeves and get busy…

Love one another,

Scott Corwin, Pastor

P.S.  To read or to hear more about these relational needs, I highly recommend the resources of “intimate life ministries” linked here:  www.greatcommandment.net.  They have online resources, online radio programs, books, small group material, etc. that will transform your relationships!

Live in God’s Love: Action Steps

*Read through the entire book of 1 John in one sitting noting verses that refer to love

*Write down thoughts that the Spirit brings to mind and uses to pierce your heart

*Love another person by identifying and meeting a practical need—physical or emotional.

*Identify your own “love language” or “Top 10 Relational Needs” and share it with a fellow “pilgrim disciple”

*Design an “application project” to obey one command that the Spirit impresses upon you (i.e. loving someone in a self-sacrificing, practical way)

*Ask the Spirit to empower you to obediently apply the truth in your everyday life

*Share your insights and/or application with an accountability partner, email to the pastor, on “pastor’s blog”, or on our Facebook page

*Prepare a word of testimony about God’s activity in and through your obedience

Sunday’s Sermon Slides:  Connecting w/ God: Live in God’s Love

Quit Sinning!

“Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.” 1 John 3:4-6 (NIV)

A man experiencing severe headaches went to the doctor to see if he could find some relief from his pain.  As he began the interview, the doctor asked, “When does your head hurt?”  The man replied, “Every time I hit my head with this hammer,  it hurts!”

Well, duh!  Of course it does!  That’s the nature of things, the law of nature, if you will: hit your head with a hammer and it hurts.  In this case, the cure for your headache is fairly straightforward—stop hitting yourself with a hammer!

The same thing is true with the lawlessness of sin.  I see it…and experience it…every day.  People are hurting because of sin.  We struggle with issues of character and are emotionally empty because our lives are filled with selfish pursuits.  Our marriages are filled with conflict because we insist upon having “my” needs met.  We can’t get along with others because we are full of ourselves and “my” opinion.  Not a day goes by without me listening to a story of personal brokenness or relational difficulties brought on because people act in ways contrary to God’s truth and they keep doing it over and over again.  Sometimes, I want to stop the conversation and say:  “Quit sinning!”  Unfortunately, people are addicted to their sin and just keep on sinning.

John tells us that sin is “rebellious wickedness” against the very nature of God.  It’s not so much “breaking the law” as it is “breaking God’s heart.”  Our sin is a rebellious rejection of God and his role as our Heavenly Father.  Sin is not just a slip or a mistake.  It is a violation of our love relationship with God.

What’s more, Jesus came to not only forgive us our sins but also to take away our sins.  Yes, when God forgives us he takes away the sins that we have committed.  In addition, he takes away the motivation to sin in the present by putting his life in ours.  As we deepen our connection w/ God through Jesus Christ, he purifies our lives by rooting out our sin addiction.

So, is your life broken?  Are you hurting?  Is it the result of sin?  Then, quit sinning!  Acknowledge that your rebellious attitude toward God is getting in the way of your connection w/ God.  Confess it and commit yourself to “purifying” yourself in partnership with God’s Holy Spirit.  Make yourself available to him through the practices of solitude, silence, scripture, meditation, prayer, biblical community, etc. and let the righteous life of Christ come alive in you.  Get in the habit of doing what God says, living the Christ-life.  Experience the truth of living in Christ and Christ living in you.

When you submit yourself to habitually following Jesus, you’ll avoid a lot of hurt, pain, and brokenness.  You’ll begin to experience the abundance, fullness, and joy.

Learning the habit of obedience…

Scott Corwin, Pastor

P.S.  How’s your “homework” assignment coming?  Have you posted your insights on the blog?

My Identity in Christ

I am significant because of my position as a child of God.

John 1:12, “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”

Share the insights you gain from your time reflecting on the truths about who God has made you to be through Jesus Christ by posting your “comment” here.

Live as God’s Child: Action Steps

*Read through the entire book of 1 John in one sitting noting verses that refer to truth

*Write down thoughts that the Spirit brings to mind and uses to pierce your heart

*Meditate on the Scripture truths that teach God’s truth about your identity in Jesus Christ (see list and/or document linked below)

How to Meditate on a Verse

John 1:12–I am God’s child.

John 15:5–I am Christ’s friend.

Romans 5:1–I have been justified (made right w/ God).

1 Corinthians 6:17–I am united with the Lord (one spirit).

1 Corinthians 12:27–I am a member of Christ’s Body (church).

Ephesians 1:1–I am a saint (set apart for God and his purpose).

Ephesians 2:18–I have access to God.

Colossians 1:14–I have been redeemed and forgiven.

Colossians 2:10–I am complete in Christ.

1 John 3:1–I am loved by God.

(For additional verses, click My Identity in Christ to download the document.)

*Identify one sin-habit, confess it as sin to God, receive God’s forgiveness, and purpose to cooperate with God’s work in you to purify you

*Design an “application project” to obey one command that the Spirit impresses upon you

*Ask the Spirit to empower you to obediently apply the truth in your everyday life

*Share your insights and/or application with an accountability partner, email to the pastor, on “pastor’s blog”, or on our Facebook page

*Prepare a word of testimony about God’s activity in and through your obedience

Sunday’s Sermon Slides:  Connecting w/ God: Live as God’s Child–1 John 2:28-3:3