Am I Selfish?

Patience- is a dying to selfishness.

When the Apostle Paul  explained love (agápē)  the first thing out of his mouth: “Love is patient” (1 Corinthians 13:4).

I’m prone to impatience. I can’t honestly blame this merely on my temperament or my family of origin.
* Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).
*Impatience is a fruit of selfishness. And selfish is simply an ugly, accurate description of my fallen, depraved nature, which wants all of creation to serve ME!!
James 3:15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.
— Selfishness is the real archenemy of love:
*Selfishness seeks its own private happiness at the expense of others. **Love seeks its happiness in the happiness of the beloved. It will even suffer and die for the beloved in order that its joy might be full in the life the purity of the beloved.

Love is patient because Patience-” is a dying to selfishness”. It is the belief that in this dying we will find greater joy in the joy of the ones we are seeking to love: God and neighbors. It’s one of the ways we fulfill the two greatest commandments:
1‘You must love the LORD your God with ALL your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’
2 ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-40).

The Bible says we are to be:
• “Patient bearing with one another in love,” (Ephesians 4:2)
• “Patient with them all”
(1 Thessalonians 5:14)
• “Reproving, rebuking, and exhorting, with complete patience” (2 Timothy 4:2)
• “Patient in tribulation” (Romans 12:12)• “Patiently enduring…sufferings” (2 Corinthians 1:6)
• “Patiently enduring evil” (2 Timothy 2:24)
• “Imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises”. (Hebrews 6:12)
• “Still before the Lord and wait patiently for him” (Psalm 37:7)
• “Patient…until the coming of the Lord” (James 5:7)
There are really no loopholes here. We are to be patient with people, pain, evil, and God.

What It Is and Isn’t!
*Patience requires both Faith and Humility.
*Patience requires that whenever things go differently than we envision or wish, WE Believe that God is working ALL things for good (Romans 8:28), that he will complete all the good things he begins (Philippians 1:6), and that we can Trust HIM because OUR understanding is incomplete and inaccurate at best (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Rev. 2:5 “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent”.

**Repent- Remember- Return!!!

*God will not remain in a church that has lost their ‘first love’ for him.
*We stand strong when we are IN Christ.

There’s an ongoing battle and we are in it.
3 Keys to Stand Strong in the Midst of Battle:
1. Know your position in Christ – to STAND strong.
We should be attentive to what God is saying and move where God wants us to go. Our position is – we are already victorious IN Christ. The enemy is already defeated! Don’t let the enemy deceive you. Jesus has already prepared the things we need to be victorious in the battle.
1 John 4:4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
*If you know that Jesus is IN you, you don’t have to be afraid.

2. Know your enemy.
The devil together with the fallen angels are our enemies.
*Do not magnify the power of the devil or give him any extra thought or time-as it only gives it power over us.
*The enemy has no power over you except the one you give it.
Revelation 2:10 Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

* The purpose of the test is to prove that your faith is genuine.
* God will supply your needs, but you must follow Gods criteria, not our own.
*We are tested that we may fear God so we do not sin.
* Tested to see if we are obedient in ALL things.

3. Know your weapons.
Put on the full armor of God.  (Ephesians 6:1-23)
* We stand strong when we are in Christ.
* Stand strong and united with fellow believers.
Psalms 69:33 For the LORD hears the cries of the needy; he does not despise his imprisoned people.

Ever feel you are in a  Black Hole?
“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5b).

A black hole is a place of total nothingness.
* Dark-there seems to be no light.
*It’s a time in our life when God removes the resources and supports that we normally rely on to feel secure – our careers, finances, friends, family, health and so forth.
I have been here a few times in life and I now know for me–It was a preparation time.

When you find yourself in a black hole experience, don’t just sit and brood. Take an inventory of your life. Take a look at your relationship with God.

First, ask God if there are any sins, habits, or attitudes that He might be judging in your life.
* It’s important to discern whether the trial we face is the result of God’s discipline for our sin? Or if it is preparing us for a future leadership role.

Second, when you enter a black hole, don’t trust your feelings.
* Trust God!!! Your feelings will tell you, “God has rejected you. Abandon hope. He has left you utterly alone.”
* Feelings change; God Never Changes. Feelings come and go; God is Always with us.

Third, remember that your black hole experience is not only intended to refine and define you; it’s also intended to Influence and Change the lives of hundreds or even thousands of other people. Our adversity is not just for us, but others in our sphere of influence.
*Our Testimony(through our sufferings) of God’s Love giving Him all the Praise and Glory!
Psalms 40: 4 Oh, the joys of those who trust the LORD…..

Fourth, don’t try to hurry the black hole process along. Remember, when Joseph was in the depths of the pit, there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn’t climb out, jump out, levitate out, or talk his way out. All he could do was PRAY and Wait upon the Lord.

Isaiah 65:24 I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!

Fifth, lean on God.
*Even when you don’t feel like praying, pray.
*Even when you don’t feel like reading His Word, read.
*Even when you don’t feel like singing songs of faith, sing.
**When you pray, don’t just talk; listen. Be silent before Him and listen for His still, quiet voice.

Sixth, be alert to new Truths and new perspectives God wants to show you. During a black hole experience, God often leads us to amazing new discoveries in and through the reading of His word. A black hole can be a storehouse of unexpected riches for the soul. Be open to the Holy Spirit Leading and Truths.

Christians will suffer in one way or another, however we are instructed to not fear suffering but remain faithful. God rewards those who remain faithful to the end. Let us always keep our eyes on the ultimate prize!!
* “Eternal Life” in a place with no pain or sadness or evil. Where we will dwell in the presence of the most high God 24/7.
When faced with suffering, praise God! He deserves praise no matter what you may be going through.

Pray that Jesus will teach us that “Intimacy with Him” is the greatest measure of success.(A personal relationship with Jesus).
John 17:3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

The Lord has indeed set before you opportunities and choices.  The Lord would have you choose according to life, truth, and faith.  Consider the outcome of your decisions and move in the direction that will bring Light and not darkness.  Ask for wisdom to choose wisely for the Lord will give you what you need.  Activate your faith, and trust the Lord in ALL things.

Lord, guide us to the mountain of Your presence.
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.  He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever”.Psalm 23:1-6
Amen