April 10 2016 The Cure For Your "I" Problem

THE CURE FOR YOUR "I" PROBLEM

James 4:6 "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Good pride = Self-respect, dignity, satisfaction with a job well done. Joy in seeing others succeed. (Gal. 6:4, 2 Cor.7:4)

Bad pride = Conceit, egotism, selfishness. Attitude of superiority, (Prov. 16:5, 18, 29-33)

I. HOW PRIDE CAUSES PROBLEMS

1. IT PREVENTS ME FROM GROWING.

Proverbs 26:12"There is more hope for a fool than for a man who is wise in his own eyes, "

Proverbs 10:17 (LB)"Anyone willing to be corrected is on the pathway to life. Anyone refusing has lost his chance.

2. IT POISONS MY RELATIONSHIPS

Proverbs 13: 10"Pride only breeds quarrels."

Matthew 7:5"Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will be able to see and take the speck out of your brother's eye. "

3. IT PRODUCES STRESS AND ANXIETY

Proverbs 29:25 (GN)"It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you

Proverbs 20:27 (GN) The Lord gave us a mind and conscience. We cannot hide from ourselves."

Matthew 5:5 (GN)"Happy are the humble! "

II HOW TO BE HUMBLE AND HAPPY

1. ADMIT MY WEAKNESSES HONESTLY

Proverbs 28: 1 3 (LB)"A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance. "

2. EVALUATE MY STRENGTHS REALISTICALLY

Romans 12:3 (Ph)"Don't cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself or your importance, but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities. - - "

Galatians 6:4"Each man should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself without comparing himself to somebody else."

3. ENJOY MY SUCCESSES GRATEFULLY

1 Corinthians 4:7 (LB)"What are you so puffed up about? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if all you, have is from God, why act as though you have accomplished something on your own?"

4. SERVE OTHERS UNSELFISHLY.

Philippians 2:3-5"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves... Look not only to your own interests, but also the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ."

5. HUMBLE MYSELF VOLUNTARILY

James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift -you up.

June 2 2013 How To Succeed In Life

How To Succeed In Life
Philippians 3:12-21
Verse 17 - Join with others in following my example, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.

4 Keys To Successful Living

I.  Evaluation.

Verses 12-13 - Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.

Proverbs 28:13 - You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins.  Confess them and give them up, then God will show mercy to you.

Question: Where do I need to change?

II.  Elimination.

Verse 13 b - But this one thing I do, forgetting what is behind.

Isaiah 43:18 - Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past, see I am doing a new thing (says the Lord.)

WHAT TO FORGET
* Our failures.
* Our successes. 

Luke 9:62 - Jesus said, anyone who starts to plow and then looks back is of no use for the Kingdom of God

Questions: What memory do I need to let go of?

III.  Concentration.

Verse 13c - But this one thing I do, straining toward what is ahead I press on toward the goal.

I Corinthians 9:24 - Do you know that in a race, all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to win the prize.

WHAT IS THE GOAL?

II Corinthians 5:9 - so we make our goal to please Him.

Question: What am I living for, what’s my focus?

IV.  Determination.

Verses 12-13 - I press on, straining, I press on to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Acts 20:24 - But I reckon my own life to be worth nothing to me, in order that I may complete my mission and finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do, which is to declare the good news of the grace of God.
II Timothy 4:7-8- I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord will award to me on that day.

3 SUGGESTIONS (Verses 15-16)

*  Don’t become complacent.

*  Be teachable.

*  Be persistent.