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Two Paradigms of Living and Thinking
Paradigm - a philosophical or theoretical framework of any kind.
There are a multitude of ways these two paradigms, Christ centeredness and Self Centeredness manifest themselves in our lives.
When Christ is Lord He rules our lives.
Jim Elliot a man who was Christ Centered (End of the Spear)–
He is no fool to lose what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.
To watch a 2:28 video about Jim Elliot CLICK HERE.
1. A person who’s Christ Centered is thinking about kingdom advancement.
Matthew 11:11,12
11I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.
I believe God’s more concerned about your availability than your ability but He does empower you with his ability when we violently surrender our lives to him. This empowerment makes us more valuable to the Lord in the sense that we have a greater kingdom influence in the world.
2. Christ Centered people are Thinking about the development of others or the development of self for others.
We should be the best we can be for the Lord so when he calls us we can bring the best sacrifice we can. We want to be as valuable to the Lord as we can be.
"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
We go from empowering communal time with the Lord to sacrifice and back to the Holy Spirit for a “recharge”.
Luke 5:16
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Hebrews 5:7
During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
3. Finances
1 Timothy 6:17-19
17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
We’re commanded to take temporal wealth and convert it into “coming age treasure” through giving.
This allows us to take hold of the life that is truly life. This implies strongly that there is a false life.
The false life that comes from a servitude to money.
Matthew 6:24
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
People serve money because their identity is in the things of this life. The more toys or things they can amass around themselves the more successful they feel.
For the believer their identity should be in Christ. From communion with Christ comes life and fruit as well as productive and effective ministry.
4. For a Christ Centered Individual Fulfillment is Found in Doing God’s Will and Work
Fulfillment for the Christ Centered life
John 4:34
"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
5. Self exaltation or Legacy?
One other key thing that you see with people who have Christ at the center of their lives is they are focused on leaving some kind of legacy for the next generation or generations to come.
Legacy - something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past
A person with a kingdom paradigm will want to develop others in the faith who can replicate the spiritual DNA they are carrying.
2 Timothy 2:1,2
1You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
1. Jesus
2. Paul
3. Timothy
4. Reliable Men
5. Others
Very often self centered people abort their own ability to leave a legacy because they put all their energy and thought into themselves instead of those around them who are potential ambassadors for the next generation.
They can also abort their ability to leave a legacy by careless acts of sin. These acts can embitter the next generation causing a hardness to resist the possible impartation.
We also must try and learn the love language of the potential legacy person so they know you are preparing them for something. Many children become embittered toward their parents because the parents don’t know how to communicate their love and intentions for their children.
The importance of a legacy.
Imagine if 3 generations of people before you had progressively left an inheritance for the generation following.
Each family member took the inheritance and made it bigger.
The financial legacy easily illustrates the spiritual legacies we can leave for our spiritual children.
Who do you leave a legacy for?
1. Willing/Called
2. Humble
3. Faithful
4. Submissive
5. Gifted
Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.
How many people will be at your funeral?
Take some time to reflect on what percentage of your heart Jesus has captured and dedicate some time to deal with the areas of your heart that may still be outside the Lordship of Christ. Let him rule and reign all of your thoughts, attitudes, actions and ideas. Make it your ambition to violently surrender your life at the feet of Jesus like John the Baptist. You must become lesser so he can become greater. Why don't you pray about it?
Love,
Pastor Tony
Jubilee Family Church