Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
Overcoming the problem of self-consciousness and selfishness.
Sunday, April 29, 2001
Greece – “Be wise, know yourself.”
Psychology – “Be confident, fulfill yourself.”
Humanism – “Be capable, believe in yourself.”
TLJC – “Be a servant, think of others.”
“If I could kick right in the seat of the pants the guy who gives me more unhappiness than any other, I wouldn’t be able to sit down for a week.”
2CO 5:17 “If any one is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”
Self doesn’t want to be exposed.
That marvelous experience was to be completely occupied with the other person.
Their great concern when together was the other person.
They lost something with themselves, but they also lost something with God.
hid = chaba = to hide self, to do things secretly, to withdraw, to conceal, to veil oneself.
The first couple was other-conscious – not even aware of their own physical condition.
Adam mixes truth, “I was afraid,” with half-truth, “because I was naked.”
He concealed his act of willful disobedience instead of openly and honestly confessing it.
None of us can bear up under the glorious light of absolute truth and authenticity, because it cuts into self so deeply.
HEB 4:12-13 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”
He called James and John, whose father’s nickname was “Thunder.”