Finding The Truth

PROBLEM

  1. I would be embarrassed for MLK to see us now. 
  2. We hear comments like “you’re free, white and 21”
  3. Sometimes when people try to tell us how they feel, we disregard how they feel and insist they see things our way instead.  (self-centeredness)
  4. This is sinful and self centered of us.

GOD

  1. John 8: 31-32 (NKJV) – “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
  2. Most people think freedom is freedom from responsibility to God and others in order that I may live for myself and be free. 
  3. That isn’t freedom. That’s bondage to my own self-centeredness. True freedom is to be set free from my silly little self in order to give myself in love to God and to my fellow human beings. 
  4. Freedom to be my true self as God made me and meant me to be.
  1. An example of self-centeredness: a man climbing a tower who sees further in terms of physical vision while remaining himself the center and the standard of reference. “I am the center of the world I see.”
  2. We Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the only remedy for this radical self-centeredness. 
  3. By the power of his Spirit he can enter our personality and begin to change us from within. 
  4. Christians do not claim to be perfect. We claim that Jesus has begun to liberate us from the cramping bondage of our own self-centeredness.

APPLICATION

  1. Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. – What our african american brothers and sisters are saying, “If we are one in the spirit, then when I hurt, you should hurt. But I don’t hear you say ouch. Sometimes it would at least help if you could cry with us. But if you don’t care, you won’t cry. “
  2. Our national motto: e pluribus unum – Out of many, one. 
  3. The example Adam and Eve in Genesis 2:24 – True unity takes humility and love
  4. We need to cooperate with God’s intent to give us a reset to see things from his presence.
  5. 1) Pray First – Listen and believe – 2) Speak up for them
  6. Galatians 2 – Paul confronted peter about racism

VISION

  1. Just one Christian empathizing or standing up for someone can prove there is hope to a victim.
  2. Examples of where we see the Kingdom of God in our church
  3. We have an opportunity today to stand in the middle of a dark dark moment with the love and compassion of Jesus and be who he asks us to be as his followers.
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