God Centeredness – Elder Cliford Drakes

October 13th, 2013

Theme: Self- Centredness vs. God-Centredness

The reason why many Christians are unable to follow God faithfully is because they are too self-centred.  They should admit to themselves this truth “I am not able to deny self because I am self-centred. I am self-centred because I am not God-centred.”  Deny means “to refuse to agree with; to withhold something from; to refuse to acknowledge or recognize; disown or disavow.”

Luke 9:23 “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” This verse shows the necessary progression in following Christ:

1. Deny self

2. Take up your cross

3.  Follow Christ.

We must deny our sinful nature. There is war which goes on between the flesh and the spirit.  Therefore we must practise winning by denying self. Being self-centred is being concerned with one’s own interest.

Rom.8: 5-9 “Those who live according to the flesh have set their minds on what the flesh desires.”

Those people who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God Gal.5:19-2. Warnings are given here to those who live sinful lives. Listed below are the acts/ works of the flesh:

1. Sexual sins: adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, masturbation, orgies.
2. Social sins: hatred, discord, rage, selfishness, selfish ambition, dissentions, factions, orgies, drunkenness and the like.
3. Spiritual sins:  idolatry, witchcraft, orgies and the like.

Rom. 8:6 “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.”

Rom. 8:7 “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.” It is anti-God and anti-Christ.

Rom. 8:8 “Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.”

Your greatest battle is with self, therefore you must kill it. Theologian and writer John Owen once said: “Be killing sin or it will be killing you.”

Rom. 8:12 “Therefore brothers, we have an obligation-but it is not to the [sinful nature], to live according to it.” We owe our flesh nothing. It is an enemy of God. Why then would you want to appease the flesh?  It has one desire and that is to kill you. Therefore, you must kill it first.

Jas. 1:4 “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” The flesh is always associated with death. Our greatest battle will always be against self. Learning to be God-centred is the only way in which we can eliminate self-centredness.

The salvation plan of God is a God-centred plan not a human-centred plan.  Salvation is about God, not about us.  Ps 51:5; Luke 4:18. It is imperative that we be God-centred.