Mushrooms or Maple Trees:
Spiritual Growth as God Intended
Sermon #5
Sermon Objective: We can be released from our “addiction to self” by submitting to the grace of the Gospel; the 12 steps are especially illustrative here.
PRE-SERVICE INTRODUCTION
We are in a sermon series called Mushrooms and Maple Trees. Mushrooms sprout up overnight and then wither away in a matter of days. Maple trees, on the other hand, grow gradually while learning to withstand the forces of nature that threaten their existence. They result in a majestic fruit bearing entity that lasts for generations.
So it is with people who follow Christ. Unfortunately some wither away very rapidly; but others grow deep and strong and produce the fruit of life that God designed for them.
In chapter 8 and 9 of Mark we are discovering elements of a Christ-follower that produce this depth and substance to life.
Just as Jesus was preparing and grooming the first disciples to be Maple Trees so we will discover that as we apply the lessons to our lives we, too, will grow in kind. Maple Tree style followers live lives that please God.
In past weeks we discovered that a life that pleases God is:
1. A life that follows Him Personally (8:27-33)
2. A life that follows Him in Full Surrender (8:34-38)
3. A life that follows Him in Obedience (9:1-8)
4. A life that follows Him in Close Connectedness (9:14-29)
Today we will discover that a life that pleases God is a LIFE THAT FOLLOWS HIM IN HUMILITY (9:33-35)
>>Begin reading at Mark 9:14 to set the scene<<
Mk 9:33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?”
Mk 9:34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
Mk 9:35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
INTRODUCTION:
>>Show the Sermonspice video “It’s All About Me<<
I’ve been paying close attention to some recent research about addictions. Listen to this snippet from one recent article:
Addiction Gene (http://www.sciencentral.com/)
Genetics researchers have confirmed that people with a different form of a certain gene are more susceptible to drug and alcohol addiction. They hope the finding will help predict who might get hooked and what treatments will help those who do.
As reported in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Researcher Wolfgang Sadee and his colleagues looked at two variations, A118G and G118 of the mu-opioid receptor gene.
Researchers led by Sadee, a scientist at the Ohio State University, have figured out how differences in one gene can make the brain more sensitive to alcohol, narcotics, or nicotine. The gene Sadee’s team looked at has long been known to code for a kind of brain protein called an opioid receptor, which acts like a switch, turning on pleasure and blocking pain when triggered by certain addictive drugs.
I want to talk to you this morning about addiction. I have come to a conclusion that there is an addiction far stronger than the addiction caused by the aberrant mu-opioid receptor gene.
The addiction is rampant and real. And, like most victims of addiction, those who have it tend to deny it.
The addiction has a tailored segment of the population that is pre-disposed. Just as science tells us some people are pre-disposed to alcohol addiction (which should not be confused with science saying they WILL be alcoholics or that they cannot overcome the allurement) so, this addiction attracts those who are disposed towards it.
The addiction is terribly destructive. Life shows us that those with addictions not only harm themselves but the lives of those around them; so too with this addiction. All those within the addict’s network become affected – it ravages and destroys entire family systems.
The addiction is very pervasive. Just as some addictions lead to other parasitic addictions, so too with this one … in fact it is the “Mother of all addictions.” All other addictions find the roots within this one.
• It is Real
• It is Rampant
• It is Attractive
• It is Destructive
• It is Pervasive
• It is Descriptive
This addiction is … THE ADDICTION TO SELF.
I am not trying to be cute or play on words. I genuinely believe this is a real pathological addiction that affects all of humankind.
As with any addiction, this one alters the manner by which we view our world.
It distorts our perspective. We think everything is about us. We become the grid by which every decision, every stimuli, every problem, every human scenario is judged.
It alters our behavior. It is the reason we dabble in sin, neglect other’s needs, are mean to people, lie, pursue materialism, steal, consume inordinate amount of non-renewable resources, and …. the list goes on.
Toby Keith’s song hits the nail on the head. The refrain of “I Wanna Talk about Me” says
I wanna talk about me
Wanna talk about I
Wanna talk about number one
Oh my me my
What I think, what I like, what I know, what I want, what I see
That sounds familiar. Way too familiar to the human race.
The disciples had this addiction. So much so that they were not interested in talking about or discovering what “the resurrection meant” but they sure were willing to quibble over who was superior.
I mentioned last week that I was somewhat curious as to what the nine were talking about at the bottom of the mountain while the transfiguration was going on above … I think we know now. Moments before, the Shekinah Glory was present above, and now there is a dark cloud of self-centeredness hanging over them.
Such is the nature of addiction to self. Because the disciples aren’t the only ones who quibble over who is the greatest. We’re just cleverer and cloak it better. Every human network creates a pecking order.
• Maybe it’s who has the best academic pedigree or is published the most frequent
• Maybe it’s who makes the most money and gets the most sales
• Maybe it’s who wears the nicest clothes or has the most “toys”
• Maybe it’s the accomplishments of your children
• Maybe it’s … you fill in the blank … whatever gives you a sense of superiority over another person qualifies.
All humankind has this addiction. JESUS CHRIST IS THE FIRST AND ONLY HUMAN / ONLY IDEAL MODEL FOR HUMANITY OF ONE WHO WAS NOT ADDICTED TO SELF. Jesus lived modeled an addiction free lifestyle fully capable of accomplishing its designed purpose.
And that’s where we find the GOOD NEWS!!!! Even though we are all disposed to this addiction some of our fellow carbon-based life forms have moved from practicing addict to recovering addict through a relationship with Jesus Christ. They have discovered the deliverance that IS the Gospel and they have discovered the liberty that comes with that deliverance.
Jesus is not willing to excuse it or permit self-addiction in his followers. In other words, WE CAN BE SET FREE FROM THIS ADDICTION TO SELF! AND, IN CHRIST, WE ARE EXPECTED TO BE SET FREE FROM THE ADDICTION TO SELF.
Some of you are familiar with the origins of the 12 Step Program. Many streams came together in the 1930s when a Lutheran Minister, Dr. Frank Buchman, and the spiritual formation group he frequented called “The Oxford Group” created the 12 steps. At first, they were created for their own spiritual formation; but not long afterwards, a friend who was addicted to alcohol was “released” from the fight and desire to drink through the steps.
In other words, the 12 steps were written by Christians and meant to be used in conjunction with the Gospel and a Christian community/support group.
There is much (indeed all) in the 12 steps that lends itself to being “released” from self- addiction too.
Observe:
1. Admit we are powerless over our self-addiction—that our lives had become unmanageable.
• The root of self-addiction is within in. It is called sin. In order to be freed from it you will have to acknowledge it and confess it.
• 1 John 1:9 says If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
2. Believe that a Power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity.
• Your hope for deliverance is Jesus Christ. His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection assure you power for deliverance. To look anywhere else is akin to trying to do surgery on yourself.
• Hebrews 12:1-2 says: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3. Make a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God.
• Surrender your will to the will of God. Following your will doesn’t work … it is the epitome of self-addiction.
• Romans 12:1-2 says: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
4. Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
• Psalm 139:23-24 says: Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
5. Admit to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
• The Christian faith is intended to be in community.
• James 5:16 says: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
6. Become entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
• Here’s another sticky point for some. They don’t want to be delivered from their addiction.
• Psalm 51 addresses this need for inner transformation:
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.
5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
• God shows us our need through His word. He gives us His word to help us grow into “Maple Treees.”
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
8. Make a list of all persons we have harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continue to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
• This is one of the most skipped elements in the 12 steps.
• Real fruit and repentance shows itself in obedience. Making reconciliation is humbling but sanctifying. One cannot be free of themselves by skipping this step.
• Matthew 5:23-24: "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
11. Seek through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His Will for us and the power to carry that out.
• Be a person of the Word
• Close connectivity to God never becomes less important or out grown. In order to be free of yourself you will have to be filled with the Spirit.
• You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)
• Come near to God and he will come near to you. (James 4:8a)
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we will carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
• As long as we are fixated on ourselves, we do not have the capacity to serve others. We can only be the complete agents of grace that God designed us to be after we have begun to recover from our self-addiction.
• 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
Conclusion:
Maple Trees develop and mature. They do not happen by accident.
The same is true spiritually. You will not mature and become a fruit bearing asset to the Kingdom by superficial “religiosity.” It requires a deep work of the Spirit of God and that requires a submissive and humble heart.
Let’s Pray.
