“Selflessness”

Bible Study 05/16/18

Delivered by Bishop Walker III

I.                Introduction

1. Mark 10:44-45 (NKJV) says 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
2. Philippians 2:3-4 (NKJV) says 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
3. In order to understand Selflessness, it is a good idea to compare it to s
4. Selfishness is characterized by concern or care of only for It describes the made up word, I-istic. I-istic is the thought that everything revolves around what I want or need.
5. When you receive Christ, you must know that Christ’s selflessness must become part of yourself. Putting this into practice, you move from a state of me to
6. Selflessness is at the highest form of humility. It is the giving of something not knowing that it will be rewarded or payed back.
   1. For example, if you gave something to someone and you keep reminding them of it, then this is not an example of selflessness. Selflessness is doing it, because it is in your nature to do it. In other words, you don’t expect anything in return.
7. If you do something with expectation, then you did it out of selfishness not selflessness.
   1. John 3:16 (NKJV) says 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. – God gave His son to us
   2. Romans 5:8 (NKJV) says 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.- God extended love to us, not having assurance that we would love him back.
8. In the concept of love, you have the Lover and Lovee. The Lover is the giver of love. The Lovee is the recipient of that love. Love is measured by the Lover, not the Lovee. The Lover will love the Lovee until the Lovee learns to love them back. God loved us, before we knew to love him.
   1. Philippians 2:5-8 (NKJV) says 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it [a]robbery to be equal with God, 7 but [b]made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.- He humbled himself. This suggests that selflessness is only possible where there is humility. The opposite of humility is pride and pride goes before destruction and it feeds the ego. You can’t worship, if you are being worshipped.
9. The root of selfishness is sin. Sin separates us from God. If you are separated from God, then your ego must be fed. This makes you think you don’t need God and as a result, you won’t serve God.
10. Selfless people are seen as heroic, because nowadays, this is something you don’t see every day.
    1. It’s funny, people that don’t’ have anything to be arrogant about, are the very people who are arrogant. It is all about attitude.

II.              The Attitude of Being Selfless

1. Psychotherapist, F. Dian Barth, states that the two primary characteristics of selfishness are as follows:
   1. Being Concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself.
   2. Having No regard for the needs or feelings of others.
2. Selfless is being concerned about others. How many of you grew up with siblings? When you are selfless, you want to make sure everyone has eaten, before you eat the last piece.
   1. Romans 12:2 (NKJV) says 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.– This is an issue of culture.
3. You can’t allow yourself to be influenced by culture. The church should influence culture, not the other way around.
   1. If you conform to culture, then you will be spiritually deformed, and therefore cannot perform.
   2. Philippians 2:4 (NKJV) says 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. – Selflessness is concerned about others. Selfishness is concerned only about one’s self.
4. Your decisions matter. Your decisions affect other people.
   1. What about the things you post on Facebook for example. The decisions you make now can mess you or somebody else up 5 to 10 yrs down the road.
      1. 1 Corinthians 10:24 (NKJV) 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.- When you think of only yourself, you are still in an immature state.

III.            The Action of Bestowing Selfless Love

1. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 (NKJV) 13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body [a]to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [b]puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [c]thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.– Love is an act of selflessness
2. 3 things
3. Your gifts are not a replacement for walking in love.
4. Love is not an act, it consists of action.
5. Love is not self-serving or selfish, love is selfless.
6. Galatians 5:14 (NKJV) says 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
7. Proverbs 3:27-28 (NKJV) says 27 Do not withhold good from [a]those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you.
8. Philippians 2:13 (NKJV) 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

IV.           The Approach to Being a Selfless Leader

Bishop tells the story of being called to preach when he was 20. He was planning to be a lawyer, when God first called him. At first Bishop resisted the call. Bishop interpreted the call as him having to give up his plans to do what God wanted him to do. For him, the struggle was in giving up me for we.

Being 20 yrs old, Bishop wondered if he could put the call off for a while, so he could live a little first. Finally Bishop said yes to God. He was finally willing to submit, but then he was introduced to the scripture that teaches “To follow Christ, he must first deny himself”.

In denying himself, he found out that his fraternity brothers no longer wanted to invite him to the parties anymore. Bishop would walk into places and everyone would start hiding their smokes and their alcoholic beverages. This made Bishop feel like he was no longer normal.

This caused Bishop’s flesh to start rebelling. Bishop finally decided to go to God about it. God reminded Bishop that it was He that made him, not himself.

1. Everything you do should be a result of your call, if you are truly working in purpose. If you go to work, is your vocation, but what you do while you are at work is part of your call. In other words, you can take a sabbatical from your vocation, but not your call. You can’t run from your, because your call will chase you down. For example, we have heard people say, “I used to be a Minister”. How in the world can you “used to be a Minister”?
2. For those who are thinking about quitting your ministry, here’s a word that should help you. Luke 9:62(NKJV) says 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”- When it comes to kingdom assignment, you keep plowing no matter the situation. If you think about yourself and not the assignment along with the people that your assignment affects, then you will eventually get tired and quit.
3. 1 Corinthians 9:19 (NKJV) says 19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;- Selflessness means I don’t have my own agenda.
4. Philippians 2:21 (NKJV) says 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.- To get past the I-istic phase, you realize that you are chosen to do this. You have to know that it’s not all about you.

1. 14 Characteristic of selfless leader
2. Leaders ask questions and listen carefully.
3. Leaders bring other with them on the journey.
4. Leaders create a leadership environment to foster learning and growth.
5. Leaders encourage and build up others.
6. Leaders do what’s right even when it’s unpopular.
7. Leaders are quick to work on and develop themselves.
8. Leaders recognize the growth of others.
9. Leaders recognize wisdom.
10. Leaders recognize that talent is never enough.
11. Leaders focus on the right things.
12. Leaders are persevering.
13. Leaders fail forward.
14. Leaders act courageously.
15. Leaders make decisions early and manage them daily.
16. Luke 6:38 (NKJV) says 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”- What you release in earth and into others, will be released back to you.

V.             Conclusion

1. 1 Peter 3:8 (NKJV) says 8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be [a]courteous;- ,
2. Luke 6:35 (NKJV) says 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, [a]hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
3. Conclusion story

Bishop explains, he had this moment with God and something came into his head. He had gotten tired of investing and pouring into people just to be hurt. Bishop had the question, “Should be nonrelation”? He had simply become tired of people.

The Lord was like, “So is this where we are”? Jesus said if they slap you, turn the other check. This simply means if they disrespect you, let them do it again. God said to Bishop, “Don’t let what people did to you, change you”. If you allow what people have done to you, change you, then you cut off a portal of blessing. Everything you have and have encountered is a direct result of who you are.

God said, “You can’t allow those few people change who you are”. Some of them you want to give them a piece of your mind. God said to Bishop, “Let it go. Let it go”. He says, “Cast your cares upon me, for you”. He continued to say, “Come unto me those who are heavy laden and I will give you rest”.

God said, “You can’t be selflessness with the guarantee that they will give it back to you. You got to continue being who you are”. Bishop was on the verge of slipping into a dark place.

1. Galatians 6:9 (NKJV) says 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. – If you do not let it break you, change your, or effect you, it will pay off. Jesus said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”.
2. Your blessing is still in being kind, loving, and authentic. It is not about you, it is about being a blessing to somebody else.