Notes: It's Not All About Me

By Chris G: Notes from JP's message at The Porch (April 5, 2011)

Introduction: JP's part in the Watermark feature film, Seasons of Gray

• "You mean it's not all about me?"

• "That's all I get in life?"

• The movie we're in, it's so much bigger than us

• Even our acts of worship and service are all about us

• We want to be awesome, not to serve an awesome God

John 3:22-31...

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

27 To this John replied, "A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.' 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less."

31 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all.

Q1: Can you right now see God past yourself? Past your relationships, your job, your life...

• John's disciples see the people going to be baptized by Jesus and ask why everyone is going to Him

• John tells them that it is all about Jesus

Q2: Can others see your God past you?

• John gives an illustration about a bridegroom & bride--it's all about them, not the best man

• Ephesians 2:8-9, we can't even boast about being a Christian--God unlocks our hearts

• Our gifts and our talents are to glorify God and be attracted to Him

• "He must increase, but I must decrease." (v. 30)

• God and His work is described as "awesome"

Illustration: JP's trip to Africa

• Seeing the king of the jungle (lion)

• Thinking in that moment that this thing could destroy me, totally humbled

• When we realize who God is, in that moment, we understand our place and are humbled

Even heaven is about God: Revelation 4:1-11

1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

"'Holy, holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty,'

who was, and is, and is to come."

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they were created

and have their being."

What's our role? Worship. On our face. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord...