No matter how good a Sunday Service is, or a prayer meeting or your personal devotion, we know that it will end at a certain time. It may take longer or shorter than usual, but it will surely come to an end. Then you'll go back to where the actual battle is, your life and everything around you.
²After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. ³His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. ⁴And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. ⁵Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁶(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) ⁷Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” ⁸Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. Mark 9:2-8 NIV
No tabernacle is big enough to contain the Law, the Prophet and the Gospel. (Moses, Elijah and Jesus Christ); so God brought His tabernacle (cloud that covered them).
As mentioned in this passage, Peter's idea of building a shelter was a result of being "greatly afraid." Sometimes when we are scared, we tend to say or do things we don't really mean. I believe this is what happened to Peter. The thing is, at a glance, it may be viewed as "Spiritual Selfishness."
Spiritual Selfishness
Spiritual selfishness is the desire to keep all good spiritual experience to oneself.
Jesus commissioned His disciples to "make disciples." We must share the gospel.
Jesus commissioned His disciples to "make disciples." We must share the gospel.
Spiritual selfishness is when we are ready to share Jesus, yet we choose not to. It is also when we choose not to learn to share Jesus even if we have the capacity to.
In his awe and fear, Peter must have thought of staying in that moment forever.
In his awe and fear, Peter must have thought of staying in that moment forever.
When we are in the presence of God, we enjoy it. We love being ministered to, but we must never forget the people whom God ministers to through us.
When tempted to become spiritually selfish, let us remember...
... Jesus modeled spiritual generosity.
When the cloud has gone, Moses and Elijah left, but not Jesus.
Although He was with people who knew exactly who He is and how to talk with Him, He chose to remain with His disciples. He to trained them, He completed His mission, He did the work.
When tempted to become spiritually selfish, let us remember...
... Jesus modeled spiritual generosity.
Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. Mark 9:8 NIV
Although He was with people who knew exactly who He is and how to talk with Him, He chose to remain with His disciples. He to trained them, He completed His mission, He did the work.
Imagine if Jesus was spiritually selfish. He would have just left an unfinished business. (Of course this is highly unimaginable. We know He did what He came do and completed it.)
Another instance that Jesus was spiritually generous was when Lazarus died. Here's part of His conversation with His disciples.
⁷and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” ⁸“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” John 11:7-8 NIVHe still went back to Judea to minister even after threats on His own life. Jesus modeled spiritual generosity.
... God confronts spiritual selfishness.
After Jonah did what God wanted him to do and the people of Nineveh repented from their sins, He confronted him about his display of spiritual selfishness.
⁹But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” ¹⁰But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. ¹¹And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” Jonah 4:9-11 NIV
God reiterated His concern to people who were ignorant of their sins.
The punishment for their sins is inevitable unless they come to repentance, and since the New Testament, receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.
God's desire is for sinners to come to repentance.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 NIV
... we fight spiritual selfishness.
How do we fight spiritual selfishness?
Understand that Jesus Christ died for all.
Witness to them.
Reach out to them.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 NIVPray for them.
Witness to them.
Reach out to them.
Remember to be guided by God's love.
³²“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
³⁵But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
Luke 6:32, 35 NIVWe do not love the way the world loves, but the way God taught us to.
Do not sin in the name of love.
You do not let the one you love live in sin or be led to destruction.
Immerse yourself daily into His Presence.
Let us read His Word daily.
Let us decide to serve Him and Him alone.
The more we are immersed in God's presence daily, the less time we have to be spiritually selfish.
Conclusion
Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Mark 9:7 NIVListening to Jesus, The Word is more than just reading. It involves evidence of listening - action.
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 NIVLet us do our daily devotion.
Let us read His Word daily.
Let us decide to serve Him and Him alone.
The more we are immersed in God's presence daily, the less time we have to be spiritually selfish.
Conclusion
We fight spiritual selfishness by remaining in God's presence.
There is no way anyone immersed in God's presence would choose not to share Jesus to others.
There is no way anyone immersed in God's presence would choose not to share Jesus to others.
Heaven is real, so as hell. No matter how much we may disagree with a person, we do not wish for them to go to hell.
In fact, in God's presence, we are moved to win as much people as we can by God's grace.
In fact, in God's presence, we are moved to win as much people as we can by God's grace.
Spiritual selfishness dies when we are truly renewed by His grace and mercy.