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In Excess Matthew. 4:1-10

Walk onto the parking lot of any car dealership and you have entered the most hallowed ground of Status-Symbol Central. Nobody loves their cars like we do in the USA. A car symbolizes first freedom for teenagers. It's a taste we seem to crave until our final days. But obviously there is far more to an automobile that simply an independent means of transportation.

Look around the car lot. Do you see any Ford Warthogs? How about a Chevy Leech? A Dodge Klutz or Pontiac Pansy? How about a Cadillac Peoria? Of course not!

Instead we have always used only the most beautiful, powerful animal (Mustangs, Eagles, Firebirds), the most macho references (Rangers, Troopers, Explorers), the most picturesque places (Dakota, Seville, Laredo) to christen our beloved autos. When names have failed us we opt instead for the sleek techno-sophistication of secret numbers codes (X14, 320i, "S"-class).

Only those of us who have driven decrepit old clunkers cajole our chugging, reluctant cars by crooning "Come on old Bessie." Kind of reminds me of the truck I bought one time that you had to park on a hill to get started. Fortunately we lived on a hill but if you shut it off it was hard to get home.

Who among us hasn't imagined themselves as part of that svelte, sophisticated couple that cruise their gleaming new automobile up in front of a a trendy restaurant, gracefully emerge and hand the keys off to an impressed and grateful valet. Who among us has not cringed when we've pulled our dirty mini-van up to a valet parking lot, hauled out ourselves, our kids, the stroller, the toys, and then smiling apologetically watched the valet try to and sit down without landing on a gummy-bear or an exploding juice box, or something worse.

We live in a society that has made it very easy to get sucked into the, “It’s all about me” syndrome.

I don’t want to shock or startle you too much but there are some things in life that we should say no to. Back in the 80’s it was Nancy Reagan who pushed the Just Say No campaign in the school systems. It was her effort to teach and encourage children to say no to drugs.

Sometimes we should say no to good deals, especially when we don’t have the money to pay for them.

We should say no to things that we know are bad for us. Physically, spiritually, emotionally.

The Bible clearly teaches that we should learn to say no to the gratification of ourselves.

We live in a very self-oriented society and we must learn to understand what it means to be a Christ follower in a self-indulgent culture.

Jesus models the way to avoid selfishness. At the beginning of His ministry on this earth, Jesus faced an unusual day of temptation. He was tempted in three of the very areas that we sometimes struggle with.

1. Saying No to Self-Gratification.

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to Him and said, “Since you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Jesus answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew. 1:1-4

Is it any wonder that this was the first temptation? After all He had been fasting for forty days and nights. Food and eating might just be the first thing you would want to do after fasting.

Too often in the society in which we live people are in trouble because they do not know how to say no to themselves.

They have put themselves and their desires above what is best for them and those around them.

Self gratification is the person who gets drunk and drives a car that ends up killing innocent people.

Self gratification is the person who spends money they don’t have to support a habit that is devastating to their lifestyle and family.

Self gratification is someone who decides to have an affair when clearly adultery is clearly breaking one of the Ten Commandments.

Self gratification is having sex outside of marriage. That is for teens and adults.

Self gratification is indulging in pornography which is a destructive and degrading behavior.

Self gratification is always spending money on yourself and never looking after the needs of others.

Self gratification is eating in an unhealthy manner which in turn destroys your body and cuts your life short.

Self gratification is spending money on games of chance or gambling. Recently William Bennett was the target of an investigative report in which his high stakes gambling was exposed. For many this was very enjoyable since Mr. Bennett has made a living telling and instructing others on morality. The hypocrisy of his actions made certain adversaries very bold as they chastised him. He defended his 8 million expenditure by saying he didn’t put his family in jeopardy so it was okay. I would only ask Mr. Bennett how much better could that money be spent. Would caring and compassion programs put the money to better use then bookies and casino owners?

Self gratification is always saying yes when in reality there are times when we need to say no.

Self gratification is putting your self above the needs of others. Too often marriages are tested at this point when early on the guy or gal does not take responsibility around the home.

Self gratification is doing the things which you know are self destructive but doing them anyway because it feels good.

All of these things are contrary to the teachings of the Word of God and especially Jesus.

Jesus clearly taught that we are to deny ourselves. . . .

We are to walk in a way that reflects a high value on our life and the lives of others.

2. Saying No to Self-Promotion.

“Then the devil took Him to the holy city and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord you God to the test.’” Matthew 4:5-7

Boy do we know about this temptation in our society. We love ourselves to death.

I did a computer search on the word self this week and found 2.3 million sites.

Because "we want the wisdom that comes with age, but not the wrinkles," there's no stigma today for the tummy-tuck or face-lift.In the US, the five most popular cosmetic surgeries are nose reshaping, liposuction, eyelid surgery, breast augmentation, and face-lifts. These account for 76% of all cosmetic surgeries.In the US, the five most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedures are chemical peel, micro-dermabrasion, Botox and collagen injections, and laser hair removal. These account for 82% of all such procedures.

Worldwide, liposuction is the hottest procedure, followed by breast augmentation, Botox injection, eyelid surgery, nose reshaping, and face lifts.

The boomer generation's obsession with youth (boomers are not bald, they're "follically challenged") is evident in their spending patterns. Boomers are spending $30 billion a year in anti-aging products from food to facials, from vitamins to Viagra, from Tai Chi to treadmills, from pedicures to pharmaceuticals to pumping iron. (Get some products out to show, like the skin moisturizer "Hangover Helper" at $39 for a half-ounce bottle that erases bags under bloodshot eyes).

We want to look as young as we feel. "In 2001, 125,000 Americans had facelifts; 275,000 underwent liposuction to remove midriff bulge and 220,000 went in for breast enhancements. While women still undergo most of the procedures, men now account for 14 percent of all cosmetic surgeries." —Michael J. Weiss, "Chasing Youth," American Demographics.

How tempting it is to promote ones self. Many times we face temptations to promote ourselves rather than wait for it to happen in God’s timing.

What lengths will people go to promote themselves?Some of you face this in the workplace.

We all know the person who will always make sure that they are in the limelight. They always want to look good. They always want to be seen and heard.

I have served on many boards and I am always fascinated when a young person gets on a board and thinks that they have to dominate the whole first meeting. Some times it’s not always a young person. They have no background in the old business of the board or really do not have a handle on what is going on yet but they are going to straighten it out.

Learn humility. Learn to be a servant.

There is nothing more nauseating than church politics. Often this is most visible as people will vie for jobs and positions that they think will somehow promote them ahead of their peers. I have seen men and women do all kind of things in hopes of getting elected to some position that twenty years from now no one will remember much of what they did anyway.

As a denomination that promotes and espouses the Wesleyan doctrine of Holiness and sanctification we have done ourselves a major disservice in not preaching and teaching this message clearly.

The message of the surrendered life is one of humility and total surrender of our circumstances to God.

E.G. Marsh – The Old Man book.

There is a way to live in which we don’t have to always be in the spotlight. Serving God is not about being seen. It is about doing his will and loving others.

Saying no to self promotion means that we don’t throw our weight around to get our own way.

Self promotion is always having to be seen when or heard from.

Self promotion is trying to manipulate situations to put yourself in a better light.

Self promotion is stepping on the feeling of others as you project yourself.

Self promotion is always having to be first.

Self promotion is selfish and childish behavior.Have you heard the story about the Texan who arrived in heaven? An angel asked if there was anything he could do to make the Texan's stay more enjoyable. The man, who loved music, especially Bible Belt choirs, responded: "Give me ten thousand sopranos." "Anything else?" the angel asked. "Yes, I'd like ten thousand altos, and while you're at it how about getting me ten thousand tenors, too."

"Consider it done,' said the angel. "Anything else?"

"Nope, that'll be it for the present."

The angel's curiosity was piqued. So the angel asked, "Well, how about the basses?"

Answered the Texan, "I'll sing bass."

—Joel Eidsness, "Lament for the City of Man," in Haddon W. Robinson, ed., Biblical Sermons: How Twelve Preachers Apply the Principles of Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1989), 245.It’s okay to be a normal, down to earth individual. You don’t have to be anything but real and genuine.

3. Saying No to Power.

“Again the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Jesus said to Him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’” Matthew 4:8-10

If cars are one of our most easily recognizable status symbols they are certainly only at the top of an ever-lengthening list. US America loves to proclaim herself a truly classless society—where anyone from anywhere can make it if they work hard enough. Whether your bootstraps are Gucci or Red Wing its up to each individual to do their own pulling up. Part truth, part myth—of course—but you only have to see the new movie Park, about the upstairs/downstairs existence in British culture, to realize the essential fluidity to this society that sets it apart.We may not have true British classes.Note: this is not what those haughty European types are referring to when they smile and say we have no class.But we have status symbols which function like classes. And how we do treasure our many and varied status symbols. A few years back The New York Times Magazine (15 November 1998) did a special theme issue on status. The introductory essay on status in a class-free society by Andrew Sullivan distinguished between class and status. It's an extremely helpful distinction."If class is fixed, determined by where you have been, and largely a function of your past, status is eminently fluid, tells a great deal about where you are going and is largely about the future. In the world of capitalism, class is your net worth; status is your stock price. In the world of language, class is about accent; status is about vocabulary. The former is hard to change; the later is liable to fluctuate from hour to hour. Class is inherited; status is acquired." (Andrew Sullivan, "Status in a Class-free Society: What We Look Up To Now," New York Times Sunday Magazine, 15 November 1998, 60.

Some observations about when Jesus said “No”:

    1. Jesus says no to the desire for a quick fix.
    2. Jesus invited suffering when He said no.
    3. Jesus says no to Himself in order to love.
    4. Jesus says no in His darkest hour.

2003/05/18