They Must Be Giants - Part 7: Self-Esteem

They Must be Giants

Part 7 – A Giant Named Self-Esteem

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

We are continuing our series entitled “They Must be Giants!”

Most of us are familiar with the story of David & Goliath in 1 Samuel 17.

Remember these points from David & Goliath from the last few sermons;

We have spoken on;

†        David & Goliath

†        Unforgiveness

†        Fear

†        Anger

†        Hate

†        Flesh vs. Spirit

Today we are speaking on self-esteem.

SCRIPTURE READING
1 Peter 1:13-19

“13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

 17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.”

How does our world place value on people?

ñ Physical beauty, Money, Accomplishment.

ñ By comparing yourself with others.

ñ That’s how many get the value of themselves.

However, this line of thinking does not line up with the word of God, and needs to be changed.

There is no biblical guarantee that you will automatically receive healthy feelings about yourself when you accept Jesus as your Savior. Some people do, but many do not, because they do not fully comprehend where their worth truly comes from.

ñ  If fact some Christians mistakenly label good feelings about themselves as pride or conceit -traits that God hates Proverbs 21:4.

ñ  These people resist any feelings of healthy self-worth and zealously defend their feelings of worthlessness under the guise of being humble, spiritual and Biblical.

In the church I think we have mistakenly confused the human self with the carnal self when we talk about it being put to death.

The carnal self is the unredeemed part that has wrapped itself around the human self to control it. The carnal self can be destroyed, but not the human self. I see it as a tension between two verses - “I can do all things through Christ” and Christ saying, “Apart from me you can do nothing”

We need to understand, although God hates pride, we need to distinguish the carnal and human in us.  God loves the human He created in His image, but cannot stand the carnal nature of sin, and therefore we must crucify this carnal flesh daily, so that we may be able to walk with God in the Spirit.

ILLUSTRATION - Joe Namath
Our Daily Bread, March-May, 1996, p. for March 9

Few of us look in the mirror and come to the conclusion of Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath. During his heyday as a player, Namath wrote a book titled I Can’t Wait Until Tomorrow... ‘Cause I Get Better-Looking Every Day.

Or the old Mac Davis Song, “Oh Lord it’s hard to be humble, when you’re perfect in every way... “

But how we view ourselves should be a reflection of how God views us.

God has already established our value, we just need to acknowledge and recognize it.

I. Creation itself establishes your Value

Genesis 1:27

“27 So God created people in his own image;
God patterned them after himself...”

You are the crown jewel of God’s creation.

Josh McDowell

“A healthy self-image is seeing yourself the way God sees you-no more no less.”

BUILDING YOUR SELF-ESTEEM

ILLUSTRATION - Valuable Necklace
An American tourist in Paris, who purchased an inexpensive amber necklace in a trinket shop, was shocked when he had to pay quite a high duty on it to clear customs in New York.

This aroused his curiosity, so he had it appraised. After looking at the object under a magnifying glass, the jeweler said, “I’ll give you $25,000 for it.” Greatly surprised, the man decided to have another expert examine it. When he did, he was offered $10,000 more.

“What do you see that’s so valuable about this old necklace?” asked the astonished man. “Look through this glass,” replied the jeweler. There before his eyes was an inscription: “From Napoleon Bonaparte to Josephine.”

The value of the necklace was not found in the materials used to create it, but from its identification of who it belonged to.
 

II The Price of Your Salvation Establishes your worth.

1 Corinthians 6:19, 20

“19 ...don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”

1 Peter 1:18, 19

“18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver.19 He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.”
III So, How Does God Feel About You?
God has gone on the record about how he thinks and feels about you in his Word.

1. You must see yourself as a person God loves very much.

ñ Romans 5:6-8 But God commendeth his love toward us while we were yet sinners,

ñ Romans 5:9-10 The cross says he loves us “Much more” If God loved us while we were enemies, how much more does he love us as children.

2. Realize you are very valuable to God.

ñ John 3:16 “for God so loved the world, that He gave is only begotten Son, that whomsoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

3. Think of yourself as a forgiven person.

ñ 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”

See yourself as a changeable person. Regeneration makes re-creation possible. A new creation, a new creature!

God’s Feelings are on record

Deuteronomy 26:18

"The LORD has today declared you to be His people, a treasured possession, as He promised you, and that you should keep all His commandments;”

Zechariah 2:8

“For thus says the LORD of hosts, "After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye”

Isaiah 62:5

“…as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you.”

Luke 10:21

“At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.”

John 16:26-28

“26 In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27 No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."

Matthew 10:29-31

“29 Not even a sparrow, worth only half a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.”

IV Your Self Image is

Your self esteem is a reflection of how you believe other people see you.

It consists of who you think other people think you are, and that can be a real downer.

Dr Richard Dobbins “It would be nice if everyone liked me, but it’s not necessary” For not even Jesus was liked by everyone. He had but twelve disciples, and one betrayed him and one denied him.

The more positively you see yourself the more optimistic your view of life will tend to be.

Worlds false values - Physical Beauty - Money - Power or Popularity -Competence

True value is how the Lord sees you, and the fact that you belong to Him.

V. YOUR Self Image is your key to happiness

Proverbs 23:7 As a man thinketh in his heart so is he

Matthew 6:26

“26 Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are.”

VI How do you talk, or treat yourself?

Tattoo

Once I came upon a tattoo studio. On the wall were displayed samples of the tattoos available. On the chest or arms you could have tattooed an anchor or flag or mermaid or whatever. But what struck me with force was three words that could be tattooed on one’s flesh, Born to lose.

I pointed to those words, asked the tattoo artist, “Does anyone really have that terrible phrase, Born to lose, tattooed on his body.”

He replied, “Yes, sometimes.”

I said, “I just can’t believe that anyone in his right mind would do that.” The Chinese man simply tapped his forehead and said in broken English, “Before tattoo on body, tattoo on mind.”

The way you talk to yourself both grow out of and contributes to your self image.

Our way of interpreting life’s circumstances is what needs to change.

Outward circumstances do not determine your happiness.

-what does, is the way you choose to view them and talk to yourself about them that becomes critical to your happiness.

Eleanor Roosevelt is credited with saying, "Nobody can make me feel inferior without my permission."

In other words, "No one can make me feel anyway at all without my permission.”

Our self-esteem (feelings about yourself) are our chosen reactions to life’s events.

The way you see it, is the way it is for you. Everyone’s sky has its dark clouds, and no one can change your feelings, only you.

John 1:12, 13

“12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.13 They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan--this rebirth comes from God.”
How you can go about changing your self Image?

1. See Yourself as a person God Loves very much.

2. Realize you are very valuable to God.

3. Think of yourself as a forgiven person.

4. See yourself as a changeable person.

Learn to accept praise from others & Give it

Avoid putting yourself down. -Mistakes are a part of being human

Think, speak and act positively (Replace “I can’t, and I have to” with “I can and I will”

Replace negative self talk with positive self talk.

Conclusion: So let’s allow the Holy Spirit of God to change our self image through which we see life and judge others.

God wants to give us His view of life. We are told to love others the way we love ourselves. He wants to enable us to love ourselves as he does, in order that we can love others the same way.