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PROMOTNG YOURSELF IN OTHERS Philippians 2: 3 - 4. Doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; 4 each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. (WEB). INTRODUCTION.
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PROMOTNG YOURSELF IN OTHERSPhilippians 2: 3 - 4 Doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; 4 each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others. (WEB)
INTRODUCTION • In any relationship, there are agents that sweeten or embitter it. What we make out of ours depends on the ingredients we add to it. As Christians, we need to embrace comfort in Christ, any help given by love, any uniting of hearts in the Spirit, any loving mercies and pity, to fulfill or make our joy complete by being of one accord or of the same mind, having the same love and being in harmony with one another. • Doing nothing through envy, pride or selfish ambition, but with low thoughts of self or lowliness of mind, let everyone esteem or take others to be better than himself. Each is to protect or promote not only his own interest or good, but also the interest of others.
BY PROMOTING OTHERS YOU PROMOTE SELF • John the Baptist promoted himself in Christ. In John 1:29 - 30 it is said that the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 "This is He of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.' (NKJV). Later, he, John, added in John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease.”
PROMOTING OTHERS PLAYED OUT • Mt 3:13 - 15 ‘Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.’ (NKJV).
THE VERDICT • Lu 7:28 "For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; …" (NKJV)
THE SATANIC VERSES EQUIVALENT • The evil spirit did a promotion in sarcasm or mockery. Mt 4:3 Now, when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." (NKJV) • The same evil spirit said same to Christ at Capernaum. In Mark 1:23 – 25 it is stated, ‘Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!" 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"’
PAUL AND COMPANY ALSO • Ac 16:16 – 18 Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation." 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour. (NKJV)
THE POLITICAL VERSION • Politicians get promoted by the people by promoting and getting identified with the great among them. For instance Shagari with Ahmadu Bello; Bola Ige, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu with Awolowo; Jim Nwobodo and Zik; Peter Obi and Ojukwu,. The beneficiaries got elected riding on the back of their great benefactors by promoting and extolling them.
THE OBAMA CASE • President Obama of the USA launched into prominence after introducing and giving a citation on John Kerry, a presidential candidate of his Democratic party when the latter went to Chicago to campaign for support. People saw brilliance per excellence in Obama when he was passionately marketing another person. Even though his candidate did not make it, that action brought him into limelight and paved his way to the highest human seat in the world which he occupies today. Ironically, the same Kerry is serving under him as the secretary of state in this his second term.
THAT REMINDS ME • During an electioneering, Dr. Olaiya Oni, a one-time campaign manager of Governor Mimiko of Ondo state, dazed me when I watched him reeling out the CV and achievements of Mimiko and why he deserved a second coming. I was greatly impressed by his demonstrations and the abilities that manifested in his presentation. If I have a chance, I will vote for the manager himself any day. I even learnt now that ACN party has bought him with intent to position him for the governorship race come the election year 2015.
ON THE CONTRARY • The devilish promoters paid their prices just like the direct opponents of Christ. They were expunged from their victims. • Imagine an officer working in pension office and making things difficult for pensioners with less consideration for his/her future retirement. • Church members that will not encourage their church to help others build may one day be promoted to stay close to that church and begin to bear the full burden. • A wife who breaths down on a foster child • A boss who holds down a subordinate • Or an employee who brings down his employer’s business in order to climb.
SHORT-LIVED JOY • You may be up for a while but crashing is sure. • Mt 7: 2 says "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” • The case of a law enforcement officer illustrates this vividly. He killed the only conscious accident victim to carry his bag of money and did same to his colleague who showed disapproval of his action. He went away with his loot and later retired honourably.
RETRIBUTION • His only son, a medical doctor, was returning from NYSC discharge camp and died in an accident on the same spot where he shot his victims. While others, innocent of his crime were crying and throwing themselves down, he went into deep reflection and confessed to a handful of people what he did many years before and did not know it was still haunting him.
CONCLUSION • When you speak well of another, you are marketing yourself. On the other hand, if you are always bitter and do not see anything good in another person, you are marking yourself down. Comedians leverage on this to get hired by making people feel lighter even in mockery. • Therefore, desist from destructive commentaries and criticisms of others’ actions. Instead, make efforts to gently correct when you feel strongly that an error has been committed. • May our heavenly father guide and direct our hearts so as to minister grace to our hearers in Jesus name. Amen.
PRESENTER Evangelist Oji O. Oji Church of Christ Ikeja. Sunday June 9, 2013. www.ojiooji.com