231: What About Self Esteem?

2 Timothy 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.

In the last days, toward the end of the church. 

• The age near the coming of the Lord. 
  
• When our time for work is about over and laboring in the harvest field. 
  
• The times will get to be perilous. 
  
• Difficult to live in. You know, like now. 
  

And the reason is “for men will be”. 

• The reason the days will be difficult will be because of the characteristics of man. 
  
• Because people will be like this. 
  
• Therefore it's going to be very difficult and it's one more sign the time is running short.
  

If you've studied this passage or read these verses lately, surely your heart heard the Lord say we are in these days.

Are we not? 

What's the number one characteristic of humankind listed here, describing the last days?

Verse 2 says, “...for men will be lovers of themselves”. 

Now this makes “self” a false God. 

• An idol. 
  
• Because we are to love the Lord our God with all of our being. 
  
• And then, as he fills our hearts with his love, we're just to pour out that love of God toward others. 
  
• Romans five, verse five says, “...because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
  

And that's it. 

• Loving God with all of our being because he's worthy. 
  
• Then as he fills us with his love, poured out on others.
  
• That's the way to live.
  

But, in the last days, men will be lovers of themselves. 

• Lovers of themselves! 
  

What's God's plan for “self”? 

• It isn't to love it. 
• It's to crucify it! 

Luke 9:23 and elsewhere, Jesus said, “Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

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