Cornerstone

Overcoming Your Personal Kryptonite

Introduction

Does this sound familiar?

"Faster than a speeding bullet!

More powerful than a locomotive! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound." "Look, up in the sky!" "It's a bird!" "It's a Plane!" "It's Superman!" "Yes it's Superman, strange visitor from another planet who came to Earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men. Superman, who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never ending battle for truth, justice and the American way."

Even if you.re not as old as some of us, it is still very likely that you have seen reruns of ¡°The Adventures of Superman,¡± and heard this very recognizable introduction. The TV show itself originally aired from 1951 through 1957 with a total of 104 episodes.

Superman first appeared in the comics in 1932. In addition to the comics and TV, Superman was also the theme of various radio serials, movies, newspaper strips, and video games. As the fantasy is told, Superman is born on the alien planet Krypton. Just before the planet explodes, the infant Superman is rocketed to Earth by his scientist father. On earth, Superman is adopted and raised by a Kansas farmer and his wife. The child is raised as Clark Kent and endowed by his earthly parents with a strong moral compass. As he approaches manhood, Superman resolves to use his superhuman abilities for the benefit of humanity.

Superman was depicted as a man of steel; one who was indestructible; and, he was--except for one solitary weakness. When Superman came into contact with the fictional substance called Kryptonite, he instantly became very weak; and, with enough exposure, he would eventually die. Kryptonite is a substance from the planet Krypton that seems to have unintentionally accompanied Superman on his spacecraft as he journeyed to earth.

Kryptonite was featured in the 1978 movie, ¡°Superman: The Movie.¡± In the film, Lex Luthor and his cronies track a large chunk of Kryptonite to Ethiopia, where they steal it from a museum. In this film's usage, the term "kryptonite" seems to mean simply a "Kryptonian meteorite". After launching two missiles intended to hit opposite ends of the United States, Luthor then places the kryptonite on a chain around Superman's neck and drops him into a swimming pool. When Miss Teschmacher (one of Luthor.s cronies) learns that one of the missiles is headed for Hackensack, New Jersey (where her mother lives), she rescues Superman from drowning and removes the kryptonite, after which his strength and powers quickly return.

Superman proceeds to save both the east and west coasts from destruction and to put Lex Luthor out of business.

Our lesson this morning is based on the premise that we all have our own personal kryptonite(s) to deal with in this life. Superman had his; you have yours; and, I have mine. Our lesson is entitled, ¡°Overcoming Kryptonites to the Christian Faith: Part 2.¡±

Most of us here are Christians; and, as Christians, we are blessed with what you might call a somewhat ¡°superhuman¡± quality. Listen to Romans 8: 35-39 as Paul describes this superhuman quality:

35. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36. As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.''

37. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

38. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,

39. nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Did you notice what that superhuman quality was? It is the fact that nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord! Circumstances cannot take it away; earthly powers cannot take it away; death cannot take it away; Satan cannot take it away; created things or personalities (which includes everything) cannot take it away!

But notice this: the love of God, and our accompanying relationship with Him, cannot be taken from us; but, we can give it up. We can allow our own personal kryptonite(s), our own human weaknesses, to take away our spiritual strength, and, if we are not careful, cause us to be destroyed.

As we will be using the word, kryptonite refers to that personal weakness by which we are affected the most. Everyone is not affected by the same weakness.it will certainly vary from Christian to Christian. But, I am convinced that no Christian is without their own personal kryptonite.

In Hebrews 12: 1, the writer admonishes Christians, in reference to running the Christian race, to ¡°¡¦lay aside¡¦.the sin which so easily ensnares us¡¦¡± (NKJ) The NAS describes it as the sin which ¡°¡¦so easily entangles us¡¦¡± The Living Bible describes it as, ¡°¡¦those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up¡¦¡±

The Hebrew writer recognizes that there are certain sins to which we are particularly liable (susceptible). Every man has one or more weak-points in his character; and, it is there that he is particularly exposed to the attacks of Satan. That, then, is the point which needs to be guarded and strengthened the most.

This morning, we want to look at two character weaknesses (two kryptonites) and see how we can guard against letting those weaknesses, those sins, take away our spiritual strength.

The Kryptonite of Envy

The first sin which we want to look at (a sin which just might be your personal kryptonite) is envy. Oddly enough, the color of the kryptonite from the planet Krypton is green; and, envy is sometimes referred to as the green-eyed monster.

It is quite probable that all of us have battled the problem of envy at some time in our lives. Envy may even be our personal kryptonite. Socrates said concerning envy: ¡°Envy is the daughter of pride, the author of murder and revenge, the begeter of secret sedition, the perpetual tormenter of virtue. Envy is the filthy slime of the soul; a venom, a poison, a quicksilver, which consumeth the flesh and drieth up the marrow of the bones.¡± Certainly, if envy is our kryptonite, we need to defeat this green-eyed monster.

Cruden.s Complete Concordance says of envy, ¡°Discontent at the excellence or good fortune of another. It is frequently used in the Bible with the distinct idea of malice or spite. The Revisions often replace it by jeolousy.¡± Envy, as originally used in the Bible means, ¡°to look against, to eye with evil intent.¡± An envious person feels that any honor done for another is a galling dishonor to himself.

Let us note some Bible illustrations of envy and the destruction that it brings.

. Because of envy, Cain murdered his brother Abel. I John 3: 11-12 gives us a good description of the treacherous nature of envy: ¡°For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous.¡±

. Because of envy, Joseph.s brothers sold him into Egyptian slavery. Acts 7: 9 says: "And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him¡¦¡±

. Because of envy, King Saul hunted David seeking to take his life. (I Samuel 18)

. Because of envy, the chief priests handed Jesus over to Pilate to be crucified. Mark 15: 9-13 says: ¡°But Pilate answered them, saying, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?'' For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them. And Pilate answered and said to them again, "What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?'' So they cried out again, "Crucify Him!''

There is an expression which goes something like this: People are judged by the company they keep. Let me suggest to you that envy should be judged by the company it keeps. Listen to sins that envy is associated with in Galatians 5: 19-21:

19. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness,

20. idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21. envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

In this listing of the various sins with which envy is associated, we get a glimpse of how God views of the horribleness of envy. Though many would not dream of committing most of the sins enumerated in this list, they are often guilty of envy. Yet envy is just as despicable as adultery; just as destructive as murder; just as disgraceful as drunkenness; and just as soul-damning as any of the other sins enumerated here.

The question then becomes, ¡°How do we overcome envy?¡± Actually, the first scripture we read concerning envy gave us the solution. Remember what I John 3: 11-12 said,

¡°For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous.¡±

Love is the cure (antidote) for envy. One of the characteristics of brotherly love is that ¡°¡¦love does not envy¡¦¡± (I Corinthians 13: 4) Consider this: Do parents envy the advantages and good fortune of their children? No! Why? Because they love their children!

Notice also Romans 13: 13-14:

13. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy.

14. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Notice that if we truly ¡°put on Jesus Christ,¡± we will not longer make provision for envy (or, any other works of the flesh). Bringing Christ into our lives and striving to live as He lived, will push the sin of envy right out of our lives. Galatians 5:24 says: ¡°And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.¡±

Someone once said: ¡°Envy is a weed that grows in all soils and all climates.¡± Yes, envy can even spring up in the church to deter the body of Christ from its mission. Members can become envious of one another; preachers can become envious of one another; congregations can become envious of one another.

Christians (members, preachers, and congregations alike) must remember that we are all members of the same body. Using the analogy of the body, my left arm does not envy my right arm because it is stronger; nor are my hands envious of my feet because they can run. In the same manner, there should not be envy in the Lord.s church because of varying talents, roles, or responsibilities.

If you think about it, envy is simply being discontent over the blessings given to us when we compare them to the blessings that others have. Sometimes, we describe this mindset as: ¡°The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.¡± To overcome this, we simply need to be content with what we have and who we are. Listen to I Timothy 6: 6-8:

6. But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

As we close the thoughts on envy, let me read you a poem by Edgar Guest.

I wonder if the poppy shows The slightest envy of the rose?

Or if the pansy wastes its time Regretting that it cannot climb?

Do blossoms of a yellow hue Complain because they are not blue?

Do birds which God designed to sing Envy the wild duck.s fleeter wing?

And does the sparrow sadly mourn Because he was not Gold Finch born?

I cannot say, but fancy not. Each seems contented with his lot.

.Tis only the man that thinks that he Some other man would rather be.

We have talked about several things which will help us to overcome envy. We can summarize all these things by saying that ¡°true discipleship¡± to Christ will root out all the envy in our lives. True discipleship means that we crucify ourself, and begin living for Christ. Notice what Galations 2: 20 says:

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

The Kryptonite of Pride

The second sin which we want to look at (a sin which just might be your personal kryptonite) is pride. Proverbs 6: 17 says that ¡°a proud look¡± is one of seven sins which God hates.sins which Solomon says are an abomination to God.

Notice the teaching of Jesus is Mark 7:20-23:

18. So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him,

19. "because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?''

20. And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.

21. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

22. "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness.

23. "All these evil things come from within and defile a man.

Jesus is describing the terrible sins that proceed out of a man.s heart. Things which He describes as evil; things which are able to defile a man. And, one of those things is PRIDE.

The pride that we are talking about can be defined as arrogance or haugthiness. It is attaching an inordinate amount of importance and esteem to yourself. That kind of pride is sin.

On the other hand, we are quick to point out that pride is not always a ¡°bad¡± thing. When we use it in the sense of self-respect and personal dignity, pride is an admirable quality. We must certainly avoid self-contempt. We should never say, I.m a nobody.

Paul talks about both aspects of pride in Romans 12: 3: ¡°For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.¡±

The scripture says that we should not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. In other words, we should not over-value ourselves. To do so would be sinful. But, at the same time, the scripture implies that it is important that we do think highly of ourselves (just not more highly than we should). In other words, we need to make a sober assessment of our value to

God with the understanding that (as someone once said) ¡°God don.t make no junk.¡±

Let us notice a couple of Bible illustrations of inordinate pride and what the result of that sin was.

Jesus tells this parable in Luke 18: 9-14:

Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

10. "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11. "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, `God, I thank You that I am not like other men extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.

12. `I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'

13. "And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, `God be merciful to me a sinner!'

14. "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be abased, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.''

Jesus says the prideful Pharicee would be be brought low; but the humble tax collector would be exalted.

Another scripture which teaches us a very important lesson concerning pride is Acts 12: 20-23.

20. Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king's country.

21. So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them.

22. And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!''

23. Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.

Obviously, Herod was full of self-importance and arrogance. When the people honored him as a ¡°god,¡± he accepted that praise and did not give God the glory. When we accept the praise of men, and do not give God the glory, we too are guilty of being prideful and arrogant.

Pride is a sin that can invade every facet of our lives. Let me list just a few areas.

. Pride may cause us to trust in our own virtues rather than in the grace of God and the blood of Jesus. That was the Pharisee.s problem in Luke 18.

. Pride may cause those who are educated to look down upon those who are less educated.particularly those who are unlearned or illiterate.

. Pride may cause those who are rich in this world.s goods to trust in their wealth rather than upon the one from whom all blessings flow.

. Pride in our race may cause us to look down upon other races and cause us to believe that we are superior to them.

. Pride in our physical appearance (which men look upon) may cause us to place a lower priority on our spiritual appearance before God.

. Pride in our sins may cause us to boast of our immoral actions rather than to be ashamed of these acts.

I have just scratched the surface on how the sin of pride can invade every facet of our lives. What is important for us to understand is that pride always results in tragedy. Proverbs 16:18 says: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

How do we overcome our misplaced pride? Actually, the cure for inordinate pride is much the same as that for envy.

Love is the cure for envy. Love is also the cure for pride. I Corinthians 13: 4 says ¡°¡¦love does not parade itself, is not puffed up¡¦¡± ¡°Puffed up¡± means arrogance. When we display the brotherly love that Paul describes in I Corinthians 13, there will be no room in our hearts for arrogance.

Let me also remind you of Romans 13: 14:

14. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

When we truly ¡°put on Jesus Christ,¡± we will not longer make provision for envy or pride (or, any other works of the flesh). Bringing Christ into our lives and striving to live as He lived, will push the sin of arrogance right out of our lives. Galatians 5:24 says: ¡°And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.¡±

Also, we must constantly remind ourselves that we have no sufficiency in and of ourselves; rather, our sufficiency comes from God. II Corinthians 3: 5 says. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God¡¦

As was the case with envy, ¡°true discipleship¡± to Christ will root out all the arrogance in our lives. That means that we crucify ourself, and begin living for Christ. Let me again remind you of Galations 2: 20:

Conclusion

As we conclude, let me remind you that Superman.s weakness was kryptonite. When superman was exposed to kryptonite, it caused him to become weak, to lose his superhuman abilities, and to begin to die at a rapid pace. For superman to survive, the kryptonite needed to be removed from his presence.

In the same way, when we, as Christians, entertain our own weaknesses (when we routinely allow them to take control our lives), we become weak spiritually and we begin to die at a rapid pace. When that happens, we must take immediate action. We must root those sins out; we must not make provision for the flesh; and we must submerge ourselves in service to God.

You may be saying to yourself, that envy and pride are not weaknesses (kryptonites) that you are not susceptible to. Remember I Cor 10:12: Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

Superman.s nemesis was Lex Luthor. In order to protect himself, Lex Luthor wore a ring fashioned from kryptonite making him untouchable.even to the man of steel. The problem was that, despite the fact that kryptonite was assumed to be harmless to humans, constant exposure to kryptonite caused Lex Luthor to develop cancer and to die.

We don.t need to be like Lex Luthor. We should not assume that envy and pride are harmless and allow them to ¡°trickle¡± into our lives. Constant exposure to these ¡°kryptionites¡± may cause us to become spiritually weak, and may eventually cause us to die. Let us treat all our ¡°little¡± battles with envy and pride seriously. We cannot allow them to take root and grow.

Closing questions

¡°Have you been crucified with Christ?¡±

Is Christ now living in you?

Are you letting him assist you in overcoming your personal kryptonite?

Or, are you still living for self?

Are you still making provision for the flesh?

Are your kryptonites slowly but surely killing your spiritual life?

Lesson 1: Envy, Pride

Lesson 2: Discontent, Worry, Discouragement, Doubt

Lesson 3: Harsh Judgments, Fault-Finding

Lesson 4: Impatience, Unforgiveness, Hatre