2018.07.15　礼拝

2018.07.15　礼拝

2018.07.15 Luke 15:11-24 Loving Yourself in Tasting the Love of God

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)

NPD is a personality disorder that occur from immaturity of narcissism – featured by exaggerated narcissism, lack of sympathy, and being sensitive to others’ assessment.

What is narcissism?

Narcissism is the ability to treasure oneself. Everyone has this character one way or the other. It is said that narcissism matures as one get older.

According to psychiatry, “matured narcissism” is a state of being able to acknowledge oneself and love oneself. Furthermore, it is said that maturity enables one to love others.

Review

Bearing with yourself and forgiving yourself.

Three Steps to forgive yourself.

1. Accept the fact that you are weak and sinful.

2. Don’t judge your weakness and sinfulness.

3. Have patience and observe your growth (Colossians 3:13), Let the Word of God encourage you and lead you. (Psalms 103)

➀ Facing reality of yourself.

Luke 15:17-19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”’

Being able to face reality of yourself is a highly positive action, especially concerning your sinfulness and weaknesses.

・ You will be freed from the delusion that “you are really a special person.”

・ You will be freed from anxiety that your weaknesses and sinfulness will be exposed as well as the fear that your ideal self will be damaged.

・ You will be relieved to confirm the real starting point – “now I can start from here.”

・ There is no need to abandon your ideal or dream.

・ There is no need to deny your existence value.

・ To cherish your own unrealistic image is like loving something that does not exist.

・ What needs to be done is to cherish your present self as you really are.

➁ Take care of “what is actually important to you.”

Luke 15:20 “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

To take care of what is actually important to you is to grab the hand of salvation stretched out by God and return to the Father in heaven.

➂ Understand that without believing in the love of God and without accepting, it is impossible to love yourself in the real sense.

Luke 15:20 “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

Luke15:23-24 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.