YOU ARE NOT THE MAIN CHARACTER (BY ZACH BUNYE)

• Main character – the central character of the story, the one that the reader follows through the story or account.
• Stop reading the Bible like it’s about you. The Bible is not about you! The Bible is for you! (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
• So the Bible is for us but it’s not about us.
• Many people infuse themselves into the Bible making man the hero rather than God or the acts of God. But you are not David and your problems in life are not Goliath.
• The real Goliath in our lives is sin and death! And if you are David, how are you going to conquer it?
• This is a dangerous teaching, a man-centered teaching where we are putting the focus on ourselves rather than a God who is able.
• Jesus is the greater David. Jesus is the greater Moses. Jesus is the greater Abraham. That’s the whole point of the book of Hebrews.
• Luke 24:27 NLT – Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
• Jesus is David in this story and Goliath is sin and death. Asan tayo? Tayo yung mga nasa gilid na Israelites na takot na takot. We are the people that need saving, people who need Jesus.
• So the Bible is all about Jesus!
• Romans 1:1-3 – The Scriptures are all concerning Jesus Christ.
• John 5:39 – The Scriptures bear witness about Jesus Christ.
• So it’s repeated in the Scriptures – si Jesus ang bida! Siya ang main character sa Bible. And that’s a beautiful thing because ultimately, it means that your salvation is not up to you. Your friends, family, and loved ones’ salvation is not up to you. Kasi si Jesus ang bida! Si Jesus ang superhero. Jesus and His finished work at the cross is what saves us. Not our works or good deeds.
• But how about putting our faith in Jesus – isn’t it work?
• Hebrews 12:2 – Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. So the faith that we have was given to us by Jesus!
• Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast.
• Wala tayong ambag! We had no part in the saving. Wala talaga tayong maipagyayabang. Grace was freely given, and faith was also freely given. All glory belongs to God! Lahat talaga sa Kanya.
• What about in life? Are we the main character of our lives now? The answer is still no.
• The more the world is about you, the more tired and angry you will be. And the more it’s not about you, the more free you will be!
  • Example: Preaching – If the Holy Spirit is leading, it is all about God. Then the pressure is off.
  • Example: Apostle Paul – He lived a very stressful life. He was imprisoned, tortured, beaten, left for dead, shipwrecked three times but he did not get discouraged. Lahat ng ibato ng mundo sa kanya, may sagot siya:
    • We’ll kill you! – To die is gain
    • We’ll leave you alone! – To live is Christ.
    • We’ll torture you! – I do not compare the sufferings of this world to be compared to the future Glory
    • We’ll put you in prison! – I’ll sing a hymn and convert all your guards and sing worship with them.
• How is that possible? How was Paul able to do this? Because he understood that he is not the main character. But he had the main character in him. He had Jesus in him kaya wala siyang takot at hinarap niya lahat ng pinagdaanan niya.
• Kaya niya nga nasulat ang Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. From the context, Paul was talking about being content in whatever situation he was facing. He understood that God’s grace is enough for him.
• God’s grace is enough for every situation in our lives. It is about having peace and joy regardless of the outcome or what we are facing in our lives. Because we have Christ in us and He is the one who strengthens us, we can endure and overcome the struggles we have in our lives!
• God called specific people for specific missions.
  • David’s mission was to slay Goliath and to be king of Israel. But as soon as he tried to build the House of God, hindi siya pinayagan because it was Solomon’s mission. (1 Kings 8:16-19)
  • God called certain people to do certain missions.
• God is saying stop trying to do something that is not your calling.
  • May mga tao na ginawa ang Diyos to preach the Word of God sa pulpit, may mga tao naman na ginawa ang Diyos to be in business and to preach the Word of God sa mga customers nila or sa mga employees nila.
  • Just because you are not standing behind the pulpit, it doesn’t mean that what you are doing is less valuable.
  • So if you are called to be a businessman, then be a businessman. Glorify God in your business!
• But all of us are called to share the Word of God to other people. We are called to do the Great Commission. Share the gospel as a businessman or as a student, etc.
• Be led by the Holy Spirit and stay in your calling.
• So if you want to have faith like David, go for it! Ask the Lord to strengthen your faith like David. Ask the Lord to have the passion to share the Gospel like Paul, walang masama doon. Sabi pa nga ni Paul, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.”
• But don’t get it twisted – you are not David or Paul. Paul’s sufferings were his, not yours. We live in a blessed generation that we no longer have to suffer for our faith.
• God has called us for a specific mission.
• God has given you a calling that only you can do. God has chosen you to reach people that only you can reach.
• We are called to share the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
• Since we are not the main character and God is, we need to let God be the center of our lives.
• In your marriage, relationship, business, let God be the center. Rest upon Him as the center of it all.
  • He is the foundation of your marriage. He is the foundation of your finances. Fully trust in Him since He is the main character.
  • To rest in Him means having a posture leaning unto Him. Let Him be the center of your life, in every facet of it.