THE ONLY THING WORTH BRAGGING ABOUT
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Philippians 3:3-11
INTRODUCTION:
ILL> Two boys bragging about their fathers.
gMy father makes more money. My dad can run faster.h
gMay dad ca beat up your dad.h
gThatfs nothing. My mom can beat up my dad.h
A. JER 9:23-24
1. God says that there is something worth bragging about
a. And itfs not your bank account, your position, your education degrees
2. God says that there is only one thing worth bragging about
a. Do you know Him?
3. Itfs amazing how we can brag about everything else
a. But God says that if you really want something to shout about, can you brag that you know Him?
b. Because if you canft brag about knowing God, if you canft talk about that, then it doesnft matter how much money is in you r account, what degrees are on your wall, or what position you have in your company.
4. Tony Evans says in his book, Time to Get Serious
gIf God is the all-consuming, all powerful, all knowing, loving, and infinite Creator, sustainer, and redeemer of this universe, then nothing else we can do matters quite as much as getting to know Him„Ÿand to know Him well.h
5. In order to know God„Ÿthere are three decisions that we have to make
II> LET GOD BE GOD
A. Sounds pretty basic
1. But many time we have a tendency to box God in
a. To trim him down to fit our thinking of who God is
2. But, personally, I donft want a God who is my size
a. I want a God who is bigger than me and bigger than my problems
b. A God that Jeremiah speaks about
c. JER 32:17
"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
3. I want a God who can handle my problems
a. Answer my prayers
b. Lift me up when Ifve fallen
c. I want a God who can save my soul.
4. I want a God worth bragging about
a. And, people, we have one
b. In all His infinite knowledge and power, God sent His Son
5. PSA 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
a. PSA 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
b. Must be still and know before He can be your refuge and strength
III> PRACTICE HIS PRESENCE
A. Itfs one thing to say that God is everywhere
1. Itfs quite another to realize that you are His child
a. Hefs with you everywhere you go.
b. PSA 139:7-10
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? [8] If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. [9] If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, [10] even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
ILL> Boy, I want someone with a face.
2. ISA 43:1-3
But now, this is what the LORD says--he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. [2] When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. [3] For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
a. ISA 43:5
Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.
b. Something to shout„Ÿour God is everywhere
c. We need to believe it and practice it
IV> SEEK TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE
A. 1PE 1:16
"Be holy, because I am holy."
ILL> A man brought his boss home for dinner for the first time. His boss was a man who always bragged, gIfm a self made man.h
That night at dinner, his boss was very loud, rude, arrogant. The little boy in the fmaily just stared at his fatherfs boss, but didnft say anything. Finally, the boss asked, gWhy do you keep staring at me like that, sonny?h
Boy answered, gMy Daddy says your a self-made man.h
The boss beamed proudly and admitted indeed he was a self made man. The little boy said, gWell, if your a self-made man, why did you make yourself like that?h
1. Do you want to be a self-made man?
a. Or do you want to be a God made man
2. I want to be a new creation in Christ Jesus
a. I want to be transformed by the renewing of my mind - Rom. 12:2
b. I want God to create in me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within meh
B. The more we know God the more we will know ourselves
1. People always trying to find out who they are
a. Canft know that until you come face to face with God
b. If you donft want to know the truth, donft pursue God
ILL> Woman asks her husband, gHow do you like my dress?h
gWorse thing I ever saw.h
Woman got upset and her husband said, gIf you didnft really want to know, then why did you ask?h
2. God calls it as He sees it
a. LUK 5:8
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"
3. In Isaiah 6, Isaiah saw the glory of God
a. gWoe to me! I am ruined. I am a man of unclean lips and my eyes have seen the king, the Lord Almighty.h
b. God tells is how it is
c. ROM 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
4. God doesnft leave you where you are
a. Like a good doctor, God gives the proper treatment for your life
b. For sin, He offers salvation through the blood of Christ
V> CONCLUSION:
A. Paul in PHI 3 says, gBeen there, done that.h
1. PHI 3:4-11
