Sermon Central
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Seeking Him - His Terms
Contributed by Ralph Andrus on Sep 21, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: Contrasting Pride & Humility with the lives of Uzziah & Isaiah and how it relates to our approach to the Lord
Affectionately known as "Uncle John" to his troops, Union Gen. John Sedgwick was one of the best loved c Civil War commanders and was known to be a solid and dependable leader.
During the Battle of the Wilderness in the Civil War, Union general John Sedgwick was inspecting his troops near Spotsylvania. At one point he came to a embankment, over which he gazed out in the direction of the enemy. His officers suggested that this was unwise and perhaps he ought to duck while passing the parapet. "Nonsense," snapped the general. "They couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist--." a sniper’s bullet struck under his left eye, killing him instantly.
PRIDE
Humility has never been popular in the eyes of the world. If you want to get ahead, self-confidence and self-promotion are the fail-proof prescriptions for success.
- Looking for images that picture pride - Pages upon pages for gay pride
Dict. a high opinion of one’s own importance
Pride promotes self
Pride is amnesia of the soul.
It is forgetting God
Acting as though we have no need of Him
Pride keeps us from seeking him
Psalm 10:4KJV
4 The w+icked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
- ARROGANCE
SCRIPTURE
2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
James 4:6KJV
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
- An awareness of God’s holiness drives us to acknowledge our sin and receive God’s forgiveness.
Uzziah (2 Chron. 26:16–23).
- He became proud, acted in a corrupt manner, was unfaithful to the Lord
- Uzziah failed to recognize the majesty of God’s holiness by daring to defy God’s instructions
- God struck him down for his irreverence
Recognizing Pride in Ourselves?
A spotty prayer life suggests I am not actively relying on the Lord.
Tired -- Doing more than God intends - Meaning I am not letting Him order my day.
Anger - Trying to take control from Him
A critical spirit, in order to lift up me
A defensive reaction to criticism,
- I am taking myself too seriously and thinking of myself too highly..
Easily annoyed, Impatient
- Having to listen, wait, serve,
Approaching The Lord
◆ v.1-4 - Behold His holiness and majesty.
v. 1 - Isaiah saw the Lord
- Begin in the Scriptures
- We don’t wait around for a vision
- Our best protection against sin
- Spending time with Him
- In the Word In Prayer
- Memorizing God’s Word
Psalm 119:11KJV
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
G. Campbell Morgan
- The best book - Thy Word
- In the best place - My heart
- For the best purpose - That I might not sin against you
- With Seraphims mentioned only here in Scripture.
- It means “to burn”
- They relate to the holiness of God.
◆ v.5 Recognize Sinfulness
- Isaiah was overwhelmed
◆ v.5 - Confess Sin.
◆ v. 6-7 - Receive Forgiveness cleansed Isaiah.
◆ v.8 - Ready to serve
- Empty of self
Spiritual Breathing
- Physical breathing is necessary to sustain physical life,
- “Spiritual breathing" is essential to spiritual life
- Exhale, confess to the Father and agree with Him concerning your sin
- Sin (the fruit) and self (the root).
Inhale, receive His forgiveness
- Yield yourself to the control of the Holy Spirit.
- Spiritual breathing develops God consciousness
- Keeps you focused & sensitive to Him
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
- “Man is happy when he has a utensil that remains whole and is saddened when it breaks.
- God, on the other hand, whose most cherished possession is a man’s heart, delights when it is broken in humility.”
