Sermon Central
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From Being Pursued To Engaged In A Pursuit
Contributed by Craig Benner on Mar 14, 2012 (message contributor)
Summary: When the pursuer is at your heels and you are exhausted; it can look like the battle is all but over. That is when you can do the right thing "get broken" before God. He will change the whole scheme of things and you will become the pursuer and have the
Seeming Powerless before the Pursuer
Lam. 1:6
6 And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer. (KJV)
6 Ha desaparecido de la hija de Sion todo su esplendor. Sus gobernantes han venido a ser como venados que no hallan pasto, y anduvieron sin fuerzas delante del perseguidor. (SRVA)
-weak and weary, stressed out and tensed up
-the prey is all but in the clutches of its pursuer
-Has the running become in vain? Is the runner become engaged in a useless exercise?
Many are in this condition today. From one side, then another, they have found an enemy, and they are running out of places to go for a refuge.
Like Paul in 2 Co. 7:5
5 ¶ For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears. (KJV)
5 ¶ Cuando vinimos a Macedonia, ningún reposo tuvo nuestro cuerpo; más bien, en todo fuimos atribulados: de fuera conflictos, de dentro temores. (SRVA)
Identify what it is that is pursuing you?
---anger, fear, lukewarmness, jealousy, apathy, worldliness, laziness.
A strong christian should be the pursuer, not the pursued.
Prov. 28:1
1 ¶ The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. (KJV)
1 ¶ Huye el impío sin que nadie lo persiga, pero los justos están confiados como un león. (SRVA)
Don’t be powerless. The strength is not in yourself; it is in the Lord.
The power to gain the upper hand depends, in part, on your place, or position, in the ongoing battle.
ABSTINENCE
---to stay away from; to avoid completely
To frequent the places where the enemy loves to roam and hunt, is not wise.
1 Thes. 5:22
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. (KJV)
22 Apartaos de toda apariencia de mal. (SRVA)
BROKENNESS
Ps. 51:17
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (KJV)
17 Los sacrificios de Dios son el espíritu quebrantado. Al corazón contrito y humillado no desprecias tú, oh Dios. (SRVA)
Ps. 34:18
18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. {unto...: Heb. to the broken of heart} {of a contrite...: Heb. contrite of spirit} (KJV)
18 Cercano está Jehovah a los quebrantados de corazón; él salvará a los contritos de espíritu. (SRVA)
Being sensitive and yeilded to the voice of God is a top priority.
Opposites of brokenness: proud, stubborn, obstinate, unmoved, uninterested, withdrawn, unfocused, "going through the motions", etc.
--contrite = crushed
The idea is that of understanding that all of my own attempts have been futile. I recognize that I must have the help of God to make it.
Eph. 6:10
10 ¶ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (KJV)
10 ¶ Por lo demás, fortaleceos en el Señor y en el poder de su fuerza. (SRVA)
Brokenness is giving abundant room to the Holy Spirit to operate in your life. It is complete submission and obedience to God.
A broken person does not act the same way as others. All the desires of the flesh die and one relies completely on the Lord for everything.
TURNING THE TABLES
10 One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you. (KJV)
10 Uno de vosotros persigue a mil, porque Jehovah vuestro Dios combate por vosotros, como él os ha prometido. (SRVA)
Ps. 35:1-5
1 ¶ Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.
2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.
3 Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.
4 Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.
5 Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the LORD chase them.
Job seemed to get nowhere in arguing with his so-called friend. Until he became broken before God and prayed for them. Then his pursuers became the pursued by God. In short order, God blessed Job with twice as much as he had before.
Ps. 34:14
14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. (KJV)
14 Apártate del mal y haz el bien; busca la paz y síguela. (SRVA)
