Evening Sermon for 12/4/2005
Honesty with God
Introduction:
A. I am thankful for is my relationship with God. What makes me thankful about my relationship with God is that I can be real and honest with God.
B. If I was completely open and honest with people, it would be a disaster.
C. I am thankful that I can be honest with God and he doesn’t take it personally. I can be honest with God and he will not smack me around or hate or despise me or misunderstand what I am saying or will not want to be around me.
D. When I was a teenager, my youth minister encouraged us to have a personal time with the Lord each and every day. He encouraged us to open up our lives to the Lord and share as much as we could with him. Share with him the good, the bad and all of our warts. Be honest with God and he will help us to deal with our lives. In John 8:32 Jesus says that the truth will set you free and this has been so true in my life.
E. The church can be such a fake place and it is a shame. But before we can be real with others, we have to be real with God.
F. Sure, we talk to God. Most of the time it’s not deep or honest stuff at all. It is just a habit or a ritual. Few of us are ever really honest with God.
G. IF the truth were known, most of us wear masks. Most of us spend our lives piling on more and more layers of protection against the real world. WE pray for the things we think we’re supposed to pray for. We say the words we’ve heard others say. We chant or repeat or nod our heads without ever really opening up the secret places of our hearts. Sometimes it’s all a show to impress others with how spiritual we are. Sometimes we just go through the motions.
H. Let me tell you something about God. God knows all about you. Look up and read Psalm 139:1-10.
I. I also like Psalm 51 where David is so honest with God about his sins. Read Psalm 51:1-6. I want to focus in on vs. 6. What are the inner parts? What is the inmost place? I dare say that it is when we are alone. When it is just me and God.
J. The New Living Translation says here, “But you desire honesty from the heart, so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.”
K. The Living Bible Paraphrase says here, “You deserve honesty from the heart; yes, utter sincerity and truthfulness. Oh, give me this wisdom.”
L. David is here saying that the Lord wants us to be honest and open with him. This is what he desires from us. And why not be honest? He already knows how we feel and what we think anyway.
M. I love the book of Psalms because it is so honest. There were high times where they expressed their love for God and thanked him for their blessings. However, there were times that they called it like they saw it. Sometimes cursing their enemies. Sometimes baring their souls by confessing terrible sins.
N. Jesus was honest with God. In the Garden of Gethsemane, he prayed, (Mat 26:39 NIV) “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
O. Jesus prayed from the cross, My God, My God! Why have your forsaken me?
P. Somewhere we have lost sight of that gut level honest communication with God. We seem to be afraid that if we really let God know how we feel, what we think or where we hurt, he will somehow be surprised, disappointed, or let down. But exactly the opposite is true! The thing that God desires most from us is that we stop hiding once and for all and come to him in complete honesty and humility.
Q. God is the only one who sees us as we really are- down to the core of our being- and loves us anyway.
R. In my devotional times in the mornings, I have been going through a devotional book called, Praying from the Gut: An honest prayer journal for teens. This book has helped me to open up and be honest with God, not holding anything back.
S. This book gives sample prayers to get us started in praying from our hearts and guts and then it gives some Scripture and some questions for us to consider.
Thesis: Tonight I am going to give you some of the thoughts from the devotional book and also some other thoughts that would apply to us as adults to help us to be open and honest with God.
For instances:
Prayers of Need
1. When I need money
A. Retirement income usually remains stable while the cost of living continues to climb. Many older adults do not receive adequate adjustments to keep up with the standard of living. Therefore, they become so limited and boxed in that there is little hope of improving living standards.
B. Have you been open and honest with the Lord about your financial needs? It won’t do any good. The Lord is not a social security worker nor is he an investment banker.
C. (Mat 6:33 NIV) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
D. (1 Tim 6:6 NIV) But godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Tim 6:7 NIV) For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
(1 Tim 6:8 NIV) But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. (1 Tim 6:9 NIV) People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. (1 Tim 6:10 NIV) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
2. When I feel restless (bored)
A. A person’s work and profession in life is very important to him. He directs much of his energy and creativity toward his work. His closest friends and his status in the community are often tied solely to his work. It is the same way with stay at home moms. Empty nest syndrome.
B. When one is unemployed, disabled, or entering retirement it is quite an adjustment. No longer contributing to society, lost sense of worth, unable to cope with leisure.
C. Pray about it and the Lord will give you things to do. With your skills and talents there are things to do in the church and in the community.
B. (Eph 2:10 NIV) For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
3. When I worry about the future.
A. Losing my energy, am I going to lose my mind, am I going to be alone, am I going to die a terrible death from some disease, what about my children, etc.
B. (Psa 23:4 NIV) Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
C. (Rom 8:38 NIV) For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, (Rom 8:39 NIV) neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
D. Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand, but I know who holds the future and I know who holds my hand.
Prayers for Guys
1. When my anger controls me.
A. This can be a problem even for the older adult. Changes in society, changes in the body, changes in the family, many can lash out with anger and verbal abuse.
B. Jesus got angry but what did he get angry about? We need to be angry about what makes God angry.
C. Identify the sources of your anger and share them with the Lord. Ask the Lord to help you to deal with them.
D. (Eph 4:26 NIV) “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
2. When I have an addiction
A. I like to smoke, I like to drink, and I like my bad habits. Be honest with God and he will help you to see them in a different light.
B. (Rom 7:24 NIV) What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? (Rom 7:25 NIV) Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord!
3. When I don’t have the strength that I used to have.
A. The older adult has problems with accepting the fact that what he did when he was 30, he no longer can do at all or not as quickly.
B. (Isa 40:29 NIV) He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. (Isa 40:30 NIV) Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; (Isa 40:31 NIV) but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
C. But we also need wisdom to recognize what we can and cannot do. (James 1:5 NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. The Lord will give us strength to do what He wants to be done.
4. When I deal with sexual temptation
A. Yes, even the older adult male has problems with this.
C. (Job 31:1 NIV) “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.
Prayers for Girls
1. When I don’t want to forgive someone.
A. I want to hold a grudge against this person. I want to hate this person. I want for this person to suffer the same way they have caused me to suffer.
B. (Eph 4:32 NIV) Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
C. (Mat 6:14 NIV) for if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (Mat 6:15 NIV) But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
2. When I’m ashamed of my body
A. God, I just don’t get why you made me the way you did. I’m so ashamed of how I look. I see other girls and they’re totally gorgeous and their bodies are perfect and then I look at myself. Help me to value, respect and appreciate my body as much as you do.
B. (1 Pet 3:3 NIV) Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.(1 Pet 3:4 NIV) Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
Prayers of truth
1. When my past controls me.
A. I cannot do this or that or I am this way and I will always be this way because of my past.
B. In the book of Ruth, Naomi couldn’t let go of her past. When her husband and two sons died, she became resentful with God. When she returned to her hometown, this is what she said of herself. (Ruth 1:20 NIV) "Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. "Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. (Ruth 1:21 NIV) I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me."
C. What honesty but what resentment! The story of Ruth unfolds and we see at the end that Naomi was blessed with a new son in law and a grandchild.
D. How do we overcome the past, first discuss it with God.
1. When I don’t want to admit my wrongs
A. It is so hard for us to say “I’m sorry” and to admit “I was wrong!” We would rather cover up our wrongs than admit them. This gets even harder with age.
B. (Psa 32:5 NIV) Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Prayers of Pain
1. When I’m all alone
A. Great fear of the elderly. All alone.
B. (Heb 13:5 NIV) God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
2. When I’m sad
A. Many times the elderly are sad because of the loss of loved ones.
B. (Rom 15:13 NIV) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Prayers of Doubt
1. When prayer doesn’t seem to help
A. I pray and pray and nothing seems to give comfort or help. Tell that to God. He will put people and situations in your life to help.
B. (Mat 7:11 NIV) If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
2. When life doesn’t make sense
A. So much injustice, suffering and pain.
B. (Rom 11:33 NIV) Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! (Rom 11:34 NIV) "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?"
3. When I lose my faith in God
A. You don’t seem real anymore, and I don’t know what to believe. I wonder if you are even listening to me. You seem so distant. My doubts are crowding out my beliefs. Show me what I need to see to keep believing in you.
B. (1 Pet 1:8 NIV) Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,(1 Pet 1:9 NIV) for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
So what?
A. So many people are not honest with God. If we are honest with God, then this will help us to be honest with others, be real and open.
B. The biggest dishonesty is to say that you don’t need God. I don’t need Jesus; I don’t need any of that stuff. Look up 1 John 1:8-10 and discuss Christians and non-Christians. Must make Jesus Christ your friend!
