Humility in God's Presence - Isa 66:2

Humility in God's Presence

February 27, 2011

Isaiah 66:2

Introduction

• A truly humble man is hard to find, yet God delights to honor such selfless people.
• Booker T. Washington, the renowned black educator, was an outstanding example of this truth.
• Shortly after he took over the presidency of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, he was walking in an exclusive section of town when he was stopped by a wealthy white woman.
• Not knowing the famous Mr. Washington by sight, she asked if he would like to earn a few dollars by chopping wood for her. Because he had no pressing business at the moment, Professor Washington smiled, rolled up his sleeves, and proceeded to do the humble chore she had requested.
• When he was finished, he carried the logs into the house and stacked them by the fireplace. A little girl recognized him and later revealed his identity to the lady.
• The next morning the embarrassed woman went to see Mr. Washington in his office at the Institute and apologized profusely.
• "It's perfectly all right, Madam," he replied. "Occasionally I enjoy a little manual labor. Besides, it's always a delight to do something for a friend."
• She shook his hand warmly and assured him that his meek and gracious attitude had endeared him and his work to her heart.
• Not long afterward she showed her admiration by persuading some wealthy acquaintances to join her in donating thousands of dollars to the Tuskegee Institute. - Our Daily Bread.
• Why is humility such an issue for God?
• Is God after our accolades?

We are reminded of God's greatness

• He owns everything, and made everything
• He doesn't need me
• Psalms 50:10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
• It would be like me expecting an ant to praise me
• Psalms 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
• Psalms 92:1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praise to your name, O Most High
• In praising God I am reminded of my place
• When I know my place I am working in unison with my Master
• There is harmony
• This is not culturally acceptable, today we feel a need to be all we can be, top of the heap, in charge
• But it is good to know our place and be able to function at different levels
• Lamentations 3:27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke of his youth.
• Jesus was servant to all
• Jesus exemplified humility when he washed the disciples feet
• If Jesus, being God, can show humility to the ants he created, I too need that same attitude

We recognize our need to be teachable

• I will listen and obey
• One is the teacher and one is the student
• Psalms 86:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
• Psalm 119 - many verses about teach me
• Verse 12, 26, 33, 64, 66, 68, 108, 124, 135
• He is the potter I am the clay
• Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand

Accepting God's sovereignty

• When we accept God's sovereignty and Lordship over our life, the conflict between God and ourselves, ceases
• Peace enters
• Isaiah 45:9 Woe to him that strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashions it, What are you making? or your work, He has no hands?
• Psalms 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
• Isaiah 25:1 O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
• Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Conclusion

• Humility makes it possible for us to have intimate contact with God
• It moves pride, rebellion and enmity out of the way
• It makes personal revival possible
• Is there any who would want that intimate contact with God?
• Pray to remove pride and self-will
• Let's relax in God's presence
• Be happy to be humble

Revival in Susanville! - 2 Chron 7:14

Revival in Susanville

February 27, 2011

2 Chronicles 7:14

Introduction

• What is revival?
• Why does the church from time to time, look for and seek revival?
• What is our perception of revival?
• Why is the church growing enormously in third-world countries, while it is barely keeping up here in the United
• I cannot answer all these questions, and only God knows the answer to the health of the church
• But what is our perception of revival?
• Revival is possible, and it is happening in various places around the world
• But it can also happen here in Susanville
• Last week I visited the Low Desert prison, and I witnessed revival happening in prisoners lives
• There were around 60 people at a chapel service, and the Holy Spirit was present and active
• Around ten people were slain in the spirit, and prisoners were praying at the altar, and for each other
• I wish we were experiencing revival in this church, and I believe it is God's will and purpose for this to happen
• But God gives us certain conditions, for revival to happen
• David had collected materials for the Temple
• Solomon his son took these materials and built an magnificent building, to be the physical home for God
• Next week we will look at what happened at the dedication of this Temple.
• But we sometimes wonder what it would take to experience revival
• God spells it out for us, after coming to dwell in this magnificent, but still physical building

Revival starts with Christians

• 2 Chron 7:14
• When we turn to God, and invite Him into our life, we become His children
• He gives us a new name
• Gen 32 - When he wrestled with Jacob all night, and Jacob prevailed, God changed his name to Israel, meaning he who prevails with God and man
• When we become God's children, he gives us a new name too
• Rev 3:12 - Rev 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
• We are now called by God's name, a child of God
• So when he says in 2 Chron 7:14 "my people, called by my name" he is referring to us, as well as the Israelites

What is the land God refers to?

• For the Israelites, it was the land of Israel
• It was the territory where they lived, worshiped, did business
• For us personally, our land is our spirit soul and body
• As a church, our land is this sanctuary, our activities as a church, our responsibilities to our part of the body of Christ
• As a city, our land includes all our residents, inside and outside our prison walls

• If our land is to be healed, there are three conditions:

The first condition is that we humble ourselves

• The importance of humility is what we will be speaking about this evening
• Isaiah 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word.
• God is seeking worshipers who will worship him, in spirit and in truth, as we discussed last Sunday evening
• When I am humble, I am ready to listen to God and act on it

The second condition is that we pray and seek God's face

• This ties in directly with the first point
• When I feel I have it all together, or I can manage on my own, there will not be a meaningful relationship with God
• It takes humility to turn to God in prayer and seek His presence in our life
• By seeking his presence I do not mean he is not in our life now.
• But we may have sidelined God, and be more focused on our own activities than on what God is doing
• Revival will not happen in our life, without us being intentional and actively seeking Him

The third condition is that we turn from our wicked ways

• We may think that we are not wicked, we are God's children, and we would be right
• The wicked are those who do not have God in their lives
• But this verse is speaking about people who had a relationship with God
• It is speaking of wicked ways, not our identity
• Our definition of wicked ways, and God's definition may be two different things
• We may consider not paying God his full tithe to be a minor issue, but God sees it as robbing Him
• We may consider skipping church to not be so important, but the Bible tells us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together
• We may be consumed with our own worries and concerns, but God tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God
• We may not see it as such a big deal to skip doing our devotions, but God mourns when he is relegated to second third or last place in our lives
• Each of us knows where our own wickedness is
• How can we expect God to bless us with revival, personally, as a church, and as a city, if we are not taking Him seriously?
• It is time to repent before God
• I know that repentance is necessary, because God's blessing is being withheld from this body
• If you have areas in your life that you want to confess before God, the altar is open now
• God wants to bring revival in our lives, but we must comply with His conditions

True Worshipers - John 4:4-24

True Worship

February 20, 2011

John 4:4-24

Introduction

• Jesus came to Samaria
• He was listening to thye Father
• The reason he came was a divine appointment with a lady
• This lady had problems
  • She had had poor relationships which had not lasted
  • She had been abused because of her religious beliefs
  • She was being used by a man who did not want to marry her
  • She needed a true relationmship with God
• Jesus came to bring transformation to her life
• "Some go to church to take a walk. Some go to church to laugh and talk. Some go to church to meet a friend. Some go to church, their time to spend. Some go to church to meet a another. Some go to church, a fault to cover. Some go to church for speculation. Some go to church for observation. Some go to church to doze and nod. The wise go there to worship God".- Author Unknown
• Jesus discusses with this Samaritan woman what God looks for in worship

Worship in the Spirit - verse 24

• Phil 3:13
• The Spririt produces life
  • 2 Cor 3:6
  • When we worship in the Spirit there will be life
  • Life in the message
  • Life in our singing
  • We will be alive to what God is doing
  • Samaritan religion was dead - Jesus came to bring life
  • Our services need to be alive and vibrant, just like the early church
• The Spirit provides liberty
  • 2 Cor 3:17
  • Free from the past
  • Free from fear
  • Free from past abuse
  • This woman needed freedom
  • Our church services need to be be places were people are freed from bondages, freed from sin
• The Spirit operates in love
  • 2 Tim 1:7
  • Rom 5:5
  • A love of God's house
  • A love of the body of Christ
  • A love of God's Word
  • A love of the lost

Worship in Truth - verse 24

• Truth here particularly includes sincerity
• God seeks people who are true, through and through
• Being true, sincere, without ulterior motives
• Sincere in motivation
  • Matt 6 - not like the hypocrites
• Sincere in presentation
  • Worshiping as taught and illustrated in Bible
  • Glorifying God, not ourselves
  • Rom 15:5-6
  • Michael W Smith - Coming back to the heart of worship
  • Following the Spirit, or the flesh?
• Sincere in our praise
  • Psa 24:3-4
  • Praise starts in the heart , a pure heart
  • We can praise God loudly in church but forget about him the rest of the week
  • Matt 15:8
  • Our praise needs to well up from the depths of our heart

Conclusion

• God is waiting for us
• Revelation 4
• He is longing for a totally true and sincere relationship with us, in our worship
• He is looking for worshipers who worship both in Spirit and in truth

Follow Your Dream - Joshua 3:5

Follow Your Dream

February 20, 2011

Joshua 3:5

Introduction

• God spoke to Abraham and promised that his descendents would become a nation and live in The Promised Land
• The promise was repeated to Abraham's son Isaac
• It was repeated again to his son Jacob
• One of Jacob's sons was Joseph
• God gave Joseph dreams of his future
• His brothers were jealous of him
• Joseph was sold as a slave into Egypt
• The dreams became real, and he was followed by the rest of his family
• They settled in Egypt, in the best of the land
• But they were still not in the Promised Land
• As times went on, the locals became jealous and fearful of their growing power
• They were enslaved and built pyramids and treasure cities for their captors
• They continued to dream, of a Promised Land
• We all have dreams
• Take your two slips of paper, and on each of them write your dream
• It may only be one or two words, meaningless to anyone else, but for you it is the key to your heart
• On the back of each slip, write your dream for this church
• We dream of being a doctor, or a missionary
• We dream of starting a rehab center, or a buying a log cabin
• We dream of being all God wants us to be
• Write it down
• Today we will look at some key aspects in following our dream

There is a right time

• God's timing may be different than ours
• God knows when we are ready
• Heb 6:10-12 - God's timing may be longer term than we expect
• So continue waiting and working expectantly
• James 1:4 - Not receiving immediately, creates something of value
• Wealth quickly gotten is quickly gone
• Keep your eyes on God
• He is creating something of value in you
• Rom 1:18-22 Abraham - the father of the faithful

Persevere

• Former New York Giant George Martin
• Walked 3000 miles across USA to raise money for 9/11 workers
• Took 10 months, 4 months longer than planned
• Lost 40 lbs - 24 pairs of shoes - 80 pairs socks
• Weather, changed course but stayed on track
• Raised $2 million
• 1 Sam 17:45 - David and Goliath
• Do we see a giant to big to overcome, or too big to miss?
• Rom 8:35-39 - We are more thank conquerors

Stay close to God

• Joshua 3
• Follow the ark
• Leaders to take step of faith
• Takes connection with God
• We may like other options than prayer and Bible study
• But these are God's options for us
• v.5 consecrate yourself
• This removes barriers to God's power, and fellowship
• Our faith is built up so we put our feet in the water
• and we start across to follow our dreams

Pray over dreams

Seeking Intimacy with God - Psa 51:10

Seeking Intimacy with God

February 6, 2010

Psalm 51:10

Introduction

• As a youngster I would seek a closer walk with God
• I wanted to be so close to him, but never seemed to be able to quite reach Him
• I have been on a lifelong search for intimacy with God
• This absence of intimacy affected my prayer life
• I would pray, but without the intimacy for which I was searching
• This evening we are going on a journey
• A journey in search of intimacy with God
• We will start from the outside and work our way in towards that total closeness

Leave sin behind

• Humbly recognize we need help
  • Know that I do not have it all together
  • My sins create distance between me and God
  • So I need to ask for forgiveness for all I know I am doing wrong, or am neglecting to do
  • Whatever is not of faith is sin - Rom 14:23
• Psalm 139:23-24 Search me o God
  • I may be doing things that are wrong, unknowingly
  • I may not consider the sin as something important
  • Yet it may be something of myself that is standing in the way of true intimacy with God
  • David had a pure heart who wanted to always be close to God
  • God is a holy God, and he wants us to be holy too
  • 1 Pet 1:16 Be holy for I am holy
  • Rom 6:13-19 yield to righteousness

Get rid of the walls

• Often in life, we build walls around ourselves to protect us from harm
• I once was shown a wall I had built around myself
• It was a brick wall, and it was getting higher by the minute
• What are the walls that separate you from God
• Do you see yourself as being protective of your innermost person?
• What does the wall look like?
• Where is God in relationship to the wall?
• Is he on the inside, or the outside?
• What is the name of the wall? Is an emotion associated with it?
• Can you take one brick of the wall, and give it to Jesus?
• Take another one and do the same
• This emotion has been a burden to you
• Jesus said come to me all you who are weary and heavyladen, and I will give you rest
• What events caused these bricks to be laid?
• What hurt has been locked up? Take that brick and give it to Jesus
• Unload the emotion that is attached to that memory, and give it to God
• Psa 55:22 - Cast all your cares upon him
• Look at yourself in your minds eye, and look at the wall.
• How much of the wall has now gone?
• Invite Jesus to help you dismantle the wall
• Piece by piece, give the bricks to Him to take care of
• When the wall has been removed, invite Jesus into that space
• Open your heart to God

Allow God to speak

• Through the Word - one way God speaks to us
• God is a God who communicates
• One way is through the words of the Bible
• John 17:17 Thy Word is truth
• The Word - Gr. Logos, one of the titles of our Lord, is found only in the writings of John (John 1:1-14; 1 John 1:1; Rev. 19:13).
• Christ is the revealer of God. His role is to make God known.
• John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
• Jesus will make the Father known to us.
• As we read the Word, we learn the way the Lord thinks
• We learn how He feels about us, and the world around us
• We start to understand why God sometimes acts the way He does
• The Holy Spirit is our teacher - John 14:26 - and He reminds us of the words Jesus has spoken
• Through God's voice - another way God speaks to us
• God speaks to us through our thoughts
• It takes discernment to know if it is our own thoughts or God speaking to us
• As time goes on we will get to recognize God's voice\
• John 10:1-5
• His sheep know His voice

Write it down

• Don't let a word fall to the ground - 1 Samuel 3:19
• Write it down, journal
• Remember God's words - they are precious
• Habakkuk 2:1-3
• Sometimes the word is not for now, but for at some later time.
• But God's words are faithful and sure, be patient and wait for it.

Conclusion

• These thoughts will hopefully help you to develop a more intimate relationship with God
• If our inner walls are a problem to us, work through the process of pulling them down, bit by bit
• Maybe we need to seek help in doing this, if so, do it - it is worth a little bit of work to obtain the freedom and intimacy in our relationship with God, that we desire
• And it will free us up in our relationships with others too.

The Church - a Powerhouse - Acts 4:23-31

The Church - a Powerhouse

February 6, 2011

Acts 4:23-31

Introduction

• In a seminary missions class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years.
• Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood.
• Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable." He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson's astonishment, the engine roared to life. For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work.

• J.B. Phillips paraphrases Ephesians l:19-20, "How tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God." When we make firm our connection with God, his life and power flow through us.

Background

• Some awesome things had happened to the early church
• It had started with the power of the Holy Spirit falling on them at Pentecost
• This was followed by the miraculous healing of a cripple, and thousands joining the church in their mission
• This was a threat to established religion and they called Peter and John before the ecclesiastical authorities
• They ordered them to stop preaching about Jesus, and threatened them. Persecution had started.
• How did Peter and John deal with this threat? They took the matter to the church.

The church prayed - verse 24

• The church lifted their voices together in prayer to God
• Power is available when we pray together
• This does not say that our personal prayers are ineffective, James 5 tells us the effective prayer of a righteous man avails much
• But when two or more pray together there is increased effectiveness - Matt 18:18-20
• God looks not only at us as individuals but also collectively
• So when we come together we pray together

They recognized God's hand - verse 24-28

• They recognized that God was involved in this situation
• They remembered prophecies that spoke of this, and knew that God was not ignorant of the situation
• They saw that the things that were happening were things that they could expect, as Christians, because Jesus had told them it would happen
• Matt 5:11-12 Persecution will come
• We know that persecution will come on the church
• That persecution comes from different sources:
  • The world - doesn't like the light - people don't like to be shown up
  • The enemy - Satan hates the church, especially when the church is awake and alive
• As this church takes its place in the battle against the enemy, and shining a brilliant light into Susanville, persecution will come

They prayed for boldness - verse 29

• When you are threatened by the authorities, fear creeps into a corner of your heart
• Peter and John were affected by what was happening
• The church prayed for boldness, not just for Peter and John, but for all of them, for the church as a whole
• They were all in it together
• This church needs boldness
• We need the courage o0f our convictions
• Bethel church is awesome and is doing a great work in Redding
• But we want to bring that same message of hope and healing to this town
• Radical Christianity is not popular
• People do not like those who stand for something and are prepared to fight for it - Matt 11:12
• It takes boldness to be that kind of Christian
• Anyone can come to church on Sundays and Wednesdays and be a part of the club
• It takes radical Christians to carry the torch into this society

They asked for God's miraculous intervention - verse 30

• Words just don't cut it
• We can talk to people tioll we are blue in the face, but it won't change them
• I can argue till the cows come home, but I won't convince anyone
• God has to break open their hearts
• One way he does this is by giving them evidence they cannot deny - 2 Cor 12:12
• The early church prayed for God's miraculous intervention
• They asked for signs and wonders
• Signs that pointed to the reality of the risen Christ
• Wonders that showed he was alive and well, and had the power to change lives

God responded - verse 31

• After they prayed collectively, in faith, believing for an answer, God showed his hand
• They were filled afresh with the anointing of the Holy Spirit
• Instead of being fearful of the repercussions, they were filled with boldness, in preaching the Word
• Not just Peter and John, but the whole body of believers
• They went out and they told their friends, their work associates
• They stood up to the enemy, they stood firm in exercis9ing the mandate that Jesus had given them
• Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation!"
• Mark 16:20 "Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it"