BEFORE HONOR HUMILITY
The Humiliation of America
SERMON STARTER
“If my people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
I've heard it said that if we won't voluntarily humble ourselves, that God will involuntarily humiliate us. To date as a nation we have not humbled ourselves and prayed, sought the Lord's face, nor turned from our wicked ways. We have willfully, arrogantly ignored God and desecrated His wisdom. We have murdered untold millions of innocent children and destroyed an entire generation of sons and daughters.
Therefore, the Lord has temporarily lifted his protective Hand of Favor. We call the results "Global Warming," "Climate Change," and we blame each other. The chaotic worldwide weather patterns, especially in the U.S. is promoted by the sin darkened, reprobate minds of "believers" world wide.
I do believe in God's heavy hand of Judgment. In recent years we have experienced the largest number of calamities in recorded history. We are such a materialistic people that God has attacked our pseudo idols. He has punished us by having
Limited our ability to purchase cars and buy gas
Allowed Weather damaging storms on our seacoasts and inland
Political corruption by all parties and all branches of government
Destroyed our personal sense of peace and safety
Damaged our monetary system
Wars and Rumors of wars by greedy men, hungry for conquests
God has allowed us to elect national leaders that are like ourselves: narcissistic, inept, incompetent and corrupt.
The big thing that holds us back as believers and a nation is PRIDE. We absolutely refuse to bend the knee, humble ourselves and admit to God and ourselves what a miserable failure we are. There is still time, but God's time is running out for the world as we know it.
Pastor Phil <><<
July 27, 2014 - Sheepfold Ministries
Pastor Phil Roland
BEFORE HONOR HUMILITY
THE HUMILIATION OF AMERICA
PROV. 15:32,33; 2 Chronicles 7:14
"Since we as Americans have not humbled ourselves before the Lord voluntarily, repented of our sins, confessed them openly and turned from our wickedness, then God has humiliated us Himself!” Pastor Phil
2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Proverbs 15:32-33
"He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding. 33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility."
I. THE BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF HUMILITY Matt. 5:5
"Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth."
A. English Understanding of Humility is "Meekness"
1. "Meek" a negative word meaning cowardice / people-pleasing
2. We picture a weak, sniveling, back-stabbing figure from David Copperfield, "I'm a 'umble man, I am. . ."
B. Hebrew Understanding from 2 Chronicles 7:4
“If my people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves"
1. Condescension, objectivity, clemency
2. Gentleness, humility, meekness.
3. Eg. On April 3, 1998 Promise Keepers brought together more than a million men on the Capitol Mall for Stand In the Gap. Men traveled from all over the world to Washington, D.C., to pray for America, their families and racial reconciliation.
It took a team of FIVE Photographers to picture the scene!
C. Greek Understanding from Matt. 5:5 and Galatians 5:22,23
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
1. Gentleness: the word was used to describe a horse that had been broken and has submitted to the bit and bridle
2. "Strength under control" Pleasant, Friend
FIVE THINGS WE CAN DO TO HUMBLE AMERICA
II. ALLOW OURSELVES TO BELONG TO GOD
A. Individually "belong" to God
1. Make room for God in our private, personal life
Before Honor Humility, cont. p.2
2. Include Him in our public life
B. Allow God into our Thought Life - James 4:1
"Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from
your desires for pleasure that war in your members?"
1. Allow God to govern our prejudices, opinions, attitudes
2. Do not entertain the world, flesh, or devil's thoughts
C. Permit God’s Humility, Love and Mercy to rule in our lives
D. Allow yourself to be Identified with God
1. Remember Peter's denial around the fires of testing
2. Issue of the heart, not adornment
3. Man looks on the outside, God looks on the heart
4. Belong to Him
5. Has anyone accused you lately of being His Follower?
III. HUMBLE OURSELVES BEFORE GOD AND MAN
A. Remind yourself: God's in Control, not you
1. If God will take you to it, He will take you through it
2. Give Him the First and Last Word of your day
B. Allow Others to be Preferred Above yourself - Matt. 7:12
"Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is
the Law and the Prophets."
1. Allow the Golden Rule to rule in your life
2. Judge others less, yourself more
3. Treat others as kindly as you wish to be treated
IV. PRAY AS THOUGH IT IS ALL UP TO YOU - Hosea 14:2
"Take words with you, And return to the LORD. Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity; Receive us graciously, For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips."
A. Pray Heartfelt Cries to God - Psalm 3:4
"I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill."
1. Pray for yourself
2. Pray for others
3. Pray for our nation
B. Unutterable Groanings - Romans 8:26
"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know
what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes
intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."
V. SEEK GOD'S FACE IN EVERYTHING - 2 Chronicles 7:14
“If my people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and
pray, and seek my face"
A. Seek Christ First in All Things -Matt 6:33
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these
things shall be added to you."
B. Abide in Him - John 15:7
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you
desire, and it shall be done for you."
Before Honor Humility, cont. p.3
C. Seek With Your Whole Heart - Jeremiah 29:11-14a
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts
of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will
call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will
seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be
found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your
captivity;"
VI. TURN FROM PERSONAL AND NATIONAL WICKEDNESS
A. National and Personal Narcissism (Self-Centeredness)
B. Brokenness - Psalm 51:17 - Psalm 147:3
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart--
These, O God, You will not despise.
3 He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.
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