Attracting God's Presence

Psalm 51:16-17  (NKJV)

16 For You (God) do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.

David wrote this Psalm (song) about his own sin.  His sin included adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband Uriah.  

You'd think that  this would have disqualified David from being King, but it did not. 

God is not interested in perfection, but honesty and brokeness.  We don't even have perfection to offer Him.

The secret to the presence of God is humility.

  

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)

14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Humility is the first thing on the list above. It comes before prayer, seeking God's face, and turning from sin.   

  

Matthew 16:24  (NKJV)

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

To deny oneself is humility.  I pray this verse below for myself everyday.

  

John 3:30  (NKJV)

30 He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease.

Why is this such a big deal?

When we are self sufficient, we are not God dependent.   

When we take credit, we take the credit from God who deserves it most.  

Fasting is humbling because we are telling our flesh no.  If our flesh is not mad at us, we're doing it wrong. 

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

We must crucify our flesh.  

A man on his face can't fall from that position.  

1. We will exalt the Lord Jesus Christ.  Even in public.

2. We will view God as always just.  


God, all your ways are right.


We refuse to second guess You.

3.  We will walk in humility and think less of self, and more about God and others.

Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands

View

https://21days.churchofthehighlands.com/#prayer-service  

How to Be Respected!

Humility is learning how to make decisions with other people in mind.  We are connected to each other. 

Luke 14:7-11 (NLT) 

When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: 

8 “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? 

9 The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!

10 “Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests.

Don't make decisions based on your pride.  Don't let your feelings make your decisions for you.  God wants you to humble yourself so that He can exalt you.

11 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

God's blessing flow from humility. It is a willingness to understand that you don't know everything. Humility comes from listening. 

False humility says I'll never amount to anything. When you argue with what God say about you that is pride because you are placing what you think above what God says about you.  

Proverbs 17:28  (NLT)

28 Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent;
    with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.

Steps to being respected. 

1. Learn how to listen.  

1 Peter 5:5 (NLT)

5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for

“God opposes the proud
    but gives grace to the humble.”

Without humility you would have been  naked at birth.  Peter said to clothe yourself in humility.  

Pride weakens you.  When your feelings get hurt you start making decision based upon pride.  

1 Peter 5:6 (NLT)

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

God is looking for permission to exalt you when you humble yourself.  Ask God to reveal areas of pride.  Note that Satan is also looking for permission to devour you.  

1 Peter 5:8 (NLT)

8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 

Allow God the opportunity to lift you up.  We  determine when that happens. 

Willie George , Church of the Highlands

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/how-to-be-respected  

Finding God's Will

1. Acknowledge the fact that you need some help. 

James 4:6 New Living Translation (NLT)

6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,

“God opposes the proud
    but gives grace to the humble.”

When life gets hard, you may need to humble yourself.

Stress is when you take responsibility for things that you don't have control over.

2. Believe the best about everyone you meet. 

A. It's not your responsibility to judge others. 

James 4:11-12 New Living Translation (NLT)

11 Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters.[a] If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. 12 God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?

B. When you judge others, you are wrong most of the time.  

1 Corinthians 4:5 New Living Translation (NLT)

5 So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time—before the Lord returns. For he will bring our darkest secrets to light and will reveal our private motives. Then God will give to each one whatever praise is due.

When you believe the best, it allows you to engage the law of reciprocity.  Our actions have a boom-a-rang affect.  

You can choose how people treat you. 

Luke 6:37-38 New Living Translation (NLT)

37 “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 

38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.

3. Consult with God before you do anything. 

James 4:15 New Living Translation (NLT)

15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”

Ask, will this honor God.  

Matthew 6:33 New Living Translation (NLT)

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

God is at work on the solution before you knew there was a problem. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 New Living Translation (NLT)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take.

Greg Surratt, Church of the Highlands