What am I Missing Here?
Steps to Recovering Your Joy
October 24, 2010
Calvary Baptist Church
Hebrews 12:2
SERMON 4: Taking the Focus Off of Ourselves
What am I missing here? What is wrong with me? Why am I not finding joy in the Lord?
• First, may I say to you, that it is good that you have noticed this.
• It is only by the Holy Spirit’s work in your life that you even care.
• Furthermore, it is a good sign of genuine conversion.
• For the lost man or woman, there is no thought of this.
• To them, they are just fine and see no need of the question.
• But to you, whose spirits resonate with this preacher’s question, you know that something is missing.
• You see in the faces, in the lives of others, a light, a joy, a power.
• And as you honestly evaluate yourself, you must admit that you do not have this light, this joy, this power!
REVIEW OF PREVIOUS MESSAGES
1) Dispositions differ
2) Emotions are not the test of our spiritual state.
• #1: FAILURE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN HIS STANDING (OR POSITION IN CHRIST) AND HIS CIRCUMSTANCES.
• #2: PERHAPS YOU LIVE TOO MUCH IN YOUR FEELINGS, TOO LITTLE IN YOUR WILL.
• #3: PERHAPS YOU HAVE DISOBEYED SOME CLEAR COMMAND
• TODAY: PERHAPS YOU LOOK TOO MUCH INWARD ON SELF, INSTEAD OF OUTWARD ON THE LORD JESUS
INTRODUCTION
The healthiest people do not think about their health; the weak induce disease by morbid introspection. If you begin to count your heartbeats, you will disturb the rhythmic action of the heart. If you continually imagine a pain anywhere you will produce it. And there are some true children of God who induce their own darkness by morbid self-scrutiny. They are always going back on themselves, analyzing their motives, reconsidering past acts of consecration, comparing themselves with themselves. In one form or another self is the pivot of their life, albeit that it is undoubtedly a religious life. What but darkness can result from such a course? F.B. Meyer
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
I. The Place for Focusing Upon Our Life (2 Cor. 10:12)
NOTE: Before we begin, let us note one examination that is clearly prohibited!
2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
A. Self-Examination
There are certainly times in our lives when we must look within, and judge ourselves that we be not judged. But this is only done that we may turn with fuller purpose of heart to the Lord.
1. In Salvation (2 Cor. 13:5)
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
2. In Sanctification (1 Cor. 11:28, 31)
1 Corinthians 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
1 Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
QUOTE: Yes, there are certainly times in our lives when we must look within, and judge ourselves that we be not judged. But this is only done that we may turn with fuller purpose of heart to the Lord. And when once done, it needs not to be repeated. "Leaving the things behind" is the only safe motto. The question is not whether we did as well as we might, but whether we did as well as we could at the time. F. B. Meyer
B. Divine Examination (Ps. 26:2; 139:1,23; 1 John 3:20)
• How much better to let the Lord do the searching?
Psalm 26:2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
Psalm 139:1 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
• God is much better at a genuine examination that we could ever be!
1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
II. The Priority of Focusing on the Lord
A. Bible Instructions
1. Trust the Lord (Ps. 28:7, Jer. 17:7; Mic. 7:7)
Psalm 28:7 * The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Jeremiah 17:7 * Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
Micah 7:7 * Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
We could add Proverbs 3:5,6
2. Walk In The Spirit (Gal. 5:25; Rom. 8:4-5)
Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
3. Know that God Gives Us the Power to Serve (Rom. 4:18-21)
Romans 4:18-21 Who [Abraham] against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
4. Rest in Christ as the Keeper of Our Souls (1 Cor. 1:3-9; Philip. 1:3-6)
1 Corinthians 1:3-9 * 3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Philippians 1:3-6 * 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
• Not, “Lord, help me not to give in to my weakness today,” but, “Lord, let me live in your strength.”
B. Bible Illustration (Philip. 3:1-14)
1. Paul’s Admonition (3:1-3)
Philippians 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. 3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
2. Paul’s Abandonment (3:4-7)
4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: 5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
3. Paul’s Ambition (3:8-11)
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
NOTE: Vs. 11 is Paul saying that if anyone is going to “attain the resurrection” it will be through Christ.
4. Paul’s Attention (3:12-14)
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
CONCLUSION (Isa. 26:3; Philip. 4:7, 13)
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
QUOTE: We must not spend all our lives in cleaning our windows, or in considering whether they are clean, but in sunning ourselves in God’s blessed light. That light will soon show us what still needs to be cleansed away, and will enable us to cleanse it with unerring accuracy. Our Lord Jesus is a perfect reservoir of everything the soul of man requires for a blessed and holy life. To make much of Him, to abide in Him, to draw from Him, to receive each moment from His fullness, is therefore the only condition of soul health. But to be more concerned with self than with Him is like spending much time and thought over the senses of the body, and never using them for the purpose of receiving impressions from the world outside. Look off unto Jesus. "Delight thyself also in the Lord" ( Ps. 37:4 ). "My soul, wait thou only upon God!" ( Ps. 62:5 ). F.B. Meyer
OPTIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS
Runner looking down at shoes and runs off the track or out of his lane.
Football player examining uniform
Driver constantly stopping to check the oil, etc.
Bride focused on hair, dress and misses the “I do.”
