Seeking Him - His Terms

Affectionately known as "Uncle John" to his troops, Union Gen. John Sedgwick was one of the best loved c Civil War commanders and was known to be a solid and dependable leader.

During the Battle of the Wilderness in the Civil War, Union general John Sedgwick was inspecting his troops near Spotsylvania. At one point he came to a embankment, over which he gazed out in the direction of the enemy. His officers suggested that this was unwise and perhaps he ought to duck while passing the parapet. "Nonsense," snapped the general. "They couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist--." a sniper’s bullet struck under his left eye, killing him instantly.

PRIDE

Humility has never been popular in the eyes of the world. If you want to get ahead, self-confidence and self-promotion are the fail-proof prescriptions for success.

- Looking for images that picture pride - Pages upon pages for gay pride

Dict. a high opinion of one’s own importance

Pride promotes self

Pride is amnesia of the soul.

It is forgetting God

Acting as though we have no need of Him

Pride keeps us from seeking him

Psalm 10:4KJV

4 The w+icked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Proverbs 8:13KJV

- ARROGANCE

SCRIPTURE

Proverbs 11:2KJV

2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

Proverbs 8:13KJV

13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Proverbs 16:18KJV

18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 29:23KJV

23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

Matthew 23:12KJV

12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

James 4:6KJV

6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

- An awareness of God’s holiness drives us to acknowledge our sin and receive God’s forgiveness.

Uzziah (2 Chron. 26:16–23).

- He became proud, acted in a corrupt manner, was unfaithful to the Lord

- Uzziah failed to recognize the majesty of God’s holiness by daring to defy God’s instructions

- God struck him down for his irreverence

Recognizing Pride in Ourselves?

A spotty prayer life suggests I am not actively relying on the Lord.

Tired -- Doing more than God intends - Meaning I am not letting Him order my day.

Anger - Trying to take control from Him

A critical spirit, in order to lift up me

A defensive reaction to criticism,

- I am taking myself too seriously and thinking of myself too highly..

Easily annoyed, Impatient

- Having to listen, wait, serve,

Approaching The Lord

◆ v.1-4 - Behold His holiness and majesty.

v. 1 - Isaiah saw the Lord

- Begin in the Scriptures

- We don’t wait around for a vision

- Our best protection against sin

- Spending time with Him

- In the Word In Prayer

- Memorizing God’s Word

Psalm 119:11KJV

11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

G. Campbell Morgan

- The best book - Thy Word

- In the best place - My heart

- For the best purpose - That I might not sin against you

- With Seraphims mentioned only here in Scripture.

- It means “to burn”

- They relate to the holiness of God.

◆ v.5 Recognize Sinfulness

- Isaiah was overwhelmed

◆ v.5 - Confess Sin.

◆ v. 6-7 - Receive Forgiveness cleansed Isaiah.

◆ v.8 - Ready to serve

- Empty of self

Spiritual Breathing

- Physical breathing is necessary to sustain physical life,

- “Spiritual breathing" is essential to spiritual life

- Exhale, confess to the Father and agree with Him concerning your sin

- Sin (the fruit) and self (the root).

Inhale, receive His forgiveness

- Yield yourself to the control of the Holy Spirit.

- Spiritual breathing develops God consciousness

- Keeps you focused & sensitive to Him

Psalm 139:23-24KJV

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

- “Man is happy when he has a utensil that remains whole and is saddened when it breaks.

- God, on the other hand, whose most cherished possession is a man’s heart, delights when it is broken in humility.”