GETTING GOD’S ATTENTION

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Sunday, October 27, 2024

(Isaiah 66:2, GW) “I will pay attention to those who are humble and sorry for their sins and who tremble at my word. ”

(1 Peter 5:5, NLT) “Dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another…”

(Psalm 18:36, CJB) “You give me your shield, which is salvation, your right hand holds me up, your humility makes me great.”

“For those who would learn God’s ways, humility is the first thing, humility is the second, humility is the third.” –Augustine

Daily, I face a test to humble myself or to exalt myself

1. HUMILITY HARNESSES MY AMBITION

(Proverbs 15:33, NLT) “Fear of the Lord teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.”

Godly ambition knows:

I am created in God’s image.

I have a steward of my S.H.A.P.E.

(2 Corinthians 5:9, NASB) “We also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.”

(Philippians 3:12–14, NLT) “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”

(Romans 15:20, NLT) “My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else.”

2. HUMILITY HARNESSES MY NEED FOR ATTENTION

(Matthew 23:11–12, CEV) “Whoever is the greatest should be the servant of the others. If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored.”

a. Jesus redirects ambition

b. Pride seeks recognition

c. Humility sees need

(Psalm 18:27, NLT) “You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.”

3. HUMILITY HARNESSES MY NEED FOR POSITIONAL SUCCESS

(Mark 10:42–45, Message) “Jesus got them together to settle things down. “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around,” he said, “and when people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not to be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for many who are held hostage.”

(James 4:10, NLT) “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.”

“If our humility is not unconsciousness it is exhibitionism.” –D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

a. Pride trusts power

b. Humility trusts God

c. If we trust God, we receive power

(Acts 1:8, PT) “But I promise you this—the Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will be filled with power.”

4. HUMILITY RECEIVES GOD’S BLESSINGS

(Isaiah 66:2, NLT) “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.”

GROWTHWORK

Daily…

1.      Reflect upon the Cross of Christ.

2.      Admit your need for God’s help.

3.      Give God thanks.

4.      Look for God’s grace in others.

5.      Lastly go to sleep and rest in the Lord.