Sermon to Self

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (Psalm 42:5-6)

I suppose we all preach to ourselves. The question is, do we preach sermons to ourselves that are good or self destructive? Are they full of depressing ideas devoid of hope in Christ? Are they creepy sermons where we stalk ourselves with angry rationalizations of getting even with someone? Are they full of slanderous shame, void of gospel truth?

A good sermon to self is one that proclaims the greatness and majesty of Jesus. It is one that encourages a humble dependance on the Spirit of Christ rather than the futility of fleshly efforts. Good sermons to self are full of gospel truth. What is gospel truth? It is truth about Jesus, who is able to do in us and for us that which we cannot possibly do for ourselves. Gospel truth says, Hope in God, not in self. It says, Jesus is the vine, apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all." (John 6:63)

What are you preaching to yourself? Biblically based sermons to self are sermons that consciously proclaim the truth of Jesus so that we humbly place our hope in Christ. This kind of thinking is more than just passive thinking, or even meditating on a verse of scripture. It is telling ourselves in no uncertain terms Biblical truth. For example, "you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11)."

This kind of sermon to self humbles us. It celebrates gospel faith in Jesus. It is powerful. Look for examples of it in the Bible. Look for words like "oh my soul," and "reckon," and "consider."

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103:1-5 )

"As you come to Him..."

"As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:4-5) 

Father, I want to come to Jesus, not just a few times a day, but continually - plugged in to Jesus like a branch to the vine, joyfully attached and worshipfully discovering more and more of the riches of Christ. I know many don't get Jesus but sometimes I live as if I don't either. So please give me the grace and wisdom I need to know how much I need to come to Jesus all the time. It's "as I come to Him," everything good that should happen will.

Looking

"...the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

The Lord reminded Samuel of something here. They were looking for a king. The tendency was to find someone that had that "King" kind of look. I don't know. Tall, broad shoulders, lots of hair, deep pensive voice? Do we do the same today? When's the last time we elected a guy who is bald???? :) 

The Lord sees differently. He looks on the heart. While we connect our own shallow ideas of "coolness" to whatever it is we are willing to follow the Lord doesn't. He's never fooled, flattered, or conned. Nothing catches his eye because of its empty sparkle. He looks for truth. He "delights in truth in the inward being." (Psalm 51:6)

Jesus was rejected as the anointed King of Kings because the people were looking for something else. They were looking for something much less. Each time we fail to completely trust and love the Lord we do the same. It's called sin. It shows up in a variety of ways from worry to lust, from bitterness to slander. 

I'm not done here. There's so much to think about and write about. But the main thing is this. If the Lord looks on the heart, and He does, then we are all in deep, deep trouble. Unless!

"I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezeziel 36:26)

And with the new heart comes new eyes so we can begin to see. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see ----- God." (Matthew 5:8)

Amazing Love

"Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. He says, 'I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.' And again, 'I will put my trust in him.' And again he says, 'Here am I, and the children God has given me.'" (Heb. 2: 11– 13 NIV)

Been reading Everyday Prayers by Scotty Smith. It is a prayer each day in response to a portion of holy scripture. Yesterday's passage was the above. Read it slowly. You might even want to write it out. Let the love of Jesus soak in. Be rooted and grounded in His surprising love.

Now you might want to read it even again. If you are like me you probably missed what's being said. If you have seen the black depths of your sin, this glimpse into the heart of Jesus will blow you away.

First, Jesus makes us holy. We can't make ourselves holy. Only the Sent One of the Father who took the wrath of God we deserved can make us holy. Trust Him to be the one and only holy-maker in your life.

Second, once Jesus does this miracle of making us holy, we are brought into His family. Jesus calls us family without shame. WITHOUT SHAME. He is so unashamed of us that he sings praises with us. He who is Lord, praises the Lord for us. Wow!

All this is possible because He made us holy. All this is possible because God in His amazing grace gave us to Jesus. So when He sings praises, He praises the One who made it possible. But still. Amazing love.


Smith, Scotty (2011-09-01). Everyday Prayers: 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith (p. 29). Baker Publishing Group.