A Pure Heart

A Humble Heart

4-26-09

2 Corinthians 12:7

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messe= nger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.= (NKJV)

God said you have a wrong attitude about the revelation that I have been giving.

I started depending on the encouragement f= rom other people validating the thing that God was doing.

God said the revelation that I have been giving = you was to help people you minister to and not to look at it as a thing of your= own merit.

God said I have to be able to trust people with = what I give them.

Ephesians 4:11-12

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equippin= g of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ= ,(NKJV)

for the equipping of the = saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ=

To work effectively in the kingdom of God presumption and pride cannot exist.

Pride--- Definition

Arrogance

Treating others with contempt<= /p>

One with a swollen estimate of his own means or merits

I thought God was really honoring me with the increased revelation.

Everything we receive from God comes alone as function of grace.

I can never obligate God for anyth= ing based on my commitment or good performance.

James 4:6

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to = the humble."(NKJV)

If I begin to say look what God is doing through= me----God will resist me

If I have a humble heart before the Lord He can operate effectively through His grace.

Grace is the only means that we receive anything from God.

Receiving something from God should cause a humb= le attitude.

Presenting this to you today was part of my medicine.

God said people aren’t looking for a strong person but a person that’s strong in me.

Looking for validation from other people of what= God is doing through us is wrong.

Colossians 2:10

and you are complete in H= im, who is the head of all principality and power.(NKJV)

the word complete<= /u> here means filled up, lacking nothing, entire, whole

Provisionally we are complete in Him.=

God said, I never put= you in charge of evaluating your effectiveness in what I have told you to do.

It’s by grace that I will ever again recei= ve anything form the Lord.

If I do receive something it’= ;s to help me or someone else and not because of something inherently good in = me.

God is looking for people He can trust with His gifts.

God is looking for people He can operate through that are faithful and trustworthy.

Many times God uses the people that make <= span class=3DGramE>themselves available and will be faithful to accomplish His work.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ = and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that = one be found faithful.(NKJV)

The amplified versions say found faithful provin= g to be worthy of trust.

Part of our faithfulness is to have a humble hea= rt.

Realizing that whatever we accomplish for the kingdom of God is a pure result of grace.

Sometimes we can get the attitude that we are do= ing God’s work when in reality God is doing His work through us.

I can’t evaluate the effectiveness of what= He has called me to do.

I can only maintain a humble heart= and be obedient to what He has called me to do.

All sufficiency comes from the Lord.<= o:p>

Questionable Attitudes=

Other people just don’t get it like I do.<= o:p>

Those people don’t know how to worship lik= e I do.

That person has terrible grammar and social skil= ls.

Lazy people; they don’t have a good work e= thic like I do.

They just don’t have a good understanding = of the word of God like I do.

Th= at person doesn’t have a clue how to get things done.<= /p>

That person just can’t keep their mouth sh= ut.

By saying these things although they may be true have a self-exalting nature to them.

What we are really saying is that we are superio= r to them in those areas.

Where you are today is only a function of grace = and the goodness of God.

Are we spending as much time praying for people as we are talking about them.<= /u>

Sometimes we really get involved in the self-completion process.

Every perfected work in us is by G= od as a result of His grace

If you excel in a certain area above someone else it’s a function of grace.

Isaiah 57:15

For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humbl= e, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.(NK= JV)

With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, ones who have the worst thou= ghts of themselves and the best of others

The word contrite means one who is broken, crush= ed, beaten small

The same heart that we originally come to the Lo= rd with at salvation we are to maintain.

Romans 3:27

Then what becomes of [our] pride and [our] boast= ing? It is excluded (banished, ruled out entirely). On what principle? [On the principle] of doing good deed= s? No, but on the principle of faith.(AMP)

Since our justification came by faith all boasti= ng is banished.

If we excel in works, good deeds or good qualiti= es above other people it’s purely a function of grace.=

Works never got us in a position to receive anyt= hing from God.

Increase is our lives should only have a humbling effect.

Since we have never deserved any good thing we h= ave received.

Job 5:17

"Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; Therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty= .(NKJV)

I’m glad God had enough mercy on me to cor= rect me.

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.(NKJV)=