Sermon #1290 Miscellaneous
Sermons
Title: What Is Really Important To God?
Text: Isaiah 66:1-2
Subject: Things
That Matter To God
Date: Sunday Morning - August 17, 1997
Tape
# T-97
Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:17-2:2
1 Corinthians 1:17-31 "Christ sent me not to baptize, but to
preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be
made of none effect. (18) For the
preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which
are saved it is the power of God. (19) For
it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing
the understanding of the prudent. (20) Where
is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not
God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
(21) For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God,
it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (22) For the Jews require a sign, and
the Greeks seek after wisdom: (23) But
we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks
foolishness; (24) But unto them which
are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of
God. (25) Because the foolishness of
God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (26) For ye see your calling, brethren,
how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (27) But God hath chosen the
foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak
things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (28) And base things of the world, and
things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea,
and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: (29) That no flesh should glory in his
presence. (30) But of him are ye in
Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and
sanctification, and redemption: (31) That,
according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 2:1-2 "And I, brethren, when I came to you,
came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the
testimony of God. (2) For I
determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him
crucified."
Introduction:
I want to begin my message today by
reading Isaiah 66:1-2. Hear now the word of the Lord.
Isaiah 66:1-2 "Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and
where is the place of my rest? (2) For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite
spirit, and trembleth at my word."
As I observe all that is done in the
name of God, all the money that is raised and spent, all the buildings built,
all the works performed, all the programs and activities maintained, all the
rituals and ceremonies endured by men, all the creeds, confessions, and laws
which are imposed upon men and women in the name of God, I cannot help asking
myself a question. It is a question which I have been asking a good bit in the
last few weeks, as we make final preparations for our conference. Knowing the
cost and labor involved in this work, I think the question is worth asking and
considering. Here is my subject today - WHAT
IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO GOD?
I
do not pretend to know very much about God. When I begin to think of him, I cry
out with Paul, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God? How
unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out! Who hath known
the mind of the Lord; Or who hath been his counsellor?” I am fully
aware that God’s infinite, holy Being is indescribably above me. My puny, pigmy
mind cannot fathom the Almighty! “No man hath seen the Lord at any time!” Zophar
asked Job, “Canst thou by searching find out God?” Our greatest, deepest,
broadest knowledge of the infinite, eternal, incomprehensible, omnipresent,
omnipotent God is very, very limited. Yet, our Lord Jesus Christ declares, “He
that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” And I have seen Christ by
faith. After spending nearly thirty years studying his Word and preaching his
gospel, I think I can shed some light on this question - What Is Really Important To God? This much is certain - That
which impresses us does not impress him (Lk. 16:15).
Luke 16:15 "And he said unto them, Ye are they
which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that
which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God."
1. I
know this: Almighty God is not
impressed with church buildings, ornate cathedrals, and so called “houses of
worship.”
He says, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the
house that ye build unto me?” Paul told the Athenians that God, who made
the heavens, does not dwell in temples made with hands (Acts 17:24).
Acts 17:24 "God that made the world and all things
therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples
made with hands;"
Crosses, altars,
stained glass, and crystal cathedrals impress foolish men; but religious
buildings mean absolutely nothing to the omnipresent, eternal God.
2. God is not at all
impressed with the tithes, offerings, and sacrifices which men bring to him (Isa.
1:11).
Isaiah 1:11 "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am
full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight
not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats."
Preachers bow and scrape before men,
like beggars on the street. They compromise the gospel and sell their souls to
get men to give a little money. They even promise rewards from God, in this
life and in the life to come, to entice people to give an occasional tip to
God, as though grace is something God sells! But the God who owns the cattle on
a thousand hills and all the gold and diamonds of the deep mines of the earth,
is not impressed with the gifts men bring to him.
·
Which of us ever made a sacrifice worthy
of God’s notice?
·
God has no need of our paltry gifts.
·
It is a blessing of grace that he allows
us to give, stoops to receive our gifts, and condescends to use them!
·
But the Almighty, Self-sufficient God
does not need and is not impressed by a puny man’s gifts.
3. God is not impressed
with our rituals, ceremonies, holy days, and sabbath keepings (Isa.
1:13-14; Col. 2:16).
Illustration: Sabbath Day Observance Society
“Do
you believe in keeping the sabbath?”
“The
Christian Sabbath”
Isaiah 1:13-14 "Bring no more vain oblations; incense
is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of
assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity,
even the solemn meeting. (14) Your
new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me;
I am weary to bear them."
Colossians 2:16 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat,
or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath
days."
4. The Lord God certainly
is not impressed with long, fancy, often repeated, wordy prayers
(Isa. 1:15).
Isaiah 1:15 "And when ye spread forth your hands, I
will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear:
your hands are full of blood."
True prayer is more than words. It
is the voice of the heart seeking God’s mercy, God’s will, God’s glory, and
God’s Son.
5. God cares nothing for
works of righteousness performed by men (Matt. 5:20).
Our righteousnesses are as filthy
rags in God’s sight. God calls them “dead
works” to be repented of and forsaken. The Son of God declares…
Matthew 5:20 "I say unto you, That except your
righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into
the kingdom of heaven."
6. God is not impressed
by strictly observed legal religion.
Legalism impresses, allures, and
snares blind, spiritually ignorant men and women; but legalism, in any shape,
or form is an utter abomination to God. Those who would impose upon God’s
saints the yoke and bondage of Moses’ law pervert both the law and the gospel. “By the deeds of the law there shall no
flesh be justified.” God declares, in speech that is unmistakably clear
that we are entirely free from and dead to the law (Rom. 6:14, 15; 7:4).
Romans 10:4 "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that
believeth."
There is absolutely no
sense in which righteousness comes to us by our obedience to the law. Either we
are under the whole law to do it all, r we are not under the law at all! And
the laws, customs, traditions, and rules of religion invented and imposed by
men are utterly contemptible to God!
·
Dietary Laws
·
Dress Laws
·
Do Laws
·
Don’t Laws
God almighty, who made
Adam and Eve naked in the garden and gave them everything he had made to use
and enjoy as they saw fit, is not impressed by what the fallen sons and
daughters of Adam wear or do not wear, eat or do not eat, drink or do not
drink.
7. I
will tell you something else. God is
not impressed with preachers (Matt. 7:22).
Orators impress men; and pulpiteers
impress themselves; but God is not impressed.
Matthew 7:22 "Many will say to
me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name
have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?"
If these things do not impress God,
if he has no regard for our buildings, our sacrifices, our prayers, our
ceremonies, our righteousness, or our preaching, what does he regard? What does
God treasure? What is really important to God?
I have searched the Scriptures and
found five things which really are important to God. These five things God
treasures above all other things. I am going to give you these five things in a
specific order; but you could really put them in any order you might choose,
because these five things are of equal importance to the Lord our God. Really,
they are so intimately connected and interwoven that they cannot be separated.
I.
What is really important to God? Number
one - HIS WORD.
Listen to what the Lord God says in
our text. “To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite
spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Isa. 66:2).
In Psalm 138:2 the psalmists makes a
statement which, at first glance, seems almost out of place.
Psalms 138:2 "I will worship toward thy holy temple,
and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for THOU HAST MAGNIFIED THY WORD ABOVE ALL THY
NAME."
What an utterly astounding
statement! God’s name represents all his attributes and all his works. His name
represents the totality of his infinite Being. Yet, the psalmist declares that
he has magnified his Word above all his name.
Men may poke fun and make light of
it until God casts them into hell, but this blessed Book is God’s Holy Word. It
may not be important to you, but you better believe it is important to God! “Forever,
O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven” (Ps. 119:89). “The
word of our God shall stand forever” (Isa. 40:8). “Let God be true, and every man
a liar!” God says, “My word shall not return to me void” (Isa. 55:11). All God’s works are by his Word:
His Living Word, His Decreed Word, His Oral Word, His Written Word, or His
Preached Word.
·
The world was created by the Word of God.
·
Heaven and earth are preserved and held
in tact by the word of God.
·
Christ is revealed by the Word of God.
·
Men and women are convinced of sin by the
Word of God.
·
Faith is given by the Word of God.
·
Comfort is administered by the Word of
God.
·
Saints are motivated, edified, protected,
and ruled by the Word of God.
No wonder then that John wrote, “Blessed
is he that readeth, and they hat hear the words of this prophecy, and keep
those things which are written therein” (Rev. 1:3).
Let me tell you five things about
the Word of God, the written Word of God, which you hold in your hand.
A. The Word of God is the seed of spiritual
life by which chosen, redeemed sinners are born again
(Heb. 4:12; James 1:18 1 Pet. 1:23-25).
Illustration: :A sower went forth to sow…The seed is the Word of God.”
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than
any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,
and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
James 1:18 "Of his own will begat he us with the
word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."
1 Peter 1:23-25 "Being born again, not of corruptible
seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for
ever. (24) For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as
the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (25) But the word of the Lord endureth
for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."
B. The solitary basis of our faith is the
Word of God (Rom. 4:3, 20-22).
Romans 4:3 "For what saith the scripture? Abraham
believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."
Romans 4:20-22 "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. (22) And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness."
Faith is belief in action. Abraham
believed God’s Word of promise. He believed God’s Word and acted upon it.
C. The Word of God is the foundation of our
hope (Psalm 119:49, 81, 114).
Psalms 119:49 "Remember the word unto thy servant,
upon which thou hast caused me to hope."
Psalms 119:81 "My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word."
Psalms 119:114 "Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word."
D. The Word of God will be the basis of
judgment at the bar of God in the last day (John
12:47-50).
In that great and terrible day God
almighty will judge all men by the light of this blessed Book.
John 12:47-50 "And if any man hear my words, and
believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save
the world. (48) He that rejecteth me,
and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have
spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (49) For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent
me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. (50) And I know that his commandment is
life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto
me, so I speak."
E. The Word of our God shall stand forever (Matt.
5:18; Num. 23:19; Isa. 46:9-11).
Matthew 5:18 "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven
and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till
all be fulfilled."
Numbers 23:19 "God is
not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should
repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it?
or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?"
Isaiah 46:9-11 "Remember the former things of old: for
I am God, and there is none else; I am God,
and there is none like me, (10) Declaring the end from the
beginning, and from ancient times the
things that are not yet done,
saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (11) Calling a ravenous bird from the
east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have
purposed it, I will also do it."
God almighty will do all his Word.
God is as good as his Word. It will all be fulfilled!
1. His
Word of Predestination.
2. His
Word of Promise - (Of Grace).
3. His
Word of Judgment.
What
is really important to God? His Word. That is the first thing.
II. The
second thing that is important to God is HIS
GRACE.
Turn
with me to Exodus 33:`13-19. Notice this fourfold request which Moses made to
the Lord.
Exodus 33:13-19 "Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have
found grace in thy sight, SHOW ME NOW
THY WAY, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and CONSIDER THAT THIS NATION IS THY PEOPLE. (14) And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. (15) And he said unto him, IF
THY PRESENCE GO NOT WITH ME, CARRY US
NOT UP HENCE. (16) For wherein
shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so
shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. (17) And the LORD said unto Moses, I
will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my
sight, and I know thee by name. (18) And
he said, I beseech thee, SHOW ME THY
GLORY. (19) AND HE SAID, I WILL MAKE ALL MY GOODNESS PASS BEFORE THEE, AND I WILL
PROCLAIM THE NAME OF THE LORD BEFORE THEE; AND WILL BE GRACIOUS TO WHOM I WILL
BE GRACIOUS, AND WILL SHOW MERCY ON WHOM I WILL SHOW MERCY."
When God saw the wickedness of the
world and destroyed it in the flood of his wrath, what saved Noah? “Noah
found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” “The law came by Moses, but grace and
truth came by Jesus Christ.”
Sinners are saved by grace alone;
and that grace is bestowed upon chosen sinners only through the mediation of
our Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing is more important to God than his grace. He
says, “My grace is sufficient for thee!”
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the
gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest
any man should boast."
A. His
grace established and made for us the covenant of grace.
B. His
grace chose us in Christ.
C. His
grace sent Christ into the world to redeem and save his chosen, covenant
people.
D. His
grace called us from death to life.
E. His
grace keeps us.
F. His
grace shall finish (Phil. 1:6) and complete what his grace began “to the praise of the glory f his grace.”
Illustration:
No Sound of Hammer or Saw in the Temple
The Altar of Unhewn Stone (Ex. 20:25)
Exodus 20:25 "And if thou wilt make me an altar of
stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon
it, thou hast polluted it."
Romans 11:5-6 "Even so then at this present time also
there is a remnant according to the election of grace. (6) And if by grace, then is
it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more
grace: otherwise work is no more work."
What is important to God? His Word!
His Grace!
III. Third,
HIS SON is important to him.
God has given his Son all
pre-eminence. The triune God has put all fulness in the Lord Jesus Christ, God
the Son, as our Savior, Mediator, and Covenant Surety.
Colossians 1:18-19 "And he is the head of the body, the
church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (19) For it pleased the Father that in him should all
fulness dwell;"
Colossians 2:9-10 "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of
the Godhead bodily. (10) And ye are
complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:"
God has turned
everything over to his Son. He is like Joseph in Egypt. He holds the keys to
everything.
Illustration Go to Joseph!
In the New Testament, God the Father
spoke audibly to men only two times: once at our Lord’s baptism and again at
his transfiguration. His message was the same both times. “This is my beloved Son, in whom
I am well pleased.”
A. All grace is in the Son.
B. Conversion is in the Son.
Galatians 1:15-16 "But when it pleased God, who separated
me from my mother's womb, and called me by
his grace, (16) To reveal his Son in
me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with
flesh and blood."
C. Life is in the Son.
John 11:25 "Jesus said unto her, I am the
resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet
shall he live."
D. Salvation is in the Son.
1 John 5:11-13 "And this is the record, that God hath
given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (13) These things have I written unto
you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have
eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."
“What think ye of Christ?” Christ is ALL!”
1. In
The Purpose Of God.
2. In
The Works Of God.
·
Creation: By Him, For Him, In His Image
·
Providence
·
Redemption
·
Judgment
3. In
The Book Of God.
4. In
The Church Of God.
Until we have learned this, we are
not in union and harmony with God. “CHRIST IS ALL!”
What is really important to God? His
Word! His Grace! His Son!
IV. Here is the
fourth thing that is important to God HIS
PEOPLE.
Deuteronomy 32:9-10 "For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. (10) He found him in a desert land, and
in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept
him as the apple of his eye."
Zechariah 2:8 "For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After
the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that
toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye."
How important are God’s elect to
him? Is it really true that we are equally as important to him as his Word, his
grace, and his Son? Indeed, we are!
A. God
created all things for us (1 Cor. 3:21-23).
B. He
sent his Son to die for us (Isa. 53:8).
C. He
sacrifices people and nations of people for us (Isa. 43:1-5).
D. He
rules all things for us (John 17:2).
E. He
upholds and preserves the world for us (2 Pet. 3:9).
F. He
will judge the world for us.
G. He
will bestow all the glory of heaven upon us.
H. God
the Father loves us as he loves his own dear Son as our Savior and Redeemer
(John 17:20-24).
I have shown you four things which
are of utmost importance to God: His Word, His Grace, His Son, and His People.
V. Now
the last, but by no means the least, thing which is of utmost importance to God
is HIS GLORY.
How can a mortal, sinful man talk
about the glory of God? God’s goal and delight in all things is his glory. His glory is…
·
Unspeakable.
·
Unsearchable.
·
Unchangeable.
·
Indescribable.
·
Independent.
The
heavens declare the glory of God. The
angels sing, “Glory to God in the
highest!” The Son said to the
Father, “Glorify thy Son that thy Son
also may glorify thee.” The Holy
Spirit has come to glorify Christ for the glory of the triune God. All the redeemed in heaven sing, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory,
and honor, and power.” “Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be unto him
that sitteth upon the throne!” Read Romans
16:25-27 and Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14.
Romans 16:25-27 "Now to him that is of power to stablish
you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the
revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, (26) But now is made manifest, and by
the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting
God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: (27) To God only wise, be glory
through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen."
Ephesians 1:6 "To the praise of the glory of his
grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."
Ephesians 1:12 "That we should be to the praise of his
glory, who first trusted in Christ."
Ephesians 1:14 "Which is the earnest of our inheritance
until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his
glory."
If you and I could be in harmony
with God’s creation, the holy angels, the Son of God, his Holy Spirit, the
redeemed in heaven, and the purpose of God himself, if we hope to be accepted
of and honored by God, whatever we do in word or in deed must be done for his
glory (1 Cor. 10:31; 6:19-20).
1 Corinthians 10:31 "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or
whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "What? know ye not that your body is the
temple of the Holy Ghost which is in
you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your
body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
This
I know: We will, every one of us, sooner or later, glorify God.
Ultimately, we will glorify him, either in his mercy, love, and grace, or in
his justice, truth, and righteousness. But we will glorify him!
1 Corinthians 15:24-28 "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God,
even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and
power. (25) For he must reign, till
he hath put all enemies under his feet.
(26) The last enemy that shall be
destroyed is death. (27) For he hath put all things under
his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things
under him. (28) And when all things
shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him
that put all things under him, that God may be all in all."
Illustration: Criswell’s Story:
“Where
was the Lord…….? He was in his glory!”
What is really important to God?
These five things…
1. His
Word.
2. His
Grace.
3. His
Son.
4. His
People.
5. His
Glory.
Now, I want you to answer one
question - What is really important to you? What is really important to me?