Learning
to Respect God
Introduction:
Are there ways in which my respect for God could
leave something to be desired? Few of us think of ourselves as being
irreverent. But…true reverence includes respect. And…too many of us fail to
take God w/the utmost seriousness. Need to have what some have called a
“radical respect” for God. There are some things we cannot do & have the
right respect for God.
I. We
cannot be indifferent to God.
A.
How many of
those you come in contact with simply feel that religion does not matter?
B.
Go about
living life; no worry; no thoughts to spiritual life…or eternity.
C.
Even
Christians sometimes act as if other things were relatively more important than
God.
1.
Heb. 12:29
– in truth,…God is a consuming fire. He is real!
2.
Ex. 19:16-19;
20:18-19 – recorded how God’s appearance on Sinai caused people to
tremble in fear.
3.
Heb. 12:18-29
– Christians have come to Mt. Zion.
4.
Lk. 8:18
– We must take heed HOW we hear! Isa. 66:2b; Heb. 2:1-4
II. We
cannot accommodate God to ourselves.
A.
Sometimes we
guilty of trying to “adjust” God or “fit” God to ourselves.
B.
For example…we
could find God & His will “intrusive” in our lifestyle.
1.
Mk. 8:34-38
C.
We ought to
let God be God & let ourselves be His creatures!
D.
If any
accommodation need be made – let it be OUR accommodation to God!
III. We
cannot compartmentalize God.
A.
Commitment we
make to God is to be all-emcompassing.
B.
Sometimes…when
we see what obedience is going to mean – we try to confine God to one
compartment of life & keep the other part to self.
1.
Two compartments
of life – religious/secular.
C.
We cannot put
God in some box of our own making. 2 Cor. 8:5; Col. 3:17
D.
There is no
area of life where God is irrelevant!
IV. We
cannot mock God!
A.
Gal. 6:7-8
– we must not take this disrespectful approach w/God!
1.
Psa. 10:3-4,
6, 11; 14:1; 36:1
2.
Mal. 1:6-8;
Isa. 1:10-15 – too many content to give God the leftovers!
B.
God will not
be insulted or trifled with! Pro.
28:9
Conclusion:
A.
To be near God
with words – but far from Him in our hearts is to be in a dire condition!
Isa. 29:13; Mt. 15:8
B.
Jesus rejected
those who only wanted a superficial attachment to Him – Lk. 9:57-62
C.
May we
radically respect God