Please turn in your Bibles this morning to Galatians chapter 6 as we are in part 2 of our study on “Surrender, Who Me?” Last week we looked at surrender in regards to our vertical axis or our relationship with God. We saw that we first must get our relationship with God in line for our relationship with our fellow man to be in line or our horizontal axis. If we refuse to surrender our lives to the Lord then we are not going to surrender our lives to our fellow man. If we refuse to surrender our lives before our Creator, we are not going to surrender our lives before His creation!
Nancy Leigh DeMoss put it this way in her book Surrender. She said:
You don’t want to surrender to God’s control? You won’t bow to His will in relation to your marriage, your morals, your attitudes, your tongue, your eating habits, your spending habits, or the way you spend your time? Then count on it – the very points on which you refuse to surrender will become “enemies” that rule over you – lust, greed, possessions, food, sloth, immorality, anger, etc.
- Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Surrender, p. 43
In our study this morning we are going to look at our horizontal axis or our relationship with our fellow man and we are going to see how brokenness, surrender is essential if those relationships are going to grow. In her book Brokenness, Nancy Leigh DeMoss tells us:
By the way, I believe one of the reasons that so many people live with chronic loneliness is that they are unwilling to die. As Jesus pointed out, if a grain of wheat does not fall into the ground and die, it “remains alone.” Our natural instinct is to hold on protectively to our own lives. When we refuse to shed that hard, outer shell called “self,” no one can get close to us; no one can penetrate or enter into our life. Just as pride repulses God, so pride keeps others from getting close to us.
Years ago, when I was a college student, I heard Pastor Ray Ortlund say, “Most churches are like a bag of marbles – all hard and clanging up against one another. Instead, we ought to be like a bag of grapes – squished together so that the juice of His Spirit may flow out through us.” True Christian community, as Pastor Ray described it, is something few believers ever experience, because it requires that each individual let go of “self” and pour out his life on behalf of others.
What does this kind of death mean? It means that we must be willing to die to our own interests, die to our own reputation, die to our own rights, die to our own ways of doing things, die to our own comfort, convenience, hopes, dreams, and aspirations. To “die” means to lay it all down. To give it all up. To let it all go. This may seem difficult, perhaps even unthinkable, to our self-protective, individualistic, rights-oriented minds. But, as Jesus went on to tell His disciples, “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25).
- Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Brokenness, pp. 110-112
Not an easy subject but an important one that I believe the Lord wants us to learn, or re-learn and apply to our lives. With that said, lets begin reading in Galatians chapter 6, starting in verse 1 and see what the Lord has for us this morning.
This horizontal axis or our relationship with our fellow man is seen in how we treat others. First of all, are they more important than you? If so that is humility. On the other end of the spectrum is this; nobody is more important than you! If so, that is pride. Secondly, how do we respond when others wrong us, be it real or perceived? Do we bless them? If so that is humility. Or do we get mad at them? If we do, that is pride.
Some of you may be thinking, “Hey, wait a minute, I didn’t sign up for this class!” To late, you’re in! Folks, these studies have been difficult for me because we all have issues of pride in our lives that the Lord is trying to break us. In fact, right in the middle of this study I was involved in a situation that showed me what was in my heart, and I didn’t like it, I had to deal with it. So again, if you don’t need this study because you are doing so well, that is great, but I truly need to hear it again!
2. HORIZONTAL AIXS – OUR RELATIONSHIP
WITH OUR FELLOW MAN
In our society we are told to build up self, that our self-esteem is to low and we MUST build it up! I agree that the problem is self, not that we look to lowly upon ourselves, but we are so self-centered, self-absorbed, self-consumed. You see, self is the problem! J. N. Darby said, “Pride is the greatest of all evils that beset us, and of all our enemies it is that which dies the slowest and hardest.”
Now don’t think that humility is going around saying, “I am nothing! I am dirt! I am worthless!” That is not humility, and in fact, that too can be pride masquerading itself in humility! You see, humility, brokenness is more than a felling, it is more than an emotion, it is more than just words, it is a choice on our part, we must act upon it on a daily basis. As I said last week, it is a battle of the wills – the will of God and our own will! Thus, brokenness, humility is the death of any self-will, the shattering in pieces of my self-will, and the absolute surrender of my will to the will of God that is then manifested in the way I treat others, the way I respond to others.
Here in Galatians 6:1 Paul tells us that we are to “restore” a person who has fallen into sin. Paul used the Greek word KATARTIZO (kat-ar-tid’-zo) for “restore” and it speaks of putting something in order or to put it back to its former condition. In other words, if you see a brother who has fallen into sin, instead of putting them down, instead of mocking them, instead of gossiping about their failure, you are to restore them to the faith!
This word was used for the setting of a broken bone, to realign it, put it back together again. Now if you broke your leg the doctor is not going to read to you how to put it back together so you can do it. No, he will inform you of the procedure he is going to do and then he will touch your life, have contact with you, resetting the bone so it will heal and be stronger than it was before it was broken.
Why do we as Christians feel we can help people by keeping them at a distance? “Just read the Bible Joe, you know all things work together for good. Trust God!” That is very true but the reality is, if you want to help someone you have to get close to them, you have to touch their lives, left them up, set them upon their feet again, restore them to the faith. It is as Peter tells us in I Peter 4:8, “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’” Or as The Amplified Bible puts it, “Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others]. [Prov 10:12.]” Yes, they have to be willing to be touched, to be restored, but we must also try!
Also, in Galatians 6:2 we are told to help carry the load of those that are weighed down, not to add more laws to their heavy burden, but love which will release the load, lighten the load! Paul tells us in Philippians 2:1-4, “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”
In other words, if you put on the mind of Christ, His love will not only flow into your life but through your life and touch others because you are right with God and your relationship with your fellow man will then be in line!
Living in the 21st century we have so many resources at our disposal, including things to assist us in our Christian life. It is almost too easy and yet, we don’t seem to do so good. Walk into a Christian bookstore in America and you will find books on happiness, marriage, relationships, healings, communications, success, and-so-on. We have so much and yet we as Christians are many times so frustrated, we are defeated, our lives seem empty, we don’t feel God’s presence in our lives. How come?
I think this is a heart issue, not an information issue. We have plenty of information, we must take that information and apply it to our lives, let it sink deep down into our lives and transform us. You see, in Isaiah 57:15 we are told, “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 humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’” The Amplified Bible puts this verse like this, “For thus says the high and lofty One — He Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, but with him also who is of a thoroughly penitent and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the thoroughly penitent [bruised with sorrow for sin]. [Matt 5:3.]”
Where does God dwell? We are told “in the high and holy place.” Where else? In the hearts of those who have a “contrite and humble spirit.” The Hebrew word for “contrite” is DAKKA (dak-kaw’) and it speaks of being crushed to a powder. The Hebrew word for “humble” is SHAPHAL (shw-fawl’) and it speaks of being brought low. It is as David said in Psalm 51:16-17, “For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart — These, O God, You will not despise.” It is as Martin Luther said, “God creates out of nothing. Therefore until a man is nothing, God can make nothing out of him.”
God’s desire is to revive us, to nourish us, to give us abundant life but God will not force that upon us. He is waiting for us to humble ourselves before Him, to give all of ourselves to Him. How are you doing in regards to brokenness? In America it seems like we have strange ideas about being a Christian, what it is all about and for many, it has nothing to do with brokenness. But listen to what Nancy Leigh DeMoss tells us:
Years ago a missionary served in a region in Africa that had known seasons of true revival. He reported that whenever he would mention the name of any Christian, the national believers would ask him, “Is he a broken Christian?” They did not ask, “Is he a committed Christian?” or “Is he a knowledgeable Christian?” or “Is he a hardworking Christian?” They wanted to know, “Is he a broken Christian?”
- Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Brokenness, p. 87
With the rest of our time this morning I want to have us do some soul searching to see if we are broken before God and that will be manifested in the way we treat others, how we look at ourselves. The idea is to examine our hearts so that if there are areas we need to be broken in, have a humble heart in, God will show us and we may humble our hearts before Him, and if we do, He will revive us!
I am going to take these topics from Nancy Leigh DeMoss’s book on Brokenness and expound on them. We probably won’t be able to cover them all, but let’s see how far we can go, because I truly believe they are important. (pp. 88-98).
1. PROUD PEOPLE FOCUS ON THE FAILURES OF OTHERS AND CAN READILY POINT OUT THOSE FAULTS.
Broken people are more conscious of their own spiritual
need than of anyone else’s.
Our sin tends to look so evil when someone else is doing it, but we tend to think nothing of it when we are involved in it. Be careful, be open to what God is showing you in this area.
2. PROUD PEOPLE HAVE A CRITICAL, FAULTFINDING SPIRIT. THEY LOOK AT EVERYONE ELSE’S FAULTS WITH A MICROSCOPE BUT VIEW THEIR OWN WITH A TELESCOPE.
Broken people are compassionate – they have the kind of love that overlooks a multitude of sins; they can forgive much because they know how much they have been forgiven.
Can we look at the good in people or do we have to find fault in them? Think about that; imagine if God played your life to your family and friends! But He doesn’t, He looks at the good in each of us and builds upon that, removing the garbage in our lives, the evil for our good, to make us more like Him.
3. PROUD PEOPLE ARE ESPECIALLY PRONE TO CRITICIZE THOSE IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY – THEIR PASTORS, THEIR BOSS, THEIR HUSBAND, THEIR PARENTS – AND THEY TALK TO OTHERS ABOUT THE FAULTS THEY SEE.
Broken people reverence, encourage, and lift up those that God has placed in positions of authority, and they talk to God in intercession, rather than gossiping about the faults they see in others.
Several weeks back my boss wanted me to do something, admit a non Intensive Care Patient to the ICU and that was our last ICU bed. This patient could have gone to the medical floor and so I told her that this was a mistake, that we would not be able to admit an ICU patient and then and she told me that I was not being a team player. I knew she was frustrated with the situation she was in but when she said that to me, my pride was hurt. I couldn’t believe she would say something like that, she knows me and I let it get the better of me, getting people on my side, which was easy to do. I was so right about this that I was wrong. And yes, we were suppose to get an ICU patient and this other patient ended up going to the floor, but that was not the issue, it was my heart! My boss is great, she is supportive, she loves to educate us and I had to apologize to her for my actions, it was wrong. It is amazing how pride sneaks up on us and then just vomits itself all over the place, affecting many lives.
4. PROUD PEOPLE ARE SELF-RIGHTEOUS; THEY THINK HIGHLY OF THEMSELVES AND LOOK DOWN ON OTHERS.
Broken people think the best of others; they esteem others as better than themselves.
5. PROUD PEOPLE HAVE AN INDEPENDENT, SELF-SUFFICENT SPIRIT.
Broken people have a dependent spirit; they recognize their need for God and for others.
6. PROUD PEOPLE HAVE TO PROVE THAT THEY ARE RIGHT – THEY HAVE TO GET THE LAST WORD.
Broken people are willing to yield the right to be right.
7. PROUD PEOPLE CLAIM RIGHTS AND HAVE A DEMANDING SPIRIT.
Broken people yield their rights and have a meek spirit.
8. PROUD PEOPLE ARE SELF-PROTECTIVE OF THEIR TIME, THEIR RIGHTS, AND THEIR REPUTATION.
Broken people are self-denying and self-sacrificing.
Ouch, that one hurts! Again, we can be so right in our actions, the things we say that we are wrong. We are bondslaves of Christ, we have no rights, we are servants of the King!
9. PROUD PEOPLE DESIRE TO BE SERVED – THEY WANT LIFE TO REVOLVE AROUND THEM AND THEIR OWN NEEDS.
Broken people are motivated to serve others and to be sure others’ needs are met before their own.
10.
PROUD PEOPLE DESIRE TO BE KNOWN AS A SUCCESS.
Broken people are motivated to be faithful and to make others successful.
11. PROUD PEOPLE HAVE A FEELING – CONSCIOUS OR SUBCONSCIOUS – THAT “THIS MINISTRY (OR THIS ORGANIZATION) IS PRIVILEGED TO HAVE ME AND MY GIFTS.” THEY FOCUS ON WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR GOD.
Broken people have a heart attitude that says, “I don’t deserve to have any part in this ministry”; they know that they have nothing to offer God except the life of Jesus flowing through their broken lives.
Who are you trying to impress? You see, serve the Lord, be faithful in service and He will reward you and how much better are the rewards that come from God as opposed to the praise of men!
12. PROUD PEOPLE CRAVE SELF-ADVANCEMENT.
Broken people desire to promote others.
13. PROUD PEOPLE HAVE A DRIVE TO BE RECOGNIZED AND APPRECIATED FOR THEIR EFFORTS.
Broken people have a sense of their own unworthiness; they are thrilled that God would use them at all.
14. PROUD PEOPLE GET WOUNDED WHEN OTHERS ARE PROMOTED AND THEY ARE OVERLOOKED.
Broken people are eager for others to get the credit, and they rejoice when others are lifted up.
15. PROUD PEOPLE ARE ELATED BY PRAISE AND DEFLATED BY CRITICISM.
Broken people know that any praise of their accomplishments belongs to the Lord and that criticism can help them grow into spiritual maturity.
What moves you for service? You see, if you are after the praise of men when you don’t get it you are done. But when you serve the Lord, no matter what – none of those things will move you from what God has called you to do!
16. PROUD PEOPLE FEEL CONFIDENT IN HOW MUCH THEY KNOW.
Broken people are humbled by how very much they have to learn.
17. PROUD PEOPLE ARE SELF-CONSCIOUS; THEY WORRY ABOUT WHAT OTHERS THINK OF THEM.
Broken people are not preoccupied with what others think of them.
18. PROUD PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT APPEARING RESPECTABLE; THEY ARE DRIVEN TO PROTECT THEIR IMAGE AND REPUTATION.
Broken people are concerned with being real; they care less about what others think than about what God knows – they are willing to die to their own reputation.
19. PROUD PEOPLE CAN’T BEAR TO FAIL OR FOR ANYONE TO THINK THEY ARE LESS THAN PERFECT. THIS CAN DRIVE THEM TO EXTREMES – WORKAHOLIC TENDENCIES, PERFECTIONISM, THE TENDENCY TO DRIVE OTHRES OR TO PLACE UNREALLISTIC EXPECTATIONS ON THEMSELVES OR OTHERS.
Broken people can recognize and live within God given limitations.
20. PROUD PEOPLE KEEP OTHERS AT ARM’S LENGTH.
Broken people are willing to take the risks of getting close to others and loving intimately.
21. PROUD PEOPLE ARE QUICK TO BLAME OTHERS.
Broken people accept personal responsibility and can acknowledge where they were wrong in a situation.
22. PROUD PEOPLE WAIT FOR OTHERS TO COME AND ASK FORGIVENESS WHEN THERE IS A MISUNDERSTANDING OR A BREACH IN A RELATIONSHIP.
Broken people take the initiative to be reconciled, no matter how wrong the other party may have been.
23. PROUD PEOPLE ARE UNAPPROACHABLE OR DEFENSIVE WHEN CORRECTED.
Broken people receive correction with a humble, open spirit.
24. PROUD PEOPLE FIND IT DIFFICULT TO DISCUSS THEIR SPIRIUTAL NEEDS WITH OTHERS.
Broken people are willing to be open and transparent with others as God directs.
25. PROUD PEOPLE TRY TO CONTROL THE PEOPLE AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND THEM – THEY ARE PRONE TO MANIPULATE.
Broken people trust in God – they rest in Him and are able to wait for Him to act on their behalf.
26. PROUD PEOPLE BECOME BITTER AND RESENTFUL WHEN THEY ARE WRONGED; THEY HAVE EMOTIONAL TEMPER TANTRUMS; THEY HOLD OTHERS HOSTAGE AND ARE EASILY OFFENDED; THEY CARRY GRUDGES AND KEEP A RECORD OF OTHERS’ WRONGS.
Broken people give thanks in all things; they are quick to forgive those who wrong them.
27. PROUD PEOPLE WANT TO BE SURE THAT NO ONE FINDS OUT WHEN THEY HAVE SINNED; THEIR INSTINCT IS TO COVER UP.
Broken people aren’t overly concerned with who knows or who finds out about their sin – they are willing to be exposed because they have nothing to lose.
28. PROUD PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME SAYING, “I WAS WRONG; WILL YOU PLEASE FORGIVE ME?”
Broken people are quick to admit their failure and to seek forgiveness when necessary.
29. PROUD PEOPLE TEND TO DEAL IN GENERALITIES WHEN CONFESSING THEIR SIN TO GOD (“DEAR LORD, PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR ALL MY SINS . . .) OR EXPRESSING SPIRITUAL NEED TO OTHERS (‘I NEED TO BE A BETTER CHRISTIAN . . .”)
Broken people are able to acknowledge specifics when confessing their sin: “Lord, I agree with You that I love myself more than I love my mate; I confess that I am addicted to television; I’m a glutton; I have a critical spirit; I am an angry mother . . .”
30. PROUD PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR SIN. THEY ARE DISTURBED OVER THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THEIR SIN – FOR EXAMPLE, THE FINANCIAL BONDAGE CREATED BY THEIR OVERSPENDING, OR THE PROBLEMS IN THEIR MARRIAGE THAT HAVE RESULTED FROM SELFISHNESS AND IMMORAL CHOICES.
Broken people are grieved over the cause, the root of their sin. They are more concerned about how their sin has grieved and dishonored God than about the problems it has created in their lives.
31. PROUD PEOPLE ARE REMORSEFUL OVER THEIR SIN – SORRY THAT THEY GOT CAUGHT OR FOUND OUT.
Broken people are truly repentant over their sin, and the evidence of their repentance is that they forsake the sin.
32. PROUD PEOPLE ARE BLIND TO THE TRUE CONDITION OF THEIR HEARTS.
Broken people walk in the light and acknowledge the truth about their lives.
33. PROUD PEOPLE COMPARE THEMSELVES WITH OTHERS AND FEEL WORTHY OF RESPECT.
Broken people compare themselves with the holiness of God and feel a desperate need for His mercy.
34. PROUD PEOPLE DON’T THINK THEY NEED TO REPENT OF ANYTHING.
Broken people realize that they need to maintain a continual heart attitude of repentance.
35. PROUD PEOPLE DON’T THINK THEY NEED REVIVAL, BUT THEY ARE SURE EVERYONE ELSE DOES. (IN FACT, RIGHT ABOUT NOW, THEY ARE MAKING A MENTAL LIST OF THE PEOPLE THEY THINK NEED TO READ THIS BOOK!)
Broken people continually sense their need for a fresh encounter with God and for a fresh filling of His Holy Spirit.
How are you feeling right now? As I have said, this was not an easy study for me, and I am sure you feel the same way. You see, I thought I was doing pretty good, obviously not perfect, but who is. But in reading this book, and going over this list, it truly exposed areas in my life where pride reigns and where the Lord should be reigning! Thus, I need to surrender to the Lord in these areas, come broken before Him. If you think you are doing fine, ask someone at work how you are doing with the items on this list, your best friend, your spouse! You see, if we are all honest with ourselves, low self-esteem is not the problem, pride is and brokenness before the Lord is the answer. It is as James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
Folks, don’t leave here this morning beating yourself up, that is not humility, that is really pride. Surrender, brokenness is what God is looking for in each of our lives. And the reality is, the only way our relationship with our fellow man is going to be in line, the horizontal axis, is if our relationship with God is in line, the vertical axis, as we humble ourselves before Him! Roy Hession said, “Being broken is both God’s work and ours. He brings His pressure to bear, but we have to make the choice . . . All day long the choice will be before us in a thousand ways.” May we ask the Lord’s help in this area of brokenness and then respond as He leads us! It is as Jesus said in Matthew 21:44, “And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” May we fall upon Him as He breaks us of self and we can grow in Him! It is as Martin Luther said, “God creates out of nothing. Therefore until a man is nothing, God can make nothing out of him.” May we do that, allow God to take these lives that are nothing and make something out of them for His glory!