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TEXT:1Pe 3:4 But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. INTRO: We were at one of our favorite malls in Calgary - Chinook Centre. Its been totally renovated and enlarged. It's one the oldest mall in the City it's new look makes you feel like you've stepped back into the 1950's and forward in to the 2100’s all at once - rambling big parking levels, soaring ceilings, it's got a classic colors and designs. But we don’t really go there to shop, we love the atmosphere and showing off our kids to the myriad of people but with all its stores, its a lousy selection! - "You know, its sort of like a movie set. There really isn't much there, but it sure does look pretty." TRANSITION:Now, sadly, there are a lot of lives that are like that mall's description. Many christians can be similar. Many of us have had these times. Jesus put it this way, talking ( or yelling) at the Pharisees: Mt 23:28 ...You outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Basically, he said “There really isn't much there, but you sure do look pretty; especially all dressed up for church, turning on the charm, making a great impression, or saying and doing all the right Christian things. But, as God reminds us in ISamuel 17:9"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." And there's many an empty heart hiding behind an impressive exterior. Maybe sitting next to you? Maybe sitting in your spot!? In Revelation 3, beginning with verse 15 there's a disturbing example of the deadly difference there can be between what people see and what God sees. To the outside observer, the church at Laodicea was rich, successful, and experiencing God's blessing. But Jesus said to them, Revelation 3:15 "I know your deeds, that you are neither hot or cold ... because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of My mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.'" There's the image. "But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." There's the reality. Like a movie set, like that mall. There really isn't much there, but it sure looks pretty. “I do not need a thing” - Are you settling? Are you in denial? Are you spiritually set? Are you desperately zealous? What do you need? If you need nothing, - You need a reality check. The attitude of Canada (also known as Laodicea) is “Come on , its summer mellow out, we can’t always be excited and buzzing!” Doesn’t the Devil like that! Doesn’t God feel the hurt of His selfish children saying by their actions “Hey, it was only His Son that died and saved my soul from hell, and has blessed my socks off, - big deal!” Now theres no one here that would say that, but examine your life and your surroundings, we live in a muddy place and it gets hard and tiring to keep moving. What I’m saying is: Brethren work on the inside and He’ll motivate the rest! 1Pe 3:4 But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. Are you settling? Or are you itching to go!? Are you the same person all the way through? 2Co 4:18While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal. It's easy to make the mistake of thinking that because you've impressed other people that Jesus is impressed. Not necessarily. It takes a lot of personal courage and honesty to look in the mirror and say, "You know, I'm not what everyone thinks I am. It's pretty empty behind the image I'm portraying." That's painful, but it's the beginning of reality - and an open door for Jesus to come behind the set and start to build a deep, real, fulfilling relationship with Him. It's wonderfully liberating to let Jesus show you what He sees when He looks at you - and to let Him start building a you that only He can build.It could be that behind all your Christianity, you really are lacking in your relationship with Jesus. Now if you just said “no” to yourself/ under your breath, That much more should you check yourself! You can’t automatically shuffle this away. If theirs something their, He fix it with you. If not, he’ll put you as an example in humility. Yes humilty, if thats missing, you need another check up! At the least your daily relationship may be weak.TURN: Ro 2:29 But he [is] a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision [is that] of the heart, in the spirit, [and] not in the letter; whose praise [is] not of men, but of God. You know He died to pay for your sins and you agree with Jesus - but somehow, you've missed the power in your life that those Bible heroes seemed to have, or that missionary has, or that other Christian has with Him, most likely, a good part of it is that your still running parts of your own life and you need to take that gaping step of faith of letting Him run your life some more. 2Co 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward [man] is renewed day by day. The key is understanding your a worm! - Humility under God’s authority. All the heroes, the leaders in the Bible had this key to integrity - Apostles, prophets, leaders were very rarely appreciated during there time! We think there great! And lived a zealous bed of roses! Heres the truth: First the prophets - Mt 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. We’re going through Isaiah right now, guess how hes rewarded after helping through 5 kings? The sixth cuts him in half! The Apostles? Paul said it honestly - 1Co 4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. Other Leaders? Nu 16:3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? Moses had a continuous battle also! Hes known as the meekest man that ever lived! But enormous is the reward of those that honor the leaders! There's times when again you actually give ‘you’ to Jesus in recommittment - A reminder of the importance of Humility. Humbling yourself before Him, like those hreroes. And there's no way to His Power and Blessing without that humility, no matter how spiritually impressive you look.Who are you when only your spouse is around? Or your kids? Or when your alone? Whats really inside? Work on the sincerity of the Inside, God take care of the rest! It will flow from Him through you. 1Pe 3:4 But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, [even the ornament] of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. Are you putting on good face, like that mall? Are you working on the inside? |