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  PSALMS 132:23
  by Chuck Smith
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing God's
knowledge of us and seeking His guidance to avoid deception and ensure
our eternal destiny.

Topics: "Self-Examination", "Divine Guidance"
Scripture References: Psalm 139:1

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DESCRIPTION
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Chuck Smith emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and the need for
God's guidance in understanding our true selves. He highlights that God
knows us intimately, including our thoughts and motivations, and that
this knowledge can be overwhelming. The prayer 'Search me, O God'
reflects a desire for divine insight into our hearts, especially
regarding our eternal destiny. Smith warns against self-deception,
particularly in relation to our relationship with God and the dangers of
living in darkness while claiming to walk in the light. Ultimately, he
encourages believers to seek the narrow path that leads to eternal life
through Jesus.

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CONTENT
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"SEARCH ME O GOD"

Intro: Whole psalm a prayer.

I. BEGINS WITH RECOGNITION; GOD KNOWS ME BETTER THAN I KNOW MYSELF.

A. "O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me."

1. You know my highs and my lows.

2. You know the origins of my thoughts.

3. You surround my life, whether asleep or awake.

4. Before I speak, you know what I am going to say.

5. You totally encompass my life.

B. Such knowledge is too much for me, I cannot attain it.

1. What knowledge? Self knowledge!

a. Socrates said, "Man, know thyself."

2. The hardest knowledge to attain is self knowledge.

3. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and who can know

it?" - desperately wicked

4. The Bible warns many times against being deceived.

a. "Be not deceived, God is not mocked..."

b. "If we say we,, have no sin, we deceive ourselves..."

5. Have you ever asked yourself, "Why did I do that?"

6. Have you ever said, "I don't know why I did it."

a. Sometimes we may use that as a cover because the true motive

was so horrible, we don't want to admit to it.

b. Other times we just don't know.

7. How thoroughly God knows us. Wonder of wonders, He still loves us.

II. "SEARCH ME O GOD AND KNOW MY HEART" IS THE PRAYER OF THE MAN WHO
RECOGNIZES THAT HE

DOESN'T KNOW HIMSELF.

A. There is one area I must make certain I am not deceived.

1. Concerning my eternal destiny, "the way everlasting."

2. Recognizing that God will surely destroy the wicked he prays, " See
if

there be any wicked..."

3. "There is a way that seemeth right unto man..."

B. Many people are deceived concerning their relationship to God and
eternal destiny.

1. They claim to have fellowship with light as they walk in darkness.

a. They feel they are exempt from God's laws.

b. They try to bring light and darkness together.

2. Many people who have spent their life in church will spend their

eternity in hell.

3. The works of the flesh, adultery, fornication, hatred, wrath, strife,

jealousies, envying, drunkenness, revellings, "I tell you again..."

4. You may say, pastor, aren't you getting a little heavy this morning?

a. It's God's Word.

b. I would rather you be upset with me now than later.

C. There is a way everlasting.

1. Straight is the gate, narrow is the way.

2. There is a false way, broad and wide.

3. How can I be sure?

4. Jesus said, "I am the way..."

Search me O God.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/chuck-smith/psalms-13223/
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