(Clip) Humanizing God and Christian Selfishness
Lou Sutera challenges believers to recognize the true God beyond human limitations and warns against selfishness in prayer that hinders receiving God's blessings.
This sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing and revering God as the Almighty, distinct from the humanized version we often create in our minds. It highlights the necessity of being a praying people who seek God's will with a selfless heart, rather than being driven by selfish desires. The speaker urges the congregation to ask with the right motives, focusing on gratitude, praise, and spiritual blessings that align with God's purposes.
Full Transcript
If man is man, and are you men here tonight? We talked about men. If man is man, here we are, man is man. And if God is God, hmm.
You know what our problem of our day is, men and women? We have done something to God. He's no longer the God of the Bible in our minds. The tragedy is we have humanized him and brought him down to such a low level that it can hardly say God is God.
But I hope God has a group of people here tonight who say, we want the God who is God. And Phyllis Brooks said, if man is man, and we are, and if God is God, and we say amen to that, then he went on to say, that not only is it awful not to pray, it is foolish not to pray. You have not because you ask not.
All my brothers and sisters, that will become a praying people. But I say here tonight, Lord, I've got people on a Tuesday night have come to Heritage Alliance Church because I've got the askers, Lord. The askers are here tonight, God.
So he goes on to say in verse 3, you ask, I've got the askers here, Lord. But also it says, you ask and receive not, and we're here, Lord. A lot of asking, but we're not getting.
We're here, Lord. How come, Lord? Because you ask to miss the message tomorrow. You ask to consume it on your lust.
What is this all about? I give a quote by Dr. James Kennedy from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Tremendous man of God who passed on to be with the Lord a few years ago. Listen to what he said.
What a statement. He said, the selfishness of our day, don't we live in a day of selfishness? The selfishness of our day has mingled itself with the incense of our prayers. Our self-centeredness of this society and our day comes right into the center of our prayers.
It is to be feared, he said, that our selfishness prays more than our gratitude and praise. He said, for even spiritual blessing we can ask for, we may even ask and even receive it not, if we only ask it that we may consume it upon ourselves. Tremendous.
You know, every one of us as Christians, we can say we know if we know ourselves at best. Sometimes in our most holy moments, we discover the fact that that spirit of selfishness and self-seeking enters right into the center.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Man is man and God is God
- The problem of humanizing God
- The need to recognize God as God
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II
- The importance of prayer
- The folly of not praying
- The presence of askers in the church
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III
- Asking but not receiving
- The reason: asking with wrong motives
- Selfishness mingling with prayers
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IV
- Selfishness in modern society
- Self-centered prayers versus gratitude
- The spiritual danger of consuming blessings selfishly
Key Quotes
“We have done something to God. He's no longer the God of the Bible in our minds.” — Lou Sutera
“It is to be feared that our selfishness prays more than our gratitude and praise.” — Lou Sutera
“For even spiritual blessing we may ask and even receive it not, if we only ask it that we may consume it upon ourselves.” — Lou Sutera
Application Points
- Examine your motives in prayer to ensure they align with God's will rather than selfish desires.
- Approach God with reverence, recognizing His true divine nature beyond human limitations.
- Cultivate a heart of gratitude and praise to balance your prayers and deepen your relationship with God.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to humanize God?
Humanizing God means reducing Him to human limitations and characteristics, which diminishes His true divine nature.
Why do some prayers go unanswered according to the sermon?
Prayers may go unanswered because they are asked with selfish motives or to consume blessings on oneself rather than for God's glory.
How can believers overcome selfishness in prayer?
Believers can overcome selfishness by cultivating gratitude, seeking God's will, and praying with a heart focused on others and God's purposes.
What is the significance of recognizing God as God?
Recognizing God as God restores reverence, faith, and proper understanding, which is essential for effective prayer and relationship with Him.
Who was Dr. James Kennedy and why is he mentioned?
Dr. James Kennedy was a respected Christian leader whose insights on selfishness in prayer highlight the sermon's key message.