"Look Good" to Look Good
Date: 12 June, 2016
Text: Micah 6: 8
Title: You Can Look Good, If You "Look" Good.
Theme:
Rhetorical:
Introduction:
Do you care about your looks? If you don't, your family probably does!
There is a good natural desire we have TO LOOK GOOD.
Mirrors and reflections were given to us by God to keep us from embarrassing ourselves and our family.
ill. Often times as you leave someone's home - there is a mirror - this is the final inspection point before walking out into public.
question: Have you ever been out in public and seen your reflection in the mirror and said to your family, "Was anyone going to tell me that my hair was like that or that my clothes had that on them?"
question: Or have you said to a family member, "Did you look in a mirror this morning? You need to do something -BECAUSE YOU JUST AREN'T LOOKING very GOOD TODAY. Wives can say this to husband - but husband's tread carefully over this point.
note: We've all seen the poor soul who definitely needed a good look in a mirror and think to ourselves, "His family should really him enough to tell him how he looks or buy him a mirror."
argument. Isn't it true in life that we need to have a "good" look (in a mirror) to look good?
THE SAME PRINCIPLE APPLIES SPIRITUALLY.
We need a good "look" to look good to God! So, how is your "look" this morning? God cares enough for us this morning to encourage us to "look" in the right places to change our looks.
I. Look in the Book.
8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good;
ill. Israel wanted to get right with God - but they were so far from God - they didn't know what to do to appease His wrath.
6 ¶ Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
exp: Mankind has always sought to appease God through human ingenuity. The people in Micah's day considered....
1.) Sacrifices.
...shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
exp. The sacrificial system was only a picture of the one sacrifice which God would accept.
Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
2.) Extreme sacrifices.
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
3.) Most extreme sacrifices.
shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
question: Can you see the desperation and lack of trust found in works religion?
note: There is a consciousness of inability to offer anything of value to God. There is a lack of trust in the willingness of God to ACCEPT ANYTHING FOR MEN'S RIGHTEOUSNESS.
ARGUMENT: Why doesn't man just go to the book and SEE WHAT GOD SAYS IS GOOD? Ga 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
app. If you are trying to "earn your salvation through human reasoning" you are looking in the wrong place. If you are trying to please God through human reasoning you are looking in the wrong place. Look into THE BOOK OF BOOKS THE BIBLE!
II. Look out for God's authority.
and what doth the LORD require of thee,
exp. When you look into God's Word, you find that God has authority. He has things which he requires for His creation.
ill. The religions of humanism, atheism, and evolutionism all have their creed which says that man is his own god. "There is no God, so stop worrying and enjoy life." Stonewall bus campaign.
question: Did God disappear because of their unbelief?
ill. I recently met a man, Alec can attest to this, who believed that the earth is flat and that mankind has never walked on the moon.
exp. Did his unbelief of a round earth change the reality of a round earth and or his unbelief in man's incredible achievement of putting men on the face of the moon change history? Did his belief in a flat earth make the earth flat.
fact: Unbelief and faith do not change reality.
Romans 3: 3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
app. If you aren't "looking" at life through the lens of the authority of God, you have a great problem. Your unbelief has not changed the reality of the authority of God, and He has requirements for you.
ill. We enjoyed hearing Eddy's testimony at the football tournament. He was brought to conviction of his need for salvation by understanding man's great accountability to our Creator.
Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
exp. Faith does not make something so. Faith accepts that what God says IS SO AND PREPARES TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT TO GOD. Look out for God's authority! You will give an account.
III. Look inside and see what needs to change.
but to do justly,
exp. This is to act in accordance with God's law. We have all failed.
A. We have failed before salvation.
Ro 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
exp. Sin is to miss the mark. No matter who you are we have all missed the mark of God's perfection.
ill. When I was in college, I could jump with my feet straight down and get my feet 40 inches off of the floor. (I could touch a ten foot high basketball rim.) I could probably jump higher than you - but neither of us could jump up and touch the ceiling of this room.
exp. If that ceiling was God's righteousness - we would all "come short" of it this morning.
question: What is the problem? God expects you and I to live up to that standard of His righteousness. It doesn't matter that you or I can jump the highest - God expects us to touch it.
2Co 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
exp. You could look around at your goodness and feel like you are better than most people in Loanhead. The problem is - they aren't the standard! Jesus Christ is the standard.
app. The answer is to stop jumping and LET JESUS LIFT YOU UP WITH HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AT SALVATION.
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
B. We can fail after salvation.
exp. Even though we are saved - God still expects us to do what is right.
Dr. Bob Sr. - "Do right til the stars fall."
ill. Daniel, Job, and Noah were known as just men. When God was sending judgment upon Israel he said, " Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD." Ezekiel 4:14
exp. None of them were righteous on accident.
Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
app. Have you purposed in your heart to live justly? God requires it! 1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. Look in your heart and see what needs to change. He'll help us to live up to that high standard.
IV. Look out for those around you.
and to love mercy,
exp. Mercy is dear to the heart of God. He is ever merciful. He loves to give mercy to His creation and He loves to see His creation give mercy to one another.
Mt 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Mt 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
ill. Jesus taught us to claim this in the Lord's prayer.
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
ill. Jesus even told a parable to illustrate this truth.
Matthew 18: 21 ¶ Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
app. Are you a merciful person? Do you hold anyone as your debtor and refuse to forgive them? You aren't looking good to God this morning if you aren't looking out for your fellow man. You will miss out on His mercy and forgiveness if you refuse to give mercy and forgiveness.
V. Look up instead of looking down.
and to walk humbly with thy God.
question: Have you ever seen a proud walk? When I was growing up there was a really cocky way to walk. You could call it a strut - like a peacock. There is a lot of pride that goes into that kind of walk.
ill. Handing out Gospel flyers and having older woman look down over their glasses at me and put their nose up in the air ignoring myself and my flyer. I get this dirty feeling as if I had just stepped in something awful and walked on their nice rich carpet.
app. God help us not to be people who are so high and mighty we can't help but look down on the world and God.
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
ill. I recently read a statement by a good man of God who said, "Most times when people reject the Gospel it is lack of understanding." I disagree - I think most times it is lack of humility. They just need a good dose of brokeness to get them to the place where they are willing to cry out to God.
app. If you are walking humbly with God "you are submitted to Him." You aren't looking down at him but up to Him. (that is our final point)
VI. Look to God.
with thy God?
exp. He has humbled Himself more than you or I could possibly imagine to be willing to be called "thy God."
Philippians 2: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
note: He made himself of no reputation to walk with you. Why don't you make yourself of no reputation - so that you can walk with Him.
app. Are you "looking" to God. Psalm 123:2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.
Conclusion: How do you look to God this morning? Not good at all if you aren't looking where our text has told us to look this morning.
1.) Are you looking into God's Word?
2.) Are you looking out for God's authority?
3.) Are you looking inside to see what needs to change?
4.) Are you looking out for those around you?
5.) Are you looking up instead of looking down?
6.) Are you looking to God?
We can all look good if we make sure that we are "looking" good.
