'SOMETHING TO GLORY IN
"SOMETHING TO GLORY IN!"
JEREMIAH 9:23-24
INTRO: A person needs something to glory in. The Prophet here mentions
wisdom, strength, and wealth. All of which are good things if they are
kept in the proper perspective. If they occupy the right place in
human life. But when a man glories in anything less than God, that
thing whatever it might be becomes evil (Andrew W. Blackwood.
Commentary On Jeremiah. p. 108); another god drawing his attention
away from the Almighty God!
Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, "No man can serve two masters: for
either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the
one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
Mammon, in that verse means "riches." Jesus used it here in the
sense of placing worldly things equal to or superior than spiritual
things. God has to be first in our lives! He is what we must glory in
above all else! The apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1:31, "...He
that glorieth, let him glory in the LORD." Paul practiced that principle
in his life as so evidenced by his words in Philippians 3:7-8, "But
what things were gain for me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea,
doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my LORD: for whom I have suffered the loss
of all things, and do count them but dung, that I might win Christ." And
his words in Galatians 6:14, "But God forbid that I should glory, save
in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified
unto me, and I unto the world."
Paul had found his "Something To Glory In" and that something
was Jesus Christ! He had laid aside the wisdom, wealth, and
strength of this world, to follow his Savior above all else! That is true
wisdom! Jeremiah in verse 24 of our text, expressed the same idea,
“But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and
knoweth me, that I am the LORD....". Until a man knows Christ as
LORD, it matters not his wisdom, wealth or strength, he is nothing
apart from God! True wisdom is in God and knowing Him personally!
That is our "Something To Glory In!"
WHEN HE IS OUR "SOMETHING TO GLORY IN", WE WILL:
(1) RECOGNIZE OUR INABILITY TO DIRECT OURSELVES
JEREMIAH 10:23—“O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in
himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.”
A. OUR DEPENDENCE. As faithful and devoted as Jeremiah himself was, he
well realized that it was not in his own power to find his way (Clyde T.
Francisco. Studies in Jeremiah. p. 58). Solomon wrote in Proverbs 16:1—
“The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from
the LORD.” Men can neither think nor speak wisely and well without Divine
assistance. (John Wesley. John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes. e-Sword.
Version 7.7.0. Copyright 2000-2005. Rick Meyers. All Rights Reserved
Worldwide). In Proverbs 20:24 we read—“Man's goings are of the LORD;
how can a man then understand his own way?”
ILLUS: A crawling infant does not teach himself to walk. He learns from
those who already know. Just so a man needs a Higher Being to
guide his uncertain walk through life (Clyde T. Francisco. Studies in
Jeremiah. p. 59).
B. OUR DISCOVERY. There are two important truths in v23:
➢ Man Cannot Understand Himself (v23a).
➢ Man Must Be Directed (v23b).
Man can never direct his life so as to achieve God's blessing without God's
help (Jeremiah 7:23; Psalm 1:1-3)! A man is at his wisest when he sees
himself a wretched sinner in need of the Grace of God, for that is his true
condition! The nation of Israel here had sinned against the providence of
God, they had forsaken Him for idols, and put their wants above God's plan
for them! Now they needed to see what they had done, but they would not
(Jeremiah 9:12-15)!
Many times we are much the same way. We think we can guide our own
steps and seek our own way and if we need God we will enquire of Him, but
we must realize that we can't do anything right apart from Him! We have
to be lead and taught of His Spirit or else we cannot walk as He desires us!
The Lord promises in Psalm 32:8—“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the
way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” David said in
Psalm 37:23-24—“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and
he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down:
for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” The word "ordered" used there
is translated from a Hebrew word which means "directed". In Psalm 86:11
the psalmist requested—“Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy
truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.”
The songwriter expressed it well:
"I thought I could build alot on my own,
I thought I could make it all alone,
I thought of myself as a mighty big man;
But I can't even walk without Him holding my hand.
I can't even walk without you holding my hand,
The mountains too high and the valleys too wide,
Down on my knees I learned to stand,
Because I can't even walk without you holding my handing."
Jesus in John 10, refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd and in v27
declares, "My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me."
Wherever he leads you, He has gone before. The Good Shepherd will not
lead His sheep in places too hard for them. Trust Him with every step of
your life! (Lindsay L. Terry. Devotions From Famous Hymn Stories. p. 37).
Proverbs 3:5-6
When He is our SOMETHING TO GLORY IN we will RECOGNIZE OUR INABILITY TO DIRECT OURSELVES but also we will…
(2) REALIZE THE ONLY TRUE WISDOM IS IN KNOWING GOD
JEREMIAH 9:23—“ Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in
his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the
rich man glory in his riches.”
A. WISDOM THAT IS FOOLISHNESS. Proverbs 9:10a says, "The fear of the
LORD is the beginning of wisdom…”. A person may have accumulated
knowledge and many valuable skills, but he is not wise unless he is
heading in the right direction with them (Andrew W. Blackwood.
Commentary On Jeremiah. p. 109). Many who have superior knowledge
tend to let it affect their ego. If that was not true, why do they so often put
it on display for all to see. Rather than consider it an investment by God to
help others. Knowledge is meant to be used, not exhibited (Clyde T.
Francisco. Studies in Jeremiah. p. 59). God said in His Word in 1
Corinthians 3:18-20, "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you
seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he might be
wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written,
He hath taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And the LORD knoweth the
thoughts of the wise that they are vain." No man no matter how wise he
thinks himself to be; knows anything of worth, if he knows not God in a
personal way!
ILLUS: Carl Sagan was interviewed for an article in the March 10, 1995
Sunday Parade Magazine. He has been struck with bone cancer.
He later died of cancer on December 20, 1996 He is probably one
of the foremost scientists and thinkers of our day. Yet when
Christians began praying for him and wrote to tell him about it he
kind of scoffed at the idea. In response he said, "I cannot conceive
of a God who rewards and punishes his creatures or has a will of
the kind that we experience in ourselves. Nor can I conceive of a
individual that survives his physical death. Let feeble souls, from
fear or absurd egotism, cherish such thoughts. I am satisfied with
the mystery of the eternity of life and a glimpse of the marvelous
structure of the existing world, together with the devoted striving
to comprehend a portion, be it ever so tiny, of the Reason that
manifests itself in nature. While I don't think that, if there is a
God, his plan for me will be altered by prayer, I'm more grateful
than I cay say to those who pulled for me during my illness."
For all his book learning and wisdom, He knows nothing of God (2
Timothy 3:7)! Sagan truly was an example of a wisdom that is
foolishness.
B. WISDOM THAT YIELDS FRUITFULNESS. Unless a man is directed by
God's Spirit into spiritual truth He can never know it or perceive it! In 1
Corinthians 2:14 the Scripture tells us—“But the natural man receiveth not
the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can
he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” A man may glory in
his might and physical stamina, but without God he is weak and without
strength! (Romans 5:6; 1 Timothy 4:8). The greatest wisdom lies in the
recognition that God is our strength and apart from Him we have no
strength! That is “Something to Glory In!" Paul realized the importance
of glorying in the Lord when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10—“And he
said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect
in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that
the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in
infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for
Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
Others may take pride in riches. Men such as Chase, Getty, Rockefeller,
and Forbes have through the years caught the eye of many because of their
incredible wealth, but wealth apart from God is vanity! James wrote of the
woes that would come upon them that trust in their riches in James 5:1-
6—“Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come
upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your
gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against
you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together
for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down
your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them
which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye have
lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your
hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and
he doth not resist you.” Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:17—“Charge
them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded; nor trust in
uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to
enjoy.” And Jesus asked in Mark 8:36—“For what shall it profit a man, if he
shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
ILLUS: It was of the rich young ruler that came to Jesus that Jesus said of
him and others like him to his disciples, "It is easier for a camel to
go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into
heaven." Why did our LORD speak these words? Because after
Jesus said, "Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the
poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: And come, take up
the cross and follow me," that the man was saddened and went
away grieved: For he had great possessions.
To that young man riches was his king. He took pride in them and would
not part with them. Friends, There is only one kind of glorying that is
sound: a man's rejoicing that he has found God (Clyde T. Francisco. Studies
in Jeremiah. p. 60). Truly there is no greater friend than JESUS! The hymn
writer surely got it right when he wrote “What a friend we have in Jesus!”
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
()
When He is our SOMETHING TO GLORY IN we will RECOGNIZE OUR INABILITY TO DIRECT OURSELVES, REALIZE THE ONLY TRUE WISDOM IS IN KNOWING GOD and thirdly, we will…
(3) REQUEST GOD TO SEARCH US AND CORRECT US AS NECESSARY
JEREMIAH 10:24—“O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine
anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.”
A. THE VALUE OF CONVICTION. All of us, from time to time, will take a step
in the wrong direction. We are sinners, and unless we follow God's
leadership in our lives, we are prone to sin. In 1 John 1:5-10—“This then
is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God
is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship
with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk
in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and
the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we
have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar,
and his word is not in us.” When we get out of the walk of God and walk in
a path contrary to His, it is then when we must allow the all-searching eye
of God to convict us of our sin and then correct us in His love. David wrote
in Psalm 139:23-24—“ Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and
know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me
in the way everlasting.” David knew the value of conviction. But he also
realized that for him to be convicted God had to search him and know his
heart. Horatius Bonar said: "A new view of God's holiness gives a deeper
view of our sinfulness. The more we realize a God of glory, the more we feel
our unholiness and cry out in fear." (Bible Illustrator For Windows. Version
3.0f. Copyright 1990-1998, by Parsons Technology, Inc. All Rights
Reserved).
B. THE VALUE OF CHASTISEMENT. God will show us our sin if we will be
honest with Him and ourselves. First, we must agree that we have sinned.
Then we must allow Him to correct our misguided steps. We read in
Hebrews 12:5-11—“And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh
unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the
Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he
chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure
chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the
father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are
partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had
fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall
we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For
they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for
our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for
the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it
yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised
thereby.”
Jeremiah realized he needed to be corrected. Yet he pleaded with God to
temper His judgment with mercy. Because if God treated him as he
deserved, God would utterly destroy him (Clyde T. Francisco. Studies
in Jeremiah. p. 59).
Proverbs 3:11-12—“My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither
be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a
father the son in whom he delighteth.” God’s chastisement of His children is
out of His love for us! "God loves us the way we are, but He loves us too
much to leave us that way." --Leighton Ford (Albert M. Wells, Jr. Inspiring
Quotations-Contemporary & Classical. p. 80).
ILLUS: A minister was on the verge of punishing his little daughter. But
she climbed into his lap, and throwing her arms around his neck,
said, "Papa, I love you." "Why do you love me, my child?" the Father
asked. "Because you try to make me good, Papa." (Elon Foster.
6000 Classic Sermon Illustrations. p. 110).
We must daily ask God to search us and correct us because just walking in
this wicked world can cause our steps to be misguided.
When He is our SOMETHING TO GLORY IN we will RECOGNIZE OUR INABILITY TO DIRECT OURSELVES, REALIZE THE ONLY TRUE WISDOM IS IN KNOWING GOD, REQUEST GO TO SEARCH US AND CORRECT US AS NECESSARY and finally we will…
(4) REPENT OF OUR WICKEDNESS AND FOLLOW GOD'S DIRECTION FOR
US
JEREMIAH 8:4-7—“Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the
LORD; Shall they fall, and not arise? shall he turn away, and not
return? Why then is this people of Jerusalem slid back by a
perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. I
hearkened and heard, but they spoke not aright: no man repented
him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned
to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle. Yea, the stork in
the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the
crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my
people know not the judgment of the LORD.”
A. THE DIRECTION OF WAYWARDNESS. Jeremiah’s people instead of
following God's course of wisdom and His direction for them; they had
"slidden back by a perpetual backsliding" (v5). They continued to go
steadily downhill. Usually when a man falls down he will try to get up
again; but Israel made no effort to recover from her fall away from God (v4).
They were rushing headlong away from God as a horse rushing into battle,
without a glance behind. No one stopped to take inventory (v6), to check
on the state of his affairs (Clyde T. Francisco. Studies in Jeremiah. p. 63).
B. THE DIRECTION OF WISDOM. Israel was rushing madly after the object
of her desires, never asking how far she had gone from home (Clyde T.
Francisco. Studies in Jeremiah. p. 63). She was glorying in shameful things
instead of Almighty God! What are we glorying in this evening? : Wisdom,
strength, or pleasure? Christian, God is our "Something To Glory In!"
And if we are not glorying in Him, we must repent, turn to Him and follow
His direction for our lives! (Lamentations 3:40).
The English words "think" and "thank” are from the same root. If we will
stop long enough to give serious thoughts to our soul's condition, we may
repent and come back to God. We must daily allow God to take inventory
of our lives to see how far we have drifted from His path for us!
CLOSING: Man, without God's leadership, is like a sheep without a shepherd.
Without any sense of direction or danger that may come his way.
We must be led! But to be led a man must first know God! That is
life's greatest wisdom! Without knowing God he is doomed to
wander aimlessly through this life!
Man without God will glory in his wisdom, wealth, or strength. But
the Christian will glory in His Savior-Jesus Christ! He is our
"Something to Glory In!" When He is our SOMETHING TO
GLORY IN we will RECOGNIZE OUR INABILITY TO DIRECT
OURSELVES, REALIZE THE ONLY TRUE WISDOM IS IN KNOWING
GOD, REQUEST GOD TO SEARCH US AND CORRECT US AS
NECESSARY, and REPENT OF OUR WICKEDNESS AND FOLLOW
GOD’S DIRECTION FOR US. If you are not glorying in Christ
today, you need to repent, turn to Him and follow His direction for
you! Will you follow Him in All?
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