Sermon Notes
Pastor Jeff Stanfill

Esteemed of God
May 7, 2006

ESTEEMED OF GOD
TEXT: ISA. 66:1-4
INTRO:
Letters of commendation from superiors are encouraging. If not to the recipient than the recipient's mother and father who sometimes wondered if their child would really ever amount to anything! I say part of that in jest.

I recognize that many people live their lives in pursuit of favor and esteem from a significant other. For a large number of such people the pursuit of their father's approval has propelled them into politics, finance, and industry with the intention of proving themselves to their father. Ted Turner has confessed this of himself in relation to his father.

There is one commendation that a believer desires - that of His Heavenly Father. This is not to say that the pursuit of God is the expression of a deep emotional or psychological vacuum for it is not while at the same time it does fill those holes; neither is it to say that God is like a father that withholds His approval or communication of commendation for whatever deep, dark motivation He may have.

It is to say that to be esteemed of God is all satisfying, entirely proper, and truly worthy of any and everyone.

The esteem of God is all satisfying for only He possesses the immensity that He does (v. 1a). He fills any size vacuum.

The esteem of God is entirely proper for it is larger than ourselves (v1b). Many of the wealthy have historically built larger than life houses to contain their larger than life view of themselves. But to attempt great things for God is proper for He is a great God.

The esteem of God is truly worthy of any one or everyone for it is only those who truly have favor who have the favor of God.

In introducing this text I remember when Don Yarborough, TLJ and I attended a one day event at Reformed Theological Seminar where Alistair Begg from this verse 1 was used to bring conviction and clarity about the priorities of the American church. Speaking about the immensity of God, we were directed to consider how vast is God that Heaven is His throne and the earth a mere footstool.

With such a view of our universe God looks down upon us and asks,"Now, where did you say you put that $4 million building?" Man builds for God's glory and still we fall short in degree and kind.

Yet there is a man, a woman, a student, a shift worker, a clerk, an administrator, a manager, a clergyman that God esteems. If fact God draws near to such a person in God's own focus and presence. That person is first of all:
I. HUMBLE. (V.2C).
1. For a proper exposition and application of humility, I refer you to my best selling book, "Humility and How I Attained It." :) How slippery this quality proves to be. Before that, however, let's understand the quality.

2. LUKE 7:1-10. The Jews of Jesus' day always seemed to have a distorted view of worth. This man is worth Jesus' attention because of their own idea of self-importance - "He loves us,...he built our synagogue." Surly he is deserving! Yet, the man say himself more accurately - verse 6. We do benefit from the Jews description of this man for it allows us to see that he is accomplished, devout, a man's man that leads men. But in his own eyes, he needs Jesus. Jesus responds to this man who does have faith but faith mixed with humility - true faith.

3. God esteems those who are socially on the bottom. The poor, the outcast, the despised, the weak and powerless. God esteems those who religiously, are willing and ready to take the lowest place before God and for God.

II. CONTRITE (V.2C).
1. What is contrition? We usually understand it as being repentant, sorrowful for one's sin and that is so. Yet this context is somewhat different. It is to be a Mephibosheth. 2 Sam. 4:4 tells the defining dynamics of Jonathan's son. READ. The description of Mephibosheth as lame is the same word of contrite in Isa. 66:2. Lameness is not a diagnosis but a description; a description that tells some history. Lame was used when a person was stricken and injured in some way. Something happened to them that caused the lameness. In classical Greek "lame" was a condition in the legs or feet that produced a halt or limping gait. (Collin Brown). One who was lame could still move about but with some difficulty, perhaps even experiencing pain as they did so. A person who was lame was barred from the priesthood (Lev. 21:1; Deut. 15:21). Unlike the leper who was removed from society, the lame was in relationship with society - even a special relationship as being cared for by others. But they were limited in their service to God. We might today think of them as dysfunctional people. Dysfunctional people still function like a lame man may still walk but they do so haltingly.

2. What is the common thread of dysfunctionality, lameness, and contrition? All have been negatively affected by something or someone. Contrite people are people that have been broken by others, by accidents, even war wounds. They are broken people who can still function but maybe in limited ways. Contrition is to be a Mephibosheth, to be lame in one's feet; it is to be halting; to be pained - to be broken before God and usually other people.

III. SENSITIVE (V.2D).
1. As you know the old Andy Griffith show is one of my favorites. I enjoy sharing the episodes with my sons now. One of the recurring humor gags involved the character of Barney Fife. Barney's personality included being easily hurt by the words of someone else especially Andy. More than once the plot of the episode turned upon Barney's sensitivity played out so well by the expressive face of Don Knott's. Andy would often explain to Barney's conduct to Opie simply as, "Barney's sensitive."

2. That perspective of sensitivity is not held in much esteem in our culture. But the ability of the human finger to detect surface imperfections no larger than 1/300th the diameter of a human hair is amazing. There are mechanical and electronic instruments capable of detecting movement of the ground so insignificant that we humans do not know it except by our devices. The least tremor trembles such tools. And that is the picture given us of the one that God esteems; one who trembles not in the face of threats, dangerous surroundings, or fierce countenances but at the Word of God.

3. At the discovery of unholy marriages among themselves, the returning exiles along with Ezra were appalled. Ezra so much that he pulled hair from his head and plucked whiskers from his face. And those who were appalled by the seeming insignificant sin of marrying the wrong ethnic woman were those who "trembled at the words of the God of Israel. As Josiah's restoration of the Temple were underway, the Book of the Law of God was found. READ 2 KINGS 22:8-13.

4. Sensitivity to the Word of God is a quality that places one in the esteem of God!

CONCL:
What do we then say and do with this illumination of God's esteem? We cultivate these qualities.
1. Humility. This is the day of self-endorsement. ILLU: Reports of teams and churches - of which we are thankful for their work in rebuilding La - but many came for the opportunity for self. Disregard for the local church and pastor to place their name in the forefront of the community and powerbrokers. But it is easy take shots at "them" or "those" or "people like that." What of my own self-endorsement. When I tell the story or tell the story in such a way as to be the hero. When I think that I only need God's help to fill in where I miss some things. When I fail to listen to what someone is telling me because I think I know enough all ready.

2. Contrition. This is also the day of ability. Ability is encouraged in our culture and in our churches. The motto of today is "Everything rises and falls on leadership." I agree but in a qualified way. It rises and falls on leadership that is humble, contrite and sensitive to God's Word. God goes to such extremes to use those with no abilities or with plenty of disabilities. If you lack ability, then you are probably the best and most qualified as the man or woman God is seeking to use and esteem. God-given ability has no human smell but is fragrant with the aroma of Christ. Let people not speak of the great leadership at Covenant Community Church, or even the great people that make this fellowship. Let them walk around shaking their heads saying, "It must be God for they could never do it."

3. Sensitivity to the Word. If you have been observant you will have noticed more corporate reading of Scripture in our services. Why? To hedge the casual scanning of the Bible.

May our letters of commendation be those written of the hand of God. Luke 18:9-14. To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."