Embracing Divine Grace Over Self-Reliance

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound and often tragic self-confidence of humanity, which leads many to believe they can stand before God through their own merits and good deeds. This self-reliance is a fatal flaw, as it blinds us to the reality of our sinful nature and our need for divine grace. The story of Adam and Eve serves as a poignant reminder of how easily we can be led astray by our own desires and the lies of the enemy, leading to a departure from God. This departure is not just a matter of disbelief but a deep-seated enmity against God, where the natural mind is at odds with the divine.

The folly of humanity is further highlighted by our inability to learn from history. Despite the lessons of past civilizations and the repeated failures of human efforts to create a perfect world, we persist in our self-centered confidence. This is stark madness, as we continue to pit ourselves against the Almighty God, the Creator of the universe. The tragedy of sin is that it leads to cursing and eternal separation from God, a fate that is avoidable if we would only recognize our limitations and turn to Him.

In contrast, the blessed man is one who trusts in the Lord, acknowledging his own smallness and helplessness. This man realizes that his own efforts are futile and instead clings to the cross of Christ. The greatest saints have always been those who are most aware of their sinfulness and unworthiness, yet they find hope and salvation in the grace of God. They trust not in themselves but in the Lord, who has provided a way through Jesus Christ. This trust leads to a life of humility, receptivity to God's word, and a deep love for the Lord.

Key Takeaways:

- The Danger of Self-Reliance: Humanity's belief in its ability to stand before God through good works is a fatal self-confidence that blinds us to our need for divine grace. This self-reliance leads to a departure from God and a deep-seated enmity against Him. [30:31]

- Learning from History: Despite the lessons of history, humanity continues to repeat the same mistakes, believing in its ability to create a perfect world. This is stark madness, as it pits us against the Almighty God. [35:07]

- The Tragedy of Sin: Sin leads to cursing and eternal separation from God. It is a tragedy that can be avoided if we recognize our limitations and turn to God for salvation. [39:28]

- The Blessed Man: The blessed man is one who trusts in the Lord, acknowledging his own smallness and helplessness. He finds hope and salvation in the grace of God, not in his own efforts. [41:23]

- Trusting in the Lord: True trust in the Lord involves a life of humility, receptivity to God's word, and a deep love for Him. It is a recognition that our understanding is limited, but God's ways are perfect. [47:08]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [30:31] - The Folly of Self-Confidence
- [31:34] - The Departure from God
- [32:52] - The Enmity Against God
- [35:07] - Lessons from History
- [38:32] - The Madness of Sin
- [39:28] - The Tragedy of Sin
- [41:23] - Characteristics of the Blessed Man
- [43:11] - The Humility of the Blessed
- [45:10] - Trusting in the Lord
- [46:18] - The Gift of Salvation
- [47:08] - The Life of Trust
- [48:12] - Understanding God's Ways
- [50:24] - The Call to Trust
- [51:28] - Closing Remarks

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Jeremiah 17:5-8
2. Genesis 3:1-6
3. Romans 7:18-25

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Observation Questions:

1. In Genesis 3:1-6, what tactics does the serpent use to deceive Eve, and how does this relate to the sermon’s discussion on self-reliance and departure from God? [32:07]

2. According to Jeremiah 17:5-8, what are the consequences of trusting in human strength versus trusting in the Lord? How does this passage reflect the sermon’s message about the blessed man? [41:23]

3. In Romans 7:18-25, how does Paul describe the struggle with sin, and how does this align with the sermon’s portrayal of human helplessness and the need for divine grace? [42:14]

4. What examples from history were mentioned in the sermon to illustrate humanity's repeated failures and self-confidence? [35:07]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 illustrate the sermon’s point about the danger of self-reliance and the departure from God? [32:07]

2. In what ways does Jeremiah 17:5-8 contrast the outcomes of trusting in human strength versus trusting in God, and how does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on humility and reliance on divine grace? [41:23]

3. How does Paul’s struggle with sin in Romans 7:18-25 reflect the sermon’s message about human helplessness and the need for salvation through Christ? [42:14]

4. The sermon mentions the folly of humanity’s self-confidence despite historical failures. How does this perspective challenge modern views on human progress and self-sufficiency? [35:07]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you relied on your own strength rather than seeking God’s guidance. What was the outcome, and how might you approach a similar situation differently in the future? [31:01]

2. The sermon highlights the importance of humility and recognizing our limitations. What practical steps can you take to cultivate humility in your daily life? [43:33]

3. Consider the ways in which you might be repeating the mistakes of past generations by placing confidence in human efforts. How can you shift your focus to trusting in God’s plan? [35:07]

4. The sermon discusses the tragedy of sin leading to separation from God. How can you actively seek reconciliation with God in areas of your life where you feel distant from Him? [39:28]

5. Identify an area in your life where you struggle with self-reliance. What specific actions can you take to surrender this area to God and trust in His provision? [44:24]

6. The sermon emphasizes the blessedness of those who trust in the Lord. How can you incorporate practices of trust and reliance on God into your daily routine? [41:23]

7. Reflect on the concept of divine grace as discussed in the sermon. How can you extend grace to others in your life, and what impact might this have on your relationships? [47:08]

Devotional

Day 1: The Illusion of Self-Reliance
Humanity often falls into the trap of believing that their own merits and good deeds are sufficient to stand before God. This self-reliance is a dangerous illusion, as it blinds individuals to their inherent sinful nature and the necessity of divine grace. The story of Adam and Eve illustrates how easily one can be led astray by personal desires and deceit, resulting in a separation from God. This separation is not merely a lack of belief but a profound enmity against God, where the human mind is in conflict with the divine. Recognizing this flaw is crucial to understanding our need for God's grace. [30:31]

Jeremiah 17:5-6 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.'"

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying on your own strength rather than seeking God's guidance and grace? How can you begin to shift your trust from yourself to God today?


Day 2: The Repeated Mistakes of History
Despite the lessons of history, humanity continues to repeat the same mistakes, believing in its ability to create a perfect world through its own efforts. This persistent self-confidence is stark madness, as it pits humanity against the Almighty God, the Creator of the universe. The inability to learn from past failures highlights the folly of human pride and the need for humility before God. Recognizing the limitations of human efforts is essential to understanding the necessity of divine intervention and guidance. [35:07]

Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 (ESV): "What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, 'See, this is new'? It has been already in the ages before us."

Reflection: Reflect on a historical event or personal experience where human efforts failed. How can this reflection help you to rely more on God's wisdom and less on human understanding?


Day 3: The Avoidable Tragedy of Sin
Sin leads to cursing and eternal separation from God, a tragedy that is avoidable if individuals recognize their limitations and turn to God for salvation. The persistent nature of sin blinds people to their need for divine grace and the hope offered through Jesus Christ. Acknowledging one's own smallness and helplessness is the first step towards embracing the grace of God and avoiding the eternal consequences of sin. [39:28]

Isaiah 59:2 (ESV): "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear."

Reflection: What is one sin in your life that you have been ignoring or justifying? How can you bring this before God and seek His forgiveness and guidance today?


Day 4: The Characteristics of the Blessed Man
The blessed man is one who trusts in the Lord, acknowledging his own smallness and helplessness. This individual finds hope and salvation not in personal efforts but in the grace of God. The greatest saints have always been those who are most aware of their sinfulness and unworthiness, yet they find hope and salvation in the grace of God. Trusting in the Lord leads to a life of humility, receptivity to God's word, and a deep love for Him. [41:23]

Psalm 34:8-9 (ESV): "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!"

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper trust in God today? How can this trust transform your daily interactions and decisions?


Day 5: Embracing a Life of Trust
True trust in the Lord involves a life of humility, receptivity to God's word, and a deep love for Him. It is a recognition that human understanding is limited, but God's ways are perfect. Embracing this trust leads to a life of peace and fulfillment, as individuals align themselves with God's will and purpose. This trust is not passive but active, requiring daily commitment and surrender to God's guidance. [47:08]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Quotes


"men let me put it finally in this form and here perhaps we see it at its Supreme Point men's fatal self-confidence even reaches a point like this that when Modern Men is interested in God and believes in God he believes surely that he himself can make himself fit to stand in the presence of God let are so many thousands of such people in the world tonight they say yes of course I believe in God I've always believed in God and I pray well we say to them how are you going to stand before God and they say well I'm living a good life and look what I'm doing he makes flesh his own they believe that by doing good works and by avoiding sin and that by being philanthropic and by exercising their minds and by various other things they can even satisfy the demands of a holy God such is men's fatal self-confidence C blessed be the man that trusteth in men and that maketh flesh his own" [00:30:17]

"sin affects a man's mind it affects his will andas it affects his heart and whose heart departeth from the Lord and in many ways of course this is the explanation of everything else it's almost incredible isn't it as you read the story how could Eve and Adam have ever listen to the devil living the life that they lived until that moment how could they ever have distrusted God how could they ever have believed that lie when the devil said to them hath God said he shall not eat of this particular tree and they said yes he has said that ah said the devil to them don't believe him you can eat of this fruit perfectly easily and you shall not die God has said that to you because he's afraid that you'll become gods that you'll become like him you shouldn't believe him he shouldn't take any notice of that he's against you he only wants to keep you down as slaves and as surfs don't listen to him and they believed it in spite of what they experienced in spite of their lives in spite of their past they were ready to believe a lie like this what's the matter their hearts have departed from God" [00:31:34]

"they no longer trust him they feel that God is against them they feel that God is opposed to their highest and to their best interests and men in sin is always like that I know of nothing more terrible than the way in which people who seem to have believed in God all their lives and have gone to a place of worship when something goes wrong one of the first things they say is why does God allow this once constantly hearing it they seem to turn against God with a sense of Grudge they don't trust him they believe that he's against them that he's opposed to their highest and their best interests that's always true of men in sin the fact about it is this that we can go further men in sin dislikes God he hates God the natural mind is enmity against God his heart has departed from God to such a sense to to such a degree that he hates the very thought of God and the being of God he wishes that there were no God the life he'd plan would be a life like this it would be a life which a man lives in this world and when he dies that's the end of it all and there isn't a God and there isn't a judgment oh all mankind would Delight if that could be proved to be the case why well because it hates God and it always has this feeling that God is somewhere against us they fear God if they believe in him at all their hearts have departed from him my friends that's the biblical analysis of men in sin you see it's a total ruin there's nothing left that's right a man's mind a man's man's will everything is against God he's opposed to God" [00:32:52]

"time fails me to note the Folly of all this can you imagine anything more foolish than man in sin isn't it simply monstrous isn't it Madness isn't it Stark lunacy that modern man should still put himself at the center hasn't he ever read history can you really look back across the past 2,000 years 3,000 years almost 4,000 years can you look back across the history of mankind and still put men at the center this is ly can men still have confidence in himself as he looks out upon his modern world but he does in spite of the two World Wars of this Century in spite of our present troubles in spite of things being what they are man still says I can do it I'm capable of doing it I can make the world perfect I can banish all our troubles he believes it still I say there's only one word to apply to that it's unutterable Folly if we didn't know any history we might be excused if the whole story of the past until we came into the world were blotted out and we really knew nothing at all about it and we found ourselves with our present world as it is well I suppose in a sense there'd be some excuse for us for saying well now then if we only put our heads together and really face this problem seriously we can put that right and we can change this and then with a mighty effort we'll get our world perfect that would be more or less excusable but we happen to know don't we that mankind has been saying that now for nearly far 4,000 years and more he's been saying it from the very moment of the Fall we know the story of Assyria and of Babylon we know the story of the ancient civilization of China the ancient civilization of Egypt the civilization of Greece the civilization of Rome we know it all and yet in spite of seeing the confidence and the subsequent failure we are still confident men is mad in sin he can't think he's a fool he's a pervert he's pitting himself against impossibilities if you don't take my word for it perhaps you'll take the word of a German philosopher called Hegel who rarely wasn't a Christian and he put it in a famous dictum we learn from history that we learn nothing from history if men were only capable of learning from history he'd never have another war war never brings anybody any blessing it show Madness and lunacy every war always leads the conditions worse than they were before every single War that's ever been and yet men still fight why because they'll never learn from history in spite of facts they still go on repeating this old self-centered self-confidence this fatal belief that they can suddenly put things right it is sure Madness lunacy and Folly oh and especially when you consider that men in doing all this is pitting himself against the almighty God the creator of the ends of the world the God who said let there be light and there was light man in his unutterable ruin stands up and says who is God that that I should obey him like a foolish wave of Dashing itself against a rock like a fly hurling itself against Atomic Power Man the worm defies the Lord God Almighty oh what a terrible thing sin is my friends you've seen a poor man ill and in Delirium you've seen a man who's lost his reason you say what a tragedy look at his false values it's nothing in comparison with what man in sin believes and does I leave tonight the arrogance involved in it all because I would impress upon you the tragedy of it all it is this very condition that leads to cursing it is because men is guilty of that that the wrath of God is upon him it is because of this our world is as it is tonight it is because of this that everybody who dies in that condition will go to hell and will endure cursing to all eternity the tragedy of it all our refusal our failure to learn and to face the fs but oh let me try to impress it by just holding before you the miror EST lineaments of the opposite the men in Christ blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is I need keep you you see it's the exact opposite of everything that I've been saying go right through your Bible look at the men who've been blessed instead of being cursed read the history of the centuries look at the men whose lives have been blessing in this world and who have enjoyed life and have been the greatest benefactors of the human race they all can be brought to a common denominator and they're all in this one verse of the book of The Prophet Jeremiah what are the characteristics of the man who's blessed it's just this he is a man who realizes his own smallness he is a man who realizes his own hopelessness he is a man who realizes his own failure he is a man who realizes his own helplessness the greatest men the world has ever seen the greatest Saints have always been most conscious of their sinfulness and their unworthiness they have cried out with the Apostle Paul oh wretched men that I am they they see how little they've done they see how much evil they've done they admit and confess that they've set their Wills against gods that they've done things they knew were wrong and then have suffered for it and suffered rightly they have said that their whole nature is twisted and perverted they say there is a law in my members dragging me down that when good is present with me and when I'm anxious to do good that evil is also present with me the good that I would I do not and the evil that I would not that I do the greatest men of the men who say I am rotten I am vile I am foul foul and full of sin I am I am all unrighteousness there is no Health in me that's what they have said and the result is they haven't a vestage of confidence in themselves they have said I can't save myself nothing my hands I bring simply to thy cross I cling they say all my righteousness is but as filthy rags they say that having made all their efforts could my Zeal no respit no could my tears forever flow all for sin could could not atone the man who's blessed of God is the man who realizes that he's nothing he's the poor in spirit as the Lord said in The Sermon on the Mount the were first words he Ed blessed are the poor in spirit they've got no Spirit left in them they say they say I'm finished I'm done for I tried I failed what's the point of going on I can do nothing I'm at the end of my Dev they have no confidence in themselves in their own efforts in their own strivings in themselves nor in any other men blessed is the men that trusteth in the Lord could my Zeal no respit no could night ears forever flow all for sin could not atone thou must save and thou alone blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord having come to the end of himself and his abilities and Powers having realized that though he may be very clever and very learned and very moral that he's no better than the man who lives in the gutters of life and that all his understanding is useless having admitted all his failure and his weakness he looks to the Lord he listens to the Lord he's ready to listen he no longer stands as it were and looks down upon the word of God he drops on his knees and he's prepared to listen to it he no longer sits as a judge upon the bench and says what is this let me consider it and analyze it and give my verdict he humbles himself beneath it and says everything it says about me is true and when he listens to the Lord Jesus Christ saying except he be converted and become as little children far from resenting it is say thank God that that's the only condition for I feel I am but a little child I don't understand God is so great and I'm so small life is so big and I'm so insignificant as a child yes I'll come I'll listen he looks to the Lord he listens to the message he doesn't come and listen to the preaching of the Gospel in order to turn it down but in order to learn something and to find truth he's receptive he's prepared to open his heart to it and he believes it and accepts it and he relies entirely and only upon the Lord Jesus Christ for when he comes thus he's told that God has so loved him that he sent his only begotten son into the world to deal with his predicament that not the problem which man has failed to solve God has solved in Christ he sent out his son made him like a man and sent him to the cross to bear the punishment of sin and all its consequences and he has done it and he is told that it's been done for him and he believes it though he doesn't understand it he accepts it blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is that's what he says nothing in my hand and I bring simply to thy cross I cling naked come to thee for dress helpless look to thee for Grace foul I to the Fountain fly Wash Me savior or I die that's it he trusts in the Lord and the Lord is his only hope and because he believes and knows that the Lord has done this for him he loves the Lord and his one Delight is to please him yes the Lord still says things that he can't understand there is a Prohibition which says you shall do that but he no longer queries it as Adam and Eve did listening to the devil he says there are certain things I don't understand evidently I'm not meant to understand them I don't always understand God's ways they seem to me sometimes to be wrong but the moment I say that I withdraw it I say they're not wrong it's I who cannot understand but I know this that whatever should happen to me all things work together for good to them that love God I can't explain it to you I can't give you a rational explanation in detail but I know that that is true my heart sent of the Lord and I know that he has loved me with an everlasting love and that all he orders is for my benefit I believe I shall have an understanding in glory but not until then you see that's the difference between the man who's blessed and the man who's cursed the man who's cursed says I don't understand this why this as a man put it to me outside London only this last week he once attended a place of worship he came to speak to me I said how are things going he said I'm finished with it all I said this is amazing why have you finished he said I finished with God I said why have you finished with God he said if God is God and if there is a God why sped children you see he doesn't trust God because he doesn't understand because his mind is too small to explain he turns his back upon God and he is cursed I don't understand I can't explain everything but I know this that the Lord Jesus Christ was the son of God and he saw children and everything like that in this world of time and yet he said God is love and that's enough for me I don't understand I can't explain but I don't question and query God my heart is toward him I trust him my hope is in him I know that all is right with God and that a day will come when I shall understand everything it isn't that I haven't even an intellectual satisfaction satisfaction as far as I myself am concerned even with regard to that problem but I'm saying that even if I hadn't got it it would make no difference because I recognize my limits and God's eternity beloved friends is your heart are your hearts right with God are you trusting yourself are you trusting God on what are you relying if you would be blessed of God renounce yourself deny yourself take up the cross and follow Christ believe in him utterly absolutely and surrender your whole self mind and will and heart entirely to him and he will bless you amen" [00:35:07]

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Transcript
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