A lowly and contrite heart

Sunday service, Michael Ngubane, 14 May 2017

Isaiah 57:15
“For this is what the high and exalted One says — He who lives forever, whose Name is Holy:
“I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.”

When I read this word, it stirred my heart deeply to see who God is and how much He desires to have fellowship with man. God’s name in Zulu translates as ‘great, great’. this includes that which is omnipotent. He is omnipresent and He reaches every corner. We can imagine that greatness when He created the heavens and earth. Imagine how great God must be! His voice sounds like many waters and breaks rocks open. He is the One who speaks here and tells us what is on His heart.

God sees you and me. He sees your situation and heart. Men see you smile but they don’t see your heart but God sees the very depth of your heart. God sees that which is hidden and invisible in your heart. He is the One who is high and lofty and His name is Holy. What therefore does He expect of His people? If He is holy how should His people be? The Israelites held onto their law but it didn’t lead to life.

God’s Word warns us about those who have the appearance of godliness but they deny the power of the Holy Spirit that releases you from sin (2Tim 3:5). They stumble like people in the darkness and they don’t have the power of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes you don’t know a person, but they have the Holy Spirit and it binds you together.

God is Holy. He is high and lofty and His name is Holy. If we see the High One, the first thing is we will be convicted of our sin. That which was covered up will be exposed even though it has been hidden for years. Isaiah said, “I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips.” (Is 6:5) Has the curtain been opened a little that you see His Holiness and you see your sin? Isaiah saw his own sin and he saw the community who was defiled.

God stays in a Holy place but also with those who are lowly and contrite. God is so high and holy but is also with us. Do we grasp this mystery? What prevents us? Our heart! We lose out on blessings from God because we are proud. Think of the Lord Jesus on the cross. The earth was shaken and the temple was rent in two that we may enter into the holy place of God and experience the joy of living with God.

How did you come to the Lord Jesus? Laughing and smiling or with a broken heart. Some see themselves as unworthy and nothing and that person wonders if there is any hope for them. God says that is the kind of heart He can use. A person who comes like that doesn’t find it easy to go back to his sin. He hates his sin and says, “How can I go back to my sin?”

Are you still able to humble yourself? Some believers are so hardheaded when they are corrected and say, “No, you misunderstood me but if you understood it that way then I am sorry.” Your heart is as hard as granite and I feel sorry for you if you speak like that. If people help you, you hurt them if you think you are always right. God will avoid you. He says He will dwell with the contrite person. Do you want God to rule your life? Do you want God to be present? Be contrite and lowly.

Yesterday when I read about Mary and Martha it touched my heart. It was Martha who opened her house to the Lord Jesus but she didn’t receive that blessing. She was distracted by other things. Her sister received a blessing but she didn’t. Mary sat at the Lord Jesus’ feet and drank in everything whereas Martha was in the kitchen and she was angry. Maybe you invited the Lord Jesus like Martha who opened her home but you don’t let Him work. He comes and sees the weak areas in your heart and He deals with those areas because he wants you to be victorious. It’s wonderful that you have allowed the Lord Jesus in but now allow Him to deal with those areas in your life where there is a lack and shortcoming. Don’t push Him aside. He wants to revive and help you. He comes to revive and quicken you. Some serve the Lord but have ancestral worship and other things. God wants to dwell with those who He can help and correct. Young person, allow the Lord to correct and help you.

The temple curtain was torn in two and Jesus invites you to come into the holy place. But make no mistake, the Lord Jesus will take His whip and He will use it in your heart because He wants to rule alone in your heart. Much dirt comes in with music and videos. You may think you are doing well on the computer but you allow wicked things to come in. Allow the Lord Jesus to eradicate those things in your heart. Allow the Lord Jesus to chase those things out of your life. He wants to have heavenly fellowship with you.

Sermon audio in other languages:
German

Download

French

Download

Music:
KwaSizabantu Choir:

Download

KwaSizabantu Choir:

Download

KwaSizabantu Choir:

Download