Life Lived in the Presence of God
Becoming Partners with God
2005053
Topic # 271
Introduction:
A. 1 John 3:1, 16
B. Time & Time again God reminds us of His great & unending love for us.
1. It is His desire that we return that love by faithful service.
2. This has always been His desire – Deut. 6:4-5; Mk. 12:30
C. But how can we return love to One we do not see?
1. How can we make this relationship real? Intimate? Lasting?
2. How can we be reminded of God’s presence in the ordinary days of life?
D. Those who have been Christians for some time know that not every day is filled with intense spiritual highs.
1. There are days when God’s presence seems far away.
2. If we were to average days of life – spiritual highs/lows might look something like this:
3. Do we ever become disenchanted when every day does not offer the extreme high of “knowing” God is near?
E. How can we join up with God & become His partner?
F. How can we take comfort in a sustained, growing, and meaningful relationship w/God?
I. Spiritual Highs.
A. Genesis 6:9-13; 17-19; 9:8-16
1. Because of sin – God was sorry he made man. Destroy. But…God found favor w/Noah.
2. 6:17-19 – makes a covenant w/Noah.
3. 9:8-16 – another covenant – not destroy flesh again by flood.
4. 9:13 – rainbow was a sign of the covenant.
B. Rainbows are impressive. No doubt that every time Noah saw a rainbow he remembered God’s promise.
1. Every time he saw a rainbow – he knew he wasn’t alone.
2. God must have been very present to Noah when he saw a rainbow.
C. 2 Chronicles 6:40-42 – Solomon’s prayer at temple dedication.
1. Significant day – permanent place of worship – dream of David finally realized.
2. 7:1-10 – here are the results of Solomon’s prayer.
a) What a response!
b) How attuned was Solomon w/God that day?
D. Think of days when you are on a spiritual high.
1. These are the days God is hard to miss.
a) Think back to the day your kids born. Humbling & awesome experience.
b) It is in these moments that we know God is there. He is real & that He blesses us.
2. Think back to something in God’s creation that has moved you.
3. On these days:
a) You want to pray – believe fully that God hears & is open to receiving & acting on His response.
b) You believe it is good to be alive & every good thing you see fills you w/gratitude toward God.
c) Sin doesn’t look tempting.
E. Days filled with spiritual highs are gifts.
1. They must not be taken for granted. We must not assume they will go on forever.
2. We must treasure these days as gifts. Why?
II. There will be plenty of ordinary days to go around.
A. These are the days we can fall into spiritual maintenance mode.
1. No major crisis no obvious problems – but no major gains either.
2. We feel comfortable.
3. During these times, our involvement in church may feel mechanical.
a) Spiritual rut?
b) Problem comes – instinctive response to worry, rather than pray.
B. Fighting off spiritual habituation is a great challenge for us.
1. We just drift into it. Yet…the whole time…we feel we’re doing OK. Spiritual autopilot.
2. John 10:10b – I have come that you might do “OK?”
a) OK is not OK!
3. When life on spiritual autopilot we might:
a) Yell at our kids.
b) Worry too much about money or job.
c) Jealous of people more successful/attractive
d) Use deception to get out of trouble
e) Pass judgment on people – often when we are secretly jealous of them.
4. This is so dangerous – because it is subtle; gradual.
5. Mostly, it involves a failure to see.
C. Why isn’t every day filled w/spiritual highs?
1. Could it be that God wants us to learn to see Him in the ordinary? Rather than being dependent on the extraordinary?
2. God wants us to slow down & pay attention!
a) whether we are aware of it or not, at every moment of our existence, God is trying to catch our attention, trying to draw us into a reciprocal, conscious, relationship.
III. How can we seek God’s presence?
A. 1 Chr. 16:8-12 – worship Him.
1. Many – don’t see importance of worship. Go wks/months w/sporadic worship.
2. Wonder why life is unfulfilled/empty. Hole needing to be filled.
3. 16:10-12 – we do these things in worship every week.
B. Psa. 20:5b-7; 1 Thess 5:17 – Pray!
1. God hears & answers prayer.
2. Healthy prayer life – brings peace! Trust!
3. All of us need to work on & improve.
C. Heb. 10:22-25 – look for a way to encourage others.
1. Focus on others & what we can do for them & get busy doing it.
a) Christian life can be truly rewarding.
b) This is way to see the power of God as we let Him work through us.
2. Some constantly focus on self & what is not being done for them.
IV. Seeking God’s presence is not something to put off.
A. Maybe you find yourself putting up w/a less than satisfying spiritual life.
1. You, everyone, has the potential to live a rich, full life w/God.
2. We have a choice – either align ourselves w/God or pursue our own way.
3. Which way will you go? Tempted to procrastinate?
a) Many do – it is an extremely risky option.
B. Pro. 27:1; Js. 4:13-17. What does God warn us regarding tomorrow?
1. Does “today” make a difference w/God?
2. As we think of these passages, what do you think is God’s assessment of procrastination?
C. Scripture provides many examples of people who had to choose whether or not they would become partners with God.
1. Mt. 4:18-22 – how did Peter, Andrew, James & John respond?
a) 4:20, 22 – immediately.
b) No question. Just a decision to go. That’s faith!
2. Contrast Mt. 8:19-23 – which would we do? Are we willing to let go & follow/submit to God?
D. Gen. 19:15-17, 23-26 – Lot’s procrastination.
1. Had he not procrastinated – would his wife have been turned into pillar of salt?
2. Think of the downward progression of the rest of his life.
E. Mt. 25:1-10 – 10 virgins unprepared. Left out of the feast b/c of procrastination.
F. What opportunities do we miss out on today b/c of spiritual procrastination?
Conclusion:
A. Eph. 3:16-19 – Look at what we receive from God when we choose to align ourselves w/Him.
B. Have you aligned yourself w/Him? Are you putting it off?
C. I N V I T A T I O N
