God is... ALWAYS
Notes
Transcript
Preliminary
Preliminary
Invite to John 7:1-11
Yesterday Bro. Liebe told me to introduce and I got up there and was so nervous I forgot to do that.
My name is Curtis Gordon
I was born and raised in Lincoln County, MO in a Bible Holiness Home.
I was next to the youngest in a family of six children
Through God’s grace all six of us children are in some form of active ministry.
God has been good to the Gordon’s
I am on my 15th year pastoring at our Wichita Bible Holiness Church
I so appreciated Bro. Brewer’s sermon last night - “Faith is the victory that overcomes the world”
Over there in Revelation you read that there is a time where the only way to overcome was through the “blood of the Lamb and their confession of belief in the Word of God” their testimony!!!
I have seen it work in my own life and ministry - although I will have to confess - sometimes I’m not always smart enough to use it first.
It has been impressed on my mind and heart lately and I felt led to talk about it at this camp the FACT that GOD IS...
Now there are many modifiers that can be put after IS - but sometimes that is enough!!!
Sister Rhoda Web wrote a song a few years ago with a phrase that I have so often gone back to again and again
“His name’s I AM and not I was”
Yesterday I was a little more technical as I wanted to lay a groundwork for the rest of the study - today I want to be a little more devotional in my approach as I talk to you with God’s help about the FACT that GOD IS…ALWAYS
Our grounding text is Genesis 1:1
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Today I want to look at John 7:1-11
John 7:1–11 (KJV 1900)
1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry (Judea), because the Jews sought to kill him.
2 Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand.
3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.
5 For neither did his brethren believe in him.
6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
8 Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come.
9 When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.
10 But when his brethren were gone up, then went he also up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.
11 Then the Jews sought him at the feast, and said, Where is he?
I was planning to go a whole other direction for today’s lesson - but this came to me strongly yesterday and I want to be obedient to the Lord and do my best to follow Him even in Bible Study.
Introduction:
Introduction:
If you have siblings, or more than one child, I’m sure you understand sibling conflict. Where one doesn’t always agree with the other.
My sister and I when we were young - I was probably 8 or 9 and she is two years younger - had a conflict on one occasion —my mother had her fill and made it clear that she was to hear no further arguing or bickering.
It was some years later Mom was going through some things and found a derrogatory name (pig) scribbled clearly in my sisters handwriting in a book at the house. She asked her about it and was told that because she couldn’t say it out loud - she dared not call me it in any way that Mom would hear about it— so she wrote it in a book.
It seems that even Jesus had his fair share of trouble with brothers. Our passage begins with a heated discussion between them. They obviously didn’t believe that Jesus was who he claimed to be, and made that clear. They wanted Jesus to go up to the feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem and show off all the miracles he was doing in Galilee.
Notice their sarcastic advice in John 7:3-4
3 His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest.
4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.
Jesus said, you all go on ahead - but I’m not going up yet.
but then Jesus goes up as it were in secret.
The people sought him, they were looking for him, but he wasn’t anywhere to be found.
That’s what I would like to talk to you about this morning - When God disappears - when He goes incognito - when it seems as though he is going in secret.
That’s what I would like to talk to you about this morning - When God disappears - when He goes incognito - when it seems as though he is going in secret.
Have ever felt like that? You were searching for Him, but it seemed He couldn’t be found.
It was:
God incognito
God concealed
You were asking God, Where are you?
Mary and Martha understand this place - Lazarus, sick at the point of death, and still Jesus doesn’t come.
God where are you? I don’t see you, I don’t feel you, so much wrong, so much at stake -
When God hides himself - you can be sure of three very important things:
The first is something that Mary and Martha as well as you and I often forget...
FIRST: God doesn’t have to be seen to STILL be present!
FIRST: God doesn’t have to be seen to STILL be present!
You May not see Him - But He is STILL there. - GOD IS ALWAYS THERE!!!
You May not see Him - But He is STILL there. - GOD IS ALWAYS THERE!!!
Incognito - doesn’t mean He is not present!!!
The theological term for God Is Always There - is OMNIPRESENCE
I want to go back to Dr. Leslie Wilcox and his Profiles in Wesleyan Theology - Bro. Brewer and I were talking yesterday and I don’t think he would mind me mentioning this was one of the required reading books he used to teach Theology at AWC. If you don’t have one especially pastor’s I would encourage you to find a set.
But Dr. Wilcox talked about our inadequacies and lack of vocabulary and how often we have to use negative words to try to describe God
He talks about how one of the “greatest and most inclusive of these negative words is the word infinite”
I may try to talk more in depth on the infinity of God in a later lesson - but for our purpose here I will just use it as an example -
“Infinite” is derived from a combination of two Latin words - one means “limit” and the other is a negative particle that means “not”
SO infinite means “no limit” or “limitless”
Now Dr. Wilcox cautions us that we are not talking that we can’t really grasp this concept because we put our human limits to “no limit”
They tell me that in Montana during the day at least there is a highway that does not have a speed limit. There is no limit - you can go as fast as you want - the problem is your vehicle is limited, It can only go so fast - so you can only go as fast as your vehicle will let you go even though there is no limit on your speed
This is often how we look at the infinity of God - we still put limits to him - but enough about that later
For today I want us to think about infinite attributes of God - as that is usually what we are referring to when we use the word “Infinite” anyway.
One of the ways we use this negative form of infinite - no limit - limitless is in
INFINITE IN PRESENCE or the big word I used moment ago - OMNIPRESENCE
Way back when I was in school we learned about the circle - its shape and characteristics. We also learned how to find the circumference
Someone has made the statement I don’t think it was original with him, but I heard Dr. Vic Reasoner explain the omnipresence of God like this
The Center of God is everywhere - the Circumference is nowhere
Sometimes we may feel abandoned - but don’t ever think you are forsaken -
Hebrews 12:5 …for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
The Scripture is full of promises and assurances that those who walk in the light - who maintain their relationship with Jesus will never be away from His presence.
One of those is among my favorites Isa 41:10
Isa 41:10 “10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
“I AM WITH THEE”
“With is a special word... a preposition a word that talks about position........
Nice to be around, beside, on , above, below, ..... but with denotes not leaving, like a fragrance is with you ...
Throughout the Word God said, “I am with you” .... never leaving, not separated from
Why is that important?
I am with you!!!! This is the Lord saying this to each and every one of us not only today but each and every day!.”
One has said “sometimes it’s easier to take that as a collective with you all instead of with you personally.”
They go on to say… “When Jesus seems absent, he may simply be in his Emmaus disguise, urging us to hear and see him in the scriptures.”
Can you imagine the two on the way to Emmaus - I think about them often - It is such a powerful illustration of God always being where you are
They are no doubt wondering “Where is God?”
Oh if the human scales could be lifted from our eyes - we would be amazed at how close God is -
Wherever you Go God is there
Wherever you Go God is there
Jacob found this out in his dream of the Ladder from heaven. - Genesis 28:15
15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
The Psalmist recognized this
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; Even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; But the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
There's a story oft-told on the Internet—true or not, I don't know—about Susan, a 34-year-old woman who lost her sight due to a medical misdiagnosis.
She fell into a deep depression. Once fiercely independent, now she couldn't function.
Her husband, Mark, suffered along with her. Mark loved his wife and was determined to help her, so he worked with her on each of the skills needed for her to return to independent living.
After many months, Susan decided she could return to work. Every day, Mark, an Air Force officer, would drive his wife to work, walk her into the office, make sure she was settled, leave to go work at his base across town, and then pick her up at the end of the day.
This went on for several weeks. But for reasons of distance, cost, and time, it couldn't go on that way.
Mark told Susan that she would have to learn to take the bus. "But I can't ride the bus to work," she replied. "I'm blind. How am I going to know how many stairs there are? How am I going to know what path to take? I feel like you are abandoning me."
Just as he had done from the very beginning, Mark promised that he would do whatever it took to help her until she felt confident and independent on the bus.
He helped her with the routes.
He helped her learn the stairs and learn the paths.
Finally, after two weeks of practice, Susan faced the journey alone one Monday morning.
Susan made her way to work, on her own, every day for a week.
On that Friday morning, Susan made her way onto the bus, and as she went to pay her fare, the bus driver said, "Ma'am, I envy you."
Susan said, "Are you talking to me? What do you mean?"
The driver replied, "Every morning for the past week, a fine looking gentleman in a military uniform has been standing across the corner watching you when you get off the bus. He makes sure you cross the street safely, and he watches you until you enter your office building.
He never takes his eyes off you. Then he blows you a kiss, gives you a little salute, and walks away. You are one lucky lady."
Maybe you don’t see Him, maybe you don’t feel him - but I promise you on the authority of God’s word
GOD IS ALWAYS THERE
Sometimes we wonder in our times of grief and agony - times of loss and disappointment “Where are you God?”
If you read the Psalms very long you are going to see questions like that come up as the Psalmists pour their hearts out to God
1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching Where Was God?
During World War II, following word that an only son had been killed in action, a priest was called to the home of grief-stricken parents. The father, pacing the floor, weeping, in anger demanded, “Where was God when my son was being killed?” Silence prevailed. Then the ministering priest replied, “I guess where He was when His Son was being killed.” The calm, profound answer impacted the father, for it brought God out of remoteness into the circle of real life.
I know it’s perhaps been overused but I still love the classic poem by Mary Stevenson:
Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So I said to the Lord,
"You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during
the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one
set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most,
you have not been there for me?"
The Lord replied,
"The times when you have
seen only one set of footprints,
is when I carried you."
Mary Stevenson
Friend GOD IS PRESENT EVERY WERE AND EVERYWHERE PRESENT - GOD IS ALWAYS THERE
Not only is it true that God doesn’t have to be seen in order to be present I would also like to point out...
Not only is it true that God doesn’t have to be seen in order to be present I would also like to point out...
SECOND: God doesn’t have to be seen, felt, or heard to still be working. - GOD IS ALWAYS WORKING!!!
SECOND: God doesn’t have to be seen, felt, or heard to still be working. - GOD IS ALWAYS WORKING!!!
I recieved a phone call from some friends one time and they wanted to know what this word was they found in what they were reading. And they asked me over the phone… “What does omnio-potent mean?
Well after I quite chuckling to myself - I tried to explain to them that the word isn’t “omnio-potent” but rather OMNIPOTENT
We sang about that word yesterday morning in our service -
HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION
Fear not, I am with you. Oh, be not dismayed,
For I am your God and will still give you aid;
I'll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
The negative side of OMNIPOTENCE is
Infinite in Power - Omnipotent or sometimes we use the word ALMIGHTY
Perhaps your situation isn’t sickness, maybe it’s loss, or tough decisions, or depression, feelings of abandonment, whatever your current situation
Remember this great truth--
God incognito - does not mean God incapacitated
Job complained about a place and time when God was incognito: Job 23:8-9
8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there;
And backward, but I cannot perceive him:
9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him:
He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
But I’m Glad Job doesn’t leave us hanging there - He continues...
10 But he knoweth the way that I take:
When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
He is getting ready to show up in a powerful way -
It was a time marked by heavy oppression, darkness, a time when an old man was seeking and praying for God to show himself.
It was a time marked by silence from the heavens - for over 400 years there was no recorded prophetic utterance from a man of God, a time of silence, but an aged woman was seeking God, was searching for Him. Where is He? Where is the one to come? Where is the Deliverer? Where is the Day-spring form on High promise to come?
It was then that God disguised if you will, Himself in human flesh - God went incognito -
Ben Withereington put it to verse like this:
He came in incognito,
A thinly veiled disguise
The not so subtle son of man,
A human with God’s eyes.
God is ALWAYS POWERFUL- ALWAYS OMNIPOTENT -
HE HAS NOT LOST ONE OUNCE OF HIS POWER
I sometimes have attempted to illustrate this in our finite minds as if it were possible - which of course it is not - to put all of God’s power in a huge tank and stick a meter on it so you could tell how much power has been used - I know impossible not doable but for illustration purposes - lets think that way for a moment.
Travel back with me back to Genesis 1:1
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
God’s power is in the tank - the tank is pegged out at full we are looking at the meter when God created the heaven and the earth - and the meter didn’t even budge - doesn’t move
Keep going and God creates man in his own image - and again the meter doesn’t even budge still pegged out at full
Jesus is crucified they put him in the tomb on Friday but Sunday comes - and God’s tank power is drawn from again - you would think raising the Son of God would nearly deplete God’s power tank but when you look at the meter it didn’t even quiver - not a milimeter of power was lost it is still pegged out at full
No the meter isn’t broken - We just have an OMNIPOTENT GOD who HAS POWER HE DOESN’T USE POWER!!!
HALLELUJAH - THAT’S SHOUTING GROUND RIGHT THERE
We must always remember that when you can’t see God - that doesn’t mean he isn’t present. Just because you can’t feel God that doesn’t mean He isn’t working - But we also need to remember...
We must always remember that when you can’t see God - that doesn’t mean he isn’t present. Just because you can’t feel God that doesn’t mean He isn’t working - But we also need to remember...
THIRD: When God Goes incognito - YOU CAN BE SURE HE’S GETTING READY TO SHOW UP IN A POWERFUL WAY!!!
THIRD: When God Goes incognito - YOU CAN BE SURE HE’S GETTING READY TO SHOW UP IN A POWERFUL WAY!!!
The story was told to Bro. Basil Miller who put it in his book “Remarkabel Answers to Prayer”
A missionary in Northwest China told of a time when their area was in a terrible famine. They had to tell the natives they had no food left. SO they all agreed to come and pray every afternoon.
They prayed the first day and it seemed nothing happened.
They prayed the second day and left just as much in a famine as the first day
The third day they met again and again nothing happened.
By this time they were getting pretty desperate. We would be too. They were probably wondereing, “Where is God? Why isn’t he here.”
But on the fourth day a dark cloud came in from the north and it began to rain heavily.
The interesting thing was - it wasn’t actually rain - it was little black seed - so many little black seeds they were able to be shoveled up and there was enought they were able to feed the people until the harvest.
Later they learned that in Mongolia - many miles away they had a storm that demolished the grain storage facility and carrying the grain all the way to this famine stricken location. fifteen hundred miles away. Where God seemed to be in secret - where God seemed to be incognito - people were calling out - Where are you?
God showed up and says, I’m still here!!! I’m still working!!!
God incognito does not mean God’s resignation
Dear Old Bro. S.M. Lockridge - when I get low sometimes I’ll pull out his sermon just to help me get fired up again “AMEN’ and “DO YOU KNOW HIM”
But in there as only Bro. Lockridge could say is “YOU CAN”T IMPEACH HIM AND HE’S NOT GOING TO RESIGN!!!!”
That is What Mary and Martha and we sometimes forget God doesn’t have to be seen, felt, or heard to be working.
Lazarus was sick, died, and put in his grave - when God showed up
Job lost all he had, sick and hurting, felt like he was abandoned by God - but then God showed up!!!
How about you - are you facing a dark time?
Does it seem that God is no where to be found?
Are you desperately feeling in front and behind - all around and just silence from heaven?
I want to encourage you to hold on to your faith - God has not left, abandoned, forsaken you, God has not quit working, God will SHOW HIMSELF in a powerful way.
One of my favorite examples of this is the story of the two disciples as they were leaving Jerusalem after the crucifixion - all hope was gone- they were confused, discouraged - feeling abandoned, lost, hopeless,
Thinking they had left their everything locked in a tomb back in the city - little did they know that above all the darkness - gloom, confusion, abandoned feelings - God the Father spoke however he Speaks to the Son and said, “Son there are a couple of men on their way to Emmaus who need to see you, they are in a dark lonely place”
In their darkest time - God still had his eye on them, God even though in a tomb, was not out of commission, God was able to come through and show himself in a powerful way. They bowed their heads at the dinner table and suddenly their eyes were opened. Like flipping on a light switch all of their darkness fled from the Light of HIM - HE CAME - HE SHOWED HIMSELF IN A POWERFUL WAY -
It’s Just Like Jesus to roll the clouds away - it’s just like Jesus to keep me day by day
GOD ALWAYS SHOWS UP
Remember - He may be incognito - He may be as it were in secret - but...
1. He is ALWAYS present
2. He is ALWAYS working
3. He will ALWAYS show up!!!
Tomorrow I want to attempt to talk to you about the GREATNESS OF GOD - God is…GREAT
PRAY