Forgotten God Ch 5 (cont)

INTRO

I. Where We’ve Been

II. Where We’re going

c. To some extent, we all know what it’s like to feel close to another person:

1. whether it b a parent, a spouse, a child, a sibling, a good friend.

2. Whatever it is, there’s nothing like sharing a close personal rel.

i. Most of us tend 2 take our rel.’s 4 granted, but what is it that makes close personal rel.’s so incredible?

-No matter how close u may feel w/ another human being, the potential 4 intimacy w/ the H.S. is always greater.

-Close friends may stick by ur side no matter what, but the H.S. actually lives inside o u!

*Think about it, every second o every day the Spirit o the living God is w/in u

d. The psalmist who was Isr. King, David wrote

Psalm 139:7 ESV

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?

1. At this point, u might start to wonder, “If this is true, why don’t I feel close to Him?”

BODY

I. Reasons 4 a lack o closeness

A. I think that most of us become distanced from the Spirit for 2 primary reasons: comfort & noise.

a. Comfort

1. In John 14, Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the “Helper” / “Comforter”.

2. Though it is a reassuring thought 2 have a Helper & Comforter on hand, many o us have made our lives so comfortable & “safe” that we don’t need 2b comforted.

i. Usually, it’s not until we’re in desperate situations like-an unexpected tragedy strikes

-having 2 answer tough questions o the faith-serving when it hurts

*that we feel uncomfortable.

ii. Illust. (missionaries held captive 4 their faith in Afghanistan)

-they were held in extreme circumstances & facing their death

-In reflection they said that they had never felt closer 2 God than in that time & @ some level wished they were back

*What’s ur initial reaction when u heard this?iii. Is it hard to believe that when we need him the most is when we find him?

-I mean, who needs a comforter when our life is so comfortable

Karl Barth said, “When we are at our wits’ end for an answer, then the Holy Spirit can give us an answer. But how can He give us an answer when we are still well supplied with all sorts of answers of our own?”

-Paul writes:

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 ESV3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

*it is by the H.S. that we experience God’s comfort

*It’s in our affliction we need the comfort, not in our easy chair

*Maybe it’s in our comfort we need the affliction?

iv. Have u ever found yourself in a place where u absolutely needed the Spirit 2 help / comfort u?

-What was it like & how did the Spirit comfort u?

-Have some1 share

-Illust. during deployment

-If u answered no 2 that question (/ if u had 2 think about it awhile)...

*do u think u should consider living a more radical life where u need the Spirit 2 come through?

*Why/why not?~If ur life isn’t too comfortable, it’s probably too noisy.

b. volume

1. One o the most observed & bemoaned aspects o life in the 21st century is the rapid pace o everything.

i. When was the last time u had an uninterrupted 1-on-1 conversation where u were able 2 just look a person in the eye.

ii. Illust. my home life at times

-there r times as a pastor that I’ve caught myself:

-watching a show w/Rebekah, while having a conversation w/her, while checking my email & texting about Church stuff

*Even inanimate objects demand our attention—televisions, iPods, radios, newspapers, computers, books (like this one), and so on.2. When was the last time u sat quietly w/ nothing at all 2 distract u?

i. What was that like?

-Ur life may have become so busy & noisy that u haven’t sat alone w/ God 4 weeks

*maybe even yrs.

3. Jesus’ example

Mark 1:35–38 ESV35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.”

i. Jesus recognized the need r close connection w/God the Fatherc. Bringing it home

1. What r some of the things that distract U frm a real rel. w/ God.

i. Which o those things do u need 2 get rid o /back off on in order 2 pursue intimacy w/ God

Wrapping It Up

I. The Point

A. I hope this section doesn’t come across as harsh / accusing. a. You may have an incredible relationship w/ God.

1. Maybe He’s more real 2 u than the people around u.

2. If that’s true, then praise God! i. That’s the goal we’re all headed 2ward.

B. The Point is to help you maintain that rel. through the power of the Spirit...

a. & to remove some of the things that inhibit intimacy w/ God.

b. The most important reason 2 pursue a rel. w/ the Spirit o God is that Jesus gave His life so that u could pursue 1.

1. As Paul explained in...

Galatians 3:13–14 ESV13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

i. At times, u may b tempted 2 feel that the Spirit is keeping Himself distant from u / that u’re trying 2 find God, but He doesn’t want 2b found.

-When that thought enters your mind, remember the truth of

Galatians 3:14 ESV14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.

- Jesus died so that you could receive the Spirit.

*He purchased that intimacy for you at the greatest possible price.

ii. A rel. w/u is so important that: -God the Father sent God the Son to die on the cross...

*so that God the Spirit might draw u ever closer in rel. w/Him

C. Prayer:

a. LORD empower us by ur H.S. 2 approach U as our Daddy.

1. May we stand secure in our rel. w/ u...

2. & may that overflow into the intimacy that comes through obediently walking in the Spirit.

HomeWork

I. Spend some time in prayer. A. Ask God to draw you closer to Himself. a. Pray that His Holy Spirit would increase ur intimacy as a child of the living God.II. Answer these Questions:A. honestly describe your relationship with God. a. Be descriptive—1. Is this enought? is the H.S. drawing u closer?B. How do u draw closer to H.S. & how do u maintain it?III. Read Jn 14-16. A. Invite the H.S. into the time B. Disconnect from ur devices & people (this might b the most important part of this exercise) C. Soak in Jesus’ words D. Record anything that stood out to youE. ask the Holy Spirit to teach you what Jesus is saying in these Chapters