Past, Present, Future

What Motivates You?

1) Jesus’ Presence Has an Effect

Simeon - Luke 2:25f, life is complete, he has seen the salvation of people

Anna - Luke 2:36f, thanks God for the Savior

Magi - Matthew 2, recognizes a King

All of these, experienced a sense of awe, awe consistent with seeing the Savior, actually encountering God and responding to Him

2) Looking back on 2020

Many feel that there has been much lost in 2020

Maybe we hold on too tightly to this world, the things of this world, 1 John 2:15

2020 - a year of responses

Lean on God

Lean away from God

Comfort zone has been shattered (forced personal space, social distancing, avoiding family and friends, encouraged to stay away from church family) - comfortable life shut down

“Normal” is forever changed

God’s still there! He’s where He’s always been!

(Like always) We have a choice of response:

Psalm 37:8 - fear leads to evil

Acts 2:43 - awe leads to action

Which do you think the enemy promotes?

Which do you think God promotes?

LET’s TALK AWE of GOD

Awe - reverent respect, mixed with fear and wonder

Three locations of primary awe: Creation, Crucifixion/Resurrection, New Creation

Awe comes from knowing Him

Can’t manufacture it, can’t pretend

We are either in awe of God, or we are not

Dangerous to lose the awe of God - things become familiar, comfortable, cozy, easy, “normal”

2020 - in large part, I truly believe, an attention-getter for the church

Some churches and people - handcuffed by circumstances and situation

Anxiety, fear, worry, fret, looking around, disappearing, ineffective for Gospel

NT early church

Their joy and fearlessness, in the face of horrible trials and persecution, was a powerful witness, resulting in massive growth

Acts 2:43 - It was their joy and fearlessness that resulted from their awe of God

Believers must LOOK UP! (as opposed to “around”)

Isaiah 40:26 NASB95

Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.

Psalm 145 - we look UP, because of Who He is, and what He’s done!

Psalm 46:1–3 NASB95

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.

Psalm 19:1 NASB95

The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

REM: Shepherds, Simeon, Anna, Magi - YOU!

It’s about priorities

Look UP, then AROUND, in that order. Or actually, Look UP, and NOT AROUND

See God clearly, and then see how we relate to each other, church

3) Looking to 2021 - Seeing ahead

Acts 2:43 NASB95

Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

Acts 9:31 NASB95

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.

We, Cornerstone, continue on

We will decrease or increase - it depends on our awe of God

Waiting for stuff to get better, for stuff to happen - (When you wait for something to happen, it will, but it might not be what you want)

OR: Morning by morning, see new mercies of God, see His awesomeness fresh, daily - Lamentations 3:22-23

Growth takes effort - and the foundation is awe of God, a Holy Spirit-driven response

It takes effort to be the church in 2021

It takes awe of God, driven by the Holy-Spirit, to be the church

ASIDE - Sunday morning, “general” message and teaching

Take it home, apply it specifically, seek God’s word for YOUR specific application

Wed. - more specific study, come, join in

So thankful for 2020 - very eye-opening

Tough, hard, mentally and physically

We needed to see what we are made of, and then choose what we’ll do

We need to know who’s in and who’s not in this fight

Gideon got 300 men - Cornerstone, here is who we are

We needed to see clearly, and God allowed some distractions to be removed or lessened

QUESTION: What did we live 2020 for? Who did we live it for? What was it about? What’s your plan for 2021, spiritually?

Challenges: Familiar, Comfort, Safety, Entitlement (what’s owed to me, what’s fair)

OR: See the awe of God in EVERYTHING

Thoughts and desires

Treatment of spouse

Parenting children

How you do your job

Finances

Material possessions

Relationships with family and neighbors

How you function as a citizen

Expectation of others

Response when face trials, darkness, discouragement

Celebrations

Mournfulness of sin

Patience with others’ weaknesses

Courage

Serving in church

Church attendance

GOD RULES - EVERYWHERE - IN EVERYTHING - That’s my 2021 Goal

If He does not rule everywhere, then I, you, we - off the rails

The Awe of God MUST:

Keep us focused

Help us focus

Help us grow