Where God Walks 2.0

Read: Genesis 3:6-10

Genesis 3:6–10 KJV 1900

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Introduction:

Have you ever thought about how God gets around? We sometimes think of God as everywhere and that is true and right theologically.

We do find however a couple of instances where God was on the move in the Bible. What I like is that whenever God was on the move He is either leading, going to someone, or watching someone. Occasionally there are the few where He is going away from someone but thankfully those are very few.

In our passage we find

1. God walking to the sinful

I’m thankful that God walks to us when we are in sin or we could never get out.

Adam and Eve heard him calling and walking

Now that was a dark day and no doubt if it were possible all heaven cried - but God had a plan - the plan of salvation.

2. God Walks In Our Storms

Matthew 14:22 KJV 1900

And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

Jesus has just preformed an amazing miracle - he multiplied food to feed a massive multitude. John’s version of this story indicates the people were so impressed with Jesus cooking and multiplication skills that they wanted to make him king by force. So he puts the disciples in a boat.

It doesn’t sound like Jesus was sweet talking to His disciples to go out in the boat either.

[in a sweet patronizing voice} “Peter, watch your step, come on lets go ahead and board the boat” “James, you coming...” “Come on John quit dawdling”

No it says “He constrained” that means compelled - it was an urgent need. He was probably pushing them in.

He sends the disciples out on the water alone - Have you ever been alone?

Now I don’t know how long they were in the contrary wind and waves - but I know they got in the boat around or a little after dark around 6:00 p.m. Jewish time

It was getting pretty rough - but this storm wasn’t beyond them -

Although Jesus on the shore - could see them toiling, working

I can hear the disciples:

Peter: “You know guys, I was ready to go to bed, we had been out there all day and Jesus put us in this boat. “

John: “Yeah, I know, I haven’t had a good nights sleep in a long time” And will these waves and wind ever stop - I’m ready to get to shore and go home.

Peter: “But here we are stuck out here on the sea ALONE”

Never Alone

We need to remember that sometimes when we are toiling all the night through -

wrestling in prayer

battling the onslaught of the devil

struggling with temptation

Greiving with no relief in sight

Whatever your boat, contrary winds, and waves might be

If the Disciples could have just lifted their gaze above all the - exhaustion, beyond the wind and waves, past their complaining

If they would have looked to the shore they would have seen something that would have banished all fear, doubt, and confusion - for there was Jesus watching them rowing and toiling along.

In our “Most Alone Times”

Remember that we are never alone - Feeling or no feeling, seeing or no seeing God is there - Jesus is on the shore watching you toiling and struggling

I’ve seen the lightning flashing, And heard the thunder roll, I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing, Trying to conquer my soul; I’ve heard the voice of my Savior, He bid me still fight on: He promised never to leave me, Never to leave me alone.

Or Oatman put it this way:

Did ever saint find this Friend forsake him? No, not one! No, not one! Or sinner find that He would not take him? No, not one! No, not one!

Jesus knows all about our struggles, He will guide till the day is done; There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus, No, not one! No, not one!

So here it is the fourth watch - 4:00 a.m. not long before sunrise and of all things instead of things getting calmer and better the drama ramps up -

One of the disciples were probably lowering a sail and something catches his eye of the bow of the boat. He calls over the other disciples and they look - it looks like a form a ghostly form floating on the water.

I can just hear them - “It’s not like were in a boat, in a storm, at nearly 4 in the morning - now a ghost???”

The Bible says in Matthew 14:26 the first real word on how the disciples are doing in all of this - it says they were troubled.

I love how the English language sometimes cleans things up so nice and pretty - they were troubled -

They were terrified- They had just seen what they thought was a ghost

This was the end - it was over forget the wind and waves - were gonna die

Yes - things do often get worse and as Dr. Bar used to say “Bad days comes in bunches” but no matter where you are right now....

Just hold on

The fourth watch is coming...

Do you know what happens at the fourth watch?

More trouble - The disciples get scare out of their wits - and begin to scream like a bunch of girls.

What you don’t believe me.. Matthew 14:26 “They cried out in fear” that means they screamed

But we don’t want to stop then - I’m more concerned about what happens at the fourth watch 01 what I mean is 4:01 a.m.

at 4:00 a.m. everything was over

At 4:01 a.m. they hear the voice, it becomes clear who it really is Peter calls out - if its you Jesus call me out to you

And he hears “COME”

And for a few moments Peter walks on the water - only two people have ever really walked on water that I’m aware of - Jesus and Peter

But then Peter picks up the problem again - isn’t it just like us to know Jesus is here now - but we pick up all our baaggage again -

That burden that we just can’t put down

That heartache we just can’t let go of

The fear we just can’t seem to get rid of

that whatever it might be for you

And when he see the winds and waves -

the same winds and waves that he saw from the boat alone - without seeing Jesus

The same winds and waves he had been rowing and toiling against for many hours that night

He just couldn’t let it go

Like I said things seem to get worse before they get better

As Peter’s gaze shifts from Jesus to the storm he begins to sink

Sink in the water, sink in despair,

He cried out again - “Lord Save me”

And Jesus was right there -

He walked out to the disciples on the boat

He walked over to Peter sinking in the waves

He’ll come walking on the water to you - even in the storm.

He will walk to wherever you are this morning

3. God walks in our depression

Depression is real - and its not new

Biblical Counseling Keys on Depression A. What Is Depression?

Depression literally means being “pressed down” to a lower position (as in a footprint).1

• Depression can refer to a state of decline and reduced activity (as in an “economic depression”).2

• Depression sometimes is a result of an emotional heaviness that weighs the heart down. The apostle Paul used the Greek word bareo, which means “pressed or weighed down,” to describe the immense emotional pressure and severe hardships that he and Timothy suffered at the hands of those who opposed Christ.3 …

Those who encounter depression aren’t alone

Elijah

Jeremiah

Jonah

Jesus (even at times appears depressed look at him sitting over Jerusalem)

But I’ve found personally and seen other’s experience - that we do not walk down in the valley of depression by ourselves - HE WALKS GOD WALKS THERE TOO!!!

3. God walks in our grief

I’ve never lost a parent, but I have lost a child. Many times I have grieved over that child.

Angie and I will be sitting and talking and one of us will say something like..

“They would have been… years old now”

I know others face so much more grief and loss than I have, but I have found in my own grief that God has been right there

Some have grieved the loss of who someone once was

I see Him walking down a dusty road near a town one day, a poor grieving Mama bereft of her Son.

Jesus walks to this woman at her end. It's over for her finished.

Jesus touches the young man and he gets up alive

Jesus touches the young man and he gets up alive

Now I've never had Jesus come and raise any of loved ones, and I wouldn't call them back if I could.

But I have had Him walk to me in my Grief and pain and raise me.

God walks down the pathway of grief and loss. It’s okay to cry, it’s okay to mourn, it’s okay to be sad.

Wasn’t it God Himself who wept at the tomb of Lazarus...

God walks to us in our time of need - He promised the Comforter the “Along Side One”

I think Audra Czarnikow (pronounced Shawn-uh-ko), said it best - a little unknown lady from Liberty, Oklahoma wrote several years ago...

God walks the dark hills, the highways and biways

He walks o'er the billows of life's troubled sea

He walks in the cold, dark shadows of midnight

God walks the dark hills for you and me.

First Chorus

God walks the dark hills to guide my footsteps

He walks everywhere by night and by day

He walks in silence down the lone highway

God walks the dark hills to show me the way.

Verse Two

God walks in the storm, the rain and the sunshine

He walks in the shadows of glimmering light

He walks o'er the mountains, the rivers and valleys

God walks the dark hills to guide you and me.

Second Chorus

God walks in silence in the stillness of midnight

He walks in your Garden of Gethsemane

He walks through the halls and aisles of the Temple

God walks the dark hills to guide you and me.

© Audra Czarnikow