GOD, WHERE ARE YOU?

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The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.

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There is so much going on in the world today, so much in fact, that we can sometimes get overwhelmed by the news and horror of it all. Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the terror attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. An attack in which 2,977 people died on that fateful day, a day that left many asking the question where was God?

Churches were packed looking for some sort of explanation as to how God could allow this to happen. The question is often ask after a disaster which results in the loss of life, limb, or property, or some other devastating or destructive or demonic act occurs. God where were you?

Just weeks ago, we saw panic, mayhem and death ensue as our brave men and women were finally pulled out of a war that has gone on for 20-years, a war which has taken the lives of 7,057 of our military personnel. But an even more alarming number is the number of suicides among our military men and women since 9/11 a number more than four times that of those killed in combat. It is estimated that 30,177 active duty personnel and veterans who have served in the military since 9/11 have died by suicide. God, where are you?

These numbers don’t include the men and women who have returned with injuries ranging from missing limbs, to traumatic brain injuries, to post traumatic stress disorders, to chronic and sometimes debilitating pain. The ones who fill VA hospitals all over the nation. God, where are you?

Then there are the ones who are homeless, or addicted to drugs, whether it’s opioids or some other drug. Let’s not forget the number of families that have been destroyed because of the inability of the service member to settle back into family life after witnessing the atrocities of war. And even the ones in jail because they were not able to meld back into society and committed some sort of crime. God, where are you?

People tend to look to God, when they can’t find the answer anywhere or from anyone else. But why do we place God as a last resort rather than our first choice?

Today we’re going to look at a series of Scriptures that lets us know, God is still in control. So get your Bibles and we’re going to take a little stroll to get some answers to the question, God, where are you? Use your table of contents if you need to, that’s why it’s there. Amen? Or just get you something to write with and something to write on, because there will be a test.

The title of today’s message is God, Where Are You?

When we find ourselves asking the question, “God where are you?”, we are typically in a state of panic, worry, or disbelief, we are experiencing some type of fear or anxiety and…we need answers. Sometimes we can even get so distraught as to demand answers from God.

God the Creator of the heavens and the Earth and all that is in them. The Divine Ruler, The Supreme One, the one that has no beginning and no end, you know, that God. Desperation and fear will do strange things to you. And so we ask…

God where are you? And He says, I’m here in Isaiah 41:10 and I’m telling you - Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

When fear comes to overtake you, stand up and tell fear to sit down because God is with you. It will take some practice, you may not get it the first time, you might not even believe it, but say it anyway; practice makes perfect.

Then God said don’t be discouraged because not only is He with you, He assures you he is your God. When you serve the only omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent God, no matter what happens, no matter what your situation is, no matter how desperate your circumstance may be God is there and He will strengthen you for whatever task you’re facing. Not only will he strengthen you, he will help you.

What seemingly impossible situation are you facing that you have no idea how you’re going to make it through? God will help you, He is with you and when you are too weak to stand, He will hold you up with His victorious right hand, so

• at the end of your trial or tribulation you will be able to hold your hands up in surrender

• at the end of your trial or tribulation you will be able to hold your hands up in victory

• at the end of your trial or tribulation you will be able to hold your hands up and praise the Lord

• at the end of your trial or tribulation you’ll be able to lift your hands in total praise to the God of the universe.

God, where are You? I’m here in Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

A refuge is a place you go for shelter, it’s a place of trust, a place to hide, it’s a place of safety, a place to get out of the storm. So when God is your refuge He’s where you run to get out of the storms of life.

Not only that, you need to know that if He doesn’t take you out of the storm, he will be your strength in the storm and He’s always there ready to help in times of trouble.

So don’t fear

• riots,

• or racists police officers who harm instead of help,

• or judges in who’s courtroom lady justice is anything but blind,

• or the hurtful pride of someone who is supposed to love you, but instead injures you, be it emotionally, mentally, verbally, financially, or physically,

you have the favor of God on your life, the Holy Spirit dwells in your heart. So stand still and know that He is God, He is exalted among the nations, He is exalted in the Earth. The Lord of hosts is with you He is your refuge.

God where are you? I’m here in Psalm 94:14 - The Lord will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession.

• Mama or Daddy may reject you

• sister or brother may reject you

• your child may reject you

• your husband or wife may reject you

• your best friend may reject you

But the Lord; the Lord won’t reject his people. He will accept you just the way you are and while he will accept you just as you are, he loves you way too much to leave you the way he found you. He will deliver you from everything that threatens to separate you from him.

When you give yourself to him not only will he not reject you, he won’t abandon his special possession, in another translation he calls us his heritage. He will never forsake you nor leave you. Never, never, never, to the end of time and beyond, he’ll be with you.

• When the wicked come against you - He’ll be with you.

• When evildoers put you down - He’ll stand up for you.

• When you feel like you’re about to die - He’ll resuscitate you.

• When you’re about to fall and you cry out - His unfailing love will support you

• When doubts fill your mind - His comfort will give you renewed hope and cheer

• When they gang up on you and try to condemn you - God will be you fortress, He’ll be the mighty rock where you can hide. And…

• When others try to put their sins on you - He will turn them back on them and destroy them for their sins.

God, where are You? I’m here in Luke 12:22-26 - 22 Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. 23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. 24 Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! 25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?

God, the Son is speaking to his disciples and he’s telling them not to worry about everyday life, like food and clothes because life is more than that, then he goes on to give them some comparisons. Look around you, if the birds don’t plant anything and God feeds them, you’re far more valuable to him than any birds? As graceful and majestic as they can be and as clumsy and awkward as we can be God still loves us more.

Think back to Genesis 1 when he made the birds and called them good, but when he made humankind in his image, male and female he created them and called them very good. He gave them dominion over every living thing.

And when you worry, can you add one moment to your life? That answer would be no, so why worry over things, be they big or small.

So, don’t worry about your clothes. He compares the lilies of the field, wildflowers, to King Solomon, the richest man who ever lived and certainly he was beautifully adorned in his royal attire, even he was not dressed as beautifully as the wildflowers of the field.

What to eat, what to drink, what you will wear, those are the worries of the unbeliever, those are the thoughts that dominate their minds but you, you who believe, what should dominate your thoughts?

• Whatsoever things are true,

• whatsoever things are honest,

• whatsoever things are just,

• whatsoever things are pure,

• whatsoever things are lovely,

• whatsoever things are of good report;

• if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

God, Where are You? I’m here in Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?

• When darkness threatens to overtake your soul

• when you can’t see your way through to the other side

• when you can’t go right, you can’t go left, you’re too scared to turn back, but you’re too afraid to go forward...

Remember the Lord is your light, His Word is a lamp unto your feet and a light to your path, so don’t just walk, run the race that God has set before you and with each step you take the path will light up, but it takes faith to light the path. On your mark, get set, GO! Run Forest run.

Not only is he your light, he’s your salvation and with salvation comes

• spiritual and material preservation

• with salvation comes deliverance from the fear of danger

• with salvation comes pardon from the penalty of sin which is death

• with salvation comes restoration for your mind

• with salvation comes healing for your body

• with salvation comes wholeness for your soul

• and with salvation comes soundness in spirit, soul and body.

The second thing that comes with salvation is a life of freedom. You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free. You don’t have to be weighed down in the heaviness of sin.

And the third thing that comes with salvation is protection from earthly dangers and you’ll find the list in Psalm 91.

• you’ll be delivered from pestilence

o which includes serious sickness and disease

o famine

o earthquakes

o and other calamities.

• You’ll be protected from sudden death that comes by the weapons of men.

• You have the promise of a long, satisfying life

• and deliverance from every kind of trouble that comes your way.

GOD, WHERE ARE YOU? I’m here in Revelation 1:17b-18 God the Son comforts us saying - “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.

So we have no reason to fear death because Jesus conquered it and he holds the keys to death and the grave and when a believer dies, Jesus opens the door for them to step into the Kingdom of God. What a glorious awakening it must be to open your eyes in heaven. To never experience, pain, or weariness, or loss, or hunger, or regret, or remorse; just joy unspeakable forevermore.

God where are You? He said I’m here waiting for you to accept my Son as your personal Lord and Savior. Give your life to Jesus, he gave his for you so that you could experience salvation and all that goes with it. Pray now, it’s simple, just confess your sin, ask for forgiveness, believe that Jesus is the Son of God, then invite him to be Lord of your life.

If you had that request for the first time today, comment on this message or reach out to us at [e-mail].

God where are You? After 9/11 a woman named Stacey Randall answered that question in a poem called, Meet Me In The Stairwell

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news On September 11, 2001. Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke-filled room with a man who called his wife to say ‘Good-Bye.’ I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, ‘Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK..I am ready to go.’

I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn’t coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. ‘I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!’ I said. ‘Of course I will show you the way home – only believe in Me now.’

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I was in Texas, Virginia, California, Michigan, Afghanistan. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name – though not all knew Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn’t hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; ‘Come to Me… this way… take my hand.’ Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are ‘ready to go.’

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

-Jesus

God where are You? I'M STILL HERE

He’s still here calling for you. Can you hear him? Will your answer be yes? I pray it will be, so if I never meet you here, I can see you there.