Discover God in the Cracks
Jan132008-G17aPV08
II Kings 7:3-9
A preacher decided to visit one a family who had just visited the
church but before he stopped by he decided he had better call. A quiet
muffled little voice answered the phone. The preacher asked, "Is Mr.
Jones there?" The little voice said, "Yes, but he is busy and can't
talk." "Well, is your mother there?" "Yes, but she's busy too, and she
can't talk either." The preacher persisted, "I hear voices, is someone
else there?" "Yes, the police," said the child. "May I speak to a
policeman?" asked the preacher. "No, they are busy too." "Well, what
are all these people doing?" The little voice giggled softly,
"They're looking for me."
Many scriptures tell us to seek the Lord. For here you will search
again for the Lord your God. And if you search for him with all your
heart and soul, you will find him. Deuteronomy 4:29 LNT Our focus for
the next four weeks is to search for God in the everyday. God told
Jeremiah to share the following with his people who were in exile,
"For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans
for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then
you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to
you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all
your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13 NASV
I want you to meet Dennis Wise who is avid Elvis Presley fan.
"I loved Elvis. I followed him, his whole career. I have every album
he has recorded and seen every movie he's made. I once even bought
some boots when I was in Jr. High that looked just like his. The kids
called them "fruit boots". But I didn't care- they looked like Elvis.
Later, I even got a face lift, and a hair contour like his. I have won
Elvis look-alike contests, and wanted him to notice, so I would storm
the stage during and after concerts he would do. I don't think he ever
saw me. I have ticket stubs from concerts. Elvis clippings from
programs all over the world, and even some Elvis pillows from Japan.
Yeah, Presley was, and is my idol. My only regret was…that I never
really saw him…I mean, really saw him. Sure, I went to concerts, but
there was no contact. I once even climbed the walls around Graceland,
the Presley mansion, to catch a glimpse of him. I think it might have
been him who was walking through the house as I was looking through my
binoculars. But…I never really saw him. It's funny…all the effort I
put in to following him and I never could seem to get close."
So often, our story is similar to that of Dennis Wise. We want to
experience intimacy with God, but we'd honestly have to say, "It's
funny, all the effort I put into following Him…and I never could seem
to get close."
We are searching for God in the everyday. We noted there are at least
5 categories where we may find evidence of God's presence. We have
discussed two.
·Any obvious answers to prayer.
·Any unusual linkage or timing.
·Any unexpected evidence of his care.
·Any insight from God's Word that lifts or challenges.
·Any help to do his work in the world.
Let's look together at that second category to "Discover God in the
cracks": Any unexpected evidence of his care and protection.
Van Hurst, a preacher in Texas, told about being seated on the living
room floor reading when his 4-yr-old daughter came running up wanting
his attention. Holding a tube in her hand she asked, "Do you want some
chap stick?" "Of course", he replied. He carefully spread the soft
balm on his lips while reading his book. It was extremely sour, but it
felt good, so he put another generous layer on his lips just as his
wife called their daughter, "Kortney, what did you do with my glue
stick?"
GOD IS FULL OF SURPRISES.
I. GOD OFTEN DOES THE UNEXPECTED.
A. God punished his rebellious people. II Kings 6:24-31
1.The northern kingdom of Israel was a godless nation at this point.
2. Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, has laid siege to Samaria, the capital
city of Israel. Food was scarce and very expensive. Cannibalism was
even taking place!
3.The king needed someone to blame, and he blamed the prophet Elisha.
B. Four outcasts discover an unexpected surprise. II Kings 7:3-9
1.Four men with leprosy, who were not even allowed in the city, were
ready to surrender to the enemy. They are starving and desperate.
2.They go to the enemy camp at night, but no one is there. God has
caused the enemy to flee. They have left everything!
3.The four lepers have a buffet dinner and gather the loot to boot.
But they soon realize they cannot keep this good news to themselves.
So they report their remarkable find to the king.
4.These four outcast lepers experienced unexpected evidence of God's care.
II. WE NEED TO EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.
I was in 6th grade when a friend asked me to go with him and his
family to Fort Wayne one Sunday afternoon. I don't remember why I told
Bill I couldn't go, but I did. There was an auto accident. He was
killed and his mother seriously injured. I remember sitting at his
funeral realizing it could have been me.
A. God-spotters find God in different places.
1. Moses spotted God in a burning bush.
2.Hannah spotted God through her tears at Shiloh as she begged for a
child in the face of infertility.
3.Isaiah spotted God in a vision sitting on a throne surrounded by seraphs.
4.Elijah spotted God in the cleft of a mountain amid thunder,
lighting, wind and fire.
5.King Nebuchadnezzar spotted God in the fiery furnace.
6.The centurion, at the cross, spotted God when Jesus died in
suffering and agony.
October 1942, Pres. Roosevelt dispatched Captain Eddie Rickenbacker
with a special message to General MacArthur who was planning American
strategy in the Pacific war. But the B17 became lost, ran out of fuel
and went down. The crew of 8 made it into lifeboats and then began a
desperate fight to survive the sun, sharks, waves and hunger. They had
prayed all they could pray and it seemed the end had come and there
was no hope. Capt. Rickenbacker was in the raft asleep with his cap
over his eyes. He felt something. A bird had lit on his head. He knew
if he could catch it, they might survive. He did. They ate it then
used its entrails for bait to catch some fish. They survived.
Question: What was a sea gull doing there hundreds of miles from land?
B.Be ready for surprises when you are in God's family.
1.Adam woke up from a nap. What a surprise he had! He was missing a
rib, but he gained a partner. Certainly this was unexpected evidence
of his care.
2.Noah was minding his own business when God called him into the
shipbuilding business in the middle of the desert. When the floods
came, Noah sure realized this unexpected call was really evidence of
God's care.
3.Acts 8 tells us the church was suddenly, unexpectedly, scattered
because of persecution.
·It is interesting that this is preceded by the Christians
liquidating their assets. (Acts 4)
·God provided for their needs long before they knew. Otherwise they
would have lost their possessions in the rush.
4.God is still writing these stories in your lives and mine. We just
need to look for them.
In the Fall of 1992, Scott had been in Russia a relative short time.
When he and Carmen left Japan they packed their belongings in a van
that was shipped over. To get to the port to pick up the van they had
an 8hr train ride. Here is what he wrote about getting the tickets.
"On Thursday Ludmela (His translator) went to buy train tickets to
Khabarovsk. None were available for Thursday night. Tanya, a German
teacher at the institute, was able to arrange for us to get 1 ticket
for Friday night. We still needed 3. Ludmela and I went together to
the station to try and get tickets for Friday. There were also none
available. While standing in line, a man asked if anyone wanted to buy
3 tickets for Friday. Of course we were eager to do so. Friday we had
to go again to the station to get the last ticket Tanya had arranged
for us. As it turned out, this ticket was not only in the SAME CAR of
the train but also the SAME CABIN!! (There are 21 cars with 9 cabins
per car or 189 possibilities!) Both Ludmela and I were amazed. I gave
God the credit. She is becoming more convinced." (Scott's Journal,
10/23/92)
C.You must be eager to share the wealth you find with those who are in need.
1.The people of Samaria were starving. Vs 9
2.It's important to share with others when you discover God in your
everyday. Write them down so you can remember God's faithfulness and
be encouraged.
A little after 2 p.m., April 7, 2000, I was returning home from Mt.
Vernon. I was about 3 or 4 miles south on I-57. The western sky was
black and a light rain had just started, but not enough to turn on my
wipers. The cruise was set at 68. The road ahead was clear for ˝ mile
or so. I noticed what looked like a funnel cloud to the west and
glanced at it for a few seconds. When I looked back, there was a
maroon Taurus within a car length or so, right in front of me, with
its brake lights on. Where it came from I don't know, but I realized
death was a real possibility and as I prepared for a terrible crash,
simultaneously I hit the brakes, turned to the left and said, "Lord
save me." The car shot into the passing lane, fish-tailed a bit and
righted itself. I couldn't believe I had avoided the Taurus. I
couldn't have missed by more than a few inches. It was as if an unseen
hand had violently moved me out of the way. I said, "Thank you Lord"
for He had been with me. Four months later the skid marks could still
be seen. I still marvel that my car didn't hit the Taurus, or spin out
of control and the passing lane was free for me to enter. The entire
experience made me more aware of God's daily care and the fragile
nature of life. (on a card I wrote following the incident)
3.Share with those in need about your discovery of his care, perhaps
they'll start looking for evidence themselves.
D.Enjoy God's gifts.
1.The lepers probably had the best meal of their lives.
2.It takes practice to find evidence that God's hand is on our lives.
In 1997 we took a trip around the world to teach in Siberia. We were
flying Delta through Moscow and had never gone that way. I prayed that
the Lord would help us through customs. Not long after leaving NYC I
noticed a lady move from the middle section to some vacant seats by a
window. She had a Christian mission magazine which I recognized. I
went up to her and struck up a conversation. I learned she was living
in Moscow and she agreed to help us through the terminal in Moscow.
She warned that it was "every man for himself, expect pushing and
shoving." But when we arrived there were orderly lines and we got
through in record time. She was amazed.
3.Don't give up if you come up blank one day. It doesn't mean God
isn't involved in your life. Keep on seeking, and you'll keep finding.
Happy hunting!
CONCLUSION: We want to encourage you to develop the capacity find to
God in the cracks, any unexpected evidence of his care. Here is your
assignment:
·Write down any unexpected evidence of God's care as well as obvious
answers to prayer.
·Tell somebody what God has done for you this week.
Did you know God is also searching? I looked for someone who might
rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for
someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn't have to destroy
the land, but I found no one. Ezekiel 22:30 NLT
If people, like the persecutor Saul, wicked king Nebuchadnezzar, and a
pagan Centurion can discover God when they aren't even searching, how
much more do you think God would love to do for those who seek him
with all their hearts?
The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen
those whose heart is completely his. II Chronicles 16:9 NASV. He is
filled with delightful and unexpected surprises, for those who seek
him with all their hearts.
Here is a conditional promise: So you see, it is impossible to please
God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that
there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 NLT Have you claimed this promise? You can, even
today, by receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord, trusting in Him to
save.
Jesus said, I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever
be hungry again. Those who believe in me will never thirst…However,
those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject
them. John 6:35,37 NLT
Memory Verse: "For I know the plans that I have for you," declares
the LORD, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future
and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I
will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search
for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13 NASV
The following material is provided to assist you in application of the
sermon. You may go over this individually, share it with a small group
or your family.
OPEN - Share your "story" with some others.
Can you think of a "surprise" party that was held for you or that you
attended that was a total shock to the one being honored? Explain.
Have you ever made a significant discovery that you initially kept
under your hat: A wallet full of cash? Tickets to a game?
Long-lost_______?
DIG – Look into the Bible's "story" to discover insights that will
help your understanding.
1.Do you buy the logic of the four lepers (II Kings 7:3-4)? Have they
missed anything?
2.In want sense was it right for the lepers to eat and drink items not
belonging to them? (vs 8) a) Finder's keepers? b) All's fair in love
and war? c) Only hiding some of their loot was wrong?
3.Read Jeremiah 29:11-13. Is there a catch to this wonderful promise?
If so what?
4.Why is it important to write down any "sightings" you have of God's
providential care? Why is it important to share what you discover with
others?
5.Read II Chronicles 16:9. What principle is found here? Compare it
with Hebrews 11:6. What are the conditions to receive the promises in
each case?
REFLECT – Here you apply the "story" of the scriptures to your own
life; to take personal inventory and share with others what you will
do about it.
1.Have you ever seen God reverse, unexpectedly, the circumstances in
your life? How so? If not, would you like to see God do so? In what
arena of your life?
2.Do you prefer complete answers to everything? Or are you content
with some issues open-ended? Are there any open-ended issues that are
left from our focus on God's unexpected acts in your own life?
3.What "timeless principles" do you discover from the various
scriptures that are referred to in the sermon outline? List them and
then indicate how you feel about each one you discover.
4.Have you ever seen God bring good out of bad situations in your life? Explain.
5.Can you remember any times in your experience where you clearly saw
evidence of God's care or protection? How did your recognition of
this issue out in your response?
6.Jesus said that, "the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast
out." How does this help one in the search for evidence of God's hand?
Or does it?
Special Assignment: Write down any unexpected evidence of God's care
as well as obvious answers to prayer. Tell somebody what God has done
for you this week.
Additional Insight: INTIMACY WITH GOD
Are you aware of the presence of the Lord? The Scripture records many
incidents of individuals who were intimate with Almighty God and their
lives were never the same. In our times it is all to easy to become
jaded about the spiritual realities and come to think that God is far
from us.
Each of us is as close to God as we have chosen to be. We haven't
taken further steps to be intimate with Him because of the barriers
existing between a holy, perfect God and sinful, weak humans. God's
ways are not our ways, nor are His thoughts our thoughts (Isaiah
55:9). Getting to know Him is a "cross-cultural" experience for us
all! Write down the barriers you are aware of that keep you and God
at a distance. What can be done about these barriers? Are there
steps you can take? Are there requests you can pray? Write them down.
One of the hurdles we must jump en route to intimacy with God, is the
set of "myths" or misconceptions we've come to believe about Him and
spirituality. Below is a simple list of the most common myths people
unconsciously believe:
1.The Emotions vs. Truth Myth. – Intimacy with God is just an issue
of the emotions.
2.The Knowledge Myth. – The more Scripture I know, the more intimate I must be.
3.The Feelings Myth. – When I feel close to God, I must be.
4.The Good Deeds Myth. – If I'm a good person, I must be close to God.
5.The Positional Myth. – Intimacy with God is my possession as a Christian.
6.The Intensity Myth. – If I am a deep and intense person or serve God
with great fervor, I must be close to Him.
7.The Impossible Myth. – No one can find intimacy with God, it is
impossible in this life.
Why would believing one of the myths hinder us from intimacy with God?
It could cause us to throw up our hands and say, "what's the use,
I'll never make it" or on the opposite side we might say, "don't sweat
it."
James 4:6-10 tells us how to get into a position to see God. So
humble yourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from
you. Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you. Wash your
hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites. Let there be
tears for the wrong things you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep
grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of
joy. When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on
him, he will lift you up and give you honor. NLT
·Humble yourself – There is a God and we are not Him. The sooner we
admit this the better we will be able to recognize His hand.
·Resist the Devil – God promises to bless those who turn from their
wicked ways. II Chronicles 7:14
·Draw close to God – He seeks for those who's hearts are fully His
and he promises to draw close to the one who draws close to Him.
·Wash your hands and purify your hearts. Allow the cleansing blood of
Christ to do it's work. I John 1:9,10.
·Weep over the wrong – have "Godly sorrow" over your sin as you turn
from it. This is repentance.
·Depend on the Lord – He will not forsake His own but He wants us to
recognize our responsibility to trust in Him and not lean on our own
understanding. He promises to lift you up and give you honor.
Note:
1.Intimacy with God isn't automatic – it is the result of right choices.
2.Intimacy with God begins with our submission, humility and brokenness.
3.We naturally oppose God and must make our move toward Him.
(This material is adapted from "One Hour With God" by John Maxwell)