In The Presence Of God
Sermon
NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE
Sermons For Pentecost (Middle Third)
Have you ever wondered whether God was really present in your life? Times were hard and seemingly your misery was endless. You worked long and hard everyday and yet the need was always greater than your means. The pay raises never quite measured up to the escalation in the cost of living. You made more, were taxed more, but had less to spend. Then you cried, God where are you?
The poem titled Footprints tells the story of a person on a long journey. Sometimes joy was felt along the way; things went well in the traveler's life. But then there were other times that became dark and dreary; the road of life was rough and rocky and the destination seemed so uncertain. However, through it all, the journey was made safe and sound. The traveler began to reminisce about the journey, looked at the footprints and discovered only one set during the most difficult part of the trip, and two sets of footprints when things went well. The traveler was compelled to ask, "Where were you God during the tough part of the journey?" God said, "I was there, the footprints you saw were mine. Earlier, when the way got dark, you slipped and I picked you up and carried you through dangers seen and unseen." God said, "I was there, I never once left you by yourself."
Israel had to ask whether God really knew how much they could bear. Was God ever present? They had been in Egypt and were on their way to the land of promise – from bondage to promise. This journey eventually lasted 40 years. They discovered that the water had given out. Water may not be so important to you until you go to the faucet, turn it on and nothing happens. Then you get irritated. Water is critical when you go to the bathroom, flush the toilet and then have nothing happen. Or to discover in the presence of water at a river or lake that none is drinkable. Thirst becomes intensified. Leaving Rephidim, the Israelites did not have any water and they got angry with the leader.
The Israelites quarrelled with Moses and they tested the Lord, saying, "Is the Lord among us or not… (Exodus 17:7)?" In other words they declared, "God, if you are here and if you really care about us, you ought to do something to help us. We are slowly dying from thirst. Certainly, you understand that, because you made us and know that we cannot live without water. Our bodies will become dehydrated and then we will surely die. We were better off in Egypt with plenty of food and water and now we are way out here in the desert dying a slow death. Where are you God? Are you among us or not?" God is always with us, even during our most trying times. Following are three positive responses to highlight God's presence.
The first positive response given to highlight God's presence is that God always hears the cries of the people. God is like a loving parent with a small child. Whenever the child cries, the parent hears the cry. When the crying child is in the presence of other small children, that parent can still identify the cry. More than that, a cry becomes a major communication network. The child tells the parent what's wrong in the cry. Unable to speak a word, yet capable of telling the story in a cry. In other words, there is power in the cry. One cry tells when the baby is hungry, another cry indicates the diaper needs to be changed, still another fights off sleep and there is yet another that communicates pain. The cry of pain is louder and longer than all of the others. There is an urgency that declares come quickly! God hears our cries just like a good parent because God cares.
Moses cried to the Lord in fear of his life. The Israelites had become restless over their deplorable living conditions. They were, therefore, on the threshold of a major revolt. In our day and time we would say the Israelites were about to stage a riot. I am convinced that riots cause more harm than good. The accumulated good achieved after the 1965 riot in Watts of California could never offset the great destruction that it produced, not to mention the eternal scars. And certainly, the riots of 1968, following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., accomplished nothing. Racism, prejudice, bigotry, unemployment, homelessness, crime and violence, corruption and brutality are still alive and well among us in all communities.
Moses, the man of God, faced with a potential riot, is scarred for his life. The Israelites are angry because they have no water to drink. The desire for water is greater when there is no water and is even greater when water present is not good for drinking. In the midst of the desert, there was neither water nor the possibility of obtaining water.
Whenever things fail to go as planned, the problem is always the property of the leader. Moses was the leader and so the problem was his. What do you do when you don't know what to do? When the situation is beyond human capabilities, what do you do? When seemingly everything you have tried has failed, what do you do, Moses? Moses cried to God and God was there listening.
God is present today listening to our cries. God knows our every hurt and disappointment and is willing to help us when we cry. Crying simply communicates to God that things in our lives are out of control and we need help to restore order. Because God was faithful in hearing the cry of Moses, we believe that God also hears our cries of desperation and responds to us in our times of need.
The second positive response given to highlight God's presence is that God gives instruction to the leader. More than that, God chooses the leader. The leader is not an announced candidate who is then elected by the people, but rather, the leader is chosen by God and responds to the divine mandate to service. Sometimes the chosen leader offers an immediate affirmative response, as the case with Isaiah, who hurriedly declared, here am I, send me. Jonah, on the other hand, was rebellious and set sail in the opposite direction in defiance of God. Moses offered excuses as to why he could not possibly be the one to serve the will of God. In either case, it is God who speaks to the leader and not the follower.
God spoke consistently to Moses, the leader, and not the Israelites. God is still speaking to elected leaders today and not to the masses -- not even to the congregation. Seminaries are filled with young, embryonic theologs who often raise the questions among their peers, "Is there a word from the Lord? Has God laid on the heart of the pastor a message for the people?" The apostle Paul in Romans 10 tells us:
"For, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news…' (Romans 10:13-15 NIV)."
The proclaimed word is not rendered in isolation from God. The word ceases to be the word whenever the proclaimer is not an authorized messenger of God. The certification of the servant does not come as the result of ordination by a judicatory or even by the laying on of hands by episcopal prelates. One is authenticated as a proclaimer of the word when God says yes and ordains.
Substitutes are not acceptable in God's divine plan of salvation for the world. It is as if God only wants first round draft choices. Great care and much prayer are employed in the selection process. An excellent example of the selection process for a servant of the Lord is found in 1 Samuel 16:
The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your lamp with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse for Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king." Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The Lord has not chosen these." So he asked Jesse, "Are these all of the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, "Rise and appoint him; he is the one… (1 Samuel 16:1, 10-12)."
Seven sons of Jesse passed before Samuel in review and seven times God said no. Seven rejections. Seven votes of no confidence, but God does not give up in seeking the right one. Premature decisions are bad and do not have a place in God's plan for our salvation. Patience is the key to our ability to wait for the right one. Jesse had to have another son, because God said that, "I have chosen one of Jesse's sons to be king." David, just the baby boy, was the one God chose to lead the people of Israel.
So Moses, like David, was the first round draft chosen to lead Israel. Now, leaders must walk ahead of the people. When trouble arose in the life and experience of Moses, God simply told him to walk on ahead of the people. Leaders must always be out front. How can one successfully lead from the rear? How can one lead where he or she has not been? God tells leaders today the same message given to Moses, walk on ahead of the people. I am reminded of the words of a song that says, "When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high and don't be afraid of the dark -- walk on, walk on." God said, walk on leaders, never quit, walk on!
Then God said, "Take some of the elders with you." Take some of the experienced people with you. Take those who have been through the storms of life before. Take those who understand, especially what it means to suffer. Take those who have been victimized by circumstances, but overcame the odds. Take those who have been knocked down, but always got up. Take some of the elders with you!
Now, it is of interest to note that God did not say, take all of the elders with you. Obviously, God recognized that some people had lived a long time without accomplishing or experiencing very much. Persons who fit this description need to be left behind. They will not help your cause and will only become a liability. You are better off without them. Leave them and only take the first round draft choices as you walk on ahead of the people.
And now God says, "Take in your hand the staff." Never travel empty handed -- take your stick with you. It has been interesting to observe "walkers," dressed in sweats or shorts with proper walking shoes and a stick in their hands. Just in case the need arises for the stick, they have it in hand. Just in case an unleashed dog appears with no good intentions -- just in case. God had earlier told Moses to raise his staff and stretch out his hand over the sea and it would divide. The raised, outreached staff is powerful enough, with divine intervention, to cause the sea to divide. Perhaps this is what inspired the hymn writer to say, "Father, I stretch my hand to thee, no other help I know. If thou withdraw thyself from me, O whither shall I go?"
There is real power in the staff. God told Moses to take in his hand the staff. Like the commercial for the American Express Card, "never leave home without it." Take the staff of God with you. In other words, you ought to take the word of God with you, everywhere you go. It is still a light unto your path and a lamp unto your feet. You will neither stumble nor fall when you have the word of God with you. It is your staff. Take it with you everyday.
The third positive response given to highlight God's presence is that God delivers when the leaders are obedient. It is very apparent that God does not tolerate disobedience. It is never acceptable. The New Testament records the story of a rich young ruler who came to Jesus one day inquiring as to what was necessary for one to inherit eternal life. He was a very good person, by the standards of the world. People generally liked him. He was active in the life of the church, even taught a Sabbath class. So in response to the inquiry, Jesus simply said, "You know the law given to us by Moses." The young man quickly responded, "Why, of course, I have set them to memory and have practiced them all of my life. Now tell me Jesus, what do I need in order to gain eternal life?"
We must keep in mind that eternal life with the Lord is the major objective for every Christian behavior. In fact, we spend our whole life trying to acquire this one objective. So, Jesus then said to the young brother, "If you would have eternal life, go and sell all that you have and give the proceeds to the poor, then come and follow me and you will have treasures in heaven." As the story goes, the young man went away sorrowfully because he not only had great possessions, but was unwilling to part with them.
How many of us today are like this young man, possessing something that is so important to us that we will refuse to give it up, even if so ordered by God. Whenever this is the case, we, too, will go away bitterly. Shame, shame on us. The Bible teaches us that "obedience is better than sacrifice… (1 Samuel 15:22)." Then Peter informs us that "We must obey God rather than men… (Acts 5:29)." To obey has never destroyed anyone, but rather we are all enhanced as we are willing to surrender to the will of God.
Our Lord has instructed the church to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age… (Matthew 28:19-20)."
Now, Moses was obedient. God told him to walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders with him, and he did. Then God told Moses to take the staff in his hand and he did. In a calm way, God said, "Don't worry, Moses, I will be there standing before you at the rock. I will not leave you alone." We just heard Jesus say a minute ago that "I will be with you always, to the very end of the age." So God can justly say to Moses, "I will stand before you at the rock. I will be between you and the rock. Now Moses, when we get in position at the rock, I want you to hit the rock with the staff in your hand. You don't have to feel stupid, just do as I tell you to do. There is water in the rock. When you hit the rock, the water will flow as freely as it would if a plumber had installed a faucet."
It is good that Moses was not disobedient. For if he had been disobedient, the people might have died at the hands of the Egyptians. But, instead, Moses was obedient to God. He hit the rock with all of his might and water, cool water, came flowing from the rock so that the people of God would not have to die in the desert.
Can't you hear Jesus in the 16th chapter of Matthew saying, "Upon this rock, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The church of Jesus Christ is built on the rock. But when the people of God are dying of thirst, don't forget there is water in the rock, if we are in the presence of God. God was there at the rock before Moses. People ought not be dying of thirst in the church of Jesus Christ because there is water in the rock.
And so, my brothers and sisters, it is most important for us to acknowledge God in our lives. God is always with us, yes always before us, but the benefit of God's presence is not maximized unless and until we acknowledge that presence.
We can have the assurance today that God hears the cries of the people, gives instruction to the leaders, and delivers when those leaders are obedient. God is still in charge of the universe and we need only to recognize that we are standing in the
presence of God. I am in the presence of God. You are in the presence of God. Therefore, let us celebrate this joy that we have -- being in the presence of God.
The poem titled Footprints tells the story of a person on a long journey. Sometimes joy was felt along the way; things went well in the traveler's life. But then there were other times that became dark and dreary; the road of life was rough and rocky and the destination seemed so uncertain. However, through it all, the journey was made safe and sound. The traveler began to reminisce about the journey, looked at the footprints and discovered only one set during the most difficult part of the trip, and two sets of footprints when things went well. The traveler was compelled to ask, "Where were you God during the tough part of the journey?" God said, "I was there, the footprints you saw were mine. Earlier, when the way got dark, you slipped and I picked you up and carried you through dangers seen and unseen." God said, "I was there, I never once left you by yourself."
Israel had to ask whether God really knew how much they could bear. Was God ever present? They had been in Egypt and were on their way to the land of promise – from bondage to promise. This journey eventually lasted 40 years. They discovered that the water had given out. Water may not be so important to you until you go to the faucet, turn it on and nothing happens. Then you get irritated. Water is critical when you go to the bathroom, flush the toilet and then have nothing happen. Or to discover in the presence of water at a river or lake that none is drinkable. Thirst becomes intensified. Leaving Rephidim, the Israelites did not have any water and they got angry with the leader.
The Israelites quarrelled with Moses and they tested the Lord, saying, "Is the Lord among us or not… (Exodus 17:7)?" In other words they declared, "God, if you are here and if you really care about us, you ought to do something to help us. We are slowly dying from thirst. Certainly, you understand that, because you made us and know that we cannot live without water. Our bodies will become dehydrated and then we will surely die. We were better off in Egypt with plenty of food and water and now we are way out here in the desert dying a slow death. Where are you God? Are you among us or not?" God is always with us, even during our most trying times. Following are three positive responses to highlight God's presence.
The first positive response given to highlight God's presence is that God always hears the cries of the people. God is like a loving parent with a small child. Whenever the child cries, the parent hears the cry. When the crying child is in the presence of other small children, that parent can still identify the cry. More than that, a cry becomes a major communication network. The child tells the parent what's wrong in the cry. Unable to speak a word, yet capable of telling the story in a cry. In other words, there is power in the cry. One cry tells when the baby is hungry, another cry indicates the diaper needs to be changed, still another fights off sleep and there is yet another that communicates pain. The cry of pain is louder and longer than all of the others. There is an urgency that declares come quickly! God hears our cries just like a good parent because God cares.
Moses cried to the Lord in fear of his life. The Israelites had become restless over their deplorable living conditions. They were, therefore, on the threshold of a major revolt. In our day and time we would say the Israelites were about to stage a riot. I am convinced that riots cause more harm than good. The accumulated good achieved after the 1965 riot in Watts of California could never offset the great destruction that it produced, not to mention the eternal scars. And certainly, the riots of 1968, following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., accomplished nothing. Racism, prejudice, bigotry, unemployment, homelessness, crime and violence, corruption and brutality are still alive and well among us in all communities.
Moses, the man of God, faced with a potential riot, is scarred for his life. The Israelites are angry because they have no water to drink. The desire for water is greater when there is no water and is even greater when water present is not good for drinking. In the midst of the desert, there was neither water nor the possibility of obtaining water.
Whenever things fail to go as planned, the problem is always the property of the leader. Moses was the leader and so the problem was his. What do you do when you don't know what to do? When the situation is beyond human capabilities, what do you do? When seemingly everything you have tried has failed, what do you do, Moses? Moses cried to God and God was there listening.
God is present today listening to our cries. God knows our every hurt and disappointment and is willing to help us when we cry. Crying simply communicates to God that things in our lives are out of control and we need help to restore order. Because God was faithful in hearing the cry of Moses, we believe that God also hears our cries of desperation and responds to us in our times of need.
The second positive response given to highlight God's presence is that God gives instruction to the leader. More than that, God chooses the leader. The leader is not an announced candidate who is then elected by the people, but rather, the leader is chosen by God and responds to the divine mandate to service. Sometimes the chosen leader offers an immediate affirmative response, as the case with Isaiah, who hurriedly declared, here am I, send me. Jonah, on the other hand, was rebellious and set sail in the opposite direction in defiance of God. Moses offered excuses as to why he could not possibly be the one to serve the will of God. In either case, it is God who speaks to the leader and not the follower.
God spoke consistently to Moses, the leader, and not the Israelites. God is still speaking to elected leaders today and not to the masses -- not even to the congregation. Seminaries are filled with young, embryonic theologs who often raise the questions among their peers, "Is there a word from the Lord? Has God laid on the heart of the pastor a message for the people?" The apostle Paul in Romans 10 tells us:
"For, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news…' (Romans 10:13-15 NIV)."
The proclaimed word is not rendered in isolation from God. The word ceases to be the word whenever the proclaimer is not an authorized messenger of God. The certification of the servant does not come as the result of ordination by a judicatory or even by the laying on of hands by episcopal prelates. One is authenticated as a proclaimer of the word when God says yes and ordains.
Substitutes are not acceptable in God's divine plan of salvation for the world. It is as if God only wants first round draft choices. Great care and much prayer are employed in the selection process. An excellent example of the selection process for a servant of the Lord is found in 1 Samuel 16:
The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your lamp with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse for Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king." Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The Lord has not chosen these." So he asked Jesse, "Are these all of the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the Lord said, "Rise and appoint him; he is the one… (1 Samuel 16:1, 10-12)."
Seven sons of Jesse passed before Samuel in review and seven times God said no. Seven rejections. Seven votes of no confidence, but God does not give up in seeking the right one. Premature decisions are bad and do not have a place in God's plan for our salvation. Patience is the key to our ability to wait for the right one. Jesse had to have another son, because God said that, "I have chosen one of Jesse's sons to be king." David, just the baby boy, was the one God chose to lead the people of Israel.
So Moses, like David, was the first round draft chosen to lead Israel. Now, leaders must walk ahead of the people. When trouble arose in the life and experience of Moses, God simply told him to walk on ahead of the people. Leaders must always be out front. How can one successfully lead from the rear? How can one lead where he or she has not been? God tells leaders today the same message given to Moses, walk on ahead of the people. I am reminded of the words of a song that says, "When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high and don't be afraid of the dark -- walk on, walk on." God said, walk on leaders, never quit, walk on!
Then God said, "Take some of the elders with you." Take some of the experienced people with you. Take those who have been through the storms of life before. Take those who understand, especially what it means to suffer. Take those who have been victimized by circumstances, but overcame the odds. Take those who have been knocked down, but always got up. Take some of the elders with you!
Now, it is of interest to note that God did not say, take all of the elders with you. Obviously, God recognized that some people had lived a long time without accomplishing or experiencing very much. Persons who fit this description need to be left behind. They will not help your cause and will only become a liability. You are better off without them. Leave them and only take the first round draft choices as you walk on ahead of the people.
And now God says, "Take in your hand the staff." Never travel empty handed -- take your stick with you. It has been interesting to observe "walkers," dressed in sweats or shorts with proper walking shoes and a stick in their hands. Just in case the need arises for the stick, they have it in hand. Just in case an unleashed dog appears with no good intentions -- just in case. God had earlier told Moses to raise his staff and stretch out his hand over the sea and it would divide. The raised, outreached staff is powerful enough, with divine intervention, to cause the sea to divide. Perhaps this is what inspired the hymn writer to say, "Father, I stretch my hand to thee, no other help I know. If thou withdraw thyself from me, O whither shall I go?"
There is real power in the staff. God told Moses to take in his hand the staff. Like the commercial for the American Express Card, "never leave home without it." Take the staff of God with you. In other words, you ought to take the word of God with you, everywhere you go. It is still a light unto your path and a lamp unto your feet. You will neither stumble nor fall when you have the word of God with you. It is your staff. Take it with you everyday.
The third positive response given to highlight God's presence is that God delivers when the leaders are obedient. It is very apparent that God does not tolerate disobedience. It is never acceptable. The New Testament records the story of a rich young ruler who came to Jesus one day inquiring as to what was necessary for one to inherit eternal life. He was a very good person, by the standards of the world. People generally liked him. He was active in the life of the church, even taught a Sabbath class. So in response to the inquiry, Jesus simply said, "You know the law given to us by Moses." The young man quickly responded, "Why, of course, I have set them to memory and have practiced them all of my life. Now tell me Jesus, what do I need in order to gain eternal life?"
We must keep in mind that eternal life with the Lord is the major objective for every Christian behavior. In fact, we spend our whole life trying to acquire this one objective. So, Jesus then said to the young brother, "If you would have eternal life, go and sell all that you have and give the proceeds to the poor, then come and follow me and you will have treasures in heaven." As the story goes, the young man went away sorrowfully because he not only had great possessions, but was unwilling to part with them.
How many of us today are like this young man, possessing something that is so important to us that we will refuse to give it up, even if so ordered by God. Whenever this is the case, we, too, will go away bitterly. Shame, shame on us. The Bible teaches us that "obedience is better than sacrifice… (1 Samuel 15:22)." Then Peter informs us that "We must obey God rather than men… (Acts 5:29)." To obey has never destroyed anyone, but rather we are all enhanced as we are willing to surrender to the will of God.
Our Lord has instructed the church to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age… (Matthew 28:19-20)."
Now, Moses was obedient. God told him to walk on ahead of the people and take some of the elders with him, and he did. Then God told Moses to take the staff in his hand and he did. In a calm way, God said, "Don't worry, Moses, I will be there standing before you at the rock. I will not leave you alone." We just heard Jesus say a minute ago that "I will be with you always, to the very end of the age." So God can justly say to Moses, "I will stand before you at the rock. I will be between you and the rock. Now Moses, when we get in position at the rock, I want you to hit the rock with the staff in your hand. You don't have to feel stupid, just do as I tell you to do. There is water in the rock. When you hit the rock, the water will flow as freely as it would if a plumber had installed a faucet."
It is good that Moses was not disobedient. For if he had been disobedient, the people might have died at the hands of the Egyptians. But, instead, Moses was obedient to God. He hit the rock with all of his might and water, cool water, came flowing from the rock so that the people of God would not have to die in the desert.
Can't you hear Jesus in the 16th chapter of Matthew saying, "Upon this rock, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." The church of Jesus Christ is built on the rock. But when the people of God are dying of thirst, don't forget there is water in the rock, if we are in the presence of God. God was there at the rock before Moses. People ought not be dying of thirst in the church of Jesus Christ because there is water in the rock.
And so, my brothers and sisters, it is most important for us to acknowledge God in our lives. God is always with us, yes always before us, but the benefit of God's presence is not maximized unless and until we acknowledge that presence.
We can have the assurance today that God hears the cries of the people, gives instruction to the leaders, and delivers when those leaders are obedient. God is still in charge of the universe and we need only to recognize that we are standing in the
presence of God. I am in the presence of God. You are in the presence of God. Therefore, let us celebrate this joy that we have -- being in the presence of God.
