Five Questions From God

Summer 2004

Dakota Community Church

Five Questions From The Mouth Of God

Have you ever wanted to ask God a question face to face?

- Why did this happen?

- Where did I go wrong?

- What are next weeks’ 649 winning numbers?

- What am I here for?

I had a friend once who was hardened toward the gospel and only wanted to ask God why He had allowed his little brother to drown.

In the prison ministry many guys express that kind of sentiment as the reason they will not accept Christ. Hard lives and unfair circumstances have left them wanting to put God on the witness stand.

Tonight I want to turn the tables on that line of thought with:

Five Questions From The Mouth Of God

1. “Where are you?”

Genesis 3: 8-12

8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"

10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."

11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"

12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me-she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."

a.) God knows where Adam is.

He asks us questions that he already knows the answer to because we need to know the answer!

Illustration:

When I was about ten years old I was visiting my grandparents here in Winnipeg and my Poppa took me to the zoo. In those days there was a fountain just inside the gates of the petting zoo area and it was filled with coins. I reached in there and grabbed enough money to later buy myself an ice cream cone. First my Poppa asked me, “What are you doing?” My arm was in up to the shoulder.

Then later he asked me, “Where did you get the money for that ice cream?”

I lied in answer to both questions but only years later did I realize he had known the answer to both at the time was disappointed in my behavior and answers that day.

When God asks you a question you can be sure he knows the answer and that the only thing to do is tell the truth and take the steps of action He wants you to take.

b.) Fear has invaded Adams relationship with God.

Is God asking you questions that you are afraid to answer?

Are you avoiding spending time in fellowship with Him because you don’t want to hear His questions?

- “Why have you been treating your wife that way?”

- “Why are you going to the bottle instead of coming to Me?”

- “Why do you trust Me with your soul but not with your money?”

c.) You never really fail until you blame somebody else.

Adam answers the question all-wrong. “Lord, it’s that woman you gave me, She’s to blame for all of this.”

- Who is to blame for the mess you are in? (The correct answer is “I am.”)

- Adam was given authority over everything on this planet including the snakes.

- I wonder what would have happened if Adam had confessed and repented on the spot?

2. “Where is your brother?”

Genesis 4:8-10

8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let’s go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?"

"I don’t know," he replied. "Am I my brother’s keeper?"

10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.

- God is concerned with the way you are treating your brother.

- Who do you minister to?

- Are you the end of the line? Are you the cork in the bottle? Are you the dam that stops the flow of ministry?

God wants you to know that He hears the cry of the one you are hurting and holds you responsible for your actions. Chew on that!

The answer to: “Am I my brothers keeper?” Is often – Yes!

3. “Why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14: 25-33

25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It’s a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear.

27But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. don’t be afraid."