I'm Not Feeling It Series

Believing and not Believing

I’m Not Feeling It

May 14, 2017

Have you ever heard of Morris Albert? I’m sure most of you have, even if you can’t think of who and what he’s famous for! Listen to the first line of his most popular song from my Sophomore year in high school . . . 1974 ~

SONG - FEELINGS

I can see some heads nodding. Brings back some good old memories. Well, that’s what we’re talking about today. Feelings . . . and what happens if I’m not feeling it?

We’re in part 3 of a 4 part series looking at our struggles with faith. Often times it occurs when we have a distorted view of God. While people are rejecting God, it’s not a whole-hearted rejection, because they don’t have a good understanding of who God really is. We struggle between believing and not believing all at the same time.

In the first week, we looked at the fact that God is not an on demand God. He’s not a genie, whom we could rub His belly and be granted 3 prayers requests and poof, we get what we want. Last week, we looked at the God of rules, wondering if God was a cosmic kill-joy. And next week, we’ll look at the heart of God. The God who seems to be distant and not caring.

Part of our struggle is wanting to believe in God, but not feeling Him. How do you believe in a God you can't see, you don't hear him speak audibly, and you can’t touch?

Have you ever been there? You want to experience God, you long to experience His presence, but nothing! God give me a sign! Nothing! God touch me, heal me! Help me to know you really are real! Nothing! Silence!

I guarantee many of us have been there and gone through this. Maybe you’re right there right now. You want to believe, but you’re not feeling it, you’re not feeling or experiencing God.

Then, you always know someone . . . someone who is that annoying person who feels God everywhere. They start conversations with "I was talking to God and God said this to me - - - - I went to the mall and I prayed and God gave me the perfect parking space. My spouse got a raise. My child overslept for their job interview and they still got the job! Oh, God is so good."

You're like, "I went to mall and couldn't get a parking space and walked ½ mile in the rain. My spouse got layed off and my child can’t get a job. Where is God in my life?" Right? I don't feel God. Is God really real?

Think about it. How do you know you felt God? What do you say? I got goosebumps or the hair on the back of my neck stood straight up! Maybe you cried during worship . . . or you felt at peace. How do you know?

Now - - - some of you would say, yes, that’s what happens! But, I want to push you a little bit because you might have a tingly feeling with God.

But can’t you have a tingly . . . goosebumps . . . teary eyed experience elsewhere?

Maybe you watch something on tv that moves you! Ever happen. I want to show you an old, old commercial that always made me teary eyed. It wasn’t God, but it was real emotion. I was feeling it. It’s not a great quality video, but you’ll get it.

VIDEO – BELL COMMERCIAL

That was always a tear jerker for me. Not sure why! It just always was. You better call your mom or the woman in your life and say you love her!

Maybe you hear a song and you get a peaceful feeling. Maybe you take a bubble bath and put on some music and you get all peaceful. I don't know. I'm kind of being sarcastic, but how do you know? How do you know who you’re feeling?

Let me ask you this, if you didn't feel God today in church, whose fault was it? Think about that. Was it God's fault? Like God's looking at you going, "I didn’t like your attitude this week, so I'll be with everyone else, but not you."

Is it God's fault? Is it your fault? Like your spiritual antenna wasn't up? Was it George’s fault! Nothing like getting thrown under the bus! Was it my fault! Whose fault is it? What do you do if you don't feel God?

Hopefully I can show you that the presence of God is so much bigger than our feelings. If you don't always feel God's presence, you are not alone. I'll share some stories from the Bible and words from an amazing Christian author that may help us realize we don’t always feel the presence of God.