“God is Closer Than You Think”
February 4, 2007
“For The Eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him."
2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV
"The Eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth." Psalm 34:15-16 NKJV
Friday morning I was frantic. I had lost my cell phone. I went down to the church and looked around back where I had brought in some firewood. It wasn’t there. I checked my office. Maybe I laid it on my desk. It wasn’t there. Maybe it was someplace at home. I called my cell phone number hoping Julie would pick it up. She didn’t. When I called the home phone, Julie said it wasn’t anywhere around. I wasted a lot of my morning worrying about that silly phone. Thoughts of, “I should have taken that insurance out!” came to mind.
I decided I better pray. I said, “Lord, I need a little help. Help me find my phone.” I decided to call one more time. Someone answered! It was a waitress at the Black Bear Diner! My phone had fallen off when I scooted off the booth when I left the night before. I quickly drove down to the diner and retrieved my phone.
Coincidence? Luck? Chance? I don’t think so. I believe that God heard my prayer and answered it. I believe that His eyes are always on me. The Scripture says:
"But the Eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love." Psalm 33:18 NIV
There are two key elements here. First, the revelation. The revelation is that God’s eyes are on those who fear, or trust in Him. God is revealing, through His Word that eyes are on you – if you trust in Him. Or in other words, if you fear Him or have respect for Him.
The second element in that verse if hope. The Biblical definition of hope is the trusting expectation that God will keep His Word. So the practical application of that verse is that we believe God’s eyes are on us; that He is aware of us. And secondly, our expectation is that God will act on our behalf because He loves us.
You can believe that or not. I believe that. I trust the truth of that revelation. And I act on it by praying. That process is called faith. The process, again, is: Revelation from God, which is His part. Our part is to believe, trust, and then act. I have proved that formula over and over again. And each time God answers my prayer I am blessed anew. It fills me with joy and wonder that He sees ME! That “I” am important to Him! That, this Great God of Creation, loves me and works on my behalf.
This morning, I want you to know that God loves you. His eyes are on you. He is aware of everything about you. Do you have some hidden sin you are struggling with? Jesus is aware of it. He understands what you are going through – and loves you anyway. He longs to work on your behalf and help you break the hold that demon has on your soul.
Do you have deep inner pain in your soul that you have learned to hide away? Maybe something happened when you were young and wounded you so deeply that you have never recovered. Maybe it’s disappointments. Maybe it’s hopes that have been dashed to the ground. Hidden longings that have not been fulfilled? Expectations never fulfilled. Jesus knows all about that. His eyes are on you. And His love is unfailing. The first thing I want you to get from this message this morning is that God loves you and His eyes are on you. Another Scriptures says:
"For the Eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers...."
1 Peter 3:12 NKJV
There is something you need to notice about this revelation. Are His eyes on everyone? No. They are on the righteous. Is His ears open to every prayer? No. Only to the prayer of the righteous. David, the great king and friend of God said,
“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. “ Psalm 66:18-19
The 2nd truth to get in that verse is that if our relationship with the Lord is one of disobedience and rebellion, God will not hear our prayers. When we walk with the Lord it is kind of like He has an umbrella that protects us from the attacks of Satan. The bible says Satan fires burning brands at us. Jesus protects us when we walk within the umbrella of His protection. But when we rebel or wander off for one reason or another – we get out from under His protection.
Some people think if they are really sincere and really, really want God’s help – that that will move Him to answer their prayer. No. Not if you are still living in disobedience. Some people think if they are really, really sorry – that God will answer their prayer. No. Some cry and weep and wail and plead with God to answer their prayer. He won’t. Once God’s people rebelled against the Lord and God’s blessing left them. The bible says,
“But the Amorites who lived there came out against them and chased them like bees and killed them from Seir to Hormah. Then they returned and wept before the Lord, but he wouldn’t listen.” Deut 1:44-45 (Living)
In our world, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. And very few moms and dads can put up with a child’s wailing very long before they give in. But God can – and WILL! Sin separates us from God. King Saul found that out. The Bible says,
“So Saul asked God, "Shall we go after the Philistines? Will you help us defeat them?" But the Lord made no reply all night. Then Saul said to the leaders, "Something’s wrong! We must find out what sin was committed today.”
1 Sam 14:37-38 (Living)
Another Scripture says,
“God doesn’t listen to the prayers of those who flout God’s law.” Prov 28:9 (Living)
The key is our relationship with God. The key to getting our prayers answered is our relationship with the Lord. Whose prayer does God hear and answer? Only the righteous. If you are living in rebellion with God in any area of your life, don’t expect God to hear your prayer. Isaiah said,
“But the trouble is that your sins have cut you off from God. Because of sin he has turned his face away from you and will not listen anymore.” Isaiah 59:2 (Living)
So the good news is that God loves you and is eagerly waiting to answer your prayer - if you are righteous. But who of us is righteous? No one is perfect, right? Jesus said, “He that is without sin, cast the first stone.” No one could. And none of us could. Isaiah said,
“No one is good--no one in all the world is innocent. No one has ever really followed God’s paths or even truly wanted to. Every one has turned away; all have gone wrong. No one anywhere has kept on doing what is right; not one.
Their talk is foul and filthy like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are loaded with lies. Everything they say has in it the sting and poison of deadly snakes. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” Romans 3:10-14 (Living)
The third thing I want you to get this morning is how to become righteous. Isaiah said,
“We despised him and rejected him--a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we didn’t care. Yet it was our grief he bore, our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, for his own sins! But he was wounded and bruised for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace; he was lashed--and we were healed! We--every one of us--have strayed away like sheep! We, who left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet God laid on him the guilt and sins of every one of us! He was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he never said a word. He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he stood silent before the ones condemning him. From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people of that day realized it was their sins that he was dying for--that he was suffering their punishment?”
Isaiah 53:3-8 (Living)
Jesus is our righteousness. It is by HIS stripes we are healed. God laid on Jesus all our sins. The bible says the wages of sin or the result of sinning is death. Not just physical death, but spiritual death – which is separation from God. And Jesus died for us. He was separated from God for a time, so we wouldn’t have to be. Our righteousness is in Him. Paul wrote:
“He has chosen a plan despised by the world, counted as nothing at all, and used it to bring down to nothing those the world considers great, so that no one anywhere can ever brag in the presence of God. For it is from God alone that you have your life through Christ Jesus. He showed us God’s plan of salvation; he was the one who made us acceptable to God; he made us pure and holy and gave himself to purchase our salvation.” 1 Cor 1:28-30 (Living)
God had a plan to make you righteous. That plan was for Jesus to pay the penalty for your sin. Jesus took all your sins from you – leaving you righteous. All we have to do is ask. John said,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
God’s part has been done. Jesus did His part – which was to provide a way in which we may become righteous. He died for us. And the only difference between those going to heaven and those going to hell is their relationship with Jesus. The righteous confess their sin. They admit their sin. The unrighteous refuse to acknowledge their sin or faults and failings. They justify themselves. The righteous humbly seek God’s face and confess their sin.
And then what does God do? If we truly repent (and that is what confess means there); if we truly turn from our rebellion and selfishness, God will forgive us – but it doesn’t stop there. He will purify us from all unrighteousness. If there is any unrighteousness in our life, the Holy Spirit will reveal it to you and enable you to make that area right.
The righteous walk with Jesus. They want to stay by His side. They want to stay under that umbra of protection. And when they do – silly, unimportant prayers will be answered. And when big, important prayers are not answered – we can still trust. We know He loves us and we know He is always working things out for our good. What a beautiful thing to walk with Jesus. This life is so much easier. There are so many more blessings. And it ends in eternal life. And not just eternal life. Eternal life with Jesus! Eternity without pain or sorrow. Eternal life with joys that are unspeakable. Eternity surrounded by every good thing.
Do you want in on this gig? Do you want to be righteous? Do you want eternity with Jesus? Let me tell you how to get in on the best thing going in this old world. The Bible says,
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:13 NIV
Notice that this truth is for believers and it is so we may KNOW we have eternal life. We can know for certain we have eternal life. How? He explains.
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:11-12 NIV
The key to heavens door is Jesus. If we have a loving, obedient relationship with Him – we have eternal life. That’s all it takes. It’s that simple.
How is your relationship with Jesus? Have you wander away from His side? Are you doing things you know He doesn’t want you to? Have you neglected Him? The remedy is simple. Repentance. Turn from any know sin in your life. And pray a prayer like this.
Jesus,
Forgive me for my sin. I confess I have not lived the way you wanted me to. (Confess any know sin right now). Thank you for forgiving me and making me righteous. Help me to walk with You from this moment on.
