Begin at verse 1 -
Verse 9: “I am the door” - what did he mean by that?
As a Shepherd is totally present for his sheep, Jesus is giving us full assurance and a sense of safety, because He desires to be fully present with us!
Then Jesus says, in verse 10:10
Do we really believe that? That statement is either true or a bold face lie! When you think of abundant life, what comes to mind? Is it for everyone!
An abundant life is not the most easy life...it’s not the most exotic life, most encouraging life all the time, it’s not the most elevated life, and it’s not the most extravagant life...but it is the enriching life on this earth!
Is it not a mystery or secret for only the elite of faith, but if we do live this kind of life we have to take him at His word!
Matthew 5 sermon on the mound...
Matthew 6 comment through until verse 34
“THEREFORE”... why is that inserted (as an after thought, or maybe Jesus forgot to include it at the beginning) !
Read Verse 34
It’s as if Jesus is putting all the pieces together for the most unique life on planet earth! How do you feel about that verse? Do you have a problem living out this verse? Does that verse even fit into your life? I DO!
You know, sometimes my head is taken up with so much of yesterday, sometimes my head is full of what might happen in tomorrow’s events of life! Jesus is giving us the insight that in order for us to live the abundant life, we have to be fully present in life today! Isn’t that scarey!
Do you know that in order for anyone to be the most efficient, the most the powerful, the most successful, that person has to have the ability to be fully present in any situation.
Our society in the 21st century does not know how to be fully present in the moment! In other words, this is where I am right now and I am totally here - totally coherent of the moment at hand.
Why are we not fully present? Because we are too concerned about yesterday , and too consumed about tomorrow! Our mind is divided over yesterday and our attention is diverted to tomorrow.
Remember, yesterday is long gone, tomorrow is still far away and so we struggle in being totally there, totally present...and the result is... TIME SAVERS, because we have no time, for the present!
Times savers are the things in our daily life that saves us time so we can continue to not be present in the now! Don’t believe me?
Then why do we have...
FAST FOOD - Instant Dinners
Instant internet access - faster and faster speeds of gathering information!
Instant Oatmeal
Instant Soup
Instant Dessert
PIC - Instant Peanut Butter and Jelly - Goober!
This instant society - has no time anymore! We have to be here, we have to be there, no time to BE FULLY PRESENT FOR ANYONE!
I struggle with this just as much as anyone else!
But if that’s not enough we have, Instant Christianity - The 60 Second Devotional” published by Tyndale!
Did you know that there is a drive thru church in Southern California!
We are so consumed with yesterday and tortured with tomorrow that we are not there fully for God - most of us don’t know what it is like to fully present for God - do know the greats in the Bible had to capture this principle in order to be effective for God!
• But first notice this with God...
Exodus 3:12 “I will be with you”
The most incredible words for us today! What is God saying to Moses... I will be fully present for you...I’m there! Aren’t you glad that God has it all together for us!
• Moses is about to tread where no Israelite has ever tread and Do what no man would ever imagine...go against the powerful person in all the world!
Exodus 24:12 “Come up to the mountain and remain there...”
“Remain there”...Hebrew is “Hiya” (like a karate chop!) Literally it say, “I want you to be”
Climb that mountain and just be! Isn’t that weird! But why did God say this to Moses as soon as he reached the top of the mountain? You see God knew Moses and God knows us!
Several years ago I climbed Mount Baldy in Southern California. Mount Baldy at the top is 10,000 feet in elevation. We left early Saturday morning, hiking from the foot of the ski lifts that’s about 6500 ft. elevation - by late afternoon we made it to the 10,000 ft. elevation.
Now, as soon as the 6 of us reached the 10,000 mark, guess what we did (besides about die)...we all said, let’s go home! We hardly took in the incredible sights! On a clear day you can see Catalina Island from up there!
Folks, we don’t know how to “hiya!” - be totally present with God! How many great moments in our relationships in life have been missed because we failed to Hiya!
Men, can you relate, you come home at the end of the day and before to long as you are reading, and your wife says, “I want to see your eye!”
Our wives and our children know when we are not totally there! God knows when we are not totally there!! The greatest secrets in life no matter what you do...is to be totally there, be fully present!
• Now is there someone who fits this in the Bible? Yes, David! He was a man after God’s own heart! How can that be? After all David had personal flaws everywhere in his life! He had some personal messes to overcome and personal problems that most of us will never encounter! How can he be a man after God’s own heart?
We all know his battle with Goliath...It would be like me going against George Foreman! The Israel just melted in Goliath’s present and just the mention of his name and they freaked out!
David didn’t even blink at the sight His George Foreman! Even with a simple slingshot in his hand!
Everyone of the men in the army, if you asked them, “Do you have faith in God?” Everyone one would have “YES”! But David believed more! You see, David was courageous with the little things because he was confident in a big God!
• Matthew 17:14-21
Now there were 2 sets of disciples there that day. The 12, and
then the disciples that were by name only. They were apart of the multitudes. It’s these disciples that could not cast out the demons.
What made the difference? These were not fully in the presence of Jesus!
When we are totally present with God, it doesn’t matter whose standing in our way, what trial we’re facing, or what demon is attacking - even little faith is much when we’ve been totally in His presence!
Listen, from Job to Jesus, from David to Daniel - all were fully in the present of God before they was present with their enemies!
• Remember the story when David told the men to go get the Ark of the Covenant and bring right in the middle of my people and the story is told that the men would take 6 steps, then stop and dance worship God and go..music played...everyone danced but David danced more! David’s desire for God never flat lined! That’s a person after God’s own heart!
Being totally presence with God brings the cutting edge difference in our lives! That’s the key to the abundant overflowing life! Until we are totally present with God, our walk will continue to be shallow and skimpy!
• Sabbath the 4th commandment... Exodus 20:8-11
So you say what does that have to do with me? Folks if we are going to be fully present (Hiya Principle) it starts on Sunday! I ask, is there anytime during a 24 hour period that you are unavailable? Cell phones off, T.V. off, computer off, video games off... blackberries, blueberries.
So you say, “Pastor why is this so important?” Because remember, Jesus told us “Don’t worry, don’t be anxious” - when we’re in God’s presence, we are not looking back, we are not looking forward but right up at God!
Philippians 4:6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in prayer...”
There has to be a time when we shut down everything in our lives and just be... Find a Sabbath - it’s the once a week “Hiya Principle”!
This one principle will make you 10 times more effective during the other 6 days! And that’s the cutting edge we need to be powerful for Jesus!
The fact is, most of our homes are so addicted to adrenalin and it’s tearing our society and our Christianity apart!
Being fully present in 2008 with God is the best gift you can give to yourself and to your family! Now you realize there may be some change that has to come our way if we are going to practice “The Hiya Principle”!
Then and only then do we sense that God will make a way in the tough times, then and only then will we sense the touch of God in the deepest places of our lives, then and only then will we sense the leadership of the Holy Spirit on a daily basis!
Janet Meadows lived in Cleveland Ohio, one day she was diagnosed with a terminal illness and was given 3 months to live. As she was getting her things in order, she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and the outfit she wanted to be buried in.
Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the Janet told the Pastor Jim, “And there’s one more thing! This is very important, I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.”
The Pastor said to her, “To be honest Ma’am, I’m very puzzled by the request.” Then she said, Pastor, I want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder, “What’s with the fork?” Then I want you to read this letter that I’ve wrote.”
At her funeral, family and friends were walking by Janet’s casket and they saw the beautiful dress she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard, “What’s with the fork?” And Pastor Jim was smiling over and over, every time he heard the question and saw the look on their faces.
It came time to read the letter and this is what it said, “In all my years of attending social events and special dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were taken away, someone would always lean over and gently say, “Ma’am, keep your fork.” It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming...like Velvety Chocolate Cake or Deep-Dish Apple Pie or Creamy Cheese Cake - something wonderful would always follow!
To all my loving family and friends, two thoughts I leave you with. If you love God and live for Jesus today, you can always be sure about the next day...the best is yet to come. And the moment you die, you can be confident...the best is yet to come! So I say to all of you, keep your fork ...the best is yet to come.”
Folks, that’s the abundant life Jesus promises us!!
