Dr. Wayne A. Lawson
RevWLawson@aol.com
Will be delivered at
Antioch Institutional Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, OK
Sunday, April 19, 2009
TITLE: WHERE IS GOD?
SCRIPTURE: PSALMS 42:3
++++As the Church has entered into this period of Transition, I have heard some ask WHERE IS GOD IN ALL OF THIS? Some are having a difficult time this morning being able to view God and hear His voice. I believe at our various levels of Spirituality that we all long for the Renewal of God’s divine presence. Yet we are having difficulty because of our DOUBTS and FEARS this morning. We know and have come to terms with understanding that we must hold on to our Faith in the Living God. Yet many still ask this morning Where is God?
++++In our text for examination, we find David faced with such a struggle that many are going through today. At this Juncture, the GREAT KING – MIGHTY WARRIOR – SUCCESSFUL PATRIOT - has been exiled from his kingdom and feels he has nowhere to turn. He longs for the house of God. He desires to feel the presence of God with him, but God seems to be no where around. Even those around him began to ask, “Where is thy God?” They were INSINUATING that God had left him and no longer heard his prayers.
• We too desire to feel the presence of God
• Some have suggested that God has left us
• Perhaps we have even asked ourselves Where is God?
++++In our text we find David faced with such a Dilemma. David remembers the days when he went with the multitude to the house of God. He recalls vividly the voices of PRAISE and JOY that was heard. But now they say, “Where is your God now, David?” Where is your God when you need him? Let’s examine his words again, that our recorded in our text – “MY TEARS HAVE BEEN MY MEAT” – this both denotes the great abundance and constant course of David’s tears. Possibly David’s tears and grief took away his very appetite and so were to him instead of nourishment.
++++Find enemies of David saying – DAVID, WHERE IS YOUR GOD? This question – GOD WHERE ARE YOU – VALID – also a very important question. When properly considered find it is also a DANGEROUS question. Question is as ANCIENT AS TIME ITSELF. Men often Pondered to themselves, Great minds have Considered – WIG? Not only ancient but as MODERN as this very day. This question is not only asked by the SNEERING UNBELIEVER – even Penetrates the heart of the RIGHTEOUS. The seriousness of this question is evident throughout the Holy Scripture. The ANCIENTIVITY of this question is evidenced in our scripture as we hear David crying out to God.
++++David cried out as enemies were starring at him – Where is Your God? David you are in TROUBLE – DESPONDENT in DEEP DESPAIR. Where is Your God? David it appears your God is gone and departed from thee, and nowhere to be found. Where is your God whom you so often boasted? Not only David but many of God’s great men had to take time to pause and wonder in time and days of Difficulties – Time of Great Stress. Oftentimes we have looked up in our hours of CALAMITY, our DREADFUL MOMENTS, seems we have often wondered and thought God is Not There. Great men have faced dreadful silence and felt as though God was not there.
• MOSES – wondered in maze around mountain on backside of Midian Desert
• NOAH – Preached yet no one saw it rain
• ELIJAH – Cave faced with a dried up brook
• JOB – Suffered sat in ash pile in city of Uz
• JEREMIAH – weeping in a dungeon
• DANIEL – down in lions den
• 3 HEBREW BOYS – Fiery Furnance
• JOSEPH – Potipar’s Prison
• JONAH – Depth of Belly of Great Fish
• JOHN – Imprisoned – ART THOU HE THAT SOME COME
• JESUS – Friday about 3 o’clock – MY GOD MY GOD….
++++Sometimes it seems as though God does not hear our cry. Bended knees fervent prayer. Songwriter wrote PASS ME NOT O GENTLE SAVIOR…We often cry out as world SNARES at us – JEERS at us – ATHEIST will ask us WIG? Will ask this in midst of starving world – POVERTY – SOCIAL INJUSTICE – FINANCIAL UNREST – ANARCHY – TERRORISM - PSALM 14 “THE FOOL HAS SAID IN HIS HEART, THERE IS NO GOD.” Stopped by tell you this morning that GOD IS.
• A Creation without a God, who could Conceive such a thing?
• This Creation Gives Proof to the Creator!
• Be No HERE/THERE
• WHERE/WHEN
• AFTER/BEFORE
• UPPER/LOWER
• THOUGHT/THINKER
• ACT/ACTOR
• BOOK/AUTHOR
• DESIGN/DESIGNER
• BUILDING/BUILDER
• CREATION/CREATOR
• God Is!
God is Creator Behind All Creation ----- Designer Behind all Designs ----- Law Maker Behind all Laws
SUPREME FACT OF HISTORY - SCIENCE - PHILOSOPHY - LIVING – TIME -- DEATH -- ETERNITY -- God is God all by Himself – From Everlasting to Everlasting…..
++++Before a WHEN or a WHERE – God stepped out into nothing and said “LET THERE BE.” Jesus who stepped from ETERNITY INTO TIME. Because HE is. It is you and I who put time restraints on Christ. You and I are limited by TIME. Tell time by WRINKLES forming around our brow – EYES growing dimmer - STEPS getting shorter.
++++This question Where is God goes beyond time as we know it. God is always right on time. I know that God is near – serve a right now God. I’ve been in trouble – had my back up against the wall – I’ve needed God right now.
• Realize JOB said we have to Wait on the Lord
• ISAIAH said Those that Wait Upon the Lord
• MICAH – said I will Wait for the God of my Salvation
• I’ve had times where I needed God not tomorrow or next week, But Right Now!
++++Stopped by to tell you that God is everywhere. David reminded us in PSALM 46:1 “GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH A AVERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE.”
GOD IS ABOVE US
JOSHUA 2:11 “FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD, HE IS GOD IN HEAVEN ABOVE”
ISAIAH 57:15 “DWELL IN HIGH HOLY PLACES”
EPHESIANS 4:6 “ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL, WHO IS ABOVE ALL”
PSALM 99:2 “THE LORD IS GREAT IN ZION; AND HE IS HIGH ABOVE ALL THE PEOPLE”
PSALM 97:9 “FOR YOU LORD, ARE MOST HIGH ABOVE ALL THE EARTH”
GOD IS AROUND US
PSALM 125:2 “AS THE MOUNTAINS ARE ROUND ABOUT JERUSALEM SO THE LORD IS ROUND ABOUT HIS PEOPLE FROM HENCEFORTH EVEN FOR EVER”
Believe ELISHA could testify – Syrian Army round mountain at DOTHAN. Open servants eyes that he may see.
GOD IS BEFORE US
EXODUS 13:21 “AND THE LORD WENT BEFORE THEM BY DAY IN A PILLAR OF A CLOUD, TO LEAD THEM THE WAY; AND BY NIGHT IN A PILLAR OF FIRE”
ISAIAH 45:2 “I WILL GO BEFORE THEE AND MAKE THE CROOKED PLACES STRAIGHT”
DEUTERONOMY 31:3 “THE LORD THY GOD, HE WILL GO OVER BEFORE THEE…”
GOD IS BEHIND US
ISAIAH 30:21 “AND THINE EARS SHALL HEAR A WORD BEHIND THEE, SAYING, THIS IS THE WAY, WALK YE IN IT”
GOD IS BENEATH US
DEUTERONOMY 33:27 “THE ETERNAL GOD IS THY REFUGE, AND UNDERNEATH ARE THE EVRLASTING ARMS”
GOD IS WITH US
ISAIAH 41:10 “FEAR THOU NOT. FOR I AM WITH THEE; BE NOT DISMAYED, FOR I AM THY GOD”
ST. MATTHEW 28:20 “LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END OF THE WORLD”
ST. JOHN 14:16 “I WILL PRAY THE FATHER AND HE SHALL GIVE YOU ANOTHER COMFORTER THAT HE MAY ABIDE WITH YOU”
DEUTERONOMY 20:4 “FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD IT IS HE THAT GOETH WITH THEE”
PSALM 46:11 “THE LORD OF HOSTS IS WITH US”
++++I don’t know about you, but I thank God that He will never leave us or forsake us in times of trouble. David said I WAS YOUNG BUT NOW I’M OLD…We serve a right now God – a God that is always with us. And if I had to give you a personally testimony, all I could say is:
I’VE SEEN THE LIGHTNING FLASHING, I’VE HEARD THE THUNDER ROLL, SOMETIMES FELT SIN BREAKERS DASHING, TRYING TO CONQUEOR MY SOUL. BUT I’VE HEARD THE VOICE OF JESUS TELLING ME TO STILL FIGHT ON. HE PROMISED NEVER TO LEAVE ME, NEVER TO LEAVE E ALONE – NO NEVER ALONE
GOD IS IN US
ST. JOHN 14:11 “BELIEVE ME THAT I AM IN THE FATHER, AND THE FATHER IN ME”
ST. JOHN 14:20 “AT THAT DAY YE SHALL KNOW THA I AM IN MY FATHER, AND YE IN ME, AND I IN YOU”
++++Reminded of a story of a little boy who flew his kite.
Little Jimmy went out to fly his kite on a cool autumn afternoon. As little Jimmy stood on a hill low clouds began to roll in. Jimmy began to let out more string and his kite soared to lofty heights. After awhile little Jimmies kite was so high that you could no longer see the kite. All you could see was little Jimmy standing on the hill HOLDING HIS STRING.
Some of his Deacons from his church were on an afternoon walk when they saw Little Jimmy flying his kite. They decided to stop and have a talk with him and maybe teach Little Jimmy a life lesson.
They stopped and asked Little Jimmy what are you doing standing on this hill holding a piece of string. Jimmy said Deacons, I’M FLYING MY KITE. They looked up and said Jimmy we don’t see a Kite, all we see is you standing on this hill holding a piece of string. Jimmy said Deacons’ I’m flying my Kite. Deacons said Jimmy, how do you know there is a Kite on the other end of that string?
Little Jimmy said Deacons, I know there is a kite on the other end of my string BECAUSE EVERY NOW AND THEN I FEEL A TUG ON THE END OF MY STRING
How do I know that God is In Me because every now and then I can feel Him:
MOVING ON THE MAIN ALTAR OF MY HEART - HART STARTS SINGING – SOUL STARTS BURNING – PRAY WHEEL TURNING – JOY BELLS RINGING
PICKED ME UP – TURNED ME AROUND – PLACED MY FEET ON HIGHER GROUND
(I take no credit for the originality of this sermon. I preached it for the first time in 1992 and don’t recall who the originator was. It has been adapted for this setting).
