1. BUT BEFORE THAT . . .
* In 1992, when Mississippi Governor, Kirk Fordice stated unreservedly "America is a Christian nation" the response bordered on hysteria.
* But before that -- Congress, declared 1983 to be the "Year of the Bible" -- stating that the Bible, the Word of God, has made a unique contribution in shaping the US as a distinctive and blessed nation....Biblical teaching inspired concepts of civil government that are contained in our Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the US (Public Law 97-280, Stat. 1211, approved 10/4/1982).
* But before that -- Former Chief Justice Earl Warren, 1954, said, the history of our country and the documents/charter exhibit the same objective: "A Christian land governed by Christian principles..."
* But before that -- Abraham Lincoln, April 30, 1863, appointed a National Fast Day and declared, "It is the duty of nations as well as men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history: that nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord."
* But before that -- George Washington Oct 3, 1789, "It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly implore his protection and favor."
* But before that -- Mayflower Compact 1620 was a covenant "in the presence of God," "In the name of God, Amen...by the Grace of God...have undertaken for the glory of God and advancement of the Christian faith."
* But long before that Psalm 33:12 says, Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
2. The American Church is desperately in need of the transcendent presence and glory of God. Ecclesiastes 3.11
a. I wonder if we have been making church too complicated or if we have forgotten too much
b. The instructions Jesus left us with are simple, not complicated -- yet at times not easy
c. Salvation is simple (Naaman)
d. Are we too independent? Laodiceans in Revelation 3.14
e. Have we treated God and His word lightly -- pick and choose; please men, not God
f. Do we attempt to be relevant over seeking the transcendent presence of God?
3. We have seen the absence of God's glory with Israel -- 1 Samuel 2-4; Jeremiah 5.30-31
4. However, the presence of God can return to his people -- Ezekiel 43.1
5. Inviting God's presence by Preaching His Gospel -- 1 Corinthians 2.1-5
I. Preaching: God Telling His Story -- 2.1-2
A. The Compelling Message Through the Messenger
1. The Unexpected Love of God -- Romans 5.8
2. The Undeserved Forgiveness of God -- Ephesians 1.7
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
3. The Undeniable Presence of God -- "Immanuel"
a. With Adam in Garden
b. Abram to Canaan
c. Moses at Sinai
d. Hebrews in Egypt and Wilderness -- Tabernacle
e. Israel as a Nation -- Temple
f. With and in Jesus, even in cross -- darkness; Earthquake; Open Graves; etc.
g. With the Disciples and Us -- Acts 2
4. The Unbelievable Hope -- 1.18-19 cf. Isaiah 29.14
B. The Consuming Motivation of the Message -- 2.2
1. Knowing Jesus crucified is more than self-help
* 6 Keys to Better Parenting
* 4 Steps to Financial Independence, etc.
2. The Bible IS relevant and orders our steps; practical living -- IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD
II. Preaching: God's Impact Through His Story -- 2.3-5
A. The Gospel Impacts Us with Humility -- Acts 2.37; Acts 9
1. Weakness -- Paul was a physical wimp -- [Barney Fife
2. Fear and Trembling
a. Psalm 2.11
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
"Serve," "rejoice," "fear," and "trembling" describe the religious responses of the righteous in worship. They are to lead lives of submission, not rebellion; lives characterized by fear and trembling, not arrogance; lives filled with rejoicing, not the gloom of oppression.
b. Philippians 2.12
[A word about FEAR -- can be -- afraid; respectful or even knowledgeable of God -- Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 -- the servants feared their Master -- two of them with respect; one with fearfulness//Proverbs 9.10
B. The Gospel Impacts Us with Power; 2.3-5; Romans 1.16
1. A "Mystery" in preaching -- Romans 10.17; Lydia Acts 16.14b --
The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
2. An Encounter with God
a. Not the wisdom or cleverness of men
b. Remember: It's not a good sermon, it is a great God
1. The Lost Watch
Way back when we didn't have refrigerators to keep our food cool, people had to put all their perishable food in what was called an icebox. Well, problem is, that the ice for the iceboxes had to be cut out of the frozen lakes in the winter and somehow kept frozen through the summer months so that it could be delivered to people's houses. This ice, that was about two feet thick, was cut into big blocks and stored in icehouses.
These storage houses had very thick walls for insulation and the ice blocks would be stacked in there and covered with sawdust to keep them from melting too quickly.
One day, a worker in one of these icehouses lost a very special watch that had been given to him by his father who had died some years earlier. His dad worked many a long hard hour to purchase this watch for his son. When he gave it to him, he told him that whenever he heard it ticking to remember how much he loved him. So he was very upset with himself for losing this watch and he and all the other workers searched long and hard for this precious timepiece---to no avail.
Finally, because of all the sawdust, they realized that it would be almost impossible to find, so they gave it up for lost. But near the end of the day a small boy that had heard of what had happened came up and asked if he could help in the search. The men told him that they had been looking for hours but it was no use. Undaunted, the boy walked by the men into the icehouse and closed the big thick door behind him. Five minutes later, the door opened again and out walked the boy with the watch in his hand!
The men were delighted and amazed, and when the boy gave the watch back to its relieved owner, the man asked the boy how in the world he found it so fast. The boy smiled and said; "I just went in there by myself, closed the door, lay on the floor and got very still..........and then I listened real hard."
God speaks to us in many ways. As both Moses and Elijah found out; the Lord isn't in the earthquake, the strong wind or the fire. Rather He is in the "gentle breeze" and He speaks to us with a still small voice. He is speaking to us in the proclamation of the gospel as men tell His story. We need to really listen for in order to hear.
2. On Hearing:
a. God Hears us -- Egypt, etc.
b. We are to hear him -- Revelation 3.20
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
c. Acts 2.37
