Topic: Love
Theme: Love for God & Others
Purpose: to be the Holy Spirit’s second witness calling God’s people in my care to love Him enough to bless others in obedience to His will.
Response: Individuals will raise their hand to demonstrate their commitment to increasing their love for God and to seek opportunities to bless others.
INTERSECTION WITH LIFE:
At a 1999 conference, Marti Ensign, a missionary to Africa, told of bringing some African pastors to the United States for a big meeting.
During their free time, these pastors wanted to go shopping. Even though they were in a small town, Marti knew there was a chance someone might have difficulty or get lost. So she gave them her phone number for such an emergency. In less than an hour the phone rang and the African said, "I am lost."
Marti said, "Lay the phone down, go to the street corner, find out the names of the two streets at the corner, come back and tell me, and I will come and get you."
In a few minutes he returned to the phone and reported, "I am at the corner of ’Walk’ and ’Don’t Walk.’"
Sometimes as we seek to know how God is leading us, we feel that we are at the same corner.
Citation: Phillip Gunter, Round Rock, Texas © 2000 PreachingToday.com / Christianity Today, Inc.
INVESTIGATION OF LIFE:
A. Keith Drury writes a thought-provoking article and posts it on the Internet each Tuesday. In a recent one, he said:
Specialized Bibles are really popular now -- like the "Couple’s Bible" or the "Woman’s Bible." I’m developing one of my own I’m sure you’ll want: the OuijaTM Bible. I’m sure it will be a big hit, especially on college campuses. The OuijaTM Bible is especially designed to help you find God’s will.
The instructions for using the new OuijaTM Bible are pretty simple. First you pray, asking for God’s guidance on a particular issue. Next you open the OuijaTM Bible and browse until your eyes come to rest on the verse containing your answer. PRESTO! You get clear guidance on God’s will.
Since lots of folk already use their Bibles this way, I’ve already been able to collect several great testimonials for my use in advertising.
And I think I’ll use Lisa’s story. Lisa, a perky high school senior from Michigan was trying to decide which college to attend. She had narrowed it down to one school in Indiana and another in Colorado. Using the OuijaTM Method she sought guidance from God’s word. She found her answer in Micah 4:2: "Come, let us go to the mountain of the LORD; to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." She told her entire youth group that week, "God gave me the answer I’ve been praying for right in His word." "He wants me to go to the mountains to study… here let me read the verse He gave me…"
For sure I’ll use Michael’s testimonial. Michael, a handsome college senior headed into local church music ministry had spent several summers traveling to the four corners of the USA with a Christian band. Throughout his travels he developed a string of girls who were his admirers, with whom he carried on regular email conversations. During the fall of his senior year Michael began thinking about getting more serious with one of these girls he had strung along so far. As he put it, "most churches don’t want a single music minister." The four "finalists" from his email romances included a high school sweetheart from New Jersey, a Bible school junior from Colorado, a preacher’s daughter from Arizona, and a college president’s daughter from North Carolina. Using the OuijaTM Method he prayerfully sought God’s will in the matter. Browsing through his well-worn Bible he found his answer. "Look! God gave me a verse to answer my question." It’s right here in Psalm 75:6:, ’No one from the east or the west, or from the desert can exalt a man.’" While Michael wasn’t sure how the "exalt" part related, he was absolutely convinced that God had told him to forget about the girl from the east (New Jersey), the west (Colorado) and the desert (Arizona). "It’s as clear as the nose on your face," he said. “That leaves only North Carolina!"
Dr. Drury concludes with these words:
OK. OK… All this is tongue in cheek. I’m not really developing a OuijaTM Bible. But think about the issue here. What’s really going on when we use the OuijaTM Method to discover God’s will? Is it totally illegitimate or is it a proper way to discover God’s will?
Citation: © Keith Drury 2000. May be duplicated for free distribution provided these lines are included. (http://www.indwes.edu/tuesday/)
Folks, I don’t know about you, but I think someone could get hurt using that method to make decisions.
B. Some Christians try to determine God’s answers to prayer by limiting Him to a box of Bible promises. “This one says … so that’s the way it always has to be.” But then a situation comes into their lives that doesn’t fit the box. Occasionally, instead of building a bigger box for God, their circumstances crush them and their faith.
C. Meanwhile, other people work hard to interpret all their dreams and impressions trying to determine which way to go in life. I remember one guy when I was in college who had five separate dreams about five different women. Each one was the one God wanted Him to marry. All five declined his offer. He was heart broken.
D. What’s going on here?
INSIGHT:
We require a God who communicates with us. Then, instead of hurting others, we can turn and bless those around us. In other words, if you and I are full of love for God then we will focus on helping others and not on ourselves.
Key Question:
Someone may be asking, “Has God ever communicated with His people so they can bless another?”
INFERENCES FROM GOD’S WORD:
I’m glad you asked. Listen to the story of Simeon.
[25] Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. [26] It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. [27] Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, [28] Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
[29] "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. [30] For my eyes have seen your salvation, [31] which you have prepared in the sight of all people, [32] a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
[33] The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. [34] Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, [35] so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too." [NIV]
Look what happened.
A. God revealed to Simeon that his prayers for the Messiah to come would be answered before he died. (Notice Simeon’s focus had to be on God keeping His promises to Israel.)
B. God directed Mary & Joseph to the Temple through the Bible. (Notice their focus had to be on keeping God’s directions to Israel.)
C. God guided Simeon to the Temple through the prompting of the Holy Spirit. (Notice Simeon’s focus had to be on going where the Holy Spirit directed him to go.)
D. God motivated Simeon to bless Mary & Joseph. (Notice Simeon’s focus had to be on God’s love and care for Mary and Joseph.)
IMPLEMENTATION IN LIFE:
How can we receive communication from God like Simeon did?
A. We need to deepen our love for God by becoming more aware of how much He loves us.
B. We need to serve God more because that’s when His will finds us.
C. We need to remember that over 95% of God’s will is written down in the Bible. “His plan is for me to be saved …. His plan is for me to read the (Bible), and pray, and worship. God’s plan is for me to disciple other believers. His plan is for me to put off sin and put on righteousness. His plan is to lay aside even the weights that slow me down and hold me back from spiritual progress. His plan is for me to clothe myself with godliness and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. His plan includes my growing, changing, and becoming holy so that my every word, thought, and deed is as pure as Christ’s. This is His primary plan for my life.”
Citation: © Keith Drury 2000. May be duplicated for free distribution provided these lines are included. (http://www.indwes.edu/tuesday/)
D. We need to realize the rest is usually given to us in single steps rather than in turn by turn maps. “It is as if we are taking a trip from New York to somewhere out West. We are driving and God is riding "shotgun" telling us how to get there. We cross the Hudson River and start bugging Him to mark the route on a map for us. He chuckles and says, "turn right here." You screech the tires and swerve down the exit ramp exclaiming--"Can’t you tell me sooner--I coulda’ wrecked!" He smiles and says, drive on. At each corner you ask, "turn here?" He smiles and says quietly, "just drive straight ’till I tell you to turn." Now, what’s happening here? A power struggle. You want to know now so you can be in charge of this trip. But God wants you to listen to His instructions every step of the way.”
Citation: © Keith Drury 2000. May be duplicated for free distribution provided these lines are included. (http://www.indwes.edu/tuesday/)
The Bottom-Line:
Hearing from God has far more to do
with loving Him and others
than it has to do with you and me.
1) Do you have enough love for God to bless another?
2) Let me challenge you to do two things everyday this week to deepen your love for God and to bless another.
a) List five things God does to show you His love for you.
b) Pray for one person in person.
3) Will you raise your hand to demonstrate your commitment to increasing your love for God and to seeking opportunities to bless others?
