Missing God.
Gen:28:16
And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
A modern day "version" of that statement would sound like this. {GOD WAS HERE AND I WAS OUT TO LUNCH}
QUESTION? Has any one here ever Missed God?
God comes near us, and so many times we are just to busy and so Preoccupied, so set in our ways so many times and so caught up in our own agenda that we dont even recognize him.
STORY.
As you all know that I drive a truck for a living and see so many differ things. I was Praying one morning before I let out on my trip ask God to let me be a Blessing to someone this day. I stopped for Lunch at a subway sandwich shop, there was a man In line in front of me and he ask how much a foot long would cost, and they answer him and he said "well" I only have anoth for a 6 inch. So he thats what he got, and then I came up and said I want a foot long. Well, I went to my truck and sit there and as I was opening up my sandwich I saw this man sitting at a table outside. I toke my sandwich In both hands and as I bite into it I was looking right at that same man. And God’s Holy spirit softy said to me, THAT WAS YOUR CHANCE. And then it hit me, I could have paid the differance for that man to get a foot long. KNOW WHAT HAPPEN THERE? I MISSED GOD.......
SURLY THE LORD WAS NEAR ME AND I MISSED HIM.....
Take your Bibles and tun with me to the Book of Mark 3:1-6.
1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.
2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.
4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
I WANT TO CONSIDER 2 THINGS WITH A QUESTION.
#1 THE WORK OF THE LORD Just a quick look at 2 more places.
Matt. 19:1-2
1 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came into the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan;
2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
Matt 21:23
And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
Our key text being Mark 3;1-6
#1 Consider the watch Dogs verse #2
And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
The word "watch" there is in the Greek Is "paratereso" it means To keep and observe, To watch closely as the gates of a city.
QUESTION?
Which one do you see your self in?
A. Busy doing the work of the Lord
B.. A watchdog
NOW LETS CONSIDER ONE MORE PERSON IN THIS STORY.
THE "PATIENT" VERSE 1
And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.
The "greek" word use to describe the conditionn of his hand, suggest that he had a Injury that had taken the strengh from him.
Base upn study he was a stone mason and been hurt while working, And his liveihood was in the use of his hand.
NOW WITH ALL THAT SAID LETS VEIW THE STORY
Now lets consider the unkindness to the "Patient" and the "Physician>
Not careing for the one that is hurt Verse #6
6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
Question?
How did christ deal with that?
#1 HE LABORED TO CONVINCE THEIR JUDGEMENT.
VERSE #3
And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.
By the sight of the man they might be moved with "compassion" and might not for "shame" account his "cure" a crime.
And He "Appeals" to the "Consciences" with a question.
verse #4
And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
#2 HE LAMENTED THEIR STUBBORNESS Verse #5
And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
And their "sin" was the hardness of their heart.
And Jesus was Provoke to anger by the hardness of their Heart.
And thats how the story ends
THEY MISSED GOD.
#1 BLINDED BY THIER "HOSTILITY" THEY MISSED THE HOLINESS.
#2 BLINDED BY THEIR "HATRED" THEY MISSED THE HEALING.
#3 BLINDED BY THEIR DUTY, THEY MISSED THE DEVINE POWER.
#4 BLINDED BY THEIR OLD WAY THEY MISSED THE NEW WAY.
TO JESUS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE WORLD WAS TO CORRECT PERFORMANCE, BUT THE COMPASSIONATE ANSWER TO THE CRY OF HUMAN NEED.
IN THE STORY WE HAVE STUDY JESUS CAME BY, BUT THE WATCH DOGS MISSED HIM.
NOW, WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS STORY?
#1 WHETHER IT BE IN A CHURCH, A HOME, AROUND A BIG OAK TREE, THE OCEAN,OR IN SOMEONE BACK YARD OR UP AT THE HOMELESS SHELTER,
WHERE 2 OR 3 ARE GATHER IN MY NAME THERE I WILL BE IN THE MIST.
#2 BLINDED BY THE LAW WE MISS THE CHANCE TO LOVE.
#3 BLINDED BY COMMON PRACTICE WE MISS THE COMMON SENCE.
being locked into certain ways of doing things that we fail to consider where they are right or wrong or whether they sence.
THATS WHAT HAPPEN TO THE PHARISES THEY WERE SO ACCUSTOM TO DOING THINGS A CERTAIN WAY, THEY COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THE COMMON SENCE OF JESUS HELPING.
THERE COMMON PRACTION WAS NOT TO HELP PEOPLE ON THE SABBTH.
THEY MISSED GOD.........
#4 BLINDED BY OUR SYSTEM’S WE MISS THE SAVIOR.
SO MANY TIMES GOD COMES NEAR AND WE ARE OUT TO LUNCH.
I WANT TO CONCLUDE WITH A QUSTION.
ARE YOU SO BUSY WATCHING OTHER’S THAT YOU ARE MISSING GOD/ OR SHOULD I SAY ARE YOU BEING A WATCH DOG.
I DONT KNOW ABOUT ANY OF YOU BUT AS FOR ME I DO NOT WANT TO BE A WATCH DOG. AMEN.........
I HOPE YOU HAVE UNDERSTAND WHAT WE HAVE TALK ABOUT TO DAY.
LETS PRAY...........
