The Games People Play - Clue Series

The Games People Play – Clue

Recognizing God

When I mention God what do you think about? DO you see:

A Sheriff Who’s whole purpose is to catch you sinning so He can put you in jail?

A Mechanic who’s so busy running the universe that he has no time for you?

A Butler whose only purpose is to get us what we desire?

An Old man who’s so out of touch that he will never begin to understand our problems?

Or a God that we pull out on Sundays and tell how wonderful he is and Monday put back in his box and forget about him?

If this is your view of God then it is a far cry from what we see in the Bible.

We serve a God that has a strong desire to be intimate with His creation.

1. Moses, in the beginning of his ministry, had this type of relationship with God.

In (Exodus 33:12-13), Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, `Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, `I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.

a. At that point in Moses’ life, he had obeyed God’s instructions. For example:

(1) He had delivered the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage.

(2) He had helped the Israelites pass through the Red Sea.

(3) He had led the Israelites to Mount Sinai where God gave them the Ten Commandments.

b. Moses had obeyed God’s instructions, but yet, he still did not know God in an intimate way.

I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.

The sad truth to this story is that some Christians today still follow God’s commands and instructions, but yet do not know Him in a personal and intimate way.

How do I know this? Because I have experienced this type of relationship with God. When I became a Christian, my sole responsibility was to find out what God did not want me to do so I wouldn’t do it. I was scared to death of God because I believed that if I sinned, God would zap me and strike me dead. I was scarred of God. So the first few years of my walk with God was a relationship of obedience and fear instead of love and intimacy.

2. But one day I came across a passage that changed my walk with God. God introduced Himself to me, not as a God of wrath, fury or anger, but as a God of Love.

THIS MORNING, GOD IS GOING TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO US SO THAT WE MAY HAVE A MORE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

(Exodus 34:5-7) "Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed His name, the LORD. And He passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin."

FROM THIS PASSAGE, GOD REVEALS HIMSELF IN A PERSONAL WAY.

IN TODAY’S LESSON, I WILL SHARE THREE WONDERFUL CHARACTERISTICS OF GOD THAT I HOPE WILL HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND GOD WHICH WILL HELP US DEVELOP A MORE INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

I. FIRST, TO KNOW GOD IN AN INTIMATE WAY, WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT GOD IS A COMPASSIONATE AND GRACIOUS GOD.

1. The Psalmist expressed it best in (Ps. 145:7-9).

"They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made."

ILLUSTRATION:

In 1975 a child named Raymond Dunn, Jr., was born in New York State. The Associated Press reports that at his birth, a skull fracture and oxygen deprivation caused severe retardation. As Raymond grew, the family discovered further impairments. His twisted body suffered up to twenty seizures per day. He was blind, mute, and immobile. He had severe allergies that limited him to only one food: A meat-based formula made by Gerber Foods.

In 1985, Gerber stopped making the formula that Raymond lived on. Carol Dunn scoured the country to buy what stores had in stock, accumulating cases and cases, but in 1990 her supply ran out. In desperation, she appealed to Gerber for help. Without this particular food, Raymond would starve to death.

The employees of the company listened. In an unprecedented action, volunteers donated hundreds of hours to bring out old equipment, set up production lines, obtain special approval from the USDA, and produce the formula—all for one special boy.