Reflections from the Pulpit

Posted 1/24/21

Today I thought I would give you all a word of encouragement. With all of the uncertainty in our world there is one thing that is certain.

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Reflections from the Pulpit

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A word of encouragement

Today I thought I would give you all a word of encouragement. With all of the uncertainty in our world there is one thing that is certain. God is on the throne and is working in our world. You may ask, where is He? Why doesn’t He show Himself to us? To that there are many answers, because He is everywhere. Today I thought I would give you just a little insight. I would love to give you a lot, but we are limited in our ability to communicate it all to you in this forum. For more answers I encourage you to seek out a local church.

Hebrews 10:25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, (25) not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Where is He?

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Romans 1:20 tells us that when we doubt whether God with us, to simply go outside and look around. God’s glory is evident. During the day we see God’s glory in what He created. Look at the beauty and order of nature and you see the beauty and order of God. His invisible qualities are there - you don’t have to look very hard. Then go out at night; you can see the infinite nature of God when you look up and see the infinite nature of the universe. When you see God’s creation you understand very quickly that there isn’t anywhere we can look where we can’t see the workmanship of the Almighty God. This points to the omnipresence of God, which means He is everywhere. God has given us so many more answers to this question, but let’s move on to the next.

Why doesn’t He show himself to us?

In answering the first question we’ve answered this one as well, but I’d like to add more.

1) God shows Himself to us in creation (this we have already answered).

2) God has revealed himself through the person of Jesus Christ.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1: 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

God came to us to not only reveal His love to us, but to restore us unto Himself: So that one day we may share in His glory and bask in His love. We can’t do this on our own because of our sin. But Jesus took care of that sin.

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (24) and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
So God not only shows Himself to us through creation. He shows Himself through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
3) God shows Himself through His Holy Spirit.

God has, throughout time, used His Holy Spirit to show Himself to us. The Holy Spirit was there in the beginning, hovering over the water (Genesis 1:2). The Holy Spirit also led the Jewish people in the wilderness.

Nehemiah 9:19 Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. (20) You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst.

In the gospel of John, Jesus promises that when He leaves, the Holy Spirit will guide us.

John 16:13-14 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (14) He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.

God does all of this so that we may come to know Him and have a relationship with Him; a relationship that begins here and lasts for eternity. God has always been with us and has always been revealing Himself to us and promises to one day come and set the whole world back the way it was intended to be, before we chose sin over God. You may ask, when is this going to happen? Well we don’t know, that’s why we must be ready. God, however, is being patient with us.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Repentance comes only through Jesus Christ. God created us to live with Him for eternity and has made a way for us to do that (see Romans 3:23 above). God never has abandoned us and never will. He has done everything to make right what we messed up. I encourage you, when you feel that there is no God, simply go outside, day and night, and just sit and ponder what you see. Then talk to God and allow Him to lead you. Hopefully this will encourage you to reach out to a church family. God has put them in the world to deliver a message that so desperately needs to be heard, and to help lead you to the path God has laid out for you. Don’t wait - God is being patient.

2 Corinthians 6:2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

inspiration, religion, reflections, pulpit

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