GOOSEBUMP GOD Thank you for coming! Want to believe but — hurdles, challenges, something happens that keeps them from believing: On-Demand – God doesn’t exist to serve us, we exist to serve Him, Killjoy – robs us of all our fun, no such thing, Heartless –doesn’t seem to care, allow things to happen. Invite someone!
Valentines Day - giveaway Thinking about love this week – thought about my early years, goosebumps meeting boys, dating for the first time. Bad date? Dude rubbing my arm– Eric, Joel, Gary – BRANDON. What is wrong with me???
Sometimes we do the same thing with church – with God. If I don’t feel it anymore, it’s over.
How can you believe in a God you can’t see, hear, feel, or touch.
• Read Bible - Nothing happens • When others sing – I feel numb • When I pray- he’s not there.
So today is for all of us who would say - I want to believe—but I don’t feel anything. Goosebump God—Want to believe—Don’t hear. See feel.
Annoying people – sunrise, raise at work, city market, last track
You – late to work (there was a sunrise?), laid off mud season, city market tourists no food, fell on mountain ER. God where are you???
------How many of you have ever felt God? How many felt God in church today?
How do you know? Goosebumps? Cried? Peaceful easy feeling? Opposite sex – youtube video – ladies massage this week
If you didn’t feel God today… who’s fault is it? Husband’s fault? Kids’ fault? God’s fault? Blane’s fault?
What do you do when you don’t feel God? The point of today’s message is to help us realize that God is so much bigger than our feelings.
------• IF YOU DON’T ALWAYS FEEL GOD’S PRESENCE, YOU’RE NOT ALONE.
Of course all of us at some point don’t feel God – Bible examples. TCU – one bible class. God you’re so good / God where are you?
Psalm 10:1 “God are you avoiding me? Where are you when I need you?” Psalm 88:14 “Why, Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?” Psalm 88:18 You made lover and neighbor alike dump me; the only friend I have left is Darkness.
David – man after God’s own heart – valley of shadow of death I will fear no evil you are with me! And next you know he’s running from his enemies. Paul – experience, blinded, desert 3 years, tents 14 years Jesus – God’s only son, most intimate, on the cross my god my god why have you forsaken me? God’s SON. Can’t feel you! Where are you?
(IF YOU DON’T ALWAYS FEEL GOD’S PRESENCE, YOU’RE NOT ALONE)
------WHY DON’T WE ALWAYS FEEL GOD?
1) MAYBE YOU’RE BEING TOO DRAMATIC. SO they asked [Jesus], “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” John 6:30
BIG BOLD CLEAR SIGN – prove you’re with me!!! Dating a guy – should I be with him? Business decision – billboard?
Some of us even want to feel God before we do small stuff “I’ll pray about it.” Or “I don’t FEEL called.” Should I serve at the church? Should I tithe? Should I go on a missions trip? Stop being dramatic.
Me growing up – SO dramatic.
Here’s the truth: Sometimes you might feel God – sometimes won’t. Always FELT him it wouldn’t be called FAITH. Without faith… Stop being dramatic.
2) MAYBE YOU’RE TOO BUSY. So I guarantee when I just said that – anxiety. Let me just say – you ARE too busy. Typical day for me… pebbles pic. How can I squeeze in god? Reminds me story – Jesus went to Martha’s house - sister Mary sitting w/Jesus
But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:40-41
If you are too busy then of COURSE you’re not going to feel God.
When I was younger – hour - make time/make room. Bible reading plans, pray short prayers all day long. Guarantee you will start to become more aware of God’s presence with you.
3) MAYBE SOMETHING IS SEPARATING YOU. You were close to God at one point, but now there’s some stuff separate you from Him. Maybe you’re like this… You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.” Matt 13:14-15
Scary. They don’t hear like they used to hear, they don’t see like they used to see. Bible calls it sin. Of course God still loves you, forgives, still have a relationship with God, but if there’s stuff separating you, you make not be able to feel God like you want to.
Blane: Going up on the mountain – if he puts all this stuff on, what will he NOT feel?? COLD. This is what sin does – blocks intimacy – he can’t get in. If you don’t feel God, maybe something is in the way.
Maybe not the “big” stuff – whatever that is, - like comfortable stuff: Envy (instagram), laziness, selfishness (WIIFM). It just lives there.
Let’s take that stuff off! David said “create in me a pure heart. Renew within me a right spirit, restore to me the JOY OF MY SALVATION.” Psalm 51:10
If you can’t feel God – something is separating you – let’s take it off.
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4) MAYBE GOD IS DRAWING YOU.
From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. Acts 17: 26-27
So if you’re saying hey I can’t feel God and I don’t know why – maybe God is drawing you to him.
Deprivation draws out desire – if I don’t eat, if I don’t drink, if I don’t feel God, I might just start wanting more of Him.
Familiarity breeds contempt? Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Do you think God actually does that on purpose?? Parents
My story – Moved from TX to California.
If you’re in this place I am SO excited for you – the best is yet to come! There is a time in everyone’s journey – this moment is absolutely CRUCIAL. God is growing you up! What you do in this moment could be everything.
He wants to be pursued. Loved. (Jealous) He wants to be number ONE.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord. Jer 29:13 Draw Near to God and he will draw near to you.
So when you don’t feel God, remember this… Just because God is silent doesn’t mean God is absent. Just because you don’t feel him—Doesn’t mean he’s not there. Don’t believe everything you feel. Feelings aren’t facts.
Conclusion: Here’s the deal When you sense or feel that God is with you - embrace Him because he is! Sometimes goosebumps, sometimes tears. Give God the credit for ALL the good things in your life. But never forget to embrace him in the small, every day moments. He is always, always, always with you.
! Driving – music, overwhelmed, so so good – feel you in this moment ! Taytem face – feel you in this moment ! Tucker – leader – feel you in this moment ! Bill Padgett – feel you in this moment – embrace you in the small things ! Parking space! – regardless of whether you feel God or not, he is always with you.
Prayer1: Four points DRAMATIC – help us to learn to trust in you when we can’t feel you BUSY – help us make room SEPARATING – help us to take that stuff off DRAWING US – thank you for caring enough about us to grow us up Help us all to know you’re always with us, regardless of our feelings. Thank you for the FACTS! God is crazy about you. He loves you to stinking pieces. He created you – he designed you – he has plans for your life. He sent his son Jesus to the world to take sin on himself and kill the power of sin once and for all, so that you and I could have life in abundance.