Learning How to Trust the God We
Cannot See
Sept 9, 2012 PM
Pastor Craig
Ledbetter
I.
Introduction ()
A.
There are times when God
seems to be silent, or busy, or not concerned with our lives; Times when
nothing is happening around us
B.
There is so much of the
Christian life that is quiet waiting on God (Ps 27:14; 37:7; Heb 10:36)
C.
Teenagers often cannot handle
nothing to do
1.
Oh they don’t want to do
certain things like:
a.
Extra studies
b.
Extra work around the house
2.
But they HAVE to be with their
friends, out late, always doing something
3.
They feel bored at the drop of
a hat
D.
Many Christians are the same!
1.
If their prayers are not
getting answered…
2.
Or if troubles just won’t stop
coming…
3.
Or when the devil seems to be
winning…
4.
Very dangerous!
5.
They actually think that THEY
have to DO something, to get things happening
6.
And they end up doing wrong
a.
Notice how all of
b.
See Peter picking Judas’
replacement (Matthias) instead of waiting on Jesus to pick him (Saul of Tarsus)
E.
King Saul was impatient to his
own hurt (1Sam 13:2,5-14)
F.
Scoffers demand Jesus to
appear before the time (2Pet 3:3-10)
G.
What about us? What should we
do when nothing seems to be happening…
1.
With our building purchase?
2.
With loved ones not responding
to our Gospel witness to them?
3.
When the world seems to be
going darker and darker?
4.
When troubles come and won’t
go away?
II.
Message
A.
First of all… Make Sure
SOMETHING is Happening!
1.
Make sure you are busy doing
what God has already told you to be doing
a.
Reading your Bible
b.
Praising and thanking God for
everything
c.
Drawing people’s attention to
the Jesus of the Bible – soul-winning
d.
Faithful at every church
meeting: Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday evening
e.
Giving the first fruits of
your increase – tithing
f.
Praying about everything
g.
Work hard at your job, or in
your home, or in your studies
h.
Take care of your family
i.
All while you are waiting on
GOD to do something
j.
Stay busy doing something for
God – the worst thing to do is nothing (1Cor 15:10)
2.
Make sure you are using
everything up – emptying your quiver – holding nothing back
3.
Make sure that you are
believing the promises of God instead of the feelings of your heart
a.
Believing (John 20:29)
b.
Going forward by faith (2Cor
5:7)
4.
Keep Your Heart Active in the
B.
Secondly, Believe that
Something IS Still Happening
1.
What is always happening, no
matter what it seems like?
a.
God is working all things
together for your good (Rom 8:28)
b.
God is drawing all men unto
Himself
c.
God is in control
2.
Job knew God was there, and
working all things together for his good (Job 23:8-10)
3.
We are SO limited in our
seeing and hearing
a.
It is amazing to me that
people don’t believe in the Jesus of the Bible, and trust Him to lead them! Even
though they won’t admit it, they really do believe their politicians, and
professors and TV programmes!
b.
It should be SO easy to just
believe God (Gen 15:6)
c.
The truth is, most Christians
still only believe what they can see, and hear
d.
Yet Jesus asks us to see more
than we can see (2Kgs 6)
e.
And He asks us to listen to
what we normally cannot hear (1Kgs 19:12; John 10:27)
4.
There is such a shameful lack
of belief in Jesus (Mark 6:1-6) – and so, very little happens around so many
“believers”
5.
Jesus marvels at our unbelief
(Luke 8:25)
6.
We who claim to be Bible
believers should always believe that God is at work! He hasn’t taken a rest
since the first Sabbath day (Psalm 121:4; 2Cor 4:18)
C.
Lastly, Follow some
Great Examples of Patience That God Honours in the Bible:
1.
Naaman’s Six Times Dunking in
the
a.
The most disappointing six
dips in a river ever!
b.
What if he had given up after
the third dip? Or the fourth, or the fifth? Or what if he had quit and stormed
out of the water after the sixth dip?
2.
Solomon’s Casting Your Bread
Upon the Waters (Eccl 11:1)
a.
A principle of investing your
money
b.
Jochobed believed this promise
with her newborn baby, Moses!
3.
David’s Trust in God While
Running from Mad King Saul for seven years
4.
Job’s Patience (James 5:11) –
just like farming (James 5:7)
5.
The Parent’s Command to Train
Up Their Children (Pr 22:6)
6.
Jesus’ Challenge to Lay Up
Treasures in Heaven (Mt 6:19,20)
III.
Conclusion
A.
There are times when God
seems to be silent, or busy, or not concerned with our lives, when nothing
is happening around us
B.
Much of the Christian life is
quiet waiting on God
C.
So, What should we do when
nothing seems to be happening…
1.
Make Sure Something IS
happening
2.
Believe that Something
IS Still Happening
3.
Follow the Great
Examples That God Honours in the Bible for Patience
D.
Review Questions…
1.
What are some things
that always should be happening?
a.
Busy doing what God has
already told you to be doing
1)
Reading your Bible
2)
Praising and thanking God for
everything
3)
Drawing people’s attention to
the Jesus of the Bible – soul-winning
4)
Faithful at every church
meeting: Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday evening
5)
Giving the first fruits of
your increase – tithing
6)
Praying about everything
7)
Work hard at your job, or in
your home, or in your studies
8)
Take care of your family
9)
All while you are waiting on
GOD to do something
10)
Stay busy doing something for
God – the worst thing to do is nothing (1Cor 15:10)
b.
Using everything up – emptying
your quiver – holding nothing back
c.
Believing the promises of God
instead of the feelings of your heart
d.
Keep Your Heart Active in the
2.
What is always happening, no
matter what it seems like?
a.
God is working all things
together for your good (Rom 8:28)
b.
God is drawing all men unto
Himself
c.
God is in control
d.
We who claim to be Bible
believers should always believe that God is at work! He hasn’t taken a rest
since the first Sabbath day (Psalm 121:4)
3.
What are some Great
Examples of Patience That God Honours in the Bible?
a.
Naaman’s Six Times Dunking in
the
b.
Solomon’s Casting Your Bread
Upon the Waters (Eccl 11:1)
c.
David’s Trust in God While
Running from Mad King Saul for seven years
d.
Job’s Patience (James 5:11) –
just like farming (James 5:7)
e.
The Parent’s Command to Train
Up Their Children (Pr 22:6)
f.
Jesus’ Challenge to Lay Up
Treasures in Heaven (Mt 6:19,20)