When Nothing is Happening
Learning How to Trust the God We Cannot See
Sept 9, 2012 PM
Introduction ()
There are times when God
seems to be silent, or busy, or not concerned with our lives; Times when nothing is happening around us
There is so much of the
Christian life that is quiet waiting on God (Ps 27:14; 37:7; Heb 10:36)
Teenagers often cannot handle
nothing to do
Oh they don�t want to do certain things like:
- Extra studies
- Extra work around the house
But they HAVE to be with their friends, out late, always doing something
They feel bored at the drop of a hat
Many Christians are the same!
If their prayers are not getting answered�
Or if troubles just won�t stop coming�
Or when the devil seems to be winning�
Very dangerous!
They actually think that THEY have to DO something, to get things happening
And they end up doing wrong
- Notice how all of Israel reverts back to Egyptian worship while Moses delayed coming down from Mt Sinai (Exodus 24:18; 32:1)
- See Peter picking Judas� replacement (Matthias) instead of waiting on Jesus to pick him (Saul of Tarsus)
King Saul was impatient to his
own hurt (1Sam 13:2,5-14)
Scoffers demand Jesus to
appear before the time (2Pet 3:3-10)
What about us? What should we
do when nothing seems to be happening�
With our building purchase?
With loved ones not responding to our Gospel witness to them?
When the world seems to be going darker and darker?
When troubles come and won�t go away?
Message
First of all� Make Sure
SOMETHING is Happening!
Make sure you are busy doing what God has already told you to be doing
- Reading your Bible
- Praising and thanking God for everything
- Drawing people�s attention to the Jesus of the Bible � soul-winning
- Faithful at every church meeting: Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday evening
- Giving the first fruits of your increase � tithing
- Praying about everything
- Work hard at your job, or in your home, or in your studies
- Take care of your family
- All while you are waiting on GOD to do something
- Stay busy doing something for God � the worst thing to do is nothing (1Cor 15:10)
Make sure you are using everything up � emptying your quiver � holding nothing back
Make sure that you are believing the promises of God instead of the feelings of your heart
- Believing (John 20:29)
- Going forward by faith (2Cor 5:7)
Keep Your Heart Active in the Right Way (1Peter 1:8) � loving the One who loved you!
Secondly, Believe that
Something IS Still Happening
What is always happening, no matter what it seems like?
- God is working all things together for your good (Rom 8:28)
- God is drawing all men unto Himself
- God is in control
Job knew God was there, and working all things together for his good (Job 23:8-10)
We are SO limited in our seeing and hearing
- 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!
- It should be SO easy to just believe God (Gen 15:6)
- The truth is, most Christians still only believe what they can see, and hear
- Yet Jesus asks us to see more than we can see (2Kgs 6)
- And He asks us to listen to what we normally cannot hear (1Kgs 19:12; John 10:27)
There is such a shameful lack of belief in Jesus (Mark 6:1-6) � and so, very little happens around so many �believers�
Jesus marvels at our unbelief (Luke 8:25)
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)
Lastly, Follow some
Great Examples of Patience That God Honours in the Bible:
Naaman�s Six Times Dunking in the Jordan River (2Kings 5:10-15)
- The most disappointing six dips in a river ever!
- 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?
Solomon�s Casting Your Bread Upon the Waters (Eccl 11:1)
- A principle of investing your money
- Jochobed believed this promise with her newborn baby, Moses!
David�s Trust in God While Running from Mad King Saul for seven years
Job�s Patience (James 5:11) � just like farming (James 5:7)
The Parent�s Command to Train Up Their Children (Pr 22:6)
Jesus� Challenge to Lay Up Treasures in Heaven (Mt 6:19,20)
Conclusion
There are times when God
seems to be silent, or busy, or not concerned with our lives, when nothing is happening around us
Much of the Christian life is
quiet waiting on God
So, What should we do when
nothing seems to be happening�
Make Sure Something IS happening
Believe that Something IS Still Happening
Follow the Great Examples That God Honours in the Bible for Patience
Review Questions�
What are some things that always should be happening?
- Busy doing what God has already told you to be doing
Reading your Bible
Praising and thanking God for everything
Drawing people�s attention to the Jesus of the Bible � soul-winning
Faithful at every church meeting: Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday evening
Giving the first fruits of your increase � tithing
Praying about everything
Work hard at your job, or in your home, or in your studies
Take care of your family
All while you are waiting on GOD to do something
Stay busy doing something for God � the worst thing to do is nothing (1Cor 15:10)
- Using everything up � emptying your quiver � holding nothing back
- Believing the promises of God instead of the feelings of your heart
- Keep Your Heart Active in the Right Way (1Pet 1:8) � loving the One who loved you!
What is always happening, no matter what it seems like?
- God is working all things together for your good (Rom 8:28)
- God is drawing all men unto Himself
- God is in control
- 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)
What are some Great Examples of Patience That God Honours in the Bible?
- Naaman�s Six Times Dunking in the Jordan River (2Kings 5:10-15)
- Solomon�s Casting Your Bread Upon the Waters (Eccl 11:1)
- David�s Trust in God While Running from Mad King Saul for seven years
- Job�s Patience (James 5:11) � just like farming (James 5:7)
- The Parent�s Command to Train Up Their Children (Pr 22:6)
- Jesus� Challenge to Lay Up Treasures in Heaven (Mt 6:19,20)