God Has Been There

INTRODUCTION As we have now moved into Shelter in Place in Minnesota for 2 weeks, our lives continue to change. Many of you were already working from home, and now even more of you are Some of you have had to file for unemployment for the first time in your life And I know so many of you are trying to figure out how to do life… …when you’re trying to work from home, while your kids and spouse are also at home (and maybe your spouse is also working) And you’re also supposed to now educate your kids… And on top of that, you’re starting to know people who are getting sick. It’s a crazy time. And we’re all feeling a lot of emotions. And a lot of pressures. We’re just feeling…FEELING…a lot. And as we move into week 2 of our Anchored Series…I want to talk about something really important that we need to know about God. Because that’s the premise of this series… In a pandemic like this, many of us feel like we’re getting blown out into a sea of anxiety. And we need to be anchored. Anchored to the truth of WHO God is. (Show anchor photo with just “God is in control” from last week…keep up until next slide) Last week, we talked about how we need to anchor ourselves in the storm by remembering that GOD IS IN CONTROL… He sits on the throne and controls all things. He will bring us through this. And this week, I want to teach through another part of the anchor. (Show Anchor but ALSO include “God Has Been There” on the right side) And that is that God Has Been There. Understanding that God, through his Son Jesus Christ, understands our pain…is critical to putting down an anchor and trusting in Him. If you don’t understand that…you won’t come to God in your struggles. And here’s why. If you look at God incorrectly… Let’s say you (maybe even subconsciously)…are picturing God as off in heaven… …overseeing the grand plan of humanity But that’s the only part you’re seeing That’s just one part of the anchor. But, the Bible teaches that God is BOTH powerfully big, and lovingly near Yes, he’s on the throne and in control… But He also set foot on earth…and walked among us…and He knows…what it’s like. He’s been here. And so what I want to do is walk you through a bit of God’s Word and show you how God has been here… …and that He knows about what you’re going through. And He doesn’t just KNOW it…but in so many ways, He’s FELT it. In fact, I’m going to give you 6 ways that God has been in what you’re in: #1: JESUS KNOWS WHAT IT’S LIKE TO FEEL FEAR Let’s start with the first one: 6 WAYS GOD HAS BEEN WHERE YOU ARE #1: Jesus knows what it’s like to feel FEAR This is the emotion that so many of us feel right now. Fear. I read emails & posts from a couple of our people this week that went something like this: “I’m unemployed. I’ve never been unemployed. I don’t know what’s next…or what’s going to happen. Honestly, I’m a bit scared.” Many of us are scared, are worried, and we’re feeling more anxiety than we’re used to. You should know that Jesus knows what it’s like to feel fear. Now, let me clarify, Jesus was never afraid of the unknown…because He knew the future. But He still felt fear over what was coming, even if He knew it was coming. Look at the night before He was crucified…when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37 38) – NIV 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” This is the Son of God…God in the flesh. He’s not some deity walking around that feels nothing…and is afraid of nothing. His soul is overwhelmed with what’s going to happen. We’re told in one of the Gospels that he even sweat blood…thinking about it. Why are we talking about this? Because, when you feel sorrow, and anguish about the future… You need to know that God has been there, He knows what it’s like, and He’s with you now… So talk to Him. #2: JESUS KNOWS WHAT IT’S LIKE TO HAVE FAMILY PRESSURES Take a look at the next one: 6 WAYS GOD HAS BEEN WHERE YOU ARE #1: Jesus knows what it’s like to feel FEAR #2: Jesus knows what it’s like to have FAMILY PRESSURES Let’s just acknowledge that many of us have all sorts of different family pressures that we’ve never had before. Just being cooped up together without getting out…is a pressure. For most of your families, at least one of you is typically gone for the better part of the day. And now, for most of you, with both spouses home, that creates a different pressure. You’re going to need to adapt…and communicate your feelings…often. Not to mention, you’re trying to work at home…and teach your kids at home…all at the same time. And most of you have never done that before. And you have no idea how to teach algebra…or why they’re even using letters in math. There’s a thousand reasons why your home life may be more challenging now than ever. And you can know that even Jesus had challenges with his family I was just reading in John 2 the other day, the story of where Jesus’ mother Mary tells him to turn the water into wine at a wedding. Knowing his power, she basically says, “Jesus, they have no more wine (you know what to do)” And He gives this really human answer (as Jesus is fully God and fully human) And He says, “Mom, why do you involve me?” Later, as his ministry starts, his own brothers don’t even believe in Him. Listen, God has been there, He knows what it’s like to have family problems, and He is with you now… Talk to Him about it #3: Jesus knows what it’s like to feel lonely 6 WAYS GOD HAS BEEN WHERE YOU ARE #1: Jesus knows what it’s like to feel FEAR #2: Jesus knows what it’s like to have FAMILY PRESSURES #3: Jesus knows what it’s like to feel LONELY As I talked about the pressures of a busy family in a shelter in place, some of you are thinking, “That’s not my story.” I live alone. I’m all by myself. I’ve already been isolation for 2 weeks…and, well, I’m lonely. Some of you have sent in prayer requests for your relatives that are dying…and they’re dying alone, because no one can be with them in the hospital right now. I’m officiating a funeral on Tuesday, and only 10 people can be there because of gathering restrictions. It’s a lonely world right now…for many. And I want you to know that Jesus knows what it’s like to be alone. As he was arrested, almost every one of his followers began to dessert him. In Isaiah chapter 53, which is THE greatest prophecy of the Messiah, …made hundreds of years before He came to earth, it says this about Jesus: (Isaiah 53:3a) – NIV He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. This is the God who has been there. Friends, this is who you’re praying to. He knows…pour out your soul to Him today. This is so important for us to understand. When life is hard, how you think of God will determine how often you come to God. You must know that He knows…and that He has been there. #4: JESUS KNOWS WHAT IT’S LIKE TO NOT HAVE MONEY Okay, 4th way: 6 WAYS GOD HAS BEEN WHERE YOU ARE #1: Jesus knows what it’s like to feel FEAR #2: Jesus knows what it’s like to have FAMILY PRESSURES #3: Jesus knows what it’s like to feel LONELY #4: Jesus knows what it’s like to not have MONEY A huge stressor for many right now isn’t the actual virus, but the financial impact the virus will have on us. Some of us are saying, “God, what will I do as my bank account drains? What if I lose my house?” Remember, you’re not just talking to God on the throne, but to God who once said this: (Luke 9:58) – NIV 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Jesus had an itinerant ministry. That means He walked around from city to city and brought the Good News. He didn’t even have a home. He just relied on the kindness of others to offer shelter and food. There’s one point where Jesus doesn’t even have money to pay a tax, so he has Peter go out and fish, and Peter finds a coin in the mouth of the fish. Jesus knows what it’s like to depend on His Father in heaven…even when you’re not sure you’re going to get by the next day. One of the best places in the Bible to see that “Jesus has been there” is in Hebrews 4: (Hebrews 4:14 16) – NIV 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Look at verse 15: It says, Jesus, who is our high priest…the one who gives us access to God the father…pays for our sins… It says, “He’s not some drone who came down to earth…or some deity who has no idea what it’s like to walk in our shoes…” He can empathize with you…because He’s been there. #5: JESUS KNOWS WHAT IT’S LIKE TO SEE FRIENDS GET SICK Take a look at number 5…so important: 6 WAYS GOD HAS BEEN WHERE YOU ARE #1: Jesus knows what it’s like to feel FEAR #2: Jesus knows what it’s like to have FAMILY PRESSURES #3: Jesus knows what it’s like to feel LONELY #4: Jesus knows what it’s like to not have MONEY #5: Jesus knows what it’s like to see friends get SICK This is so important right now. We’re at the stage of the virus…where 1 or 2 of you listening to this might be getting sick. But many of you will start to know people who are getting sick. And even in this, Jesus knows what that feels like. Jesus see’s Peter’s mother in law get sick When his friend Lazarus became sick…and even died…Jesus wept over his friend You know, Jesus experienced even epidemics The spreading epidemic of his day was leprosy… …and so lepers were put out of town and into camps because it was so contagious. And that reminds me of Luke 5, one of my absolute favorite passages we’ve covered in Luke, in a message called “Risk the Pursuit.” In Luke 5, a contagious leper escapes the leper colony, runs into town (where people would have been freaking out), and he falls on his face in front of Jesus… He’s desperate. And Jesus, despite the risk…reaches and TOUCHES the man…and heals him. It’s so critical that you KNOW who Jesus is. If you understand this…that He was there…you’re going to be so much more likely to talk to Him during all this. And you need to talk to Him. Take time every day…every morning if you can…to talk to Him. Don’t put prayer off like it’s not the most critical thing. It is! Prayer is a bit like a windup car… it feels like you’re going backwards when you take time to pray in the morning, but it’s the very thing that gives you the power to go the rest of the day. #6: JESUS KNOWS WHAT IT’S LIKE TO FEEL PAIN Let’s take a look at one last way God has been where you are…and this one is only going to get more important as thing gets worse over the weeks…and perhaps months to come. 6 WAYS GOD HAS BEEN WHERE YOU ARE #1: Jesus knows what it’s like to feel FEAR #2: Jesus knows what it’s like to have FAMILY PRESSURES #3: Jesus knows what it’s like to feel LONELY #4: Jesus knows what it’s like to not have MONEY #5: Jesus knows what it’s like to see friends get SICK #6: Jesus knows what it’s like to feel PAIN This is key. If life gets even harder…maybe even you get sick. Know that Jesus knows what it’s like to suffer. He’s not a God who is aloof…or doesn’t know what our world is like. He suffered. And He bled. And He died. On the cross. Let me just talk to those of you who maybe tuned into this…and you don’t normally go to church… But life is hard right now. And so you’re looking for answers. If that’s you…know that God loves you. He loves you so much that He entered our world. And He FELT what you feel…and experienced the pain that you have. And more than that…he died…on the cross And all of that was because He was coming to rescue you. Dying for your sins. Creating a bridge to get you to Him and to heaven. We will never be good enough to cross that bridge on our own Someone has to pay the price for our sins. And if you believe that Jesus died for you, Jesus will pay that price for you…with His death on the cross. Allowing you to walk across that bridge…to start a relationship with Him, to become a follow of His, and have the gift of eternal life. If you’re believing for the first time, that God has been there, and that He knows you and wants to have a relationship with you… And you want to give your life to Christ, would you let us know so we can help you get started? Either send us a message on Facebook or text Information to 31996, and we’ll get you some resources to get started. Let me pray to end the message, and then we’ll have some announcements for you. Copyright: David Sorn Renovation Church in Blaine, MN You may use this material all you like! We only ask that you do not charge a fee and that you quote the source and not say it is your own.