Hiding from God

Hiding from God

July 19, 2009

Introduction

Are you hiding from God? Why do people hide from God? What is the alternative to hiding from God? How did hiding from God get started?

Body

I. How did hiding from God get started?

Adam and Eve were the first to hide.

(Gen 3:9-10 NKJV) Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" {10} So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."

1, I was afraid because I was naked, or I was ashamed.

2. Sin and disobedience makes fearful and ashamed.

Cain decided to flee from his home.

(Gen 4:13-14 NKJV) And Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear! {14} "Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me."

II. Sin continues to separate us from our God.

Interferes with our getting God’s help

(Isa 59:1-4 NKJV) Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. {2} But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. {3} For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue has muttered perversity. {4} No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.

After while, God gives up on cities and nations.

(Ezek 14:13-14 NKJV) "Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it. {14} "Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness," says the Lord GOD.

People hide from God because of sin.

III. Man’s final effort to hide.

A. Jesus predicted that a terrible time was coming.

(Luke 23:28-30 NKJV) But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. {29} "For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!' {30} "Then they will begin 'to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!"'

B. It’s stated again in Revelation.

(Rev 6:12-17 NKJV) I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. {13} And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. {14} Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. {15} And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, {16} and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! {17} "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

C. But where can you hide?

(Psa 139:7-12 NKJV) Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? {8} If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. {9} If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, {10} Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. {11} If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me; {12} Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

D. How do we try to hide today?

1. Many people bury themselves in work. They are called workaholics.

2. Others bury themselves in sports, or other activities.

For some, it’s the professional sports: football, baseball, basketball, etc.
For others, it’s the kids sports, whether school or just youth athletics.

3. Others involve themselves in other activities that distract them from time for God.

IV. What is the alternative to hiding from God?

A. It is to be in fellowship with God.

(James 4:6-10 NKJV) But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." {7} Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. {8} Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. {9} Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. {10} Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

B. It is to enjoy being in God’s presence.

1. David did this as he worshipped God.

(Psa 122:1 NKJV) I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD."

2. Jesus was an example of enjoying discussing the scriptures with others.

(Luke 2:46-47 NKJV) Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. {47} And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.

C. We can enter into His presence.

(Psa 100:4-5 NKJV) Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. {5} For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

D. We have a choice, of running to Him, or running from Him.

1. We cannot get away from God.

(2 Th 1:6-10 NKJV) since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, {7} and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, {8} in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. {9} These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, {10} when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

2. We need to be ready to meet Him when He returns.

(Mat 24:43-44 NKJV) "But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. {44} "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Conclusion

I. Are you ready to meet the Lord?

II. Remember, there is no place to hid.

III. It is so much better to enjoy fellowship with God and God’s people.

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