We Need You Here Lord

We Need You Here Lord

October 16, 2005

Introduction

Many years ago, Andrew Blackwood wrote a book entitled, “We need you here Lord.” This morning, we raise the question, how many times do we realize, “We need you here, Lord.”

· At the great moments of life: weddings and funerals.

· At the great crises in life: serious illnesses or health problems, accidents, or serious storms.

· At times of relationship crises: in our marriage, with our children, or on our job, or in our business..

· Are there not other times when we need the Lord?

· Growing old without God is a sobering thought.

For Grace to Meet Pesky Irritations

Andrew Blackwood

Savior help us

with the pesky little irritations

that keep us from acting like Christians

if you would give us something big and glorious to do

we like to believe we would do it

with sparkle and dash

and a rosy glow in the heart

but these pesky little things that bother us

typewriter ribbons that don't work right

and faucets that drip

and shoestrings that break

and cars that don't start

and these pesky people that bother us

the idiot who toots his horn in the traffic jam

and the neighbor who doesn't return the lawnmower

and the newsboy who is late

and the waitress who never gets anything straight

and - dare we whisper it? -- the members of our families

why do we have to act like Christians when we are irritated?

why can't we be as stupid and inconsiderate as everyone else?

you were irritated, Jesus

you got splinters in your finger

and people got on your nerves

you could have kicked and screamed

just like us

but you didn't

You may have been tempted

when you hit your hand with a hammer

but you remembered.

Then, when someone was driving a nail through your hand

you still remembered

and prayed for the man who was killing you.

Maybe the minor irritations aren't so minor

maybe through them you are preparing us

for heavy duties and responsibilities

help us, Savior

when things get out of order

give us the gumption to fix them

When people get out of order

give us the grace to remember that we are Christians

and you really meant that bit about the turning the other cheek.

It's our job to try to be reasonable

if we do our part, maybe the others will get the hint.

Remind us that we are Christians, Lord

especially when we are irritated

we pray in your name

Amen

Body

I. Yes, the question is, are we living daily, close to God?

A. We need to live in the full realization of the grace that is yet to be.

1 Peter 1:13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1. Realize what God want of us.

1 Peter 1:14-14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

2. Realize what life here is all about.

1 Peter 1:17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

B. Peter gives further instructions in how to live.

1. Our purpose is to praise God.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

C. We are to remember that this world is not our home.

1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

D. We are to obey civil government.

1 Peter 2:13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme,14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

E. We are to get along at work.

1 Peter 2:18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

II. James also speaks of our living close to God?

James 4:7 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! . . . . 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Conclusion

Life is filled with perky irritations, and with temptations, but we as Christians are to “rise above it.” We are to be better than those who are around us.

“We need You here Lord,” -- Let’s ask God to help us overcome the temptations of life. When we are tempted to be less than we should be.

Have you been obedient to the Lord?

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