We Still Need You Here Lord

We Still Need You Here Lord

May 31, 2009

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.

· Starting out on your own as a young person without God is a truly 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. How well do we deal with life’s “pesky irritations”?

1. Are we different from those who are around us in the world?

2. Have we allowed the world around us to squeeze us into its mold?

(Rom 12:1-2 NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. {2} And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

“Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould.” -- Phillips Translation

3. So are we really different in the way we treat people, or do “pesky irritations cause us to act like “other people.”

a. Do we realize what God wants us to be?

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.”

B. We are to show others God’s way.

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.

a. How well do we do at praising God before others?

b. Can we really tell the good things He has done for us?

2. He said we are to be His witnesses.

a. He said this to His apostles.

(Acts 1:8 NKJV) "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

b. He said it to the demoniac.

(Mark 5:18-19 NKJV) And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. {19} However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you."

3. He said others were to see our good works and glorify God.

(Mat 5:16 NKJV) "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

4. Peter said good works are a powerful testimony to our lives.

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.

5. Jesus said we are to confess Him before others.

(Mat 10:32-33 NKJV) "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. {33} "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

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

We are to think of our ultimate citizenship as being in heaven.

(Phil 3:20-21 NKJV) For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, {21} who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

While here on earth, 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.

We are to build Christian homes.

(Eph 5:22-25 NKJV) Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. {23} For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. {24} Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. {25} Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

III. In all of this, we must remember to live 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.

Are we telling others of the Savior?

Have you been obedient to the Lord?

Bible Study with Harley Sermons I have Preached

Hit Counter