Where are you? Oxygen Message 12/14/05

This is a picture of the leadership team in Training. "The Urban Challenge" I hope some of you will be involved next year.

Where are you?



· Intro: Have you ever been at place in your life where you were like, God where are you right now? I need you and I can’t see you at work. The holidays can be times when we feel very lonely. Disappointed because of family situations. Bottom line is this. HURTS ARE MAGNIFIED during this time.

· Then there are others of us that Christmas is so incredible and comforting and warm and well we can’t get enough.

· It’s the most amazing time of the year. Good times seem great, and bad times seem horrible.

· I think tonight we can talk about working together, where those of us who are asking the question where are you God and those of us who feel encouraged and close to God can point the way.

· There was a story in the bible that talks about asking the question where are you God. Check this out.





Exodus 14:1-31 (NIV)
[10] As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. [11] They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? [12] Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"
[13] Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. [14] The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."
[15] Then the Lord said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. [16] Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. [17] I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. [18] The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen."
[19] Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, [20] coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.
[21] Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, [22] and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.
[23] The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. [24] During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. [25] He made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt."
[26] Then the Lord said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen." [27] Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. [28] The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen--the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.
[29] But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. [30] That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. [31] And when the Israelites saw the great power the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.



Ok, here’s some points we can look at:

1. Remember the Facts.
a. Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."
i. God’s very nature is this. He can’t lie to you. Like Lier, lier.
1. This is opposite of what we think in our world many times we assume people won’t follow through with what they say or what they say is just an empty promise. God isn’t that way.
ii. He’s omni-present. (Big Word) Everywhere at once.
iii. He loves you unconditionally.
iv. 2 Tim. 4:16-17 (MsgB)
At my preliminary hearing no one stood by me. They all ran like scared rabbits. But it doesn't matter— [17] the Master stood by me and helped me spread the Message loud and clear to those who had never heard it. I was snatched from the jaws of the lion!
**Sommers cry.** David’s words.
2. Talk to Him - God - Simple but easy.
a. Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV)
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. [8] For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Examples: Psalm 142:5 (MsgB)
I cry out, God, call out:
'You're my last chance, my only hope for life!'

Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)
'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'

Many times we don’t want to ask for help and in this case it’s that simple. Cry out.
· Not just here, we’re here to get motivate you to cry out the rest of the week.
· When it’s you and him.
· Tonight as well.

3. Be thankful. Focus on What God has given you. Even when you don’t want to.
a. 1 Thes. 5:18 (NIV)
give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
2 Cor. 6:9-10 (NIV)
known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; [10] sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.


Those of us who feel blessed and God is near.
4. Give your life away! Do what Jesus would do, live life to Give.
Luke 6:38 (MsgB)
Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."
a. A kind word
a. Letter
b. Message
c. Face to face
b. Give your stuff away
a. Clothes
b. Money
c. Something that has value to you.
c. Time to someone who needs it.
d. Your story - Project 52.

Assignment:

Give something away that is worth something to you. This is Christmas. Ask God what he would have you give. And give it away.

Find the one kid you know could use it. And give.




Altar: If you would like to experience Jesus and his love, his forgiveness, his purpose for our lives. We want you to respond. Tonight.

Pastor Doug