IF…
Exodus 33:12-19
Psalm 127
As
I started in the Armenian sermon, Moses was ready to follow God’s direction but
the Israelites were stiff-necked. They were not ready to follow. They thought
they knew the way.
Moses
has an intimate relationship with God. He says: “If your Presence does not go
with us, do not send us from here” (vs. 15). He is not interested in miracles
as such. He wants to be with God and walk
in the direction God gives him.
Let
us examine another person: Job
2-
“If they (people) obey and serve Him (God), they will spend the rest of
their lives in prosperity” (Job 36:11).
We
know how obedient Job was to God. We know he was serving God.
Yet
Satan disturbed Job’s life. Job lost everything. Job lost his family, his
wealth and his health. He had his bad moments and he burst out. Yet he
conquered them with the help of God.
Obedience
to God does
not mean everything will be without troubles and temptations. Satan is
waiting to swallow his preys. Yet, Job stayed faithful to
God . God honored his obedience. Time is very important. And God’s time is more
important than our time. That’s why Moses is searching God’s way.
Joni
Erickson is
on a wheelchair. I think she would love to be walking. Yet she learned to
accept her situation and continue to be obedient to God. She draws wonderful
pictures and does fundraising for children. She is a strong evangelist. She is
more interested in the ways of the Lord rather than His “deeds”.
In
2006 we will have troubles, temptations and problems, yet we will continue by
the help of the Lord to live our life daily trusting in God.
3-
“Unless the
Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain” (Psalms 127:1).
Lately
building
We
can plan things. Yet there is an important if. If the Lord is not building, our effort is nothing.
I
wonder when the politicians will learn this.
I
wonder when the fathers of families will learn this.
I
wonder when the mothers of our children will learn this.
One
can have the best arms, the best city walls, but still will be vulnerable to
the enemy.
The
Chinese built the best walls, 3000 km. Yet three times the enemy could conquer
them and enter the cities. How? By destroying the walls?
No,
by bribing the guards.
If
we exclude God from our schools, from our public places, I wonder who will
educate our “guards”.
Only
God can protect us. Only God’s touch can change people’s live from the inside.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain” (Ps. 127:1)
4-
James gives
good advice.
“Now
listen, you who say, today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a
year there, carry a business and make money. Why, you do not even know what
will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a while and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say ‘If it is the Lord’s
will, we will live and do this or that’” (James 4:13-15).
What
is our life? What will be happening in year 2006?
I
am not fortune teller, but let me tell you what is Bible is saying.
God
willing, wonderful things are going to happen IF IF
IF you are ready to obey and follow God. If you
are ready to allow him to build the “city”, allow him to build your home, your
business, your family, HIS CHURCH. This does not mean trouble and temptations
are not coming. They are coming, but we do build our “city”, our LIFE with HIM.
Therefore, nothing can stop us going forward because, like Moses, we will not
take a step forward without asking His presence.
If
only you are ready to do, to act. If only…
Let
me illustrate with a story:
A young man who had made it
big had been away from home a long time
traveling to exotic places all over the world. He had not been very
attentive to his widowed mother. His conscience began to bother him and
he
decided to do something about it. He sent her a unique gift, a rare South
American parrot for which he'd paid $1200.
Well, time went by. Two weeks, three weeks, and he heard nothing.
And the
fourth week he called. When he got his mom on the phone he said,
"Did you
get the bird I sent you?"
"Oh yes!"--It was so nice, I cooked it the day after it came.
It was
delicious!"
"You cooked it! Mom, that was a rare South American parrot. It
cost me
$1200. That parrot could speak five languages."
"My goodness, son," the mother responded. "IF only YOU
had said something."
If only! 1
Do not tell me God did not
say IF.
You
have many IFs. God has many promises. We will not go one step
further without His blessing. We will not go without knowing His will. So open
your heart and mind to Him. HE WILL GUIDE US.
AMEN
1- eSermons Illustrations