Sermon Central
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Call And Look Unto God Series
Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Aug 24, 2020 (message contributor)
Summary: Our prayers today are so much about ourselves and with time we have lost that much needed touch with God. It has become more of a routine or duty. But it is time we turn to God, seek Him with our whole heart and return to the everlasting spring leaving behind the traditions!
Call and look unto the Lord
We read in Psalm 91:2, I will say to the LORD, "You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." (GW)
As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, if we were to take a moment to analyze our prayers, we would be surprised to know that most of them are self - centered. Our prayers pertain to ourselves, our families, our work, our health and our future. However, the things that David sought after from God are in total contrast to what predominantly occupies our thoughts and prayers.
Recent Sundays are so unique in the history of our country, and of the world as well. These are days when people of God have no way to gather together to worship the Lord as we usually do. There is something that we as a church have failed to do, which is probably the reason for the calamity that we are facing right now. If we give heed to the word of the Lord, repent and get back to Him, the Lord will look down with compassion and bring back blessing to our nation and to the world.
• The people of Israel forgot the Lord
We read in 1 Samuel 12:9-10, But they forgot the LORD their God. So he handed them over to Sisera, who was the commander of the army of Hazor, to the Philistines, and to the king of Moab. All of them fought against your ancestors. Then they cried out to the LORD and said, 'We have sinned. We have abandoned the LORD and served other gods and goddesses-the Baals and the Astartes. But rescue us from our enemies now, and we will serve you.' (GW)
In the above mentioned verse the people of Israel had forgotten all about God. God punished them and handed them over to be devastated by their adversaries. It was only when they were surrounded by enemies on all sides, and were challenged with utter destruction did they remember to call on the Lord.
Since we live in a hill station, many of us may have had this experience which I am sharing. We may suddenly receive a call from a relative or acquaintance whom has not been in touch with us for many years. While we are glad that they have re-connected with us, somewhere towards the end of the conversation, they may inform us that they are planning to visit our place sometime soon. They remembered us only because they were in need of a favor from us. So also many of us have no place in our lives for God, don’t care to remember Him, but run to Him only to have our needs met.
We live in a strange time when our possessions, position, or our influence can do nothing to save us from this calamity that we are challenged with. Only the Lord in His grace can save us from these disastrous situations that we are faced with right now.
The church of God has regressed in their understanding of who we really are. We have started to use this as an organization to have our babies christened, our children married, and our funerals taken care of. May we be reminded that the purpose of the church is to worship the Lord, and to be that community who will lift our voices in prayer for our needs, and those of the entire world.
The second coming of the Lord is at hand, it will be sudden, and if we are not prepared to receive Him we will be left behind. Jesus explained this in detail when He said that there will be two in a field, and one will be taken and the other left back. So also two women will be grinding at the mill, one will be taken and the other left behind. We must all be ready for the second coming of the Lord Jesus.
Isn’t it strange that we are very prompt to keep reminders for all the bills that have to be paid, but have no time to remember God?
We read in Jeremiah 2:32, A young woman can't forget her jewelry or a bride her veils. Yet, my people have forgotten me for countless days. (GW)
We as a church have become content with all that is outward and superficial. We have forgotten the Lord for innumerable days. However, if we repent and turn to the Lord, He will surely look down on us with mercy.
We read in Zechariah 1:3, Tell the people, 'This is what the LORD of Armies says: Return to me, declares the LORD of Armies, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Armies.' (GW)
The call of the Lord of the Armies is that His people should return to Him. When we do so the Lord promises us that He will indeed return back to us. This world, and the things of this world are temporary and transitory. Only those things that we do to invest for the kingdom of God are going to have eternal value.
