New Hope Notes: God, Where Are You?

	New Hope Notes

	God, Where Are You? Pastor Brandon Ahu February 13, 2011 - W1107

	Have you gone through this particular season of your life with so much confusion, pain and isolation? Have you lost a love one? Have you been waiting for a wayward son to correct his path? Or a prodigal daughter to come home to you? Have you been waiting for a husband to change his ways of being hurtful? Have you been waiting for a good job so your finances would change? With all these doubts in your mind, you say to yourself like the song in the beginning of the service said, “…I cried out no reply. I can’t feel you by my side…” Do you sometimes feel God is not there hearing your cry? Are you in this season of questioning “God, Where are you?” Pastor Brandon Ahu from New Hope Leeward will share from God’s words practical steps to address this current season we are now. During the our journey of life, we face a time of questioning. In this holiday coming up, Valentine’s Day, some of us, especially the single people, ask the question why I am I lonely or alone God. Our questioning leads us also to complaining. We grow into this society of complaining about everything. We want everything now! We are a society of DVR-on demand- microwave society. After, we grow impatience. Then, we don’t want to wait. According to the Scriptures, this happened long ago to the people of Israel. This happened in the book of Isaiah. Mentioned in the background on the Book of Isaiah, God’s people were the Israelites also known as Jacob and the Jewish people. God brought blessings to them and at the same time hardships so they would turn back to God. In this verse, we find them complaining to God about the hardship which were upon them… Let us read… "Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, 'My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God.'?" (Is. 40:27) The Jewish people were complaining to God that He has disregarded them. This was their personal plea. It is the same with us also. We grow impatient and question God. We cry to him, “ Oh, God why is this happening to me!” or “ How long will this go on?” Then we justify it with a statement like this, “ God, I do good things for your glory. I have lived a moral and ethical life but why?” It is a natural thing. We all go through this emotions in various seasons of our lives. But we have to remember,,, Fill in the first point… 1.God has not FORGOTTEN about me. In Scripture, it says that God never leaves us. He stays close to us. In one Old Testament verse, it said “Even though a nursing mother forgets her child, I will never leave you.” God cared about them. During those times, the enemy of the Israelites were the Babylonians. They were godless and ruthless. They were doing well in so many things but the Israelites weren’t. The result were they complaint to God. The Israelites thought that God had forgotten them. As you go though your struggle, you have to remember those previous words in Scriptures. Hold on to the hope that is in you. The worldview is death. Going on God’s route is life leads to life and our hope. Next, let us read the following verse… "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." (Is. 40:28-29) According to previous Scriptures, the word weary comes up several times. The reason for repeating was emphasis. We need to pay attention to it. We grow very weary but God doesn’t grow weary on us. It was a constant reminder in this specific Scripture. The word was translated in Hebrew as exhausted. We get exhausted with what the world puts on our lives. Sometimes we feel like giving up. We just want to give ourselves to the world completely. But during this particular time…remember… Let us fill in the next point… 2. When I'm WEAK, He gives me HIS STRENGTH. God is the source of our strength. He never runs out. We need to rely on God’s strength. Stated in the next verse…is very important … Let us read… "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." (2 Cor. 12:9) Based on the above verses, God gives us everything. His grace and strength are enough. But in our humanness, we don’t grasp it. We just want to draw on our own strength. In God’s kingdom, it is reverse or upside down concerning on what we have to do. In the terms of the world, especially in leadership in church, when we serve we have to lead but in God’s kingdom we need to serve. We need to humble ourselves. Another example is when we love others. We only love the ones we know and care about like our friends and family. In God’s kingdom, we need to love the unlovable and our enemies. That is indeed upside down. Next Scriptures we need to read… "Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Is. 40:30-31) According to the preceding Bible verse, as we endure through our season of waiting, God strengthens us in our character and faith. When we hope or wait on the Lord, we get rooted in Him. The verses doesn’t imply that when we stress out, or worry-worry or have it all together that we will be renewed by the Lord. No…When the night seems dark and we think we don’t see the Lord, our waiting period is where the Lord grows us in faith. It is not when we wait but how we wait. We have to remember to trust the Lord and He will not forget us. Next point… 3. There's a PURPOSE for this season. As we go through this particular season, allow God to do what He does best. Each experience we go through God has a purpose. He is growing us in this season of waiting. He is doing something in our character and heart. As if He is combing a metal detector over us and looking for the impurities in our character. During the waiting season, he shifts through our character, our pride, our isolation and other things we need to change. Only God knows the reason for our season of change. So while we are waiting … In the next bullet… • Don't rush the PROCESS. God is going to take us through this season of process and waiting. We will be tempted to rush through the process and we can’t rush. It is not just getting to the destination but the how we get there. God changes us and uses us for his purpose. It is also a matter of choice on how we get there. There is a big difference between the right choice and the right now choice. An example of that is in relationships. There is a big difference between the right girl or boy or the right now girl or boy. Other choices we need to make are our choice of emotions and choice of words. It is easy to rush through the process. While in this waiting stage… Next point… 4. Pray with PASSION. In your waiting season, we need to challenge our prayer life. We need to avoid empty, safe package prayers. This is the time to pray with passion. Pray about the things that keeps us awake at night and pray from deep in your heart. An example of that is “ Dear God, where are you? I need you. I am hurting so badly. I know you know what I am going through. Send your Holy Spirit as my comforter. ..” Praying with passion is better than empty safe package prayers. Aside from praying with passion, also pray… Next bullet… • According to HIS WILL. "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us." (1 John 5:14) What is God’s will then? It is in the Scriptures. In this church we encourage each one to do their devotions. We can find so many answers of our concerns in the Scriptures. While we are praying we can also… Next bullet… • Remind him of what he ALREADY KNOWS. It is not he forgot…it is okay to remind him An example of that kind of prayer, “ Dear Father God, You know what my family is going through. Please bring home my lost wayward daughter. Remind her of your grace and love. You know her and love her…” Then, Final point… 5. PRESS INTO GOD like never before. Pressing towards God is so crucial. He is the only answer to all your woes. He is our only hope. With pressing forward we…finally… • Grow in your FAITH and RELIANCE upon Him. In conclusion, you are not alone in going through this season of waiting. There are so many people going through it. We need to remind ourselves that God hasn’t forgotten us. When we are going through our weakest points, remember He give us strength. We need also to tell God of our concerns in passionate prayer that His will not ours be done. We must also remind of our needs that He already knows. Finally we need to press toward God and grow in our faith and reliance on Him. Discussion Suggestions: 1. What are the pressing questions you been asking God? Has He answered some of your questions? 2. What does “weary” really means? Are you at that point? 3. What is the worldview of weakness? 4. What is God’s view of weakness? 5. Are you in the waiting period right now? Share some experiences of character and faith building process God is taking you.