Date: January 23rd, 2011
Speaker: Pastor Kevin Snyder
Title: Ditch the "Do Not Disturb" Life
Text: John 15:14 -16
INTRODUCTION
Perhaps we have all seen this “Do not disturb” sign on a hotel door.
Perhaps you have used it at times…we won’t go into all the reasons.
But we hang it out there when we don’t want any interruptions or intrusions. We don’t want house-keeping staff to come in early or unexpectantly.
And sometimes we hang that sign on the door of our hearts.
Why?
- Sometimes it is because we are afraid….
We are afraid of what God might say.
- Sometimes we aren’t prepared to deal with some aspects of our life , and we don’t want to hear what God is going to say.
i.e.
In fact, ever notice how get angry when parent or someone says something to you that just might be true but don’t want to hear it.
- Sometimes we are afraid of what it might cost…What God might ask.
- Sometimes it is rooted in a distorted view of God. We see him as a task master.
I love the verses in John 15: 14 – 16
You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
How would it change your sign on the door if you viewed Jesus more as a friend than as a taskmaster.
You see, a friend wants to encourage you. He wants to share his plans with you. He wants to whisper words of assurance to you. He doesn’t always say “do this. Now do that.” That isn’t much of a friendship if that is all we hear.
Last week we talked about the keys that put us in a place to hear the whisper of God. The things we need to do to prepare the soil…the pre-commitments we need to make to be …
- Time of quiet to listen
- God’s delivery person,(Master Key)
- whenever, and to whoever, (People Key)
- with the loose handed grip to let the Spirit take our little actions and use them for heaven’s purposes (Spirit Key)
- and to be willing to step out and risk embarrassment and failure. (Risk Key)
Most of those relate to one type of God’s whispers - The whispers to action. And so far this year we have focuses on that type.
But there are 3 major categories of whispers we will hear from God as we become attuned to His Spirit. And I hope as you hear of these that you will be willing to take down any “Do Not Disturb “ sign you may have hung on your heart.
One of God’s whispers to us are…
1. WHISPERS OF ASSURANCE
These are the whispers that come in some of the tough times of life.
Let me give you some biblical examples:
i.e.
Jesus baptism
When Jesus came up out of the water there was a voice from heaven that said:
“This is my beloved son, whom I love, and in whom I am well-pleased.”
Henry Nouwen talks about that one of God’s most prevalent whispers through his Spirit and His word is “You are my beloved.”
He says that in the midst of life that is the whisper he needed to hear the most…reminded that despite all his frailty and falling that he was dearly loved by God.
i.e.
Greg Louganis – Olympic diving champion and world champion for several years.
He was asked: “Whenyou get up there, and are all by yourself, knowing one little flaw, one little mistake might will cost you a medal, how do you deal with the pressure?”
He replied:
“I remind myself that even if I blow this dive my mother will still love me.”
One of the frequent fears I hear as a pastor is when we mess up, and sin comes in the question,
“Does God still love me? Will He forgive me?”
They long to hear God whisper “I still love you. I am willing to forgive you.”
i.e.
I can relate to that
16 years ago I made a mistake that nearly cost me my family and some other people. I dozed at the wheel and hit a truck that stopped on the highway. Joyce was seriously injured.
- she had a lacerated liver and might not make the trip to the hospital in Wpg.
- when got to Winnipeg discovered her back was broken – twig…according to the x-rays no assurance that she would walk again
- that night at midnight she went into a 5 hour emergency surgery to stop the internally bleeding from pancreas & repair hole in duodenum.
- 3 days later she went into a 12 hour surgery to fuse 6 vertebrate together and insert 2 metal rods in her back.
The night of that 1st surgery was extremely hard and long. I felt so guilty. I felt like such a failure. I feared losing her or wondering how she could forgive me
I feared how my kids would respond if something happened to their mom…her family.
My church.
I spent many tormented hours those first few days being beat with the thoughts “Why didn’t I stop?”
And it was through a dark night laying on my bed that I sensed that I heard the most healing whisper to my soul “Kev, I still love you.”
That was grace. Fortunately, my wife also extended that grace and the people around me.
We have all been there. Something in our life we regret, we feel ashamed of, that causes us to fear God’s reaction to us…the most needed whisper is “You are my child, whom I love…”
Could that be what the Scripture is saying when it says,
“The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are the sons of God.”?
The whisper that you are loved.
But those aren’t the only whispers of assurance.
Luke 1: 26 – 28
26 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
To a young , unmarried girl who would walk a lonely, ostracized 9 months God whispered through an angel “You are favored by God”
To some disciples facing the prospects of a daunting challenge with the removal of their leader, God whispered:
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in?a? the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
To a guy who would stumble and fall many times. God whispered what he saw in him
John 1:41
Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter?a?). (Rock)
To a woman caught in grief Jesus whispered a word of hope
John 11: 25
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
To some disciples fearful of Christ’s departure from them he whispered
John 14:18
18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Whispers of assurance confirm God’s promises of peace, presence, power, provision and protection.
They are the anchors that keep us from slipping when life hits us sideways. They are the whisper that come like strong arms underneath that stabilize our emotions and hold us in the dark times.
i.e.
I need these whispers of assurance more than I care to admit. Like to say I am so self-assured, so gripped by grace, so strong in faith that I don’t need these….but that would be a lie. I don’t know if this illustration will relate to you or not.
But every now and then I don’t sleep well.
Last Sunday night was one of those.
Dream of being chased….woke up and it just seemed like Satan pounced . My mind started parading through all the people who have left East Side since I’ve come. All the people who have been irregular. Murmurings I had heard about me. Faces that looked disinterested or bored with my sermon last week….In the morning Joyce sensed something and asked “How are you?”
Quoted the little kids line “I feel like nobody likes me…everybody hates…I think I’m going to go out in the garden and eat worms.”
- Was that a rational response.? Probably not…
- Was it arrogant to think that I have that much influence over someone following Christ or not? Probably.
- Was it arrogant self-pity to think “I should be enough” (Kind of like ancient kings- people had to come in acting happy because their rule was so good that any unhappiness was a personal affront to the king that he wasn’t good enough and could lose your head.)
Definitely it was.
My head knew that.
But what I needed was to go back and just remember the whisper “I am loved by God…that was my anchor. That was enough to switch the gears and direction of my day.
2. WHISPERS OF ADMONITION
These are whispers of correction that encourage us to change course or save us from peril. You see, friends don’t just give us words of assurance. True friends also are willing to correct us.
i.e.
Luke 8:22 – 25
22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.
24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples.
In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
“Where is your faith?”
Have you heard that whisper?
- Times when you started to worry over some forboding event?
- Some storm on the horizon of your life?
- Some change of events?
- There are many times when I have got caught looking through the eyes of sight and God has had to whisper “Where is your faith?”
Exercise
Think of some of the admonishing whispers you have heard
- Stop
- Go
- Wait
- Ask
- Keep asking
- Enough
- Forgive
- Persevere
- Be patient
- Choose love anyway Trust me
- Believe what you know of me to be true
- Don’t quit.
What have they saved you from?
3.WHISPERS OF ACTION
These are the whispers that spur us to meet a need in our corner of the world.
i.e.
Acts 8: 26
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian?a? eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”
30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.
31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before the shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
Who can speak of his descendants?
For his life was taken from the earth.”?b?
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.
36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?”?c? 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.
Phillip sensed God’s whisper to go to someone. He felt the nudge or prompting of God’s Spirit. As he responded he discovered God was already there and at work.
i.e.
A few weeks ago I got a call from someone who had become connected to the church via the Center. Come out for two Sundays and asked to talk to me…
We met.
This is how the conversation basically started out…
“The last two weeks I have been in your church I have sensed something I have never sensed before in my life, and I want you to tell me what that is…”
That was my Phillip experience.
God was already at work….person prayed to enter into a relationship Christ & became a Christ-follower.
God will at times whisper to you.
- Invite that person to church.
- Ask them how they are doing.
- Give them that book
- Invite them to that event.
- Have them over for dinner.
- Send a card
- Make a phone call.
Those are whispers of action that put you on the front row of seats where you can witness God’s activity up close and personal.
CONCLUSION
Our God is a communicating God.
- He communicated through his creation –“day after day they pour forth speech”
- He communicated through his word….and still does. His Spirit takes that word and makes it personal. Maybe God has done that for you today. He has had a personal word for you today…a whisper of assurance, admonition, action.
- And God speaks daily through his spirit. He wants to communicate with you.
Today is communion Sunday.
God speaks personally to us through these symbols.
In these symbols he whispers words of assurance:
- I love you…
- I forgive you
As we injest these and take them into our body we are reminded
- I am with you
- I am at work in you
- As we partake together he whispers
- You are a part of my family
- You belong to me
As you prepare he whispers words of admonition:
- Is there someone with whom you have broke fellowship? Someone who you have cut off in your heart? Someone you need to forgive.
- Is there a sin you need to confess to God ask his forgiveness?
- Is there a different path you need to take?
As we partake he whispers words of action
- Love your brother /sister …they are a part of your body.
- Prompting you to speak a word of encouragement, hope, faith, love to someone.
Here’s what we are going to do
There is an Ancient Christian practice of “Passing the Peace”
Intended to pass Christ’s peace to one another. Over time has become ritualized. I want us to de-ritualize it today. I want us to informally pass the peace. I want you respond as God has whispered in your soul.
- When give signal – turn around and greet the people around you. Give them a blessing. “The Lord loves you.” Or “You are loved by God”
- Perhaps more personal – maybe God has put someone on your mind this morning. “God has put you on my mind this morning. I don’t know why but I want you to know that I care about you and am praying for you.”
- Maybe it is : “God put you on my mind. I think I offended you and I want you to know I’m sorry and I don’t walls between us.”
4. Maybe God has been stirring your heart and you would like special prayer. Deacons & myself will park over by prayer room if like prayer for something specific this morning.
Take a moment to reflect. On what Christ has done…what these symbols whisper into your soul….if there is someone you want to go and say “thanks” or you are on my mind today’or encourage with a word…
Or to must the courage , humility, and willingness to go to someone you think or know you have offended….
Let’s everyone stand
We are going to take 2 – 3 minutes for some “family time”. While doing that we will get our servers ready and when we are ready Dave will signal you and invite you to come. …come alone, together, at your pace.
Change of format:
Not all going to wait to partake. Because there is going to be some conversations going on. Maybe there are some small groups of friends, or family units that you want to partake together in corners or at your seats.
Click here to return to sermon page
The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Jn 15:14-15
The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Lk 1:26-28
a Or into; see Acts 8:16; 19:5; Romans 6:3; 1 Cor. 1:13; 10:2 and Gal. 3:27.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Mt 28:16-20
a Both Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Greek) mean rock.
The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Jn 1:40-42
The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Jn 11:21-26
The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Jn 14:18
The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Lk 8:22-25
a That is, from the upper Nile region
b Isaiah 53:7, 8
c Some late manuscripts baptized?” Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” The eunuch answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ac 8:26-38