Drawing Near to God
“Drawing Near to God”
By Pastor Kent Munsey
March 15, 2020
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7, NIV
We are rallying together in faith, according to 2 Chronicles 14. Together we can stay connected in community and choose to minimize the spread of fear and disease, by practicing the wisdom that God gives us. We choose to place our trust in God during this time of uncertainty.
1. God is not in our stupid, but in our wisdom
Philippians 4:4 tells us there is joy because the Lord is near. Jeremiah says he is near as well as far away. This is true in a crisis. He is near when we draw near to him.
Psalm 138 says God identifies the proud from afar. Proverbs 9:15 says he will also hear the prayer of the righteous. Where is God? We ask in an emergency. Why does God get blamed? We do not need to distance ourselves from God. He is here with us.
But we do need to cooperate with the leaders who ask us to practice social distancing because we don’t want the virus to spread to those who are vulnerable. We express our faith by being a friend and showing consideration for others.
2. God is not in our fear, but in our faith
We have been given a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind, not a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). We are empowered to discern and make good decisions using this wisdom and the sound minds that God has given us.
We also have a protector and a healer in heaven who gives us power and love. We can run to God in times like this and not be afraid.
3. God is not in our worry, but in our worship
The difference between fear and worry is that fear is a response to known threats, while worry is a response to the unknown.
When we begin to thank God and worship him, he fills us with his presence, and we experience his peace that surpasses all understanding. Paul says in Philippians, “with thanksgiving make your requests known to God.” The password to heaven is “thank you.”
4. God is not in our confusion, but in our peace
Ephesians 2:13 says the peacemakers will be brought near to God. Hope in God and let peace replace confusion. (John 14:20, 1 Corinthians 14:3, Psalm 120:6). Receive the peace of God that is available to us in Christ Jesus.
Today is the best time to make peace with God and with others. When we are facing a crisis or difficult times, it is so important for us to look within and ask ourselves some difficult questions.
5. God is not in our division, but in our unity
We are the ecclesia, the church, the called-out ones. In John, Jesus asks for us to become one so that the world will recognize that the Father has sent us. Pray for supernatural intervention in this crisis. Continue to connect in life groups, whether in person or digitally, outside of the four walls of our church building.
Let us expect a mighty move of God. Let us be part of it.
Reflection/Discussion Questions:
1. Do you put your trust in God and act faithfully in spiritual and practical ways?
2. What can you do in this time to heal and help others heal and overcome fear and anxiety with worship and confidence in God?
3. What was the single most important insight you got out of the message?