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Think about an event or moment where you've had a "spiritual high" for Jesus, this event for many rutherford country students can be unite. When we're at unite we go all out for Jesus. We sing our hearts out, we reach out to those around us, pray, talk about the hard stuff and we worship God the whole weekend. This is what we call a spiritual high, the reality of it is is that we are confident in our faith at this place and time. Which is a good thing because if we cant go all out when surrounded by other believers then we surely cant go out into the world, but with that this high doesnt last and carry us out of those walls when we are under the public eye. Its easy to proclaim Jesus and pray with others when you are surrounded by a body of believers because youre not only surrounded but your supported but what about when your not surrounded. youre not supported in that kind of way. And if you cant stand proudly when the world's against you, then your not confident in your faith.
Romans 1:19-20
"For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. (20) For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made." Not all of us but alot of us have grown up in church we know the stories we know the meanings but we dont know the significance. If we understood God's holiness we would be overwhelmed and awestruck, were missing that.
The verse goes on to say "So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things." This verse begins with "so they are without excuse" we have been give God's word. We say we dont know what to do but we look to the world instead of going to God in prayer or looking in His word for instruction. We claim to be wise. We think we know whats best for us while the God who created us is trying to tell us what His plans are. When we lean on our own understanding and not on the Lords we are trusting in our own flesh and not our God. We exchange the glory of the immortal God for images. This is talking about when we put wordly things above God, when we look to objects to fufill our needs rather than having God make us whole. Instead of being a light to the world we become a follower. One time in small groups we were talking about being leaders as christians and one girl says its like being locked in a room thats on fire and youre the only one who knows how to use the fire extinguisher, you know something that could save people. Today that is the world, we know who Christ is and yet we let those we love and care for go without being saved we cant save others but we can share a God with them who can save.
I remember one time my dad was having a conversation with a guy at work who isnt a believer. And he said well i dont believe in God so none of that affects me, my dad thought about this and said well thats not true you cant say something doesnt affect you just because you dont believe in it you know thats not really your choice my dad said say you dont believe in gravity and you step off of a building is it not going to affect you? Will you not fall? It made the guy rethink his thinking.
Revelations. Revalations 4:11 says this
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to recieve glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." Notice this verse says for thy pleasure they are and were created. Not for our pleasure, sometimes we act like we're doing God a favor, NewsFlash HE DOESNT NEED US WE NEED HIM BUT YOU KNOW WHAT THE AMAZING THING IS? HE WANTS US! a sinful disobedient people. an almighty God who died for us so that we could live wants us and is reaching out to us with the offer of unmeasureable love and joy and eternal life and we have the audacity to be embarassed and shy and hesitant about what we believe in?
Sometimes its hard to talk to others about God not that were embarrassed we just dont know how or when the right time is, its always the right time and God will give you the words to say.
One day a man was talking to a friend who at that moment just hated God he was so angry, his father had died from cancer after he prayed and prayed for God to heal him and God decided it was his time. The man is talking to this guy telling him things like that was Gods plan for his life, God works in mysterious ways, and the guy interrupted and said if you asked God to save your dad and he died would you still believe him? My dad answered 100% yes, i would grieve and mourn for my dad no doubt, but my faith isnt based off of my circumstances, my faith is stronger than that. 3 weeks later my dads dad died. He had a stroke and passed away, I personally never got to meet my grandfather; this was a huge loss for my dad but despite this he continued his belief in God just like he said he would.
I say this to encourage you guys to be confident in your faith and to build a strong relationship with God so that when obstacles come your way, because they will, or when your faith is challenged you'll know what you believe and why you believe it.