Make room for God
Notes
Transcript
Handout
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
My Utmost for His Highest January 25th—Leave Room for God
But when it pleased God … Gal. 1:15.
As workers for God we have to learn to make room for God—to give God ‘elbow room.’ We calculate and estimate, and say that this and that will happen, and we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never looked for Him to come? Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him. That is the way to make room for Him. Expect Him to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way. However much we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that at any minute He may break in. We are apt to overlook this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. All of a sudden God meets the life—“When it was the good pleasure of God.…”
Keep your life so constant in its contact with God that His surprising power may break out on the right hand and on the left. Always be in a state of expectancy, and see that you leave room for God to come in as He likes.
Introduction
Introduction
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Praise the Lord, we are so delighted to worship with you today. This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
We have come into the house of God today — let us take full advantage of being in His presence — of being near Him. Let us reach out to Him with all our hearts — holding nothing back today — not allowing anything to hinder us from touching Jesus!
If we pursue Him with everything we have, then it will indeed be an amazing and life changing service!
The Problem
The Problem
The challenge for humanity has always been the same — making room for God. We may use the excuse that life is busier nowadays, but the truth is, people have always struggled to make room for God.
Life happens at every turn, situations arise that challenge our commitment. Circumstances come that threaten to knock us to the ground. That has always been and always will be, until the day God calls us home.
Illustration
Illustration
Chicago Tribune - August 12, 2000
Chicago Tribune - August 12, 2000
Dear Ann Landers: A friend sent me this story, which I thought would be perfect for your column. I hope you will print it. Kay in California
Dear Kay: Several readers, as well as some family members, sent me this same piece. Some said they got it off the Internet. It has been attributed to Roger William Thomas. It is indeed a heartwarmer, and I am printing it with pleasure: Keep Your Fork
A woman was diagnosed with a terminal illness and given three months to live. She asked her pastor to come to her home to discuss her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at her funeral, and what scriptures to read, and which outfit she wanted to be buried in.
Then she said, "One more thing. I want to be buried with a fork in my hand."
The pastor was surprised. The woman explained, "In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, `Keep your fork.' It was my favorite time, because I knew something better was coming, like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie -- something wonderful. So, I want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and wonder, 'What's with the fork?' Then, I want you to tell them, `Keep your fork, because the best is yet to come."'
The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he bid the woman goodbye. He realized that she had a better grasp of heaven than he did, and knew something better was coming.
At the funeral, when people asked him why she was holding a fork, the pastor told them of the conversation he'd had with the woman before she died. He said he could not stop thinking about the fork, and knew they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it, either. He was right.
Keep your fork. The best is yet to come.
The Answer
The Answer
As workers for God we have to learn to make room for God—to give God ‘elbow room.’ Kind of like leaving room for dessert. We know that the best is yet to come. We know that there is more, there is something else that is even better than what we’ve had. We know that we must make room for God.
As workers for God we have to learn to make room for God—to give God ‘elbow room.’
As workers for God we have to learn to make room for God—to give God ‘elbow room.’ We calculate and estimate, and say that this and that will happen, and we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses. Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never looked for Him to come? Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him. That is the way to make room for Him. Expect Him to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way. However much we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that at any minute He may break in. We are apt to overlook this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. All of a sudden God meets the life—“When it was the good pleasure of God.…”
We calculate and estimate, and try to say that this and that will happen, and we forget to make room for God to come in as He chooses.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace,
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Galatians
Would we be surprised if God came into our service or into our preaching in a way we had never looked for Him to come? Do respond with awe and excitement or with annoyance and frustration because our agenda has been disrupted?
Would we be surprised if God came into our meeting or into our preaching in a way we had never looked for Him to come? Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him. That is the way to make room for Him. Expect Him to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way. However much we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that at any minute He may break in. We are apt to overlook this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. All of a sudden God meets the life—“When it was the good pleasure of God.…”
If we are not careful, we only look for God according to how we think He should operate and how we want Him to move. We don’t leave room for Him to have His way because we have a predefined idea about how He is supposed to do it.
Any time you make room for God, unexpected blessings and strength are sure to flow.
10 So David would not remove the ark of the Lord unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months: and the Lord blessed Obed-edom, and all his household. 12 And it was told king David, saying, The Lord hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness.
2 Samuel
Do not look for God to come in any particular way, but look for Him.
That is the way to make room for Him. Expect Him to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way. However much we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that at any minute He may break in. We are apt to overlook this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. All of a sudden God meets the life—“When it was the good pleasure of God.…”
That is the way to make room for Him. Expect Him to come, but do not expect Him only in a certain way.
However much we may know God, the great lesson to learn is that at any minute He may break in.
We are apt to overlook this element of surprise, yet God never works in any other way. All of a sudden God meets the life—“When it was the good pleasure of God.…”
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
We must keep our lives so constant in its contact with God that His surprising power may break out on the right hand and on the left. Always be in a state of expectancy, and see that you leave room for God and if necessary MAKE ROOM for Him to come in as He likes!