Move Church
Faithful (part 3)
Sunday Message Notes
Locations & Times
Move Church
2211 Decatur Hwy, Gardendale, AL 35071, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
God is faithful to be present.
What does it mean for God to be present?
You may have to rethink the presence of God.
What does it mean for God to be present?
You may have to rethink the presence of God.
We don't see another direct expression of God's presence for 16 Chapters which is the span of about 8 years.
Don't confuse the expression of presence and the existence of presence.
VIDEO
Check out this video from Pastor Demetrius Hicks on God's faithfulness to be present even during one of the most difficult years of his life.
https://www.movechurch.tv/videosWe may not experience the existence of God's presence because we've neglected the expression of it.
God expresses His presence through:
- The Bible
- Revelation
- Community
- Conviction
God expresses His presence through:
- The Bible
- Revelation
- Community
- Conviction
////// A note from Pastor Fox //////
As I was studying for this message and there was a passage that bothered me quite a bit. Two different people utter the same phrasing in John 11,...
v.21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
v.32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Maybe it's just me but I think this sums up so many frustrations about the Christian faith. If God were present He would intervene....but we find that God often allows tragedy and pain, loss and difficulty AND YET HE IS STILL PRESENT, God is still there. When Jesus walked this earth He could only be at one place at a time yet He knew exactly what was going on with Martha and Mary, and the loss of their brother Lazarus. Jesus "showed up" after Lazarus had died. Jesus didn't prevent hardship and pain. Mary and Martha both stated, "if you had been here". Jesus if you would have been present then bad stuff would not have happened. The tension lies in that God is present IN hardship, loss and difficulty. That's sounds backwards, doesn't it. If God is there why not do something. If God is present why not get us out of the bad stuff. As I parent I understand this idea more and more. My presence with my kids provides them the ability to do difficult things. On a very very small level it illustrates God's presence with us enabling us to persevere and come out on the other side of difficulty and pain. God's presence doesn't always change the situation but it can change us in the situation.
v.21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
v.32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Maybe it's just me but I think this sums up so many frustrations about the Christian faith. If God were present He would intervene....but we find that God often allows tragedy and pain, loss and difficulty AND YET HE IS STILL PRESENT, God is still there. When Jesus walked this earth He could only be at one place at a time yet He knew exactly what was going on with Martha and Mary, and the loss of their brother Lazarus. Jesus "showed up" after Lazarus had died. Jesus didn't prevent hardship and pain. Mary and Martha both stated, "if you had been here". Jesus if you would have been present then bad stuff would not have happened. The tension lies in that God is present IN hardship, loss and difficulty. That's sounds backwards, doesn't it. If God is there why not do something. If God is present why not get us out of the bad stuff. As I parent I understand this idea more and more. My presence with my kids provides them the ability to do difficult things. On a very very small level it illustrates God's presence with us enabling us to persevere and come out on the other side of difficulty and pain. God's presence doesn't always change the situation but it can change us in the situation.
