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Is Prayer a Custom or Option in your Life?

9/30/2024

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTbwPwLb21w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rKWwyuzYUw

Our church is starting a new series called
Practicing the Way…a guide to developing spiritual rhythms in our lives.
Rhythms are not something we’re born with…rather, rhythms are learned skills that eventually become habits and customs to us in our daily lives.

Some of you are aware that I coached at the collegiate level. As an Assistant coach, I coached catchers in baseball, and the kickers/punters in football. In addition to that, I gave some individual lessons to some middle schoolers in our community. My specialty was teaching correct technique to beginners. It might surprise you, but there were times when I coached beginners in their positions even at the collegiate level. Either way, I loved getting them early in their endeavor. Watching them develop and implement what I taught them brought me great joy. But it had to start with their desire to want to adopt these techniques and make them part of their practicing – a part of their rhythms. These were learned skills that became habits for them.

This is also our goal with this series…that each of us would develop and or improve upon spiritual rhythms in our lives.

The rhythm that we’re going to explore this morning and throughout this week in our small groups…is the rhythm of prayer.

A Prayer life isn’t something we’re born with…A Prayer life is something that we learn from others.

We learn from them who to pray to.
We learn from them what to pray.
We learn from them when to pray.
We learn from them where to pray.
And we learn from them why to pray.

Therefore, if prayer is something that’s learned, then the question becomes, who am I learning how to pray from? Who is my example – my teacher in this area of my spiritual walk with the Lord?

Why is that important?

There are many people in this world who would love to be your Prayer Coach / Prayer Teacher. In discernment, one must ask, – are their practices in alignment with God’s word?

Just like there are some who are really good teachers, there are also some who have the capability of taking you down the wrong path. This is why James warns us in

James chapter 3 verse 1 (CSB) when he says that, “Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment.”

You see, when teachers open their mouths, or show by example, then they’re held responsible for how and what they’re teaching you in word and action.

So yes, when it comes to a prayer life, there are good and bad teachers.

This morning I’d like to introduce you to both…the bad teachers – bad examples, along with the good. And be thinking to yourself…

Which teacher is more reflected in my prayer life?
Which way looks or sounds more familiar to me?
Which way looks more like my prayer life or my teacher?
And then humbly ask the Lord, what, if anything, in my prayer life needs to be corrected immediately? And trust me, He’ll reveal it to you, and then He’ll walk alongside you – helping you make the appropriate corrections.

Please turn with me to Matthew chapter 6 in your Bibles.

Jesus says in verse 5 and following that, “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward.
VERSE 7 When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.

Can you identify which type of teachers we just read about? Bad ones, right?

Jesus takes prayer seriously, and in these few verses He’s making it very clear what prayer should not look like – what bad teaching looks like.

First Group – The Hypocrites.
He says in verse 5, “you MUST NOT BE LIKE,” well, there ya go. He’s addressing a group of people that are bad examples when it comes to prayer. This group of people is called hypocrites.

They’re actors…just playing the part of a prayer warrior.
This way of praying is something they’ve grown accustomed to and now love.
From the eyes of the onlooker,
- it appears that they’re enjoying prayer,
- it appears as though they’re right in how they pray,
- it appears as though they are very close with and close to God.
- Surely they’re on the right path, right?
- NOOOOOO…don’t be like them. Their heart motive is to pray in such a way that it brings attention to themselves. They not only love praying this way, but they also love being seen when they pray the way that they do.
- I read James 3:1 earlier…and James reminded us of this – don’t be many teachers, judgment is to come, and at the end of Matthew 6:5 we read, “truly I tell you, they have their reward.”
- When it comes to developing a rhythm of prayer in your life…You MUST NOT BE LIKE the HYPOCRITES. You must not pray like them, nor should you teach others to pray like them.
- Not only – don’t be like the hypocrites, but also look at verses 7-8.
  Who else are we not to be like – to not pray like?

Second Group – The Gentiles.
That’s right, the Gentiles. He says in verse 8, “don’t be like them” when you pray.

In Verse 7 we read that they babble and imagine they’ll be heard for their many words.
- One author describes babbling as “when you repeat things over and over again and it loses its meaning. Babbling is just saying words without any heart behind them. Sometimes we think that if we keep going, we’ll get God’s attention, we’ll pray the same thing, hoping that God hears what we say.”
- May we be reminded of what is recorded in Ecclesiastes chapter 5 verses 2-3 (CSB) it says 2 Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. 3 Just as dreams accompany much labor, so also a fool’s voice comes with many words.
- Babbling is not the way to approach God or get His attention.
This is an area I feel convicted in most in my prayer life, especially at meal time. Many times I feel like my family could quote my prayers.
Can you relate?
Not only babble, but…
In verse 7 we also see that “They imagine…” Meaning, In their minds they think it’s possible for their many words to be heard…but they’re only fooling themselves.
- I wish I had time to dive into the following passage today, but I don’t, so here’s your assignment…
  - Go back and Read 1 Kings 18:25-40…that’s 1 Kings 18:25-40. And see how it relates to our passage at hand this morning. It fits so perfectly.

May we – be reminded that putting on a show like the Hypocrites do, and Babbling as the Gentiles do, are ineffective and inappropriate methods of prayer to God.

Such prayers might be heard and seen by man, and might even be attractive methods of prayer to some, but God has no interest in them. To Him, each is vanity…empty – worthless methods of prayer. May I dare say that these might even be lukewarm prayers that make Him want to vomit.
In Isaiah 29:13 (CSB) The Lord said: These people approach me with their speeches to honor me with lip-service, yet their hearts are far from me, and human rules direct their worship of me.
What about your prayer life? Reflecting back on it…have your prayers been done in such a way to impress those around you, whether it’s been to impress with your demeanor or your eloquent speech? It’s possible that you’re finally realizing that your prayers have been directed by human rules, and poor examples.
Just keep in mind that you might be able to trick your peers into thinking you’re a prayer warrior and sincere in your words and actions, but God sees and knows your heart's motive behind each movement and word spoken.

This prayer rhythm is a result of poor teaching, poor examples, and poor habits. If the hypocrites and Gentiles shouldn’t be our go-to examples, then who should be?

The answer is Jesus.

Last week we concluded our series on the names of God. It was a great study that helped us grow deeper in our understanding of Who He is. Take a look at what name He’s referred to in the following verses.
John 3:2 (CSB) [Nicodemus] came to him at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.”
In John chapter 20 and verse 16 (CSB) Jesus and Mary were having a conversation. Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni! ” —which means “Teacher.”
And then Jesus in John chapter 13 and verse 13 says, (CSB) You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am.
I AM your Teacher.

Jesus says in John 14:6 (CSB) that “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” He is THE Teacher Who has and still is showing us how to live according to THE WAY.

The Way…Practicing The Way. His Way. For He is The Way – The Teacher, The Example we’re to model our prayers after.

Matthew chapters 5-7 records for us a time when Jesus invested in His disciples, by doing what?
Look at Chapter 5 verses 1-2 (CSB). We read that…

When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to teach them,
- Jesus found the perfect time and setting to poor vital instructions into His disciples. He shared because He loves and cares about them.
- He isn’t the type to pass up a teaching opportunity in hopes that someone else will speak into them. No, He was active in His teaching, because He knew they needed it and He didn’t want them to be misguided in their spiritual rhythm of prayer.
Keep in mind, these disciples He’s speaking into are not young children, He wasn’t catching them early in life.
These were young men who were hungry to learn and practice The Way.
Being taught is something that all ages must be willing to humbly receive. Why?
1 John 4:17 is in reference to love when we read that “as he is, so also are we in this world.” He, meaning Jesus. As He is, so also are we.
- As He is loving, I am also loving.
- As He is gracious, I am also gracious to others.
- As He is merciful, I am merciful towards others.
- As He is forgiving, I am quick to forgive others.
- As He is patient, I too am patient with others.
- As He is holy, I too am pursuing holiness in my life.
- As He is…you fill in the blank.
- In correlation with what we’re talking about this morning…
  - As He is a prayer warrior – as He prays sincerely to the Father, in the correct way, so also are and should we.

Teach us, Lord, then how to pray!!! Prayer answered…

Look at Matthew 6:6, 9-15 (CSB) with me…Jesus, The Way, The Teacher, instructs us how to pray. Beginning in verse 6.

6 But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Jump down to VERSE 9 “Therefore, you should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
your name be honored as holy.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And do not bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
14 “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. 15 But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.

Notice the assumption…you can even go back to verses 5-8 for this. Just notice how Jesus says, “When” and “Whenever.” He doesn’t use the word “if.” The When and Whenever are assumptions that you will and are frequently praying. And as followers of The Way we should be praying…

Secretly.
- Don’t make a scene. Don’t attempt to impress others by your external facade. God knows your heart. He knows your motives and intentions.
- Does that mean corporate prayer is discouraged? Not at all. There are many examples in scripture of people coming together in prayer. It just means that when we participate in corporate prayer that we don’t approach it like the hypocrites and Gentiles do. And if you can’t control that, then spend some time in secret prayer first. Get your heart right with the Lord, and then work your way back into corporate prayer and do it in a God-honoring manner.
Pray by including the ingredients that Jesus shares with us.
- One author states that “The Lord’s Prayer should be understood as an example, a pattern, of how to pray. It gives us the ‘ingredients’ that should go into prayer. Here is how it breaks down.
  - ‘Our Father in heaven’ is teaching us whom to address our prayers to—the Father.
  - ‘Hallowed be your name’ is telling us to worship God, and to praise Him for who He is.
  - The phrase ‘your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ is a reminder to us that we are to pray for God’s plan in our lives and the world, not our own plan. We are to pray for God’s will to be done, not for our desires.
  - We are encouraged to ask God for the things we need in – ‘give us today our daily bread.’
  - ‘Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors’ reminds us to confess our sins to God and to turn from them, and also to forgive others as God has forgiven us.
  - The conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer, – ‘And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one’ is a plea for help in achieving victory over sin and a request for protection from the attacks of the devil.”
If I asked you this morning how your rhythm of prayer is going, what would your response be? Would you admit that you’re struggling with the spiritual rhythm of prayer in your life? Have you given thought to what Jesus has to say on this subject? As He is a prayer warrior…are you?
We all know that Jesus was and is a prayer warrior. I just want to point out one other example for us from scripture.
In Daniel chapter 6 verse 10 (NKJV) we read this…
- Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
- Daniel…
  - A prayer warrior.
  - From a very early age…prayer became what he was known for…it was a part of his custom…it became a habit for him, it became his rhythm and even when his life was threatened because of it, he didn’t break. Why? He knew his reward to keep in prayer would be far greater than breaking just to suffice the pagan worshippers and ungodly rulers in the moment.
What would you have done? What would you do if our authorities banned prayer everywhere, and if you were caught praying, then you’d be threatened with imprisonment or maybe even death? Would you break from your custom, or would you pray even more for God’s intervention?
AS HE IS, SO ARE WE!!!
AS WAS HIS CUSTOM/HABIT/RHYTHM, SO SHOULD OURS BE!!!
Is it?
Some people view prayer as an option…they make up excuses that somehow exempts them from having to pray…But consider what the Apostle Paul reminds us of in Philippians chapter 4 verses 6-7 ( CSB) He says, 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
- You see, the phrase “present your requests,” is not optional language, rather it’s imperative…meaning it’s a command. Present your requests in prayer is commanded. We ought to do it because we want to show our love and obedience towards Him…not begrudgingly.
- Have you ever viewed praying as a command from God?
- If prayer hasn’t been part of your spiritual rhythm, then why? What’s holding you back? What are some of your reasons behind your excuses?

Struggling with knowing how to pray?

Does praying seem awkward?

Do you feel like you’re only communicating with yourself?
Do you feel like no one is listening? Like your requests go unanswered or ignored?
Do you feel like your prayers even matter, do they make a difference, do they do any good?
Are you struggling with knowing how to begin communicating with God?
Is prayer even a priority to you? Do you attempt to resolve life issues on your own first, and then leave God as a last resort?
Do you fear being judged by others when you pray?
Do you wonder if they’ll view you as less of a Christian if you stumble over your words?

Do you fear saying the wrong things in your prayers? Do you fear that your words aren’t eloquent enough for God and others to want to hear them?

Prayer is about the heart…it’s about communicating with Him, much like you would with your best friend in life.

Listen, Jesus is The Way…The best teacher and best example ever. But keep in mind that He does equip His followers to teach others as well. What does that look like for you? Who could be that example in your life that you could follow after? Who is that example who is aligning their prayer life with the Lord’s? Who is it that you could then come alongside and teach them how to pray?

At this time…

If you’re honest with yourself and can see that your prayer life reflects more of the Hypocrites, or of the Gentiles, or if you're someone who admits to viewing prayer as being optional, then I encourage you to spend some time with God in prayer. Confessing your ways, and expressing a heart that desires to change to reflect Him in all that you do.
If you’re here today and you’ve never given your life to the Lord…you’ve never accepted The Way…but you’ve been trying to access Him through prayer, then please understand this.
- In John chapter 9 verse 31 (CSB) we read about an important truth, that “We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does his will, he listens to him.”
- Please don’t let that discourage you. It’s not too late. There is something you can do about it, there is a prayer you can say that He will listen to.
- And that is the prayer for salvation. If you’ve never prayed to receive Christ into your life, then please repeat after me in your head as I read allowed. The prayer goes like this…
  - “Dear Lord Jesus,

I know that I am a sinner,
and I ask for Your forgiveness.
I believe You died for my sins
and rose from the dead.
I turn from my sins
and invite You to come into my heart and life.
I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior.
In Your Name. Amen.”

Did you mean it? If so, then I’d love to hear from you.
Once you’ve placed your faith and trust in THE WAY, then He will begin to show you His ways, and grow you in your new prayer life.
Old habits tossed aside, and new customs begin.

May what we all know about Daniel, be said about each of us – be said about Faith Fellowship, that PRAYER IS OUR CUSTOM.

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I feel the need...the need to be SEEN!!!

9/16/2024

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Message Notes:

Welcome…I’m Nate Smith, one of the pastors here at Faith Fellowship.

Have you ever heard the beginning of the phrase… “I feel the need…”?

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, to feel the need is… “to have a strong feeling that one must have or do something.”
For you movie buffs, finish this phrase for me… I feel the need, the need for ___________!

Tom Cruise (Maverick) in Top Gun. “I feel the need, the need for speed.” High five with Goose. https://www.usatoday.com/videos/life/movies/2016/05/10/84203120/
https://www.mikebetancourt.com/mikenouncements/2020/8/10/the-top-gun-high-five

The Collins Dictionary defines the need for speed as, “An incessant need to go fast, especially to drive your car fast, usually much faster than the speed limit.”
Can anyone relate to this need?
- Anyone that’s moved to a small town from Chicago or Denver is nodding their heads right now. Big City folk feel the need to drive fast…going the speed limit in big cities is more dangerous than keeping up with the flow of traffic.

How about Roller coasters? Every year amusement parks are competing for the bigger, faster, scariest roller coaster, why? The need for speed and the adrenaline rush that comes with it. There’s just something about experiencing our innards temporarily relocating to areas they’ve never been before.
There’s just something within us that is fascinated with and enjoys going fast.
There’s just something within us that feels the need for someone or something. What is it for you? What is it that you feel the need for in your life right now? I’m not just talking to those who have put their faith in the Lord. I’m talking to believers and unbelievers. What is it, or who is it that you have a strong feeling to need right now? I’ll let you answer that for yourself in your own head.

But maybe it’s...
- A new vehicle.
- A relationship.
- A vacation that you can’t afford.
- A new job.
- A new wardrobe.
- A new body.

There are two ladies mentioned in today’s passage that we’ll be focusing on. I want to help draw our attention to what each felt they needed.
So please turn with me to Genesis chapter 16…page 7 in the Bible under the seat in front of you.

While you’re turning there…
Just quickly…a little backdrop.
In the previous chapter, Genesis 15…God had just told childless Abram that his offspring would be as numerous as the stars in the sky, and Abram believed Him.

Now, Genesis 16, please follow along as I read aloud…

Genesis 16 (CSB) Hagar and Ishmael
16 Abram’s wife, Sarai, had not borne any children for him, but she owned an Egyptian slave named Hagar. 2 Sarai said to Abram, “Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children, go to my slave; perhaps through her I can build a family.” And Abram agreed to what Sarai said. 3 So Abram’s wife, Sarai, took Hagar, her Egyptian slave, and gave her to her husband, Abram, as a wife for him. This happened after Abram had lived in the land of Canaan ten years. 4 He slept with Hagar, and she became pregnant. When she saw that she was pregnant, her mistress became contemptible to her. 5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “You are responsible for my suffering! I put my slave in your arms, and when she saw that she was pregnant, I became contemptible to her. May the Lord judge between me and you.”
6 Abram replied to Sarai, “Here, your slave is in your power; do whatever you want with her.” Then Sarai mistreated her so much that she ran away from her.
7 The angel of the Lord found her by a spring in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur.
8 He said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?”
She replied, “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai.”
9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her authority.”
10 The angel of the Lord said to her, “I will greatly multiply your offspring, and they will be too many to count.”
11 The angel of the Lord said to her, “You have conceived and will have a son. You will name him Ishmael, for the Lord has heard your cry of affliction. 12 This man will be like a wild donkey. His hand will be against everyone, and everyone’s hand will be against him; he will settle near all his relatives.”
13 So she named the Lord who spoke to her: “You are El-roi,” for she said, “In this place, have I actually seen the one who sees me?” 14 That is why the well is called Beer-lahai-roi. It is between Kadesh and Bered.
15 So Hagar gave birth to Abram’s son, and Abram named his son (whom Hagar bore) Ishmael. 16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him.

So, two ladies are mentioned, to begin with…

What was it that Sarai felt the need for? She thought she needed…

Someone to fix her situation…to solve the problem…to manipulate the situation…taking matters into my own hands.
- Look at what she says in verse 2…
  - The word “Perhaps” (VanGemeren, 4:1029) is positioned between two major elements.
    - “Since the Lord has prevented me from bearing children…”
    - “I can build a family.”
      - In other words…If God can’t or won’t, then I’ll do something about it.
- Sarai’s response to God’s plan was negative.
  - Yes, God promised Abram and her multiple children, yet God withheld her womb from conception.
  - Little did she know that her condition wasn’t permanent.
    You’ll have to read chapter 17 sometime…don’t want to spoil it for you.
- Who was Hagar to Sarai?
  - Hagar to her was just a piece of property…low in status…a nobody to her.
  - Probably someone who didn’t even worship the same God as her and her husband, Abram.
  - Reading carefully you’ll notice that…Not once does she address Hagar by name.

In Contrast…
What was it that Hagar felt the need for? She thought she needed…

Flight (her stress response)…Escape…Run away. She also had the need…
To be seen…does anyone see me? I know I’m just a pregnant slave woman, but does anyone care?
What do you think?
Was there anyone who saw her or cared about her?
Was there anyone who even knew her name?
In Verse 8 we read that, “He [the Lord] said, ‘Hagar, slave of Sarai.’
He knew exactly who she was and He called her by name. HAGAR (meaning…flight, forsaken).
Someone does care. Someone does see me. I am noticed. I do have someone’s attention. I have been running to someone…to something…I just couldn’t put my finger on it till now. I’ve been needing, whether I knew it or not, and running to El-Roi, The One Who Sees Me!!!
He sees me now, and He’ll see me and be with me when I return to Sarai…He will never leave me or forsake me…the “forsaken.”
Reminds me of the woman with the issue of bleeding in Mark 5.
- She had tried everything by every doctor.
- She had spent all she had to help her get better.
- The result…her situation got worse. Still bleeding, still broke…
  Can anyone help? Does anyone care?
- BUT, what happened when she met Jesus and by faith touched His clothes? She was healed by Him.
So many people feel the need to be seen today.
- One author states that “Feeling seen [and acknowledged] by others is a basic human need.” https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/beyond-the-doubt/202009/the-need-to-feel-seen
- People who have been in the hospital often state that they can’t remember much about their stay there, other than who visited them.
- People long to be seen. God installed that in us, so we’d one day acknowledge that we’d need to be seen, and that we are seen by Him.
- Have you ever seen a camera zero in on someone and put them on the megatron…response? Smiles and dancing…love to be seen.
- If someone makes a great play in a sport, you tell them, “I see you.”
- This may be why many people are acting out today.
- Many people are looking for attention…looking for an audience, and sadly enough they’re looking for it from all the wrong places and people…
- All might look good on the outside, but on the inside their life situation is getting worse. They might be running from something…our prayer should be that they find themselves running to God, even if He is their last resort.
Want to be seen? Feel the need to be seen by Jesus…learn from the lady in Mark 5 and run to Him.
He sees you…question is…are you looking for Him? Are you running to Him? What will change once that need is met…when you are reminded that He sees you at all times?
God has an amazing way of directing people to Himself.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans chapter 1 that God created this beautiful world. The point isn’t to worship the creation, but creation is a means to direct our eyes to the One Who created all things…to then worship Him.
In Genesis 16, God found a way to direct Hagar’s eyes to Him. He’d seen her all along, and that’s something she’ll never forget…and because of what she experienced, we too can know and understand that He sees each of us at all times as well.

Every life situation reveals how we view God and His attributes. Oftentimes it becomes habitual for us to challenge and or question His character. I’m sure many of you have heard comments and questions similar to these…

God, do you even care?
God, if you were loving, then ________ (you fill in the blank).
God, can I trust You?
Where are you God? Why have you left me?

Difficult and challenging life situations allow us the opportunity to mature in our spiritual walk with the Lord. In each scenario, we learn more about Him to a point where we state it as a fact about who He is, rather than challenging or questioning who He really is.
Today, it is my goal to shift our thinking from asking the question, “Does God see me?” to a factual statement…“God sees me.” It’s who He is…He can’t be anything other than El Roi (THE God Who sees, notices, cares about me). Maybe you’ll continue to question whether or not He truly sees you, but hopefully this name of God will be a reminder to you about who He truly is.

It’s amazing how schools accommodate students these days. When I was in school, if a student failed a test, then that was it. Today, if a student fails a test, then retakes become available until it’s evident that the information is sinking in.
In our lives we’re going to sin, we’re going to question God, but in each test He wants to see if we’ll pass it or not. If not, then the retake is right around the corner. Praise God for retakes, but the point is that we somewhere along the line begin to absorb the information and see it for what it really is. To begin to see God for Who He really is.
Retakes become available when the following questions enter our minds…
- Does God see me when I’m depressed?
- Does God see me when I’m experiencing anxiety?
- Does God see me when I’m physically in pain? When I’m about to go into surgery?
- Does God see me when I’m struggling financially?
- Does God see me when I’m struggling in my relationships with co-workers, boss, children, spouse?
- Does God see me when I flirt with the idea of sinning?…when I sin?
- Does God see me when I dread going to my job? My school?
- Does God see me living in the regret of some of the things I did in the past?
- Does God see me when I can’t hardly stand who I am anymore…who I’ve become in my own eyes?
The answer is YES to all of it and beyond. He is El Roi…He sees you. Question is…do you see Him? Do you recognize or notice Him in whatever it is you’re experiencing? What will it take in order for you to pass the test? What will it take for you to get to a point where you state factually that…
- God, I know You see me in my depression, anxiety, pain, financial struggles, relationship struggles. I know You see me in my sin and my regrets. I know You’re aware of my feelings about my job, my school, my life.
- And Lord, Your seeing, leads to my needing. I need You more than ever.

Seeing and meeting the need of those who need to be seen is why our Ministry Teams and Small Groups exist.

The goal of any one of our Greeters, Welcome Table workers, Connections Team workers, Ushers, many other groups, and Small Groups is to reassure you that…
- You are seen. You are noticed. You are recognized.
- Our desire is that not only do you leave feeling seen by any of our volunteers, but that you’ll leave feeling seen by God.
- So I pray for our ministry teams…that each week they’ll ask the Lord to give them His eyes for just one second.

Songs:

Give Me Your Eyes by Brandon Heath
- Give me Your eyes for just one second

Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missin'
Give me Your love for humanity
Give me Your arms
for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see

OR how about, Does Anybody Hear Her by Casting Crowns
- Does anybody hear her?

Can anybody see?
Or does anybody even know she's going down today?
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her?
Can anybody see?

I’d like to close this morning by reading a good portion of Psalm 139.
If you want to turn there and follow along it’s on page 349.

Psalm 139:1-18, 23-24 (CSB) Maybe this is a chapter you go back and study this week…But I’d like to read it to you at this time.

The All-Knowing, Ever-Present God..For the choir director. A psalm of David.
1 Lord, you have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up;
you understand my thoughts from far away.
3 You observe my travels and my rest;
you are aware of all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue,
you know all about it, Lord.
5 You have encircled me;
you have placed your hand on me.
6 This wondrous knowledge is beyond me.
It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.

7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
9 If I fly on the wings of the dawn
and settle down on the western horizon,
10 even there your hand will lead me;
your right hand will hold on to me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me,
and the light around me will be night”--
12 even the darkness is not dark to you.
The night shines like the day;
darkness and light are alike to you.

13 For it was you who created my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise you
because I have been remarkably and wondrously made.
Your works are wondrous,
and I know this very well.
15 My bones were not hidden from you
when I was made in secret,
when I was formed in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless;
all my days were written in your book and planned
before a single one of them began.

17 God, how precious your thoughts are to me;
how vast their sum is!
18 If I counted them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand;
when I wake up, I am still with you…

23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my concerns.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me;
lead me in the everlasting way.

I feel the need, the need to be SEEN!

What’s the name for God that means “He sees me”?

El-Roi…God Sees Me!!!

Let’s Pray…(step off to the right)

Additional Notes:

A woman of faith?
- Sarai…One of God’s chosen people. What was her faith like?
- Hagar…Up to this point she most likely followed Egyptian Practices and Religions. What was her faith like when she met God?
Who is the only person in the bible to name God?
- Hagar…she named Him El-Roi.
How was it going to be possible for Hagar to return to Sarai after knowing how she treated her?
- By faith, Hagar knew that God would never leave her nor forsake her. She knew that He would always be with her. His power was far greater than Sarai’s.
  - Deuteronomy 31:6 (CSB) Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the LORD your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.”
  - Hebrews 13:5 (CSB) Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you.
  - I will never desert you. Desert is synonymous with forgotten. Unsee. Unacknowledge.
  - Matthew 1: 23 (CSB) See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”
  - Matthew 28:20 (CSB) teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
- By faith, Hagar knew instantly what it meant to love and forgive now that she understood His presence in her life. So why is it that some veteran followers of Christ struggle in loving and forgiving others?
What are some other possible “God, do you see me?” moments in people’s lives?
- Consider mother’s and or father’s who stay home with their children all day. Consider those having to navigate through single parenting.

The loss of a loved one.
See me in my miscarriage?
Serving in the military.
FD and PD…never knowing what their day holds and if they’ll return home at the end of their shift.
James 1:6 (NLT) But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.
- I trust You, God, but Why ________?
- I know you can, so Why aren’t You _______?
- Do you trust Me? Do you believe I’ve already been there, that I will never leave you nor forsake you?

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I feel the need...the need to be SEEN!!!

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