Friday, March 12, 2010

"Prospecting For Answers", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

Back in the days of the American gold rushes prospecting was an adventurous endeavor. Maximum investment in time and equipment with no true guarantee of return. Some folks were fortunate, but some died in those hills searching a lifetime for the "big strike".

Many times they just didn't know where to dig.

It's kind of like that in our search for answers. We have questions but we don't know where to prospect for the answers.

One of the greatest phenomenons in my opinion, in this modern high tech age we are in, is how many people have a wealth of information available to them but will still pose questions to people in general.

When I have a question on just about any subject, I simply "Google" it. I can honestly say that I don't think I've ever had a question about something that I was not able to find on the internet.

Go to the library? What's that?

But how about the important questions dealing with life in general? The ones that keep a person up at night? The ones that may have a person pacing the floor? The ones that may even deal with life and death?

Where does a person turn then?

I turn to God. In fact, I turn to God preemptively. I not only want to know how to solve my issues, but also how to prevent them.

And the best place to find the answers along with what the will of God is for us, is to become familiar with prayer and the reading of His Word.

What did Jesus do?

Luke 22:41 - And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed,
Luke 22:42 - saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."
Luke 22:43 - And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.

Jesus prayed. He asked the Father and received an answer.

It is safe to say that He had a vital and difficult task to perform for God and He was weakening in His resolve to carry it out. He was so distraught over the impending suffering He was to go through that He sweat out droplets of blood.

His attitude was that while He knew what God wanted Him to do, He was hoping there might be another way to get it done without having to suffer and die.

His own will was that it didn't have to happen.

His outcome was "Nevertheless...not my will...but Your will be done."

In our problems and difficulties and trials, and make no mistake they will come, we best remember to place ourselves in alignment with God's will.

Do not mistake the way Jesus phrased this request. He was not ignorant to the will of God in this matter.

He knew the will of God was for Him to be sacrificed for me and for you. The "if you are willing" was merely an attempt to try to find another way. It was not about what God wanted but what Jesus wanted.

When we are in a place of indecision, and we know what we should do, and more importantly what God wants us to do, we may probe the Word and seek God for a way to satisfy what WE want the outcome to be. We may even talk ourselves into something that is not approved by God at all.

I think a dangerous way to pray is to ask God for something and then end the prayer with "if it's your will." It indicates we are not willing to know His will for us which can be found in His Word.

We do like our shortcuts and loopholes.

What are you struggling with today? Ask yourself honestly why it is such a struggle for you.

Is it because you don't know where to turn? Or is it because you know exactly where to turn but you're afraid God's answer will be different from the one you want to hear?

My suggestion is to first resolve "not MY will but Your will be done".

We will NEVER go wrong placing our trust in His will for our lives.

In fact, you can even Google the Bible!

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

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