Living God

(Message by Pastor Philip Joseph)

1 Cor. 12:2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.

During this time in Mumbai,  we see the significance of these words by Paul; Gentiles we were, carried away to these dumb idols – idols that can neither see, nor hear nor speak! How can we be led away like this? In contrast, look at the living God – with renewed mind we can draw near to Him, hear Him speak to us and He can hear us speak to Him. He is the God who sees! Privileged, greatly to be envied, are those people, whose God is the LORD!

Psalm 115:4-7: Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; eyes they have, but they do not see; they have ears, but they do not hear; noses they have , but they do not smell; they have hands, but they do not handle; feet they have, but they do not walk; nor do they mutter through their throat.

The psalmist describes well the futility of those who put their trust in these ‘useless’ idols – ‘Those who make them are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them.’ Have you seen a corpse or attended a funeral? There we see eyes, ears, hands and feet-all in its proper place but completely non-functional – very much dead! ‘Those who make them {idols} are like them…’

In contrast we have a God who is alive. Look into God’s word to know how He sees, and hears; smells and walks among His people. ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God’ (Luk 4:4). ‘All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable…’ Every Christian must feed on His word to survive and to grow – just as our body requires food to be kept alive and grow physically! Every word of God is pure, and just one word is sufficient to turn around your weariness to praise; your mourning to joy and help you win your hopeless battles. And so, we with expectation pray! For we do not have a God who cannot hear, and prayer is not a one-way communication! We know the answer is on the way, even as we pray!

God who sees

2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him...”

Genesis 16:13 “Then she {Hagar} called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi [literally Well of the One Who Lives and Sees Me].

You can expect the same from the same God, for you and for me. Where can we hide from His presence? Whether you are a Joseph in the wilderness, Hagar in the desert places; or Jonah under the ocean; or David in the inner rooms of his palace home; or Daniel in the lion’s den – He remains as the God-Who-Sees.

God Who Hears

Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.

Psalm 4:3 The LORD will hear when I call to Him.

Every sigh, every cry – you can be sure He hears them. David in his early days was on the run most of the time fearing Saul; yet he knew of God’s attentive ears that were open to his cries. Call on the Lord your God. He will hear you.

God Who Smells

Rev. 5:8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Psalm 45:8 All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia…by which they have made You glad.

Incense is offered up to God who smells. Your prayer and praise rises up as a sweet-smelling aroma before God’s throne. Are you willing to make Him glad? Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. (2 Cor. 2:14)

God Who Handles

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; …I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

He is God who leads us with His righteous right hand. He leads us in the path of righteousness for His name’s sake. He leads me beside still waters. Are you unsure of your future? There is a God who cares, who says “Fear not, for I am with you…”

God Who Walks

2 Cor. 6:16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

Remember where we started from? Yes - idols and the living God. You can choose worthless idols or choose the living God. Separate yourselves from idols and God has promised that He will walk among us and be our God. He is God Immanuel: God-With-Us. He is not a God who is far away, but a God who is near. In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, John saw the Lamb of God walking among the seven lamp-stands, which are the seven churches.

May we experience the fullness of the living God in our everyday walk with Jesus Christ. Amen.