Sermons from Good News: rewards of being in God's presence

Preamble: In this season of waiting, one thing I have been slowly learning to grasp is the utter importance of intentionally spending regular time with God and getting myself ready (in accordance with His instructions) while I wait. In His mercy and grace He has taught me many things over the years, and oftentimes I will grasp it intellectually (in a 2012 post (that I retroactively referred to last year) He imparted to me the knowledge about "active waiting") ... but then not do it. I'm not going to argue against the case of disobedience, as I have been guilty of it so many times anyway, but I will say that it often hasn't occurred to me that I also needed to ask how to do something that I didn't realize I didn't know how to do. As of this writing, I am still learning that. As such, I am grateful for His mercy and grace with me on this, but I also must understand the importance of not taking advantage of Him in this way.

In addition to waiting, I've also entered this season where I at the moment have time to blog. What will follow is a flurry of posts (once again, pre-written and scheduled), in part because I want to, but also in part because the posts to follow will exhibit topics on my heart to exemplify the importance of getting right with God, especially in this age. Further, some of the posts to follow will also describe the benefits of walking rightly with Him as well as the consequences of failing (or even refusing) to do so. The sermon message below, although preached a month later than the sermon notes I shared from Saturday's post, seems to follow seamlessly from the previous. Over the next few weeks, it may appear that the sermons will be shared out of order. However, the order in which they will be shared is deliberate, based on not only the themes of the messages I share but also a few other topical posts that God has put on my heart, again, in part due to the events of the current age.

The final point I want to make before sharing the sermon notes is to exhort you, the reader, if nothing else, to soak in the main points of the below message. God promises rewards of love, joy, peace, hope, protection, strength, power, grace, healing, and enjoyment when we choose to pursue Him and earnestly desire to be in His presence. If I know that I need to do it for myself, then it means that you also need to as well.

Church 4/15/2023

Sermon message:

Thesis: Rewards of being in God’s presence

Giving God attention, praise, time, study of His word, etc.

When you seek God in faith, He will reward you.

Hebrews 11:6

Who you spend time with will affect you.

You will become more positive or more negative based on who you spend time with.

1 Corinthians 15:33

This is why we need to hang around with God and spend time praying and studying His word. Don’t let anyone deceive you otherwise.

Both our character will change and our faith will change for the better by spending time with God.

Point #1: The reward of love.

Spend time with God; you’ll feel more love.

We really need to seek love from God.

Romans 8:35-39

No one else can separate us from love. But the caveat is we can separate ourselves fro His love. Be careful. Stay connected with God.

Point #2: the reward of joy.

Psalm 51:11 Joy of salvation verse

Psalm 16:11

Want joy? Spend time with God.

Point #3: the reward of peace.

(Fruits of the Holy Spirit!)

Isaiah 26:3

Philippians 4:6-7

Thank God as you pray. You will experience peace that surpasses human understanding. Even if the circumstances scream otherwise, you’ll have peace because you’re connected to Father God via the Vine Jesus (ref. John 15)

Point #4: The reward of hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

God wants to bless you and instill hope in you and for your future.

Romans 15:13 (the God of hope)

Isaiah 40:31

Point #5: the reward of protection.

God is the best protector.

2 Thessalonians 3:3

Isaiah 54:17

Psalm 121:7-8

Point #6: the reward of strength and power.

Isaiah 40:29

Isaiah 41:10

Philippians 4:13

Point #7: The reward of grace.

God’s grace is sufficient. Spend time with Him. Receive Him and His grace. It is available. He is available.

Grace is undeserved favor.

Ephesians 2:8-9

Not of works but instead of grace. So that none can boast.

Point #8: the reward of healing.

God wants to help your mind, emotions, body, spirit, all of the above. God cares about the whole person. Don’t limit God. Don’t let anyone else limit God.

God will renew your mind, heal your body, your emotions, etc.

Psalm 147:3

Point #9: You can enjoy God’s presence.

Sermons from Good News: have a daily prayer schedule (with a preamble)

Preamble: As a confession, I still battle with maintaining disciplines on a daily basis, even this far into my adult life, personal growth, and walk with God. Even as of this week, even though I've had (and taken advantage of) multiple opportunities to spend plenty of time with Him, pray, and meditate deeply on Scripture, it still doesn't take much to distract me. Especially in seasons of waiting (which I currently am in the midst of), I can let myself fall prey to distraction and forget what it took for me to remember my salvation in Christ, and the freedom that comes with it.

On Sunday, March 12 of this year, I had a rare day off from not just the busy-ness of my schedule but the totality of factors that made it an extended season of constantly being overwhelmed with things. My original intent was to catch up on sleep, only I was too anxious to fall asleep. So I got up out of bed, went to my desk, got my Bible and my journal out, and prayed. During this time, the following verse came to me:

When they had pasture, they were filled; They were filled and their heart was exalted; Therefore they forgot Me. Hosea 13:6

As a result, I received a huge conviction from God: I had forgotten Him. Not only that, but I had forgotten Him for at least a year. What followed was a conversation (on paper) between Him and me, and a realization that what I had been doing for our relationship at that time was not enough.

The below sermon, which my pastor had delivered the evening prior, is what began to get me back on track. At the very least, committing to dedicate time with God needed to be a start. Since then, I have set aside time with Him. It has been both very rewarding when I've been faithful to Him and to this commitment, as well as a sobering reminder as to how quickly and easily I can fall off these commitments. Now, to the notes of the sermon that God used to turn me around back to Him:

Church 3/11/2023

Offertory scripture:

Your giving has a purpose.

Mark 14:3-8

Sermon message:

Thesis: have a daily prayer schedule

Setting times—regular and consistent times—to pray is important.

What you schedule for is what you accomplish.

The Jews scheduled prayer 3x a day.

Daniel 6:10

Psalm 55:17

Genesis 19:27

Mark 15:25

Genesis 24:63

Mark 15:33

Genesis 28:11

Mark 15:34,37

God honors scheduled prayer.

Jesus prayed.

Luke 5:16

Matthew 14:23

Mark 1:35

Scheduled prayer is important.

Acts 3:1-8

A miracle took place during time of scheduled prayer.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Daily scheduled prayer reminds us we are followers of Christ.
It acknowledges that God is important.
It disciplines our bodies.
It opens the door for blessings in our lives.

Matthew 10:24

Matthew 6:9-10

1 Corinthians 2:14
Prayer disciplines our bodies and minds.

1 Corinthians 9:27

Matthew 6:11-13

Philippians 4:19

Spend time in daily scheduled prayer.