I came across a true story that happened in the 1970’s in the heart of Afghanistan. This was before Russian occupation or the Taliban regime which at that time, the government allowed a small Christian church to service internationals who worked there, but being a strict Muslim nation, Afghans was forbidden to attend.
It was planned that a team of young Americans would play at a concert at the church, but they were heavily warned if they said something out of sorts, something the Afghan government didn’t like, it could be certain doom for all of them.
All preparations were made to start the concert and so the host of teens and staff waited for people to arrive. Needless to say, everyone was surprised finding out that over one thousand Afghans were in attendance. The concert team members looked at each other and while putting on their brave face, they proceeded to start the concert. All went well until one teenager musician put down their guitar and started improvising and said to over one thousand pairs of ears "I'd like to tell you about my best friend, a man named Jesus, and the difference he has made in my life." The organizer of the concert was absolutely beside himself knowing what repercussions could come from this. Just then, walking from the side of the stage came the Minister of Cultural Affairs for Afghanistan. While looking at the brave teenager, the Minister said “We have seen many American young people come through this country'. 'Most of them come for drugs, and most look-like hippies. We have not seen nor heard from young people like you. God's love is a message my country needs. How thrilled I am to hear you! You are a prototype for the youth of Afghanistan to follow in the future. I would like to invite you to expand your tour so that you visit every college and faculty and also give this same message on Kabul Radio. I will make it happen.” Indeed, it did happen what the Minister said.
Everyone that day, learned a valuable lesson. God is on the move everywhere. Even though this story took place beyond our borders, it truly shows us how we cannot contain God. At this very moment, God is on the move in our homes and communities right where we are while delivering good on all His promises of hope.
This morning, we are going to start our journey in looking at this valuable lesson starting with the Gospel of Mark chapter 1. At this point in the Gospel, Jesus has come from having spectators being astonished to having following crowds. While it is recorded Jesus heals many forms of illness’s and even exorcising demonic spirits, we soon will see a side of Jesus not too many people expected at the time.
In verse 29, Jesus starts off having no rest. Paraphrasing some here, Jesus immediately left the synagogue and went to heal Simons mother-in-law. Later that evening Jesus rest was unfavorable as He healed many more people with various diseases and demonic possessions. While these duties Jesus preforms show us that you will never find a busier person than God, it truly tells us a side of God that we often forget. God is always on the move. But then, remember me mentioning about the side of Jesus that wasn’t expected? The next morning Jesus left to pray and in verse 36 Simon and his companions eagerly searched for Him; 37 and they found Him and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 38 He [Jesus] said to them, “Let’s go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may also preach there; for this is why I came.” 39 And He went into their synagogues preaching throughout Galilee, and casting out the demons.” While healing people who are sick is a very good thing, Jesus stated there is other reasons He is here. Jesus actually turned away to do more of God’s work elsewhere.
I cannot help but to think friends, how can we contain God? How can we put God in a little personal bubble where God is just ours and ours alone? Scripture tells us God is personal, intimate and all knowing, but why this sudden departure from Jesus? While I do not have a good answer for that question except to say, Gods kingdom is more than health and Jesus as the Messiah is more than an effective physician. When you think about it, why did crowds and crowds of people seek and follow Christ? Just like us today, we desire healing, answers, peace and rest! WE don’t like to wait on answers let alone healings, even though as Paul tells us “All things work together for good for those who Love God and are called according to His purpose!” We forget God has a plan and a purpose for each of us, yet what we see seems to drive us away from God instead of becoming closer. Listen to the Prophet Isaiah 41, “Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” Where in this does God seem distant or neglectful? What we forget friends to realize, God is always on the move by way of His spirit in us! Christ spirit is alive and well in this sinful world we live in. Jesus himself stated he came to preach the testimony of God to save all mankind. 1 Corinthians says “Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?” Gospel of John says “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” Romans says “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.” Gods spirit is living and moving all around the world at this very moment. Great things are happening. What each of us need to do is let God be God. Amen.
In 2008 a Cambodian buddhist girl told her Christian college friends whom she knew where active in the student ministry on campus to leave her out of their prayers as she seriously had no use for them. Her friends realizing this was the best opportunity to pray for her, so they kept praying for her. By the end of the year the girl hit a brick wall—feeling absolutely useless with no meaning in life, she seriously began to think “If God is real, he should be able to hear my prayers!” So that’s exactly what she did. Each and every night, she prayed—not knowing this Christian God and not fully understanding what to pray for, God did hear her prayers of groaning; God was softening her heart. The very next night she felt as if God was asking her for a specific response. So, she finally prayed to receive Christ as her personal savior. The girl told her college friends “All of the sudden I had experienced God is a real way which changed my heart and I just can’t stop smiling.” She then joined the student ministry and ultimately served God full-time, all by way of God being always on the move and also the fellow students whom where disciples of Christ, fervently prayed for their beloved sister.
My friends, while I do not have all the answers to why God does not heal all the sick, answers our prayers in our favor or even stop the desires and wiles of the devil in our world, I can tell you this! In every event, in every situation, in every blindsided, unexpected and memorizing circumstances, God is always on the move in fulfilling His will’s and providing for all our needs for the better, not the worse! We do NOT serve a God that sets us up for failure! Have you ever felt God wasn’t listening? Have you ever experienced times where God felt distant and absent? Rest assured friends, its not that God wasn’t listening or was not there with you, it’s the true reality that it was us who wasn’t listening and us who moved away from his majestic and mighty presence.
SO let me leave you with some valuable insights to help your journey into both realizing God is always on the move and we also need to be moving with God.
1.God is interested in your life exactly where you currently are! When we don’t come to Jesus, Jesus comes to us. The Apostle Paul taught, “We are the offspring of God” (Acts 17:29). We are God’s children. God is literally the Father of our spirit. Like any parent, He wants and desires a real and true relationship with us.
2. In order to experience God’s rest and peace, we must make the decision. Just as the Cambodian girl experienced, each person must make a choice. We have to commune and seek God by means of praying in the spirit. Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; even when we cannot pray, the Holy Spirit does on our behalf. Remember, God cannot be pleased in the flesh but in Spirit. When we pray we pray in the Spirit.
Last but not least, God knows how to best answer our needs and prayers. As God is always moving in our lives, there is no other option but to wait on God’s perfect timing. The point of prayer isn’t to change God’s will or to compel Him to do what you want Him to do. Prayer allows us to receive the blessings God already has in store for us. Listen to James chapter 4 “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request on your pleasures. “Don’t be fooled friends, God knows our hearts and motives. What we desire from Him is never hidden or secret, but it’s our duty, our need and desire to call upon God to hear, listen and fulfill our requests if we are in tuned with Him. In short, God wants us to do our part. We do not sit on our hands, especially in church, and say God, here I am, fix me! “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find, knock and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7). When we are sincerely striving to obey God’s commandments, He will give you answers to your prayers, and you will be ready to receive them.
As God moves, God does not move us beyond the gospel; he moves us more deeply into the gospel, because all of the power we need in order to change and mature comes through the gospel …. The gospel does not simply ignite the Christian life; it is the fuel that keeps Christians going and growing. We keep growing because we keep moving as God is always on the move. Amen.