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Sermonette: Near Gideon then prays to God to show him a sign so that he would have divine confirmation of God’s will. First he asks God to have dew form on his fleece and keep the ground around it dry. God did it. Gideon then asks God to do it again only reversed. Fleece dry and the ground wet. God answered his prayers. Now turn in your Bibles to 2 Kings 20 and beginning with verse 1. Here we read about King Hezekiah. I will read from the The Living Bible. Hezekiah now became deathly sick, and Isaiah the prophet went to visit him. “Set your affairs in order and prepare to die,” Isaiah told him. “The Lord says you won’t recover.” Hezekiah turned his face to the wall. “O Lord,” he pleaded, “remember how I’ve always tried to obey you and to please you in everything I do... Then he broke down and cried. So before Isaiah had left the courtyard, the Lord spoke to him again. Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people, and tell him that the Lord God of his ancestor David has heard his prayer and seen his tears. I will heal him, and three days from now he will be out of bed and at the Temple. I will add 15 years to his life and save him and this city from the king of Assyria. Hezekiah prayed an earnest prayer; a heartfelt prayer with tears and God answered quickly. Hezekiah changed God’s mind!! Is God near enough to us today to answer prayer? I have two true stories for you that show that God is near to us today. In the first story, God not only answers prayer but shows that He has a sense of humor too. Story 1: Mary Catherine-11 yr. old. Location: Memphis, Tennessee --She prayed that God would direct her father to buy a larger house that they family had been considering doing. --The house of her dreams was right there in Memphis at 310 Montgomery St. --She then found out that her father wanted to move to Starkville, Mississippi where a new job was offered him. --This saddened her and she just kept on praying that God would let them live at 310 Montgomery St. --Two weeks later, they all moved to Mississippi. They live in a hotel at first. --Father then announced that they had found a house to move into. --They piled into the car and drove to the house. Mary Catherine didn’t pay much attention until they drove onto the street where the house was. --They all got out of the car and Mary caught her breath as she saw the numbers on the house. --There, 130 miles from Memphis she found that God had answered her fervent prayer with startling exactness and I’m sure, a twinkle in His eye. --The house
her father had chosen for them in Starkville was located at 310
Montgomery Street!! The next story takes place during World War II. The story is about a small boy named John and his mother --Lived in a small house high on hill. --Life was pleasant though chaos reigned throughout the country --Frightening news---Roving bands of robbers were coming. It was the end of summer. --One day as winter began the family could see the camp of the robbers in the distance. They would be there soon. They were burning everything in their path. --The boy told his mother that God would help them if they asked. --The mother prayed fervently and asked God to put a wall of protection around them. The next morning they woke to find that snow had fallen and more than that, fell in such a way to form a wall around the property. The roving band of robbers came their way but passed right on by their place. They could not see it. GOD ANSWERS FAITHFUL PRAYER AND HE IS ALWAYS NEAR!!! We know that God is near because he PROVIDES for us. In Genesis 22:8 Abraham says “God will provide”. In Acts 14:17 we read that God did good to nations of old by giving them rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, that is food. And in Luke 12: 22 Christ tells us to not worry about tomorrow---what we will eat or wear. God promises to Provide for us. Let us look
at a wonderful story of Providence. Turn please to
1 Kings, the 17th chapter and beginning in
verse 8. Now God provided for the widow and I have told you that God remains near to us. Does He still provide for us. I have a true story for you. First turn to Job 37:6 This passage is Elihu, Job’s friend is describing God... For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain and to the great rain of his strength” In other words, God controls the rain and snow and will direct it where He will. The story is about:
a English sheep dog named Mandy --Lived in Rolla, Missouri after early retirement as a schoolteacher. --Became restless and applied for jobs all over the West. Nothing came of it. --She put her life in God’s hands. “If the house sells...” --She loaded up the car and with Mandy and Ebenezer headed west saying, “We give ourselves over to Your care” --On the 2nd day of the trip the temperature soared to over 100 degrees and Irene had no air conditioning. --She put the dog on a water dampened rug but it was hardly enough. --She then entered a long stretch of desert with the next gas station miles ahead. --She began to worry, but then prayed... “Oh God, I believe in You completely” “Please take care of Mandy and Ebenezer for they are so miserable and so hot.” --Just then it began to rain a gentle rain on the car. --Irene looked up and saw a small cloud covering the car. --The rain stopped but the cloud stayed just over the car until they were through the desert and out of the heat. (SANTA BARBARA) GOD WAS EVER NEAR TO THEM. He is near to you.
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