Father's Day

Let’s open our bibles together to Johns Gospel. And find with me chapter 9 and we’ll being in verse 7. This morning, on this Father’s day I want too explore a topic that is a bit tender for my heart because I grew up without a father. And so, this morning I want to examine two things… I want to speak a little on the voice of the heavenly Father and how we hear him and recognize his voice, and Secondly, what of those moments when the fathers voice is absent from our lives? What do we do? How do we handle the silence of God. Lets read together, “Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.”

In Johns gospel, in verse three, Jesus says, and the sheep hear his voice. And so we begin here, the voice of God can be recognized. One of the interesting things about parent hood is the fact that mothers and fathers can recognized their kids voice. It’s like a built in, super power that in the midst of all kinds of noises and voices, a parent can recognize their kids laughter, or cry. Of course, I remember the moment where Chloe fell from a bridge in Puerto Rico and you can hear her cries for help to get back up on the path. We have video of Alicia and I running to the rescue. I cant tell you how many times one of our kids would be playing when they were little and maybe they had fallen or gotten stuck and we would hear and recognize their cry from another room, and we would come running to help. I’m sure, for most of you, as parent you probably have some funny stories of how your kids got into curious situations and needed help, and you heard their voice calling for help. Jesus in this moment, says, the sheep hear his voice. Theres a recognition there…. Sheep are recognizing His voice. That means, theres identification happening. Its like with twins. The more I get to know Matt and Mike, the more I was able to recognize their differences and also, I was able to now know them by name and I can distinguish their voices. For the longest time, I couldn’t recognize them, I couldn’t identify them. But now, I can hear their voice and make a 50/50 chance of getting it right… Ya know, I was thinking of a late friend this week, and I was remembering his laugh. I miss his laugh. I miss him. I miss him because he was my friend. I think of many of you… you have voices that you remember and miss. Maybe it’s your father, or grandfather, or someone you’ve loved very deeply. And I love the fact that we live in an age where we can have recordings of voices of those we’ve loved and has already passed on that we can play and replay and remember the relationship we once had with them. Thats what recognition requires, recognition takes relationship. To know something, or to know someone, takes spending time with that person. To know and to understand them. I believe most of our misunderstanding with other people can be understandings if we would just take the time to listen to one another. Most of our marriages wouldn’t end in divorce if we would just take time to listen to now another. Most often friendships would be saved if we were patient in listening to one another. Because in the process of listening you’ll learn so much about the other person. If you don’t like someone….. why not get to know them.. Learn about them.. learn why they say and so what they say and do. And I’m a firm believer of this, the more we know someone, the more were willing to extend grace to one another. How true is that.. aren’t we more prone to extend forgiveness to those we know, than those who we don’t know. You see, Relationships matter when it comes to recognition. Do you know the story of young Samuel in the old testament? Samuel was the son of Hannah, who had desired a son very badly and prayed to the Lord for him. At one time, she was weeping in prayer for a son, and the priest Eli sees her and he’s like, woman, why are you drunk? I mean, already in the story we see that Eli has no awareness of the situation… theres no relationship him and Hanna. So he just jumps to conclusions and self assumptions that this woman must be drunk. But Hanna, is like, I’m not drunk, And I would be like, Ya know Eli, if you actually took the time to get down and kneel next to her, and pray with her, you’d find out that her heart was breaking over the fact that she really wanted to have a son. She’s weeping because she has a broken heart. She’s brining my prayers before the Lord, in hopes that he would bless her with a son. Eli makes no attempt to be empathetic towards her .. other than, when she confessed that she’s not drunk, and why she was was weeping, Eli just say, go in peace and may God grant your desire. She makes a prayerful vow to give her son over to the Lord once he is weened and guess what, the Lord responded and gave Hannah a precious baby boy, who she named Samuel So, once Samuel was old enough, Hanna gives her son over Eli and Samuel begins training in the temple under the apprentice ship of Eli. And In 1 Samual, chapter 3, Samuel wakes up in the middle of the night when he heard someone call out his name. I mean, goosebumps right? Samuel’s hearing voices. And so, Samuel runs to Eli because he thought Eli was calling him. Eli said that he hadn’t called his name and Samuel should go back to bed. And so Samual heads back to bed, and guess what? Soon he hears a voice call his name again, so he gets up and runs back to Eli. Again, Eli told him that he hadn’t called him. Samuel went back to bed. Now, here is where it gets interesting, listen to what the word tells us in I Samuel chapter 3, beginning in verse 7. 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” I think its interesting that Samuel did not yet know the Lord. You see, there was no relationship, and if theres no relationship, then there’s no recognition of who’s calling him. Where did Samuel go? He went to the one where there was a relationship. He runs to Eli…. Did you call me.

And by this third time, Eli catches on.. because look at what verse 8 continues to say, Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’”

Samuel goes and lays down… And I want you to hear this.. When it comes to the recognizing God’s voice and the relationship with him, we need to be where God wants us to be to hear from him. I senses, theres a lot of people, perhaps here in the midst of our congregation, or even listening online that you’re wanting to hear from God, but your not where you need to be to hear from him. Some of you want to hear from God, but you haven’t done the last thing you’ve heard for him. The more you listen for God, the better you'll get at recognizing His voice. Wouldn’t it be totally awesome to hear from God this morning? The good news is that we can. We can hear from God. Some of you are hearing him within your heart right now. Some of you have already built a relationship with him, to hear his voice. To know him. Thats the promise in our Scripture this morning, is that Jesus says, The Sheep hear my voice. Do you know where this begins… it begins with love.

Do you know where love originates? It originates and begins with God. I John chapter 4 says, 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. So, love is born within the person when they are born again. Love is so powerful that it can even fuel our faith in moments where our faith is being tested. It does. If you find yourself slipping in your faith, and you’re walking away from God, what draws you back to God… it’s remembering His love. It’s love that persuades and allures us into the wilderness to be alone with God. For what purpose? Listen, often times, we are led into the wilderness so that we can hear the voice God. He’s calling us.,. wooing us… back to himself. Away from the love of the world. Which is the love we’ve known since our birth. Hosea writes, Therefore, I am going to persuade her, lead her to the wilderness, and speak to her tenderly. Love is drawing the person back, and away from the world, and into the wilderness so that the one who’s so confused over all the voices trying to get your attention and love, and affection, can all be silences so that the heart can hear the faithful calling of our God, saying, believe in me… put your faith in me. Because often times faith requires us to to step out into unknown moments. Thats what faith is. Faith is not knowing what will happen tomorrow, but we’re willing to go into the unknown with the known God. Faith is going into the shadow knowing its not darkness but the train of God’s righteousness. Faith in a relational context is being willing to step into a place of uncertainty, because it’s in that space that a relationship has the opportunity to grow. I wish we would see our wilderness not as a place of suffering, but as a place of growth. It’s within the wilderness that Moses met God and within the bush that was burning and was not consumed. Its within the wilderness where he led the Israelites and he lived by faith and yearned for nothing but God’s presence. Its within the wilderness that Abraham by faith, went into, and away from his family and home to be led into the unknown. And his wife Sarah followed her husband by faith. Its within the wilderness that God hears the cries of Hagar and by faith she returns back to Abraham and Sarah. Its within the wilderness that Jesus goes to be tempted, and he trusts in the word of God. It’s within the wilderness where the early church gathers together, and finds the strength in the Holy Spirit top proclaim the gospel to a generation that was lost and needing hope. It’s within the wilderness that John is thrusted upon to right the book of revelation of things to come. Its within the wilderness where you and I grow in our faith, and we grow in our trust in God, and it’s in theses moments where our love for him is truly put to the test.

The wilderness are moments in our journey where we are reminded to have the courage to step into those place of uncertainty. Through love, we find that faith is to keep seeking God in all of our circumstances. No matter what.. Its to know these words, Be still and know that I am God. And to trust, by faith that we will hear the voice of Christ . my sheep will hear my voice. It’s within the wilderness we must go to make highways for those who are lost in the wilderness.. 'Isaiah writes, ’In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God’” We hear and come to know the fathers voice through Christ, who lives in us and calls us To be the hands and feet and the mouth pieces of our God, to seeks the lost who’s trapped in a land that is dry and desolate.

But theres a problem….. What happens to our faith, and trust in the moments where we don’t hear from him? When we ourselves are in the wilderness? Where were not recognizing God’s presence, or His voice in our life? What happens when the wilderness gives off no light, but darkness surrounds us? Is it possible to be in a situation, or a place in your life, where you know God's presence is there, but yet, you do not sense him… nor hear from him? I say yes… it is possible. And since it is possible it’s also heart breaking. Because, When Christ has become you’re bread. And in these moments where you’re looking for the bread of life, and you can’t find it.. and you yearn for it… you feel helpless and hopeless and lost yourself. Just a half year or so ago, I remember telling a dear friend of mine.. I don’t sense Gods presence I my life. I don’t sense him in the church when I preach. I don’t feel him. I feel like, I’ve been blinded. And it’s lonely… and I feel helpless…and hopeless… I’m not recognizing God's grace in my life. And sometimes, I feel like… yelling, with my fist clinched, God why have you departed from me… where are you… in this moment… and trust me… when I had confided in my friend, the next three months didn’t get better, it got worse.

Jesus says, “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. And here I am, asking, and seeking and yearning for His will, for my nourishment comes from doing the will of the Father, but I’m not feeling His presence in my life. How would you live if the substance of your nourishment went away? How would you feel if you never felt the warmth of his love in your life for a season? I think of widows.. and their pain when they’ve lost a spouse. Do you know what it’s like to embrace and sit next to a woman thats grieving for her lost husband? It’s heart breaking. It’s as if their whole life has been ripped from them. What would you do when life feels dark around you? Would you stop praying? Would you stop reading your Bible? Would you give up on church? We need to understand at times, in those moments in our relationship with God, we need to remember that God often withdraws his presence from us, not because were bad, or we’ve done something wrong, but often it’s to test and purify our faith. What I want us to see this morning, is something good in the book of Isaiah. it’s called the servants song, and I want to read this you.. listen to these words….. It says, Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God. You see, relationship is hallow if there is no trust. It’s absolutely possible to be in a relationships where there is no trust between the two people. And let me just say, and I think we all have had broken relationships before… it hurts doesn’t it, it hurts when our trust has been broken. And I think sometimes, when we come to Jesus for salvation, sometimes because of our past relationship experiences and failures and hurts, we’re afraid that when God doesn’t show up, or answers our prayers, or in these moments where we don’t feel him… … We’re …afraid to step out by faith. We’re believers… We’re Christian…and we want to believe. We want to feel. We want to know.. we want to hear the voice of our God, in the midst of our trials. And tells others, God is here. He’s among us… do you sense him… But yet, there are moments where he seems to be absent, those are moments where God is wanting your faith to grow.. and your faith to trust in him a little more today than yesterday.. He will leave you at times in utter darkness. Leave you without anything to sustain your hope or your faith except your knowledge of who he is and his faithful character.

I've been in those moments. Those moments like Peter stepping out by faith on the water while the other disciples watched him begin to sink. I’ve been in those moments… Where friends have hurt and left me. Where colleagues have not been there for me in tough times, or have hurt me, or broke my trust, or watched me drown without holding out a hand… saying brother… Grab hold. I’ve been in moments Where God’s presence felt distant and I’ve felt alone and the tempter comes to tempt my faith and love for Christ. And I asked myself… all the time. Why not give up. Why not give up and turn from God? Why not return to my old life. YOLO… right? Why? Because my love for Christ is greater than my love for who I once was. That’s why… because I desire holiness. And theres no holiness without Christ! It's in these dark moments where God is wanting you to trust in his character, and in his faithfulness, and in his word. And it’s in these moments where you don’t return to a life of sin or return to the world around you, but you wait for him.. I believe it’s in these moments where God looks to the angels, and the heavenly multitude and goes, .. you see him… you see her… that’s my faithful servant who loves me more than just feelings my presence. That even when I am gone, they love me. “Look at them… my servants who walks in darkness and they have no light but they trust in my name.” Do you see him? Do you see her… that’s my beloved. What they thought was suffering and a pit of despair was actually a well of opportunity to glorify my name in the midst of their darkness more than if they had all the miracles and wonders, and feelings in the world knowing that I am near them. Thats real and genuine and authentic faith. A faith that loves and trusts in my name.

My prayer for you today, fathers… is this… Be a man that yearns for the voice of God, because God is speaking. But also, be a man that lives by faith even in those moments that are hard. Those moments where your faith is tested.. Because if you haven’t heard it in a awhile, …… Hear this… The heavenly Father is proud of the godly man you’re becoming. He loves you. He’s there for you and in you and with you. Amen? Let’s stand together and hear our benediction together. Benediction for Father's Day 2 (based on Jeremiah 31)

Listen to what the Lord says: “I have loved you with an everlasting love, and still I maintain my unfailing love toward you. I will lead you beside quiet streams, and down smooth, uncluttered paths so that you do not stumble. For I have become a Father to you, and you are my firstborn child.”

Go from here in confidence, knowing that the love of God the Father, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit, goes with you. Amen.*