Stop Trying to Hide from God

In one paragraph

Steve Baldock, one of the elders at First B Jackson, brought a practical and personal message while Pastor Ray is away. He focused on two habits that have shaped his own walk with God: being an active participant when you come to church, and keeping a consistent personal time with God. Both ideas were offered not as commands but as tools from one believer to others. Steve opened by being honest...

Read together

1. Hebrews 10 quoted in announcements portion: 'let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith'
2. Psalm 19:14 quoted before singing: 'let the words of my mouth and the meditations of our heart be acceptable in your sight'
3. Lamentations 3 quoted during offering: 'because of the Lord's great love, we're not consumed for his compassions or his mercies never fail, they're new every morning'
4. Ephesians 4:11-13 read from New Living Translation to describe the responsibilities of pastors, teachers, and God's people to equip and build up the church
5. 1 Peter 2:4-5 read to describe believers as living stones and holy priests offering spiritual sacrifices to God
6. James 4:8 quoted to encourage drawing close to God: 'come close to God, and God will come close to you'
7. Hebrews 11:6 quoted to emphasize that God rewards those who sincerely seek him
8. Revelation 6 read from Steve's journal notes, describing kings and rulers hiding from God's wrath at the end of the age
9. Ephesians 3:14-20 read as benediction, praying for inner strength and that believers would know the full depth of Christ's love

Talk about it

1. Steve described coming to church as a 'big old spiritual blob just sucking it all in' before shifting to think of himself as a presenter offering spiritual sacrifices to God as the audience. How does that shift in perspective sit with you, and do you think it would change how you approach a Sunday service?
2. Steve suggested praying through different groups of people in the room during a service, from kids to singles to married couples to older members, as a form of active worship. Who in your life or in this church do you find yourself least likely to pray for, and what might change if you did?
3. Steve said that when he read the passage in Revelation six about people hiding from God, what he felt God say back to him was, 'It is impossible to hide from God, Steve. So stop trying.' Is there an area of your own life where you recognise you have been hiding from God rather than drawing near to Him?
4. Steve's quiet time practice is intentional, routine and repetitive: setting his Bible and notebook out the night before, praying before he reads, then writing down even just a sentence or two afterward. What practical obstacle most often gets in the way of your own regular time with God, and what is one small thing that might remove it?
5. Steve closed by saying that everything he had to offer, whether encouraging others, teaching kids or speaking this morning, came out of those short daily times with God. Where in your own life have you seen God use something He gave you in a quiet moment to help someone else?