Powerline 9-18-11

Sermon Notes, 9-18-11

            Pastor Lonnie's sermon on Sunday was titled "Desperate for an Anchor."  The scripture was Psalm 121.  He started by comparing the TV show Desperate Housewives to real life.  He said the residents of Wisteria Lane are philosophers and theologians.  From the outside, it seems as if they would have perfect lives, but each family lives in desperation.

            Family is a theological concept.  The first example of family is found in the Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  God's love is unconditional and others-centered.

            Every human family is dysfunctional. When we don't experience unconditional, others-centered love, we look for an anchor in other places.  We lose any sense of security, and begin to drift.  We experience a loss of welcome, a loss of protection, loss of childhood, loss of communication, loss of parental approval, shame, or lack of encouragement and hope.  Life is meaningless.  In desperate households, you drift from one thing to the next, without the anchor of unconditional love.

            Where do you take your desperation?  Take it to Jesus.  God will guide and protect you.  He loves unconditionally.  You were made for God's pleasure: He loves you desperately.  Then why all the pain?  Sometimes "Pain is God's megaphone," (C.S. Lewis).  God's not mad at you, He's mad about you. 

The root of our problem is we think God's holding back; we need to let Him be our anchor.  When the storms of life hit, we hide, just like Adam and Eve did.  The Lord will protect you.  He'll protect your soul, no matter how desperate you are.

Don't take your desperation into your own hands!   We get so busy we have no time for God, but Psalm 115 tells us the Lord remembers us and will bless those who fear the Lord.  Sometimes we are all about speed; we worship idols, we worship ourselves; we diminish ourselves and wind up with nothing but a desperate heart.  Our love gets distorted. 

But your anchor is God's desperate, unconditional love for you.  John 15:15 tells us that He doesn't call us servants, but friends.  Let Jesus end your search for some other anchor.  Let Him into your life.  Let Him keep your very soul.  Let Him into your household.

This week: take 30 minutes to write down what keeps you from being desperate for God.  Then commit to praying for help to remove that barrier.