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We Still Need You Here Lord

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“We need you here Lord.” • Many years ago, Andrew Blackwood wrote a

book entitled, “We need you here Lord.” • This morning, we raise the question, how

many times do we realize, “We need you here, Lord.”

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“We need you here Lord.” • At the great moments of life: weddings and

funerals.• At the great crises in life: serious illnesses or

health problems, accidents, or serious storms.

• At times of relationship crises: in our marriage, with our children, or on our job, or in our business..

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“We need you here Lord.” • Are there not other times when we need the

Lord? • Growing old without God is a sobering

thought.• Starting out on your own as a young person

without God is a truly sobering thought.

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For Grace to Meet Pesky Irritations

• Savior help us• with the pesky little irritations• that keep us from acting like Christians

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For Grace to Meet Pesky Irritations

• if you would give us something big and glorious to do

• we like to believe we would do it• with sparkle and dash• and a rosy glow in the heart

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For Grace to Meet Pesky Irritations

• but these pesky little things that bother us• typewriter ribbons that don't work right• and faucets that drip• and shoestrings that break• and cars that don't start

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For Grace to Meet Pesky Irritations• and these pesky people that bother us• the idiot who toots his horn in the traffic jam • and the neighbor who doesn't return the

lawnmower• and the newsboy who is late• and the waitress who never gets anything

straight• and - dare we whisper it? -- the members

of our families

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For Grace to Meet Pesky Irritations

• why do we have to act like Christians when we are irritated?

• why can't we be as stupid and inconsiderate as everyone else?

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For Grace to Meet Pesky Irritations

• you were irritated, Jesus• you got splinters in your finger• and people got on your nerves• you could have kicked and screamed• just like us• but you didn't

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For Grace to Meet Pesky Irritations

• You may have been tempted• when you hit your hand with a hammer• but you remembered.• Then, when someone was driving a nail

through your hand• you still remembered• and prayed for the man who was killing you.

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For Grace to Meet Pesky Irritations

• Maybe the minor irritations aren't so minor• maybe through them you are preparing us• for heavy duties and responsibilities• help us, Savior

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For Grace to Meet Pesky Irritations

• when things get out of order• give us the gumption to fix them

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For Grace to Meet Pesky Irritations

• When people get out of order• give us the grace to remember that we are

Christians• and you really meant that bit about the

turning the other cheek.• It's our job to try to be reasonable

• if we do our part, maybe the others will

get the hint.15

For Grace to Meet Pesky Irritations

• Remind us that we are Christians, Lord• especially when we are irritated• we pray in your name• Amen

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Yes, the question is, are we living daily, close

to God?  17

How well do we deal with

life’s “pesky

irritations”?18

Are we different from those who are around us in the world?

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Be different from the world

• (Rom 12:1-2 NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. {2} And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

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Have we allowed the

world around us to squeeze

us into its mold? 21

Phillips Translation

• “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould.”

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So are we really different in the way

we treat people, or do “pesky irritations” cause us to act like

“other people.”23

Do we realize what God wants us to be?

• 1 Peter 1:14-16 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

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We are to show others God’s way.

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Our purpose is to praise God.• 1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen

generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; {10} who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

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“You shall be witnesses to Me”

• (Acts 1:8 NKJV) "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

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Tell them what great things the Lord has done for you,

• (Mark 5:18-19 NKJV) And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. {19} However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you."

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Bring Glory to God• (Mat 5:16 NKJV) "Let your light so shine

before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

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They may glorify God• 1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners

and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

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Confess Christ• (Mat 10:32-33 NKJV) "Therefore whoever

confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. {33} "But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

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Citizens of heaven• (Phil 3:20-21 NKJV) For our citizenship is in

heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, {21} who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

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Be good at Work• 1 Peter 2:18 Servants, be submissive to your

masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully.

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Have a Great Home!• (Eph 5:22-25 NKJV) Wives, submit to your

own husbands, as to the Lord. {23} For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. {24} Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. {25} Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,

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Live Close to God• James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist

the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.9 Lament and mourn and weep! . . . . 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

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Conclusion

• Life is filled with perky irritations, • And with temptations, • But we as Christians are to “rise above it.” • We are to be better than those who are

around us.• “We need You here Lord,” –

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Conclusion

• “We need You here Lord,” – • Let’s ask God to help us overcome the

temptations of life. • When we are tempted to be less than we

should be.• Are we telling others of the Savior?• Have you been obedient to the Lord?

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