Who, What, When, Where, Why? – Part II
Who, What, When, Where, Why? – Part II"What is God?"
Posted by Church of God of Carmichael on Sunday, July 12, 2020
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Who, What, When, Where, Why, is God, ..helps for us to focus on what is essential. What is essential has also become our focus in our present daily world. People are talking about what is essential, and their questions are essential to the Church, and to bring us back to basics. We can agree with some other pastors who have said that during this time of building on our foundation, it should remind ourselves, and go back to of what really is foundational to us in times of crisis, and difficulties. To remind us of how we got started, …and what brought us here.
TEXT: JOHN 4:21-24
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour cometh and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
What is God? God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him, must do so in spirit and truth. Jesus saith to the woman (in this text) verse 22 ” we know what we worship (and not “who”). I wonder if this woman could represent any of us? She is a woman, a person, …like many people are today. Jesus said, “Ye worship ye know not what“, This woman seems to know God, but does not really know Him in a ‘personal’ sense. She comes to God with knowledge about Him, of who she believes she should worship. She believes she should worship in the mountains of her village like her ‘fathers’ told her she should, in a religious way, traditions, and with the rituals she was taught to. But it seems from ‘this’ encounter she really doesn’t ‘know God,’ or have a personal experience. It can remind us of a place in our life when we ask these five questions, Who, What, When, Where, and Why, because we really didn’t yet know God! Didn’t really experience God, even tho perhaps we are a moral person, knowing right from wrong! Even tho most of the time my morals inform me of decisions of what I do, ..there are times I slip or follow my own desires, temptations, and so then I get back to the place where I might feel guilty of those things,… but yet I don’t know God. If I’m honest, in those quiet times in the night, maybe I call out to God, and ask “where” are You? Which of course is another ‘W” question. What is God?, …is what we are focusing on this week, of what is essential . It’s important that we ask these really fundamental questions about God!
The question, “What” is God….opens the door of faith! The door of faith is closed until we ask these questions. Focusing on What is God ..helps us to know what is essential during these times. What is God? It is so very important to ask really fundamental questions as we go through life! So often in times like this, when life becomes really fragile, …people still aren’t asking these fundamental questions! Even with those who might say that they ‘do’ know God. The busyness of life’s many routines….we spend our week, enveloped in those distracting times, looking for things to do with others, and haven’t stopped to really consider those 5 fundamental questions (Who, What, When, Where, Why) about God. So the relationship we say we have with God, is dormant that week. And that is a concern. So the “what questions” opens the door to faith, keeps our focus on God, to then bring a revival in the church. And there needs to be a revival in the Church! The Church is the Kingdom of God, and that is biblical! There needs to be a revival in the Church, and it will not come from non essential things in this life! It will only come from essential things, like answering those 5 W questions! Even tho you say I know those answers, when you go back, you find out you get more out of the next time, because my faith was too long on “auto pilot.” Because unfortunately you can get to the place where your faith only becomes a list of things “that you don’t do.” I don’t go here, or there, or say this, or that, I don’t consume this. Only a list of things you don’t do. That becomes your faith. God wants us to also have a list of things that we do….do. Things that we are about. If your faith only becomes a list of what you don’t do…that will affect your joy, and your presence and power with God. That’s why we need to ask those important questions. A what question is one that ask the identity, substance (how is it composed), and the “difference” from something else. The “what” questions helps one identify it’s difference …from any thing else. Because we need to make sense of the world…if everything was the same, the world would be a very confusing place. The world today is headed in a rush toward head long toward a very steep cliff. A rush towards mortality! Peril ahead! And of all times, this is when those questions matter the most. And still many are not answering these questions! Even those who say that they know God, in some instances perhaps are not asking these important questions! You might say, “I’ve already asked these questions.” Really? Because as life goes on, it’s worth it, and needful to keep asking these questions! It will take us back to the nature and fundamental questions of God, and our relationship with Him.
What Is God?