Interruptions

Interruption - To break the continuity or uniformity of: Rain interrupted our baseball game.  Something that is unplanned and gets in the way of your plans

Interruptions happen every day.  Sometimes they are small and impact us little, other times they are huge and keep us from continuing down life’s intended path – either way they are usually life changing

I wonder tonight how many of you are right in the middle of an interruption.  I wonder how many of you have just come out of a major interruption or maybe some of you don’t even know it but you are getting ready to be interrupted in your life.   

Maybe some of you are dealing with divorce – major interruption – that is not the way it is supposed to be – these things were not supposed to happen to you, to your parents.

Maybe some of you are dealing with death – unexpected or expected it is never fun to lose someone you love so dearly

Maybe some of you are dealing with relationship interruptions – you have tried so hard to make this relationship everything you and the Lord want it to be but how did you get to this place you are right now.  How are you so far from him?

Maybe your friendships have been interrupted.  Ever been the target of a mean girl?  Life’s not fun when those around you live to make you miserable.

Or maybe your life with the Lord has been interrupted.  Sin has entered in.  you have become someone you never intended to become – you are in a place you never saw yourself and life has been interrupted in a major way.

Have you ever found it hard to hear from God in the midst of your interruptions?  You search for Him everywhere – in church on Sunday mornings, in youth on Sunday nights, at small group on Wednesdays.  You look for him in the worship, you call out to him at school with your friends.  

Why won’t he answer you, why is he allowing these interruptions to carry on in your life?  What are you missing?  

Psalm 83:1 says, “O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still.”

Maybe God is speaking to us, maybe He is trying to get through – maybe it is us that has the problem.  We are very good at serving God loudly 

We sing praises to him, we shout out to him, we cry out to him when things are bad – we are a loud group of people

But have you ever thought of looking for him in the silence?  Of listening for his still, small voice when everything else around you has stopped?

Tonight we are going to give God the chance to speak to us rather than us doing all the talking.

Go ahead, think about it, what is just messing with you?  What is it that just isn’t right?  What has broken your heart?  What has changed your future?  What is bothering you?  What are you scared of doing?  Who are you scared of becoming?  What are you scared to lay down?  Write it down now on this piece of paper.

When Jesus came to earth it was a major interruption.  Mary and Joseph were engaged and all the sudden she was pregnant by God.  She was carrying a baby, a baby that was to be named Jesus, Immanuel, God with us – because he will save his people from their sins.

Life was interrupted for Mary and Jospeh that night.  But they responded.  They accepted the interruption, they took to heart the mission that God had given them and they began to raise baby Jesus – the Savior of the world

Life was interrupted when King’s feared Jesus’ young fame.  News spread about a King that had been born, a King that all would bow down to.  

Life was interrupted when King Herod issued that all boys under the age of 2 should be put to death in hopes to eliminate Jesus – the future King.  

Jesus’ life as a young boy was interrupted when he was taken into the desert and tempted by Satan.  He was no longer just a boy.  Now he had to begin a ministry that would ultimately lead to his death

The lives of the disciples were interrupted when Jesus walked by them and told them to drop their nets, leave their families, let the dead bury the dead and follow after him.  

Lives were interrupted when Jesus began teaching, “blessed are the pour in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hungar and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  

To live this way is to interrupt life as the world knows it.  When our enemies hurt us – we turn the other cheek – when someone takes our shirt we are to offer them our coat as well.  

Our lives are interrupted when we realize Christ and the ministry that he did and the huge, everlasting, never-changing interruption that he as a part of.  

“Jesus and his disciples went to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, sit here while I go over there and pray.  He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  Then he said to them.  My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.  Stay here and keep watch with me. (Matthew 26:36-38)

Jesus understood the interruption that was coming.  He understood that soon he would be called upon to give the ultimate sacrifice.  

His life – “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Are you beginning to see that sometimes what we see as interruptions are really opportunities to be changed, used, or moved by God.  

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth,  so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts,” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

“Going a little farther, Jesus fell on his face and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

He then went away for a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42)

I don’t think Jesus was particulary excited about this interruption.  

It all started when his friends left him, “Now the betrayer arranged a signal with them; the one I kiss is the man; arrest him.  Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, ‘Greetings Rabbi, and kissed him.  Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.  Then all of his disciples deserted him and fled.” (Matthew 26:48-56)

“Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him.  Are you the King of the Jews?”

“It is as you say,” Jesus replied

When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.  Then Pilot asked him, “Do you not hear the testimony they are bringing against you?  But Jesus made no reply, not even a single charge – to the amazement of the governor.  

By this time a large crowd had gathered – lives interrupted – by something I’m afraid they did not quite understand.  Everyone stopped what they were doing to be part.  Everyone wanted to see what was causing such a huge interruption.  

“Now it is the governors custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd.  Barabas, a well known criminal was brought before the crowd, as well as Jesus.  

“Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ.” (Matthew 27:17)

“Barabbas!” they answered. “What then shall I do with Jesus?” Pilate asked.  

“Crucify him!”

“Why, what crime has he committed?”

“Crucify him!” when Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere with the crowd he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said, “It is your responsibility.”

Then he released Barabbas to them, but had Jesus handed over to be flogged

Life was interrupted.  Jesus was sentenced to be beaten and then to be crucified.  Jesus’ life was majorly interrupted.  The lives of his family – interrupted – the lives of his followers – interrupted  - our lives – interrupted by the realization of what he did for us

To those there at that time the death of Jesus seemed like a useless interruption.  There could be no glory in this, there could be no victory in this.  Only defeat, only discouragement, only hurt

Sounds a lot like the way we feel when we are in the midst of an interruption.  What good could come of this?  Why would God allow such a thing to happen to me?  What have I don’t to deserve this treatment?  Why won’t he answer me?  

But God was there that day – the day that his son was crucified I believe he looked on with a tear in his eye for the pain his son was experiencing, but a smile on his face as he looked ahead at what was to come

John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. “

Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

God was not interrupted.  This was his plan all along.  He knew that we were going to mess up.  He understood that we were not strong enough to make it on our own.  But he loved us so much that he figured a way out.  

If we will just believe – if we will just accept 

God’s ways are perfect – even when we don’t understand

“Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him.  For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.  The Lord spoils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the people.  But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” (Psalm 33:8-11)

“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  Plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

“All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.”  (1 Corinthians 10:13 message)

Now remember the interruption you thought of earlier

What do you think God may be trying to do through this interruption in your life? Do you understand now that there is a reason for it, do you understand that if you trust in him with all your heart then he will make your way straight?

What is God saying to you right now?

Great – have you heard his voice tonight?  Have you seen how powerful his Words are?  Have you witnessed the interruption in the life of Christ and his followers that God made in to the best thing that has ever happened to us?

 

You have just experienced Christ in the silence. 

Father, thank you for your interruptions.  Thank you for the cross and for the difference that it has made in our lives.  Thank you for your word and the impact it makes in all that we face.  Thank you for your spirit for moving in our lives and showing us that your plans are not always our plans, nor are your ways, our ways.  Thank you for your love – that you would sacrifice your son so that we may have life to the fullest.  

We love you