Emerging from Caves: Finding Purpose and Transformation

Some use the cave because they had no other choice, and some had no choice, and they were forced to be in a cave. Again, let me give you the objective for this sermon series. It says that God can reach you, he can touch you, he can hear you, and be ever-present, even in the darkest places of our lives. [00:00:12]

And because of this, he would hide in different caves, and these caves have a special meaning, because many of these caves, while he was hiding for his life and running from Saul, God was speaking to him, and he wrote messages. He wrote many of the Psalms, which they call them Psalms on the run. And in these caves, David began, was being prepared, not only to write Psalms, but also to be the next king of Israel. [00:00:40]

How quickly can we forget all that God has done for us while we are in a terrible situation? How quickly can we forget how faithful God is even though we've been praying for something and nothing has changed yet? How quickly can we forget how many times God has come through for us over and over and over again and just because we're dealing with a tough situation which is very valid and it's very discouraging we tend to forget how faithful God is. [00:10:02]

And even though Elijah was hiding in a cave, just like David, God still found him. And God still spoke to him. And if you find yourself this morning in a cave, whether it's to hide or whether it's to dwell, I want to remind you this morning that God can still speak to you, that God can still find you, that His love is so great and so powerful that no matter how far away you feel you are from Him, He can still reach you, and He can still touch you. [00:15:18]

And many times, we think that the greater the loudness, the greater the lights, which is all good. We have lights, so I'm not judging. I like these lights. Come on, bring it. We think God is in those, and He is in those. But sometimes, He's also when no one's around, when it's just you and Him in your room, hearing Him with His gentle whisper. [00:14:58]

And Jesus said to her, did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God? Even with tears streaming down her face. And Jesus holding back his tears. The Bible says that he wept when he heard the news of his best friend dying. We see the human side of Jesus. He's wiping the tears away from Martha. And saying, hey, listen, I know you're hurting. I'm hurting too. But I done told you that if you believe. [00:21:42]

And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said father I thank you that you have heard me I knew that you have heard me and I know that you have heard me and I know that you have heard me that you always hear me but I said this on account of the people standing around this is not for me Lord Father this is for the people that are standing around the ones that are doubting the ones that are hurting the ones that are angry the ones that have been faithful and they haven't seen the promises of God yet fulfilled this is not for me this is for those around me so that they so that they may believe that you sent me when he had said these things he cried out in a loud voice Lazarus come out and the man who died came out his hands and his feet were bound with linen strips and his face was wrapped in a cloth and Jesus said to him to them unbind him and let him go unbind him and let him go Jesus comes to the. [00:23:02]

But some of you are afraid to come out because you have been wrapped up in shame you've been wrapped up in hurt you've been wrapped up in unforgiveness you've been wrapped up in addictions you've been wrapped up in fear you've been wrapped up in doubt you've been wrapped up in pain but I want to encourage you this morning that when you come out everything that was with you in the cave needs to stay behind in Jesus name come on whatever was binding you up come on Jesus is standing in front of you and he's calling you by name and he's saying no no no no no unbind them unbind them remove the shame remove the guilt remove the pain remove the worry I am Jesus the son of God and I died for them and I died for everyone else and if God before them then who can be against them in Jesus name come on somebody you. [00:24:15]

You may find yourself in a cave. You may find yourself in a tomb, but that is not your final destination. You may be wrapped up with things, and it's hard for you to move, but I want to encourage you. Jesus is standing in front of your tomb. He's in front of your cave, and he's calling you out, because you have still more to do. God is not done with you yet. [00:28:13]

And God is saying, before you give up, just to wait a little longer, because God's not done with you yet. God is just getting started. He's just getting started. And unfortunately, we still have people laying inside of a tomb, inside of a cave. And the stone has been rolled away, and Jesus is right in front of your tomb, right in front of the cave. And he's saying, yo, come out. [00:30:35]

There's too many folks that build their lives in these caves, and God is calling you to step out. People that build a tent, build a fire pit and buy furniture and hang up family pictures and get Wi-Fi to get in there, and they get comfortable in these caves, and they say, this is my home. I'm safe here. I'm hearing from God. Those are all good things. I get clear instructions from him. I don't get that when I'm outside, but this is my home. The caves are temporary. [00:32:43]

You leave different from when you entered. Everybody that was in the cave did not leave the same way they walked in the cave. They left different. David, who was this young man who was a warrior for the Lord, was afraid for his life. He left a king when he was a warrior. Lazarus left a dead man. He became a man who was alive with purpose. Elijah, who was afraid, got the gentle way. He was a whisperer from God. [00:33:50]