Why this study matters.

There is the old story of a group of blind men examining an elephant.  Each touches the elephant in a different place and they all come to very different conclusions about what this creature is due to their limited perspectives.

Daniel Siegel wrote a book entitled “The Developing Mind”, in which he describes what it would be like to understand the mind through a more integrated approach. In other words, how would each of those blind men more fully understand the whole elephant if he were talking to the others, integrating data from each of their particular perspectives?

That is what we are experiencing today.  The best research from the scientific community aligning with Biblical theology. Christian Psychologists and Bible scholars coming together and sharing their expertise which is lending itself to an understanding of why some people mature quickly in their spiritual journey and why others have trouble trusting and connecting with God. This new field is called  neurotheology.

The discoveries in this field are helping Christians who feel frustrated with their inability to connect with God so they settle for a form of faith that Dr. Curt Thompson describes in his book  Anatomy of the Soul…

“While some believers cling to a well-defined theology, others are comfortable with a well-intended but lifeless spirituality that is not much more than a loosely cobbled-together matrix of convictions casually accepted from someone in authority, usually from parents, but often from pastors, teachers, or lay leaders. These believers mechanically go through the motions of church, wondering all the while what in the world they’re doing.”

This is what we’ve described as a Left Brain centered faith. Based on what we know of God from the Bible. Again, Bible knowledge is good but it not enough to call it a relationship. Imagine studying about someone but never meeting them. Would you call, that a relationship? No. God is a relational being who wants to connect with us on a Right Brain Level as well.

Left Hemisphere focuses on knowledge, logic, reason.  Right brain is relational, creativity, and emotions. Connection can be hindered by weak relationships or attachments in our past. 

This is not something that is all on your shoulders. God is the one who does the transforming.  It is God who initiates and opens Himself and draws us. We don’t find Jesus, He pursues us.

Look at this picture of God’s loving pursuit of us in a story we find in the book of Genesis.

 In Genesis 16 we are introduced to Hagar, the maidservant of Sarai, Abram’s wife. (God had not yet renamed them, Abraham and Sarah.)

Because Abram had no children, no successor Sarah came up with the not so brilliant plan to offer her handmaiden Hagar as a surrogate to produce a child.

When Hagar became pregnant,  Sarah became jealous to the point of abuse and this tension becomes so great Hagar feels she must flee for her life.  Hagar flees into the wilderness where she is exhausted with no resources and have no hope for the future. She stops by a spring of water. 

The angel of the Lord found Hagar beside a spring of water in the wilderness, along the road to Shur.  Gen.  16:7

“Angel of the Lord”, is what we call a Christophany, or an Old Testament appearance of Jesus. He also appeared to Abraham,  Joshua, wrestled with Jacob, walked through fire with the three Hebrews young men.

The angel said to her, “Hagar, Sarai’s servant, where have you come from, and where are you going?” Gen. 16:8a

Notice that GOD finds her. God is watching, looking, and pursuing her and you. He asks her two important questions, Where have you been, where are you going (in life)? God is challenging her to stop and ask herself those questions. 

Important because He wants to see if she believes she can trust God. Otherwise, she will do what most people do in life and follow their own path.

“I’m running away from my mistress, Sarai,” she replied. Gen. 16:8b That is where she’s been and where she is.

You can’t blame her. She fears for her life.

The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit to her authority.” 10 Then he added, “I will give you more descendants than you can count.”  Gen. 16:9-10

That is tough counsel.  Go back to where she left?

God knows some of you are suffering in a relationship or job you can’t stand, working for a boss you don’t like. Like Hagar you want to get away.  Don’t leave because of the pressure. Trust God and wait until God changes the situation or says go or opens a door. 

Note: If you are being abused get out. But if you are just unhappy,  or unfulfilled, trust God.

God tells Hagar there is a reward if you obey. You will have a great legacy. This is everything in Middle Eastern culture. 

And the angel also said, “You are now pregnant and will give birth to a son. You are to name him Ishmael (Sammy), (which means ‘God hears’), for the Lord has heard your cry of distress. Gen.  16:11-12

What does she do? Hagar chooses to trust God and obey. Why? 

She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me. Gen.  16:13  El-Roi. 

What does it mean to be seen or known by God?  We talk a lot about knowing God but we don’t talk much about being known by God.

I believe it means for me to open my life fully to Him. To invite Him into every area with nothing off limited or hidden.

The lie we believe is that if God sees all my stuff He won’t like me because I don’t like me.  

John 4 Describes this woman who is seen by Jesus as He looks into her past.  Jesus sees all the pain and sin in her life, BUT, He also sees her heart and she sees His.  She is transformed.

She knew about God before. She had her beliefs they just didn’t affect her lifestyle. She still tried to find love and identity through men and these illicit relationships. But now, she has met God face-to-face and it has changed her.  

Just be open and honest with God about your flaws and sins. He sees them anyway. Dont hide. This is one of the main reasons we do not have an intimate friendship with Jesus.

So if God is willing to love me in spite of my weaknesses and failures.

How can I tell if I am relationally connecting with God (right brain)? How can I go home and connect with God? 

I can tell I am connecting with God when… 

1. I am settled and undistracted.
   1. I get control over all my other thoughts and things my mind chases.
   2. Breathing exercises help me get settled. 
   3. I get still. 
      1. Be still and know that I am God. Psa. 46:10
         1. Still = rapha – to slacken, let go, relax.
         2. Know = yada – It has a wider sweep than our English word “know, ” including perceiving, learning, understanding, and experiencing.
         3. I remind myself I am known and am loved and seen by God.

2. I am expecting God to speak, make space no rush.
   1. ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’”     1 Sam. 3:9

So train your heart to listen when I speak and open your spirit wide to expand your discernment— then pass it on to your sons and daughters. Prov. 2:2

Yes, cry out for comprehension and intercede for insight. For if you keep seeking it like a man would seek for sterling silver, searching in hidden places for cherished treasure, then you will discover the fear of the Lord and find the true knowledge of God.Prov 2:3‭-‬5 TPT

I think our biggest challenge is focus. 

What can I do if I cannot get control of wandering thoughts that steals my attention away from God? 

Write them down. An idea you don’t want to forget,   a to-do list.

Paul had a stronger solution. He said we should ask God to help you look inside and identify these thoughts or beliefs that keep us from connecting with God.

We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and breakthrough every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One. 2 Cor. 10:5 TPT

“arrogant attitude, “defiance” fighting for control of our lives. 

Tell your thoughts to bow their knee to Jesus. 

At the end of the encounter between Jesus and Hagar, she names the well. Remember last week we talked about gratitude memories that bring us back to joy and peace and God’s presence? The last step was to name the gratitude memory so you can recall it later. 

Hagar names the well, “Spring of the Living One Who Watches Over Me”. Gen. 16:14 TPT

That’s why Hagar could back into her painful situation. She knew God was watching over her.

Every time Hagar would pass that well with her son Ishmael she would be reminded and probably remind him of God’s faithfulness. 

Son right here is, where I made the choice to obey God even though I didn’t know waht the future held. I did it because God has seen me and watches over me. 

So what have we learned today? 

1. God knows us thoroughly and pursues us with love.

2.  We can open with God because He sees with love and mercy and grace.

3.  God will watch over us and speak to us as we relate to Him as a Father and friend.

4.  We can grow in our ability to experience God’s presence.

This week: slow walk through Proverbs 2 TPT

• Look for wisdom contrasted with knowledge.
• Look for how and when God speaks.
• Mediate on what God’s promises to those who seek Him. 
• Ask your Father ro reveal Himself and speak to you through this passage.