The Obvious Does Not Obligate God

Pastor Randy Ruiz is a traveling evangelist who teaches on healing and prayer. This weekend, he joined us at River of Life Church to speak on the biblical truth of who God is and what He can do through the power of His Holy Spirit.

We serve a God of patterns. In each of the scriptures below, we see that God PASSES BY.

"And she said to her husband, “Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly." -2 Kings 4:9 (NKJ)

"They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”- Luke 18:37 (ESV)

"Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through." -Luke 19:1 (NIV)

"He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them," -Mark 6:48 (NIV)

"On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.” -John 7:37 (NIV)

There is a Biblical Truth we're experiencing today - the obvious need does not obligate God to do a miracle.

What makes the Holy Spirit stand still?
1.) Our desperation
2.) Our honesty with God
3.) Our faith

When you are desperate for Jesus, you are willing to do whatever it takes to catch His attention.

Luke 19:1 - 9 (NIV) Story of Zacchaeus

"Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Zacchaeus was DESPERATE for a move of the Holy Spirit, so he did something out of the ordinary to get the attention of Jesus.

Luke 18: 35 - 43 (NIV) Story of Bartimaeus

"As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God."

Bartimaeus called out to God because he was desperate. He did something out of the ordinary to get the attention of Jesus.

How desperate are you for the presence of the Holy Spirit to pour out into your life?