The Power of a Question
This blog post is Part 1 of a series entitled, "May I Ask A Question?" by Pastor Jeffrey Dean Smith of Donelson First in Nashville, TN.
Message Date: May 7, 2023
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Complete this sentence:
If I could ask God one question, I would ask Him...
It is obvious that God is in the business of answering questions because questions are immersed throughout the pages of the Holy Scriptures. It is difficult to give a precise number of questions found in the Bible because ancient Hebrew and Greek languages did not exercise the use of punctuation. Otherwise, we could study through the Dead Sea Scrolls and count the question marks. However, it is estimated that there are approximately 3,300 questions in the Bible.
Have you ever considered this: What is the first question asked in the Bible?
The first question asked in the Bible is actually asked by Satan to Eve:
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Genesis 3:1
In one word, this question reveals the very nature of our greatest enemy: Deception.
The very first question recorded in the timeline of humanity is one which questions the very nature and integrity and holiness of the Lord our God. Satan posed such a question with a clear intention of deceiving Eve and Adam, and all of humanity.
Sadly, in asking this one question, Satan was successful.
The second question asked in the Bible is then asked by whom? This question is asked by God and is squarely directed at Adam:
But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:9
At first glance, this question can be both highly fascinating and perplexing, not to mention, too, remarkably interesting. Because...
Here we find an all-knowing God asking man, “Where are you?”
Does God really not know the location of Adam in this moment? Of course He knows.
So then, why the question? Well, I am confident this question is, at its very core, less geographical and much more spiritual.
When God is asking, “Adam where are you?”, I am of the belief God is essentially asking, “Where is your loyalty to me? Where is your obedience? Where is your heart?”
As we walk through this series of questions, I do want to prepare you...
There are going to be some really, really hard questions that are going to force us each to do exactly this.
And, by the way, this is our three-part goal for this series, to:
1. Receive God’s wisdom.
2. Discover God’s ways.
3. Obediently follow God’s will.
And in doing so, it very well may be that the answer to some of these questions will not sit well with you. The answer to some of these questions will not be culturally popular or acceptable.
And through this process, you will be forced to answer, as did earth’s first couple, these 2 ever- important questions asked of humanity:
1. Did God really say this is true?
And...
2. Where am I, truly, as it relates to my heart with God?
Is it okay to question God?
How interesting that, as we begin this new series focused on questions, the first question we will discuss today is about this very topic: “questions.”
You know... so many of the questions I have received are really questions I am confident that you desire to ask God. You are just asking through me.
I too think many Christ-followers, who are being completely honest, would admit that from time-to-time the struggle is very real as it relates to the multitude of questions we each carry on a plethora of issues about life, eternity, pain, fairness, cancer, loneliness and so very much more.
The struggle is often less about asking God a question and more about the way in which God chooses to answer our questions.
For instance...
I ask God a question.
God doesn’t answer in my timeframe.
Therefore, I come to the conclusion: God doesn’t care.
Or...
I ask God a question.
God doesn’t answer as I desire. Therefore, I believe God doesn’t love me.
Or...
I ask God a question.
God does choose to answer. However, His answer is one that requires something hard of me or a surrender from me in some area of my life.
Therefore, I view God as a dictator or as an unrealistic and out-of-touch parent.
Of course, none of these things are true about God. But, as humans, we have the tendency to frame God in the way we want Him to be... and when He doesn’t fit that so-called mold we have established in our minds... we rebel or ignore or disobey His ways.
So, let’s talk about this question and what both our approach and response should be as it relates to this question:
Is it okay to question God? Simply: Yes. Absolutely!
1. God welcomes my questions.
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:5
2. God can handle my questions.
I can handle my pain and sadness and frustrations much better with God than without God.
Remember when the soon-to-be King of Israel, David, was running for his life? He got very direct with God and questioned Him saying:
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
Psalm 13:1-4
And, of course, we know that Jesus, God’s very Son, while hanging on the cross in complete agony, cried out to God as He questioned:
About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Matthew 27:46
God truly desires that you bring every question to Him, big or small.
Consider:
What question do I need to boldly ask God today?
If there is a question you have been wanting to take to God, please find comfort today in knowing you can do so confidently:
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
1. God welcomes my questions. 2. God can handle my questions. But be clear...
3. God is not required to answer any of my questions.
You may recall the story of a very successful, wealthy and blessed man in the Old Testament, Job, who in a matter of moments, loses much of his wealth, possessions and most of his family. In a state of brokenness, the Lord responds to Job, not with an answer to “why” this happened. Instead, God responds with this:
Job 38:19-41
I laugh as I hear the sarcasm in God’s voice. In the midst of Job’s overwhelming and seemingly insurmountable agony and loss, God essentially says,
“I am God. You are not. I will do as I please.”
And we know that God never fully reveals in entirety the reason for Job’s afflictions. But, oh how I am humbled as I read Job’s conclusion in the matter:
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Job 1:20-23
I rarely use the word “promise” from this platform. But, as we move through this series, I want to make this promise to you:
I will seek the heart of God with each question I present and with each answer I present as a result of my time spent with God in study each week.
So, I am going to do my best to articulate answers I am confident are from the Lord as I seek His wisdom and study His Word.
Having said this... I already know that there are some really, really hard questions we have before us as we move forward in this series. You may not agree with nor like every answer I give.
So... I am going to ask you to do exactly what I am going to do as we move through this study. I want you to pray to ask God:
God,
Help me to:
1. Receive Your wisdom.
2. Discover Your ways.
3. Obediently follow Your will.
... as I journey through this teaching series.
Amen.
You see, this series is about so much more than you asking me to answer a question.
This time of study for us is too about you getting into the rhythm of taking all of your concerns to God. Because...
When it comes to my concerns, my requests, and my questions...
Nothing, absolutely nothing, should be off the table when approaching God.
Look at what the Psalmist wrote:
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
Psalm 55:22
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Let us pause here for a moment. I want to again read these passages to you. As I do, I want you to listen to these words, take them in, and breathe them as you would breathe oxygen. Let these promises from the Lord fill your lungs with the very breath of hope...
Unshakable hope. Peace. Contentment. Joy.
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.
Psalm 55:22
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
The many questions I have are a direct reflection of the need I possess for an all-knowing, all-loving, and all-encompassing God within whom I can place my trust and with whom will completely meet the needs of my life at the very core of my sinfulness.
Therefore, if you and I have questions we desire answered (which again... we all do!), and because in fact, it is true that God welcomes my questions, how then am I to approach God for such answers and:
1. Receive God’s wisdom.
2. Discover God’s ways.
3. Obediently follow God’s will.
Well, I am going to tell you exactly the approach I am taking in answering the questions for this series: May I Ask A Question(?).
The system I want to share with you is one I have used for years in my time of study and seeking the face of God for answers:
1. Question God confidently.
But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. James 1:6-8
Doubt /Greek/ diakrinō waver
2. Question God humbly.
Yes, I must approach God with my questions confidently. I too must possess humility... Meaning... I realize that I do not deserve anything from God. Anything! Nothing! Notta!
What a great deception among the Church today. Many assume, and wrongly so, that because I do right, and because I might live “better than others do,” I somehow am entitled, deserve more, deserve better, or deserve a life void of pain and suffering. Nowhere in Scripture do I find such a fallacy. On the contrary, as we have discussed many times before, we are told that we can expect tremendous pushback, challenges, heartaches & persecution because of our allegiance to the Lord.
I have to believe that, at times, the reason for which God chooses not to answer my questions is due in part to the pride in my life of believing, “I deserve something from God!”
Well... it is true!
I do deserve something from God - - I deserve death! I deserve forever separation from Him!
I deserve hell!
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Isaiah 64:6
You may be aware of this... the Greek word for rags:
Filthy rags /Greek/ idda Menstruation cloth
And herein lies the beauty in the brokenness of my life... Though I deserve to be treated as a menstrual rag, I instead am offered this invitation:
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn, and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
James 4:8-10
Come /Greek/ engizo Approach in humility.
Life /Greek/ hypsoo Exalt
Wrap your head around this thought:
When I approach God with humility, He will actually exalt me!
Let’s ALL strive to do this... to approach God with humility!
3. Question God patiently.
This just might be the most difficult of processes for us as humans – to be patient.
Why is the art of patience so difficult to master? Simply: We are an impatient people, are we not?
This is so understandable, especially when a career, a child’s health, or a spouses life is on the line. We ask God to explain, or to heal, or to answer a request... and then... we wait... man this is so very hard to navigate.
On the flip side, it’s easy to demonstrate patience when all is well and going my way, you know?!
The true test of patience arises when life’s inconveniences, setbacks, and heartaches surface and God, for oftentimes unknown reasons, in the moment... chooses to be silent.
Patience is discussed in the Bible more than 70 times. It too is listed as a fruit of the spirit:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Galatians 5:22-23
What’s a super important take-home for us today is the reminder Paul gives us that says patience is critical in how we treat one another:
And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
1 Thessalonians 5:14
I think the difficulty with patience is that we corelate this action with passiveness or gentleness. But in actuality, when we see this word in Scripture, it is almost always attached to a command of action!
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Hebrews 12:1
In many other translations of this text, we read the word “patience” in place of the word perseverance!
See this is the King James Version:
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
Hebrews 12:1 KJV
Now, read this challenge to us in The Living Bible translation:
Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us.
Hebrews 12:1 TLB
Patience /Greek/ hypomonē To endure
I don’t know anyone, anyone, who runs a race passively!
When I ask something of God, and He chooses for whatever reason to not yet answer my question, if I am not enduring while waiting, the initial human response is to give up on God, to get ahead of God, or to believe that God is not listening, not concerned, and not on my side.
This is a lie!
Asking a question of God with patience means I stay the course, stay in the race, and run with endurance knowing that, at the finish line, God is waiting for my arrival and eagerly ready to answer my request.
God’s silence is not a reflection of His lack of interest in me nor His love and compassion for me.
If I believe that God works all things for the good of those who love Him, then I must too believe that, even God’s silence, is too for my good.
If I am to trust God when He speaks, I too am to trust God when He is silent.
Church... I KNOW THIS IS NOT EASY! Remember... patience does not take shape in our lives overnight. But, in moments of trial, you and I have the opportunity to run the race well and to, as Paul states:
... know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:3-4
I want to encourage you as you take your questions to God throughout this series, be ready! Trials will come your way. So don’t be surprised when it happens. Because your enemy does not want you to master the art of asking and waiting with God! So when these trials come your way, here is my challenge to you:
Rather than asking God, “Why me?”
Ask God, “Show me.”
“God, show me Your wisdom, reveal to me Your ways, and help me to discover Your will as I wait.”
And lastly, as I approach God with my questions...
4. Question God trusting.
Trusting God means I ask questions with an eagerness to accept His answer, no matter the answer.
Notice I did NOT say “a willingness.” No, this approach moves you and me far beyond a willing heart into a much more profound and, at times, difficult place of asking God with eagerness!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Straight /Greek/ yasar Hammered correctly.
I know for me, so very many of my times of anxiety and worry are a result of fear in my life – fear over circumstances, fear over the unknown, fear over loss or rejection or disappointment.
Trusting God isn’t having all the answers.
Trusting God is a willingness to bring my questions to Him, knowing He walks hand in hand with me as He makes my paths straight.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise - in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
Psalm 56:3-4
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Jeffrey Dean Smith is a husband, father to Bailey & Brynnan, author, and the Senior Pastor at Donelson First in Nashville, TN. If you are in Music City, meet Jeffrey and enjoy iced tea on the front lawn each Sunday at 10:30a.