Are You Seeking
The Lord?
Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected (hoped for) end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Is it true that God will actually listen to us?
-We all know that we have asked Him for things and NOT gotten them…
-We all know of times when we asked for His help and DIDN’T get it…
-SOMETIMES God has done something (yeah!), but USUALLY He doesn’t…
What does the scripture say, and what WORKS when we want or need something from God?
Matthew 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
What does it mean to SEEK GOD? Are we doing it wrong?
Clearly, many ask or seek God incorrectly:
James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Mark 8:11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
How do we seek God correctly? The scriptures have many, many examples:
Matthew 8:1-4 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying,
Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
8:3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying,
I will; be thou clean.
And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
8:4 And Jesus saith unto him,
See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest,
and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (!!!)
-Worship is more than just bowing down. It is to surrender yourself humbly to the mercy and will of another. If you do not REPENT, you cannot worship!
-The leper told the Lord that he wanted to be healed IF GOD WILLS to heal him!
Have you surrendered to Christ? Are you asking for His sake?
Luke 8:26-39 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
8:27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man,
which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
8:28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said,
What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.
8:29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.
For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters;
and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
8:30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name?
And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
8:31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
8:32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain:
and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.
8:33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine:
and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
8:34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled,
and went and told it in the city and in the country.
8:35 Then they went out to see what was done;
and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed,
sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
8:36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.
8:37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes
round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear:
and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
8:38 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him
that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,
8:39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee.
And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
Did you notice that Jesus sent him to show what great things God has done? Jesus will sometimes ask that you go to the doctors to get a healing CONFIRMED before you use it to witness His power, but eventually, we ALL must testify before men!
Luke 8:43-48 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years,
which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
8:44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment:
and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
8:45 And Jesus said, Who touched me?
When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said,
Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
8:46 And Jesus said,
Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
8:47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him,
she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him,
and how she was healed immediately.
8:48 And he said unto her,
Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
Now, the BEST prayers a Christian can pray are prayers for OTHERS to be saved or healed!
Matthew 5:44 But I (Jesus) say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Can we really pray IN THE PLACE of someone? Yes, but they have to either WANT to serve God, or they have been despitefully using you and persecuting you.
Mark 9:14-29 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them,
and the scribes questioning with them.
9:15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him,
were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
9:16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
9:17 And one of the multitude answered and said,
Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
9:18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him:
and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away:
and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
9:19 He answereth him, and saith,
O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you?
how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
9:20 And they brought him unto him:
and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him;
and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
9:21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him?
And he said, Of a child.
9:22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters,
to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
9:23 Jesus said unto him,
If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said
with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him,
Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
9:26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him:
and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
9:27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
9:28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately,
Why could not we cast him out?
9:29 And he said unto them,
This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
Do you pray very much?
-Did you know very few people will go to a prayer meeting?
-How long does a prayer request get prayed for?
-Do you pray in the name of Jesus?
-Do you pray EVERY DAY for God to do His will?
How about fasting?
-Fasting means more than not eating…
Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
If you want to fast:
-You must break your promises and agreements to do wrong (repent).
-You must be willing to do WHATEVER the Lord asks of you; this might include cancelling debts (and other obligations to you), releasing people from promises and dissolving ungodly alliances.
Matthew 5:23-24
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Are you seeking the Lord?
Have you repented and surrendered to God?
Have you laid down in front of Him and cried for His mercy?
Have you given the matter to God to use for HIS glory?
Do you pray daily and fervently for His help?
Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Let’s SEEK THE LORD!
The Lord?
Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected (hoped for) end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Is it true that God will actually listen to us?
-We all know that we have asked Him for things and NOT gotten them…
-We all know of times when we asked for His help and DIDN’T get it…
-SOMETIMES God has done something (yeah!), but USUALLY He doesn’t…
What does the scripture say, and what WORKS when we want or need something from God?
Matthew 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
What does it mean to SEEK GOD? Are we doing it wrong?
Clearly, many ask or seek God incorrectly:
James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Mark 8:11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
How do we seek God correctly? The scriptures have many, many examples:
Matthew 8:1-4 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying,
Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
8:3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying,
I will; be thou clean.
And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
8:4 And Jesus saith unto him,
See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest,
and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (!!!)
-Worship is more than just bowing down. It is to surrender yourself humbly to the mercy and will of another. If you do not REPENT, you cannot worship!
-The leper told the Lord that he wanted to be healed IF GOD WILLS to heal him!
Have you surrendered to Christ? Are you asking for His sake?
Luke 8:26-39 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
8:27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man,
which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
8:28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said,
What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.
8:29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man.
For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters;
and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
8:30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name?
And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
8:31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
8:32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain:
and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.
8:33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine:
and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
8:34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled,
and went and told it in the city and in the country.
8:35 Then they went out to see what was done;
and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed,
sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
8:36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.
8:37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes
round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear:
and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
8:38 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him
that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,
8:39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee.
And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
Did you notice that Jesus sent him to show what great things God has done? Jesus will sometimes ask that you go to the doctors to get a healing CONFIRMED before you use it to witness His power, but eventually, we ALL must testify before men!
Luke 8:43-48 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years,
which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
8:44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment:
and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
8:45 And Jesus said, Who touched me?
When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said,
Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
8:46 And Jesus said,
Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
8:47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him,
she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him,
and how she was healed immediately.
8:48 And he said unto her,
Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
Now, the BEST prayers a Christian can pray are prayers for OTHERS to be saved or healed!
Matthew 5:44 But I (Jesus) say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Can we really pray IN THE PLACE of someone? Yes, but they have to either WANT to serve God, or they have been despitefully using you and persecuting you.
Mark 9:14-29 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them,
and the scribes questioning with them.
9:15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him,
were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
9:16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
9:17 And one of the multitude answered and said,
Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
9:18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him:
and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away:
and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
9:19 He answereth him, and saith,
O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you?
how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
9:20 And they brought him unto him:
and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him;
and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
9:21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him?
And he said, Of a child.
9:22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters,
to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
9:23 Jesus said unto him,
If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said
with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
9:25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him,
Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
9:26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him:
and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
9:27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
9:28 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately,
Why could not we cast him out?
9:29 And he said unto them,
This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
Do you pray very much?
-Did you know very few people will go to a prayer meeting?
-How long does a prayer request get prayed for?
-Do you pray in the name of Jesus?
-Do you pray EVERY DAY for God to do His will?
How about fasting?
-Fasting means more than not eating…
Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
If you want to fast:
-You must break your promises and agreements to do wrong (repent).
-You must be willing to do WHATEVER the Lord asks of you; this might include cancelling debts (and other obligations to you), releasing people from promises and dissolving ungodly alliances.
Matthew 5:23-24
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Are you seeking the Lord?
Have you repented and surrendered to God?
Have you laid down in front of Him and cried for His mercy?
Have you given the matter to God to use for HIS glory?
Do you pray daily and fervently for His help?
Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Let’s SEEK THE LORD!
