Why Seeking God is Important

Isaiah 55:6; Psalm 78:31-41

Theme: This is important because God should be the number one priority in our lives.

In the “Me” generation we struggle with doing anything if we cannot perceive what the immediate value is for ourselves.  What will I get out of it? Or what’s in it for me? These questions are commonly used like laser beams to shoot down anything not suiting our personal tastes. The truth is we need to get over ourselves and perceive Someone far more magnificent than we could ever be.

Why Should We Be Interested?

I.                 Because We are Commanded to Seek God

A.    Isaiah 55:6, Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

                                                              i.      It is important for us to seek the Lord and be wholly devoted to Him, but it is also important that we share this invitation with the world.

                                                            ii.      What is involved in “seeking the Lord”?

1.      For one thing, it means admitting that we are sinners and that we have offended the holy God of heaven.

2.      It means repenting (Isa. 55:7), changing one’s mind about sin, and turning away from sin and to the Lord.

3.      We must turn to God in faith and believe His promise that in mercy He will abundantly pardon. Repentance and faith go together: “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21).

                                                          iii.      But no one should delay in doing this!

1.      The phrase “while He may be found” suggests that, if we do not take His invitation seriously, the invitation may cease while we are delaying.

2.      In the Parable of the Great Supper, God closed the door on those who spurned His invitation (Luke 14:16–24; see Prov. 1:20–33).

3.      “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2).

B.     Matthew 7:7, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

                                                              i.      You and I are human and fallible; we make mistakes. Only God can judge the matters of life perfectly. Therefore, we must pray and seek His wisdom and direction. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God” (James 1:5).

                                                            ii.      Young King Solomon knew that he lacked the needed wisdom to judge Israel, so he prayed to God; and the Lord graciously answered (1 Kings 3:3ff).

                                                          iii.      If we are to have spiritual discernment regarding the decisions of life, we must keep on asking God, keep on seeking His will, keep on knocking at the door that leads to greater knowledge of Him and ministry to others. God meets the needs of His children.

II.             Because Afflictions are Designed to Lead to Seeking God

A.    Psalm 78:33-34, Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble. [34] When he slew them, then they sought him: and they returned and enquired early after God.

                                                              i.      After 9/11 many Americans sought God’s protection, justice, peace, help, care, and strength. Many wondered why would God let this kind of thing happen to our country?  God permits tragedy to prompt us to seek Him, not merely what He can do for us.  He is to be sought, not merely His blessings!

                                                            ii.      Despite all the proofs of His love, Israel’s hearts were still unfaithful.

1.      Nothing God did pleased them. The works of God are described as the crossing of the sea, the guidance of the cloud and the pillar of fire, the provision of water, manna, and quails. (Anders)

2.      Despite His miracles, they were compulsive grumblers.

                                                          iii.      So, from time to time Jehovah visited the nation with death and destruction.

1.      Whenever the Lord punished His people, they turned to Him as their Rock and Redeemer. They turned to the Lord, repented of their wickedness, and became earnest seekers.

2.      They realized what a refuge He had been to them, how He had redeemed them from the terrors of Egypt.

                                                          iv.      But soon again they were living a lie, speaking piously and acting perversely. They were fickle and disobedient.

1.      The Lord showed tremendous restraint. Because of His super-abounding compassion, He forgave their chronic backsliding and withheld the disaster they deserved.

2.      He remembered that they were mere men, here today and gone tomorrow (Ps. 78:10-41).

B.     Hosea 5:15, I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

                                                              i.      Looking upon idolatrous Israel, God says, “I will go and return to my place” (heaven), leaving His rebellious people to suffer for their sins.

1.      When destruction to Israel’s two kingdoms came, God allowed His people to suffer their well-deserved punishment! 

2.      Not merely to punish them, but to bring them to repentance—“till they acknowledge their offence” (Hos. 5:15).

3.      When in their affliction they sought God, He would be ready to come to their aid.

                                                            ii.      “In their affliction they will seek Me early”

1.      God does not only give us hope, that He would be present when we seek Him, but He promises that we will seek Him! He would give us His grace by which we could seek Him effectively. 

2.      Affliction alone can drive people to despair and stimulate greater rebellion and the complete rejection of God. Through the grace of God, “evil brings forth good; fear, love; chastisement, repentance.”

3.      With all diligence and earnestness, we should rise early to seek our God with the hope He will respond. (Anders)

III.         Because We are Properly Motivated to Seek God

A.    The Assurance That Seeking God Is Never in Vain, Useless, or Empty.

                                                              i.      Isaiah 45:19, I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.

1.      God has not said, “Seek ye me,” without the anticipation of meeting with His people. No, He has promised the seeker and He will not fail to fulfill it, because He is the Lord speaking righteousness, declaring things that are right! He follows through with His purpose and plan of salvation, and His sincere desire for our good. 

2.      Firm assurance is dependence on God's promises.

a.       Exodus 4:17, And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.

b.      Moses clung tightly to the shepherd's staff as he left for Egypt to face the greatest challenge of his life. The staff was his assurance of God's presence and power. When feeling uncertain, some people need something to stabilize and reassure them. For assurance when facing great trials, God has given promises from his Word and examples from great heroes of faith. Any Christian may cling tightly to these.

3.      Firm assurance is based on God's care for us. 

a.       Luke 21:14-15, Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: [15] For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

b.      Jesus warned his followers of coming persecutions in which they would be betrayed by their family members and friends. Christians of every age have had to face this possibility. It is reassuring to know that even when we feel completely abandoned, the Holy Spirit stays with us. He will comfort us, protect us, and give us the words we need. This assurance can give us the courage and hope to stand firm for Christ no matter how difficult the situation.

                                                            ii.      Drawing neigh to God will not prove to be anticlimactic or a letdown or a disappointment!  He does not build Himself up to be something that He is not, nor does He make promises he cannot keep. Pursuing God is never a waste of life, energy or time!

B.     The Blessedness and Great Joy of Seeking God.

                                                              i.      Psalm 119:2, Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

                                                            ii.      Psalm 70:4, Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

                                                          iii.      Psalm 105:3, Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.

C.    The Rewards for Diligently Seeking God by Faith.

                                                              i.      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.

                                                            ii.      Happiness, joy and pleasure are not illegitimate experiences in the Christian life; they are central to God's intentions. Most of us could be much happier than we are. So, step number one in the pursuit of God is to admit our longings.

Some of this may seem too good to be true or too grandiose to take seriously. So, let’s take a minute to state some things clearly to avoid misunderstandings. First, note that we will still have our share of troubles and difficulties; we are not exempt from pain. If there is anyone in the Bible who had a broad range of experiences and still knew the blessedness and true happiness that comes from a relationship with God, it would be David. He wrote Psalm 62:1–12, during the time of his son Absalom’s rebellion and conspiracy (2 Samuel 15–18). Even in this heartbreaking and seemingly hopeless situation, David knew God was in control. His hope can be detected by the various references he made of God and his personal intimate association with Him. He describes God as “my salvation,” “my rock,” “my glory,” “my strength,” “my defense,” and “my refuge.” He found true relief and happiness because he put his hope in God.

Secondly, even though we will have our share of hard times, we still have the Lord. Believing in God does not exempt us from life’s problems and pain. Instead, our faith in God gives us the courage and strength to face our trials. This psalm teaches us that the key to resolving problems is to depend on God for help and wisdom. Many Bible passages teach us about finding true happiness, consider Psalm 126:2–6; 145:17-19; Habakkuk 3:17–19; Philippians 4:11, 12; 1 Timothy 6:6–8.

Now consider these summary thoughts from Mr. Lucado....

The only ultimate disaster that can befall us, I have come to realize, is to feel ourselves to be home on earth. Since we are aliens, we cannot forget our true homeland.

Unhappiness on earth cultivates a hunger for heaven. By gracing us with a deep dissatisfaction, God holds our attention. The only tragedy, then, is to be satisfied prematurely. To settle for earth. To be content in a strange land.…

We are not happy here because we are not at home here. We are not happy here because we are not supposed to be completely happy here. We are like foreigners and strangers in this world (see 1 Pet. 2:11).

Take a fish and place him on the beach. Watch his gills gasp and scales dry. Is he happy? No! How do you make him happy? Do you cover him with a mountain of cash? Do you get a beach chair and sunglasses? Do you bring him a Playfish magazine and martini? Do you wardrobe him in double-breasted fins and people-skinned shoes?

Of course not. Then how do you make him happy? You put him back in his element. You put him back in the water. He will never be happy on the beach simply because he was not made for the beach.

And you will never be completely happy on earth simply because you were not made merely for earth. Oh, you will have moments of joy. You will catch glimpses of light. You will know moments or even days of peace. But they simply do not compare with the happiness that lies ahead.—When God Whispers Your Name by Max Lucado [modified]

The Inspiration of Storm-Walkers

MATT. 14:27-29

Subject: Trials/Testing

Theme: Dynamic and triumphant living recognizes the presence and power of Christ, even in the storms.

Matt. 14:27-29,
 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 

Introduction:  

Fears: intimidation fears, fear of pain or of being hurt, fear of the unknown, and general timidity can lead to serious frustration and a mediocre lifestyle of simply playing it safe. Life has become a quest to find the "comfort zone" or stay with the familiar even though they are bored to tears with life. The incredible thing is so many expect extraordinary things for their lives or their loved ones.... Yet, they refuse to really take on legitimate challenges or opportunities.

Fear is a thief and it has effectively stolen many believers desire to live the impossible life. Sometimes a series of hard experiences can leave us broken and afraid.... Believers are even afraid of the plan of God for them because it may require sacrifices or challenges, or difficulties. Hardness has resigned them to the dull ‘boat life’—just surviving. Though they are storm-tossed, thrashed, and often overwhelmed, they have come to believe the "safe life" is normal. They have lost their sense of adventure and their dreams of winning over life’s challenges have faded into oblivion. They do not realize that acknowledging Christ’s Presence in the Storm is the difference between discouragement and dynamic living. In fact, the presence and power of the Lord Jesus is the source of our inspiration. What do you fear? Is it yourself...failure…success…sacrifice…the unknown…making mistakes…what people may say or think?

Actually dynamic faith is what we all need. That is, we need confidence in God's love, wisdom, grace, and power to become people who dream of executing His will for us in a big way. This is Faith that overcomes fears, obeys Christ’s commands, attempts the impossible, and experiences Christ great enabling power to triumph is God’s desire for every believer. If you are saved then this includes you. In the incident of Peter, the disciple, it is the presence of Jesus that moved him from fear to faith.  Are you relying on the Presence of Jesus in your storms?  How can we be transformed by recognizing the presence of Christ during life’s challenges? How can we become “Storm-Walking Christians?”

Relevance: Recognizing the Lord’s Presence in the Storm will inspire faith, generate security, embolden the timid to attempt the impossible, and avail Christ’s power to triumph over the storms of life.

Thesis: To become “Storm-Walking Christians” we must Hear Christ’s Command, Attempt the Impossible, and Experience His Power.

Message:

                 Attempt the Impossible in the Storm (Matt. 14:29)

Now our center of interest shifts to Peter. Before we criticize Peter for sinking, let’s honor him for his magnificent demonstration of faith. He walked not only on water, but He walked on a raging storm at sea! Though he was a normal human being, he actually believed he could do the impossible. It was in fact his idea to walk on the storm to go to the Lord Jesus. Peter was inspired by the realization that Jesus was actually with them in the storm. On many occasions he had witnessed the power of the Lord Jesus in his own life and the lives of many others. Peter knew in his soul that Jesus could enable him to walk on the storm. He dared to be different and refused to be mediocre. Beloved, anybody can sit in the boat and watch. But it takes a person of real faith to leave the boat and walk on water...to walk on an incredible storm at sea. God really does expect us to live for Him even through the Storms! But, how can we attempt the impossible? What will motivate us to become storm-walking believers? 

Consider the following observations...

1. Respond to Christ’s Command During the Storm!

Matthew 14:29, And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

1.      Leave the Boat of the Status Quo.  You will never walk on the waters of your trials unless you get out the boats of status quo, and complacency.  This requires obedience, responsiveness, willingness to risk, and faith!  Only Christians who respond to Christ’s commands walk on the waters of their storms! This is clearly our part during the stormy times, we must do the following:

1. Turn to God, putting your eyes squarely on Him and not on the storm, nor yourself.
2. Ask God, “What do You want me to do?” Ask, “Am I to use my faith against this storm? Am I to grow in trust by riding out this storm?”
3. Do what God tells you to do. The acid test of faith is always obedience. It is not enough to hear God’s command in the storm. We must obey His command.

2.      Trust God to guide as you look to him in the midst of the storm. Psalm 32:8, I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Purpose to act upon his directives in your life. 

2. Don’t Listen to People, Listen to God in the Storm!

            Often we receive conflicting messages in the storm adding more confusion and horror to our experience. Unfortunately many of these conflicting ‘words of wisdom’ come from God’s “Boat People.”  These have learned to ‘survive’ and ‘play it safe’ in the storms, but they know nothing about “water walking faith.” Consider briefly three things about these folk.

1.      The Condition of Boat People.

a.       First of all they are still is the storm tossed boat! Because their fears are greater, their faith is weaker. Because they fix their attention on the storms, they seem unable to remain focused on the Lord. They ignore Christ presence or devalue it.

b.      His commands seem ‘unreasonable’ and ‘too extreme’ to them. Their experience is a mundane and mediocre storm tossed life—they know nothing of spiritual empowerment and inspiration. Their Christian experience is totally boring.

2.      The “Commonsense” of the Boat People.

a.       They have their ‘logical reasons’ for remaining in the boat:

                                                                                       i.      Some are in the boat of bitterness from past hurts and storms of unfair mistreatment; they feel they have a right to be in the boat of bitterness.

                                                                                     ii.      Some are in the boat of disappointment; they have been frustrated so many times they refuse to hope again for fear of another letdown. Instead of trusting, they are suspicious of anyone who attempts to inspire hope.

                                                                                    iii.      Some are in the boat of quitters; they are weary from the storms and have been worn out by the never-ending challenges. The stress and anxiety of trying to walk on water has finally overwhelmed them and they have decided to retire in the boat.

                                                                                   iv.      Some are in the boat of mediocrity; they have been there most of their Christian lives. While they are glad heaven is their future, they hesitate at any ministry opportunities or responsibilities. They don’t like the word ‘commitment!’ They seem content with weak faith like everybody else and are unwilling to change.

b.      The common factor with all of them is a failure to recognize the presence of Christ and the power of his Word in their lives.  They are skilled in offering their common sense rationale as an excuse, but they will never know the joy of walking with Christ and leading the impossible life with Him.

3.      The Counsel of the Boat People

a.       Since they are held captive by their circumstances in spiritual defeat and monotony they resent those who perceive a different outcome for themselves. They will discourage others from getting out of the boat.

                                                                                       i.      They may say, “Oh, I know you are excited about spiritual things, but it will wear off soon.”   With a rather condescending tone.

                                                                                     ii.      They will ask, “What’s wrong with being a boat people? I mean look at me, I’ve been a boat member for 99 years.”  And they are proud of this????

                                                                                    iii.      They will tell you, “Sit down, you are rocking the boat!” or perhaps they’ll say, “I love God too, but don’t go overboard.”

                                                                                   iv.      They will say, “You can’t walk on the water yet because you have not taken “Water Walking 101.”

                                                                                     v.      They might reason, “Have you ever walked on the water before?” “Well, have you ever seen anyone else walk on the water before?” “Then what makes you think you’re so special that you can walk on water?”

b.      The mistake of many believers is that they listen to the boat people instead of listening to the Lord who said “come.”  Don’t listen to boat people, listen to God!

3. Discern His Voice in the Storm

1.      How Do We Recognize the Voice of the Lord Over all the Storm Related Noise?

a.       It will always be consistent with the Bible’s teachings.

b.      His Commands will contradict worldly wisdom and conventional rationale.

c.      Christ's voice will not accommodate the carnal fleshly desires.

d.      He Will Challenge You to Grow in Faith

                                                                                       i.      Jesus said to Peter after Peter walked on the water and then started to sink, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matt. 14:31). Jesus clearly expected His followers to have faith, to use it, and to grow in their faith.

                                                                                     ii.      We grow in faith when we hear from God, obey what He says to do, and then recognize and acknowledge God's faithfulness to His word in our lives. If we are not hearing from God, it is virtually impossible for us to grow in faith.  

e.      Jesus will Call You to Have Courage

                                                                                       i.      If you are being asked to move against the tide of conventional human wisdom and act in contradiction to your fleshly nature, and if you are challenged in your faith, you are going to feel as though you are taking a risk in obeying God.

                                                                                     ii.      Any time you take a risk for God’s purposes, you are going to need courage. Such 'risks' have the quality of a real step of faith. 

2.      Remind yourself daily of what God said to you, stay close to Him, and refuse to allow yourself to give in to fear or discouragement (Ps. 27:14; 31:24; Phil. 1:27–28; 2 Tim. 1:7.).

Conclusion: Christ designs our storms to give us opportunity to face our fears with confidence in Him. He is able to handle and storm and He will never forsake us in the storms. His power and His presence inspires us to become storm-walking believers.

Yes, God will help us grow through such storms. We can grow in our experiences with the Lord Jesus, grow to overcome the challenges that have historically intimidated us, and grow in our understanding of God plan. This was the whole purpose of the storm, to help the disciples grow in their faith. God desires the same for us. He deserves faithful, fearless, bold servants who daily advertise His grace in their lives to a watching world. We must learn to trust Him implicitly.

Jesus came with unexpected help and encouragement during the disciples’ time of desperate need. Their need was real; their fears were real. But in the presence of Jesus, fear must give way to faith. 

When Jesus arrived, he made a huge difference! Because of Jesus—all he taught, all he did—your life is different now! You're not alone. You have a heavenly Father, a living Savior, and a Comforter. All the problems that beset you are now theirs as well. In the face of every problem, every heartbreak, every troubling diagnosis . . . Here Christ’s Command, Attempt the Impossible, and Experience His Power!

The first result of walking with God is great joy, abounding joy, and secondly, a great sense of security, of abiding peace.—R. A. Torrey