Craving

Introduction: What do you desire? And how far are you willing to go for it? Maybe this morning as you sit in the comfort of your pew you’ve been considering the good Baptist question: Where are we going to eat for lunch? Speaking of which why are Baptists associated with food? I’ve shared with the Teens the time I took my mom out to Macaroni Grill and had a piece of her lemon passion dessert. Passion was the proper name for that dessert because it sure set a passion in me. I love motorcycles and would love to have another one. The open road, the wind in my hair, or at least what’s left of it, what a rush. I have a craving for each of these things, but they’re just temporal. I can’t always have Lemon Passion. If I were to get a motorcycle it won’t last forever. I couldn’t always be riding. These passions in excess would show a desperate spiritual problem in my life: idolatry. This morning we’re going to talk about right appetites and the reason why one appetite should consume us all.

Theme: Because I have purposed to serve the One True God I will diligently seek and worship Him.

Affirmation

If God is your God then you have no room for other gods, including the god of self.

If God is your God, then He alone is the object of your worship.

He alone is God. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

Scripture demands it. (Leviticus 26:1)

To worship anything else is sin and will incur God’s judgment. (Deuteronomy 17:2-5)

To worship anything else is to do what God hates.

To worship anything else is to bring death upon oneself.

To worship ourselves in covetousness is idolatry. (Col. 3:5)

Covetousness is a strong desire for worldly things with the benefit only for ourselves.

Think of the one thing that you mentioned that you wanted the most and ask, “How does this please the Lord?”

How does my desire to have a motorcycle please the Lord?

How does ones desire to have a game please the Lord?

How does ones desire to have the latest clothes please the Lord?

How does ones desire for some of the latest filth coming out of hollywood please the Lord?

How does one’s desire for anything in this world please the Lord?

For a moment, consider God, the One Who we claim to be our God.

He is Creator. (Genesis 1,2)

He is Upholder of creation. (Ps. 103:5, Col. 1:16-17)

He is Designer of salvation. (Genesis 3:15)

He is Giver of salvation. (John 3:16)

He is Love. (I John 4:8)

He is Holy, Unique, Separate. (Exodus 15:11)

He is Righteous, always rights. (Deuteronomy 32:4)

Application

If God is your God then you will diligently, or apply all of your efforts and energies, to seek Him.

Those who earnestly and diligently seek God, find Him. (Proverbs 8:17)

One will find God only when they open His Word to read of Him. (Ps. 19:8)

If we are going to earnestly and diligently seek God then we must be willing to sacrifice our time for pursue Him. (Luke 9:23)

You must put away all distractions that would hinder you from pursuing after God.

You must turn off the TV.

You must put away your games.

You must put away your ipod.

You must put away anything that would hinder you.

If no desire, then much bigger problem.

You are still in your sins. (Romans. 3:11)

You must repent (put on God’s attitude toward sin and ask for His forgiveness) and believe the Gospel or face the judgment for your sins. (Mark 1:15, Romans 6:23)

Are you still in your sins which will bring upon you God’s wrath forever?

Appetite

If God is your God then you will evidence your diligence by craving for God and for worship.

If God is your God then your desire for God will be incredible (comparable to an unsatisfied thirst in a desert).

If God is your God then you will desire to see Him as portrayed in the place of worship.

You will desire to hear of His power.

You will desire to hear of His Uniqueness, those qualities which set Him apart from all else, in a category all His own.

What is your desire this morning to be in this place of worship to hear about God?

Conclusion: What is your desire this morning? Do you desire God as if you were consumed with thirst? Seek diligently after God will require “troubling” ourselves, but it is so worth it, because He is worth it. Will you seek Him? If not then we need to talk about the most fundamental spiritual problem. Seek Him, for He is worthy of your pursuit. (Conclude with survey-What do you want out of Teen Time?)