Finding God

Intro

Has God ever felt 1000 miles away?

Have you ever felt that it is difficult to find Him?

Today’s message may be quick, but it is what I believe the Lord has laid on my heart

If we are going to hear from God, we need to use His word to show us.

He is not so distant that He can’t be found

Acts 17:22–27 CSB

22 Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said, “People of Athens! I see that you are extremely religious in every respect. 23 For as I was passing through and observing the objects of your worship, I even found an altar on which was inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God.’ Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it—he is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands. 25 Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. 26 From one man he has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. 27 He did this so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

We were made to seek God.

How do you find Him? You look for Him.

Joking with Talon, but I was being serious

We were made at such a time as this to seek God, just like our ancestors did before us and their ancestors did before them, because that is what pleases God.

Acts 17:28 CSB

For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’

What a wonderful verse! Jesus is the integrating center of everything, even our very lives

Not only is He fully in control of everything, but everything exists to serve and please Him.

We have the unique opportunity to choose Him

Psalm 27:4–9 CSB

4 I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking him in his temple. 5 For he will conceal me in his shelter in the day of adversity; he will hide me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock. 6 Then my head will be high above my enemies around me; I will offer sacrifices in his tent with shouts of joy. I will sing and make music to the Lord. 7 Lord, hear my voice when I call; be gracious to me and answer me. 8 My heart says this about you: “Seek his face.” Lord, I will seek your face. 9 Do not hide your face from me; do not turn your servant away in anger. You have been my helper; do not leave me or abandon me, God of my salvation.

Psalm 63:1–8 CSB

1 God, you are my God; I eagerly seek you. I thirst for you; my body faints for you in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water. 2 So I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory. 3 My lips will glorify you because your faithful love is better than life. 4 So I will bless you as long as I live; at your name, I will lift up my hands. 5 You satisfy me as with rich food; my mouth will praise you with joyful lips. 6 When I think of you as I lie on my bed, I meditate on you during the night watches 7 because you are my helper; I will rejoice in the shadow of your wings. 8 I follow close to you; your right hand holds on to me.

Our attitude needs to be one of fully committed to God.

There is “man” looking and “female” looking joke

Matthew 7:7–8 CSB

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

We are told by even Jesus himself to seek. But we are given a promise that if we seek, we will find.

Have you been seeking? If not start. If you have started, don’t stop.

The last element needed is faith.

Hebrews 11:6 CSB

6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Hebrews 11:5 CSB

5 By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God.

Here is your in service bible study tool. The verse immediately before this faith encouragement is talking about one of the only men in the bible who was taken by God. The only other man to have this happen was Elijah, but that is a story for another time.

We must believe God exists, something I don’t think is a problem with this crowd, and believes that He rewards those who seek Him

What are your thoughts when you seek Him? What do you think the heart of the Father is as you seek him?

James 4:4–8 CSB

4 You adulterous people! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the friend of the world becomes the enemy of God. 5 Or do you think it’s without reason that the Scripture says: The spirit he made to dwell in us envies intensely? 6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. 7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

If we are looking, we can’t keep one hand in the pond of the world. It is not going to work out.

Our hearts must be fully turned towards unity with God. We are asked to draw near, we are asked to pursue, we are asked to seek, we are told that we are created for this very purpose.

If you remember, last week I talked about my new years resolution to be more intentional. Pursuing and seeking God goes hand in hand with this. You have got to be intentional with your relationship with God.

Busy: Burdened Under Satan’s Yoke. We don’t need to find ourselves becoming to busy to seek God

Be spirit led and end.