NJ - If you SEEK Me you will FIND Me

Finding God for yourself

Welcome - Presence Ps John & Ps Anita

Acknowledge those watching online

As we continue today with the theme: HOW TO FIND GOD? I believe that God will minister to all of us, whether you are on a journey of discovering God for the first time or where ever you maybe in your relationship with God.

What does it take to find God and have a relationship with Him?

Our natural thinking would be to:

Become a better person,

Work harder

Work harder,

Do more

Do more,

This way God will accept you

This way God will accept you

None of these work for us to find God and have a relationship with God,

“OUR VALUE IS NOT IN WHAT WE DO”

The bible clearly tells us there is only one way for us to have relationship with Him is to ask Jesus into our hearts to be Lord of our lives. Repent of our sins and believe that Jesus rose from the dead.

God created us, He loves us so much that He wants relationship with us, He wants us to know Him and spend eternity with Him.

God created us, He love us so much that He wants relationship with us, He wants us to know Him and spend eternity with Him.

John 3:16 NKJV

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Jesus came so we could know and understand God in a personal way

Through Christ there is a better way for us

HOW TO FIND GOD?

One of my favourite scriptures is

(On the screen)

Jeremiah 29:11–13 NKJV

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

11-13

The New King James Version Chapter 29

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

Verse 11: We see Gods plan and blessing for our lives,

(Peace/Future/Hope)

Verse 12-13 We see our part to receive and walk in all God has for us.

(Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.)

A-GENTILES WERE ONCE SEPARATED FROM CHRIST.

Ephesians 2:11 ESV11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—Ephesians 2:11–12 ESV11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.EPHESIANS EPHESIANS Genesis 17:1–5 ESV1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2 that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4 “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.​​​

B- WE ALL WERE ONCE WITH NO HOPE.

Ephesians 2:12 ESV12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.​Romans 3:23 ESV23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,​​

2-THE BLOOD.

2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

A-WE HAVE BEEN BROUGHT NEAR TO GOD BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.

Ephesians 2:13 ESV13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.Hebrews 9:22 ESV22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.HEBREWS Hebrews 10:4 ESV4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.​​Revelation 7:14 ESV14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.REVELATION ​​

B-WE HAVE BEEN BROUGHT NEAR TO GOD BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.

Ephesians 2:13 ESV13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.​

3-THE PEACE.

A-CHRIST IS OUR PEACE.

Ephesians 2:14 ESV14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostilityJohn 14:27 ESV27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.​​​

We react to the circumstance instead of being on the front foot

B-THERE IS NO DIVISION THROUGH CHRIST.

​John 17:23 ESV23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

In difficult times the last thing we feel is:

In difficult times the last thing we feel is:

That we have PEACE

That we have a FUTURE

That we have a HOPE

And if we don’t feel we have these then we will not feel like we can call on the name of God. This is exactly where the devil wants us to be.

(DEFEATED/LOST)

TESTIFY OF MY OWN EXPERIENCE IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS

Sin separated us from God

Christ Jesus bridged that gap through His sacrifice on the cross

It is because of that sacrifice we can find God

Ephesians 2:11–14 NKJV

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

We perceive or want God to speak to us the way we wont Him to speak, or to say what we want Him to say, But God knows us and He knows what is good and the best option for us.

(Reference Luke 22:42)

Luke 22:42 NKJV

42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

Not My will but Your will oh God.

Ephesians 2:11–14 NKJV

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

NKJV

HOW TO FIND GOD?

1. REMEMBRANCE

We need to remember what God has done for us through Christ Jesus. We were and are separated from God because of sin. Jesus washed our sins away and has bridged the separation gap. We find God through Christ Jesus.

AS GENTILES WE WERE ONCE SEPARATED FROM CHRIST.

Romans 3:23 NKJV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 3:

WE ALL WERE ONCE WITH NO HOPE.

Romans 15:13–15 NKJV

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God,

Romans 3:23 NKJV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

HOW TO FIND GOD?

THE BLOOD.

2. THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

It was the shedding of the blood of Christ on the cross that washes away our sin. The bible tells us in that we were brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. Right from birth we have had a need for the blood of Christ. It is His blood that has dealt with sin once and for all.

WE HAVE BEEN BROUGHT NEAR TO GOD BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.

Psalm 51:5 NKJV

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.

psalm

Isaiah 1:18 NKJV

18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

Isaiah

Psalm 51:6–7 NKJV

6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

ESV22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.HEBREWS

ESV4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

​​ ESV14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.REVELATION ​​

WE HAVE BEEN BROUGHT NEAR TO GOD BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.

BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD WE CAN BOLDLY COME TO GOD

Hebrews 4:16 NKJV

16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews

HOW TO FIND GOD?

3. THE PEACE OF GOD

In yielding our live to Christ and accepting Him into our hearts, we can have peace. No matter the circumstance we can have peace of mind and life in times of trouble, heartache and pressure. We need to ask for His help.

Philippians 4:7 NKJV

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

CHRIST IS OUR PEACE.

Ephesians 2:14 NKJV

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

ESV14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

John 14:27 NKJV

27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.​​​

ESV27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.​​​

WE ARE MADE PERFECT

John 17:23 NKJV

23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

HOW TO FIND GOD?

I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

CONCLUSION

I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

As we finish this morning it is important for us remember that it is through Christ that we can find God. Our Peace/Future/Hope is His plan for our lives. The bible tells us that If we seek Him we will Find Him.

this morning

Ask/Seek/Knock: Ask and it will be given to you, Seek and you will find, Knock and the door will be open to you.

1. REMEMBRANCE

Remember what God has done for us is through Christ Jesus.

2. THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

The blood of Christ on the cross that washes away our sin

3. THE PEACE OF GOD

No matter the circumstance we can have peace of mind

Let’s Pray