Hunger for Outpouring
There are a number of relevant scriptures on this.
1. ‘Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near’ (Isa. 55:6).
2. Job said, ‘If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling!’ (Job 23:3).
3. David said, ‘Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him’ (Ps. 32:6).
C. The greatest discovery that can be made in life is finding God.
1. To those who had not believed there was a God at all, then discover that he is there, the experience is almost overwhelming.
2. And yet people generally are not the slightest bit bothered about finding God.
a. Most don’t want to know.
b. They certainly hope he doesn’t exist since they feel a freedom to live as they please in their blissful ignorance.
D. Finding God (def.): discovering that he is there and that he is very real indeed. ‘And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him’ (Heb. 11:6).
1. To find (def.): to discover by search, effort, inquiry or by choice. (Oxford Dictionary).
2. Generally speaking, then, finding is the result of seeking.
a. Those who find God were seeking him.
b. The exceptions (and thank God for them—it happens in a sense to all): when God found us even though we were not seeking him.
E. There are two levels of finding God.
1. Conversion: when God found us.
a. We may have been seeking him in some sense.
(1) Pascal: There is a God-shaped blank in every person.
(2) Augustine: Thou hast made us for Thyself; our hearts are restless until they find their repose in Thee.’
b. We may not have been seeking him at all (at least consciously).
(1) This is when he steps in and intervenes.
(2) When we weren’t thinking of him he was thinking of us. ‘I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me’ (Isa. 65:1).
I sought the Lord and afterward I knew
He moved my heart to seek Him, seeking me;
It was not I that found, O Saviour true
No, I was found of Thee.
2. The quest for intimacy with God after conversion.
a. When we are saved we begin a relationship with God.
b. Conversion is not the end but the beginning of knowing God.
(1) There is a sense in which we want to find him.
(2) This therefore means discovering how real God is.
There are a number of relevant scriptures on this.
1. ‘Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near’ (Isa. 55:6).
2. Job said, ‘If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling!’ (Job 23:3).
3. David said, ‘Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him’ (Ps. 32:6).
C. The greatest discovery that can be made in life is finding God.
1. To those who had not believed there was a God at all, then discover that he is there, the experience is almost overwhelming.
2. And yet people generally are not the slightest bit bothered about finding God.
a. Most don’t want to know.
b. They certainly hope he doesn’t exist since they feel a freedom to live as they please in their blissful ignorance.
D. Finding God (def.): discovering that he is there and that he is very real indeed. ‘And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him’ (Heb. 11:6).
1. To find (def.): to discover by search, effort, inquiry or by choice. (Oxford Dictionary).
2. Generally speaking, then, finding is the result of seeking.
a. Those who find God were seeking him.
b. The exceptions (and thank God for them—it happens in a sense to all): when God found us even though we were not seeking him.
E. There are two levels of finding God.
1. Conversion: when God found us.
a. We may have been seeking him in some sense.
(1) Pascal: There is a God-shaped blank in every person.
(2) Augustine: Thou hast made us for Thyself; our hearts are restless until they find their repose in Thee.’
b. We may not have been seeking him at all (at least consciously).
(1) This is when he steps in and intervenes.
(2) When we weren’t thinking of him he was thinking of us. ‘I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me’ (Isa. 65:1).
I sought the Lord and afterward I knew
He moved my heart to seek Him, seeking me;
It was not I that found, O Saviour true
No, I was found of Thee.
2. The quest for intimacy with God after conversion.
a. When we are saved we begin a relationship with God.
b. Conversion is not the end but the beginning of knowing God.
(1) There is a sense in which we want to find him.
(2) This therefore means discovering how real God is.
The distinctive feature of the presence of God, often compared to power, weight or brightness. Scripture affirms that God’s glory is made known through his work of creation, his acts of intervention in history and supremely in the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
glory, revelation of
God’s majestic brilliance shown to the world through Israel and the church, and supremely in and through Jesus Christ.
At his sanctuary Ex 40:34-35 See also Ex 29:43; Lev 9:6,23; Nu 20:6; 1Ki 8:10-11 pp 2Ch 5:13-14; 2Ch 7:1-3; Isa 6:1; Eze 44:4; Hag 2:7
God’s glory revealed through the church
2Co 3:18 See also Eph 1:12; 3:21; 1Pe 4:14
God’s glory revealed through the church
2Co 3:18 See also Eph 1:12; 3:21; 1Pe 4:14