What You Seek Is What You Get
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Introduction:
Introduction:
Welcome.
Uplift Ryan’s Leadership.
Rachel and I Connecting With Youth and Families .
“The Treasure Hunt” Article
“For more than thirty years, archaeologist Howard Carter searched the deserts of Egypt for something that most people thought didn’t exist—the tomb of King Tut. Most experts believed that everything in the Valley of the Kings had already been discovered, but Carter continued his search. Eventually after five more years without result, Carter’s sponsor, Lord Carnarvon of England, declared that he would stop funding the search.
In November of 1922, during his final season of work, Carter uncovered a hidden staircase near the tomb of Ramses VI. He sent a cable to England which said, “At last have made wonderful discovery in Valley; a magnificent tomb with seals intact.” Carter had indeed located the tomb of King Tut, one of the greatest archaeological treasures every discovered. After months of careful work, the golden treasures of the tomb were cataloged and the first intact royal mummy ever found was removed from the place where it had rested for more than 3,000 years.
Carter’s search was driven by his firm belief that there was treasure to be found, though he could not be certain that he was correct. Unlike Carter, we have an absolutely guaranteed result of success and great reward if we search for the wisdom of God. Notice the certainty of the promise—if we receive God’s Word, if we cry out for it and seek it as treasure hunters do for precious metals, we will surely find what we seek.”
As we continue the series “Upside Down” we are going to see the Lord encourage those listening to His sermon (and us this morning) to go on a treasure hunt. As we dive into the teaching in Matthew 7, we are going to answer the following questions;
What treasures should we seek after?
How do we seek after these treasures?
Why it’s important to seek them?
“Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Who among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him. Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
(Prayer)
What Should We Seek?
What Should We Seek?
To Glorify Christ:
“Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Dear friends, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive whatever we ask from him because we keep his commands and do what is pleasing in his sight.
We are called to glorify Christ in all areas/seasons of life. When our environment/circumstances change, seeking Christ should never change.
Lazarus Death:
When Jesus heard it, he said, “This sickness will not end in death but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Peter’s Encouragement:
Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.
“How we conduct ourselves in every situation is being the outside world.”
2.) Forgiveness:
Then Peter approached him and asked, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?”
“I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven.
“We should seek forgiveness from the Lord and from others.”
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.
3.) Wisdom:
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.
furthermore, if you call out to insight
and lift your voice to understanding,
if you seek it like silver
and search for it like hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and discover the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
“Wisdom is the application of knowledge.”
(Example: The “I Know” Syndrome)
Our Theme: “Live Loud” requires action.
4.) The Miraculous:
“Give context about text before reading.”
Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’? Everything is possible for the one who believes.”
Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe; help my unbelief!”
Belief: Conviction based on testimony that something is true or that someone is reliable. As used in the Bible, to believe in God involves the element of trust, not mere acknowledgment of his existence.
(Personal Conviction: Praying for a fold and resources)
5.) The Holy Spirit:
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
“The greatest gift we can ask for is the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Why?
He leads us to salvation.
He is our helper.
He gives us divine power.
He produces lasting fruit.
He equips us for the work of the ministry.
“We should never neglect the gift of the Holy Spirit because of those who abused/grieve Him.”
“When we stop seeking our preferences and start seeking the Holy Spirit, true revival will take place.”
How Do We Seek These Treasures?
How Do We Seek These Treasures?
We seek after these treasures with boldness, confidence, and humility. This reminds me of a story about Hudson Taylor, a missionary in China.
“ When Hudson Taylor sailed to China, he heard an urgent knock on his stateroom door. He opened it, and there stood the captain of the ship. “Mr. Taylor,” he said, “we have no wind. We are drifting toward an island where the people are heathen, and I fear they are cannibals.”
“What can I do?” asked Taylor.
“I understand that you believe in God. I want you to pray for wind.”
“All right, Captain, I will, but you must set the sail.”
“Why that’s ridiculous! There’s not even the slightest breeze. Besides, the sailors will think I’m crazy.” But finally, because of Taylor’s insistence, he agreed. Forty-five minutes later he returned and found the missionary still on his knees. “You can stop praying now,” said the captain. “We’ve got more wind than we know what to do with!”
“Do we have this type of boldness, confidence, and humility in Christ?”
Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.
“It takes humility to ask for help, especially in the midst of chaos.”
*** Give Context behind Jeremiah 29 before sharing the verses below***
You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place from which I deported you.”
“The Lord declares that the people will seek Him during their suffering and He will restore their fortunes.”
“The spiritual lesson behind this is that we get to go back to the Garden because of the blood of Jesus Christ.”
Why Should We Seek These Treasures?
Why Should We Seek These Treasures?
Love.
Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test him: “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?”
He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
You want joy in loving others? Here’s an acronym I heard a couple weeks ago;
Jesus
Others
Yourself
What Are You Seeking?
What Are You Seeking?
Forgiveness or Revenge?
Miracles or Wishes?
Wisdom or Folly?
Divine Power or Human Strength?
Jesus Christ?
Close with “You Find What You Are Looking For”
“Both the hummingbird and the vulture fly over our nation’s deserts. All vultures see is rotting meat, because that is what they look for. They thrive on that diet. But hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals. Instead, they look for the colorful blossoms of desert plants. Vultures live on what was. They live on the past. They fill themselves with what is dead and gone. But hummingbirds live on what is. They seek new life. They fill themselves with freshness and life. Each bird finds what it is looking for. We all do.”
Let’s seek life and not death. True life comes from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
(Prayer)