Seeking the Lord

I want to speak to you today
on the subject Seeking the Lord. I've chosen for my text Psalm
22 verse 26. They shall praise the Lord that
seek him. Now it'd probably be an awakening
experience for some of you if you'd get a concordance and study
the many scriptures that teach us to seek the Lord. Seek the
Lord. Just take a concordance and look
up the word seek and read the many, many, many scriptures that
talk about seeking the Lord. Now I realize that this generation
of preachers and religious people are taken up with a do-it-yourself
religion, a decision for Jesus, accepting the Lord and calling
it salvation. And so few people have the slightest
conception of what it means to seek the Lord. I wonder if you're
familiar with scriptures like these. Listen to these scriptures.
Jeremiah 29, 13. And you shall seek me and find
me when you search for me with all your heart. Listen to Isaiah
55, 6. Seek ye the Lord while he may
be found. call ye upon him while he is
near." Listen to Ezra, chapter 8, verse 22. The hand of the
Lord is upon all them that seek him. And then Psalm 119, verse
2. Blessed are they that keep his
testimonies, that seek him with all their hearts. Listen to Matthew
6, verse 33. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness
and all these things shall be added unto you. It'd be well
for us to ask ourselves these questions. What is it to really
seek the Lord? I'm not satisfied with a do-it-yourself
religion. I'm not satisfied with an on-the-spot
decision. I'm not satisfied with just giving
mental agreement to some facts about the Lord Jesus Christ.
I want to know what it means to seek the Lord. This question,
am I now seeking the Lord? Or this question, did I ever
really seek the Lord? I want to take the scriptures
and describe from the scriptures those who really seek the Lord. And I want you to listen carefully.
I have about six or seven points. Maybe you could take a pencil
and piece of paper and write down these points and write down
the scriptures and then go back later and study them. They that
seek the Lord, first of all, seek him continually. In the book of 1 Chronicles,
chapter 16, verse 10 and 11, this is what the scripture says.
Now listen to it. Glory ye in his holy name. Let the heart of them rejoice
that seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and his strength. Seek his face continually. I'm saying this. Those who really
seek the Lord, seek him continually. Now I know about this time of
year, many people get the spirit of Christmas. They get a religious
spirit. They get a spirit of goodwill.
And it ends about the time they take the tree down. And then
some people get real religious about Easter time, and they start
talking about the resurrection, and then that's over when they
take their beautiful clothes off. And then other people celebrate
this religious holiday, Lent, or that religious holiday. And
some people get real religious and devout during revival services. Every year, about August or September,
the church has a revival meeting for two weeks, and they get real
religious, and they think and talk about God. And some people
get real religious during serious illness or during the death of
someone in the family. And then some people have a Sunday
religion. Every Sunday morning they dust
off the Bible, dress up and go to church. But those who really
seek the Lord, seek Him continually. Every day is the Lord's day. This is the day that the Lord
hath made. We'll rejoice and be glad in
it. Christ is our life, Christ is
our breath. As the deer panteth for the water
brooks, David said, so panteth my soul after thee. Not during
the Christmas season, not during Easter only, not during the revival
meeting only, not just on Sunday morning, but continually, continually. My heart panteth for thee, O
God. In a dry and thirsty land, my
heart panteth for thee. And those who seek the Lord continually
know that every event in life is in his care, because all things,
the good and the bad, all things work together for good to them
who love him, to those who are called according to his purpose.
And every hour, every hour is a sweet hour of prayer. For the
scripture says we are to pray without ceasing. You know what
it was written about Caleb? It says in Numbers 14.24, My
servant Caleb, because he hath another spirit, and hath followed
me fully, he hath followed me continually, him will I bring
into the land. Those who seek the Lord seek
him continually. And then secondly, those who
seek the Lord seek him with their hearts, with all their hearts. Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 13
declares, ye shall seek me and find me when you search for me
with all your heart. Psalm 119 verse 2, blessed are
they that seek him with the whole heart. Now my friends, it's unwise
to deal in insincerity with anyone. Deceit and hypocrisy is unfair. It's ungodly. wherever it's found
or however it's practiced, but woe to the man, woe unto the
woman who is deceitful and insincere and hypocritical in his dealings
with God Almighty. Isaiah 45 verse 9 says, Woe unto
him that striveth with his maker. Let the potsherds of the earth
strive with the potsherds of the earth, but let not a man
strive contest, bargain, deal insincerely with his maker. Listen
to the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 5 verse 1 and 2. Keep thou foot
when thou goest to the presence or to the house of the Lord.
Be more ready to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools.
Be not rash with thy mouth. Let not thine heart be hasty
to utter anything before the Lord, for God is in heaven. And thou upon earth, therefore,
let thy words be few." My friends, salvation, redemption, fellowship
with God is a heart work. It's a heart work. It's not just
a head work. It's a heart work. It's not just
mental acceptance of terms. It's a heart work. It's not just
joining my body with a group of believers. It's a heart work.
And it's a sincere heart work. And it's without hypocrisy. You
know what Joel said? rend your heart and not your
garments. And Paul wrote in Romans chapter
10 verse 9 and 10, If thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus
to be Lord, and believe in thine heart, and believe in thine heart
that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Those who really seek the Lord
are those who seek him continually, not just today, not just tomorrow,
not just in a special season, but they seek Him continually. And they seek Him in a sincere
manner. They seek Him in a genuine manner. They seek Him with their hearts.
Ye shall seek me and find me when you search for me with all
your heart. Now thirdly, those who seek the
Lord seek Him not only continually and with their hearts, but they
seek Him in truth. Psalm 145 verse 18 says this,
the Lord is known to them that call upon him, to all that call
upon him in truth, in truth. It's not sufficient to have a
God. It's not sufficient to have a religion. It's not sufficient
to have only a religious profession. It's not sufficient to only live
by a moral code. Our Lord Jesus Christ said, God
is a spirit, and they that worship him, worship him in spirit and
in truth, and in truth. John 17, verse 3, when our Lord
prayed that great priestly prayer, he declared, and this is eternal
life, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus
Christ whom thou hast sent. They that seek the Lord seek
him in truth. Well, where is God revealed in
truth? Can I go out and stand under
the heavens and look up at the stars and find out God? Well,
I can see in the stars the power of God. I can see in creation
the wisdom of God. But I cannot see there the mercy
of God and the grace of God. I ask myself, will God pardon
the guilty? Will God forgive sinners? Will
God redeem people? I can look at the stars until
my death day and they'll not tell me anything about the righteousness
of God and the justice of God and the grace of God and the
mercy of God. No, God is not revealed in his
saving character in nature. Well, what about the church rituals?
As I watch the priest or the rector or someone else walking
down the aisle dressed in long robes and wearing a crown and
carrying a pillar and with something on top of it and putting water
here and water there and bowing and kneeling and doing all of
these different ceremonies and rituals. What will this tell
me about the mercy of God? Or the grace of God? Or the redemption
that I can have in God? Nothing whatsoever. Well, where
can I find God in truth? Two places. Now, they that seek
the Lord seek Him continually. They that seek the Lord seek
him with a heart, sincerely. As one preacher used to say,
honest people don't wind up in hell. And thirdly, they seek
him in truth. Where is he revealed? First of
all, God is revealed in his Word. In his Word. The scripture says,
faith cometh by hearing, saving faith, redeeming faith. It comes
by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Not by feeling,
not by ceremony. It comes by hearing, and hearing
by the word of God. You want to know God? Then you
go to God's word. God reveals himself in his word. That's where God is revealed,
in his word. We, he hath begotten us unto
a living hope by the word of truth of his own will. Beget
he us with the word of truth. It's by the word that men receive
a knowledge of sin, a knowledge of their inability, A knowledge
of Christ, a knowledge of God's redemptive grace, a knowledge
of God's righteousness, God's justice, God's holiness, God's
mercy is revealed in his words. Secondly, God is revealed in
his son. Our Lord Jesus Christ said to
his disciples before he went to Calvary, he said, I am the
way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father but
by me. And Philip said, show us the
Father. Lord, show us the Father. Show
us God and it'll suffice us, it'll satisfy us. And our Lord
said, Philip, have I been so long time with you and you've
not known me? He that has seen me has seen the Father. God reveals
himself in Christ. Christ is that prophet of whom
Moses wrote. Christ is that Redeemer for which
Israel looked. Christ is that sacrifice that
is typified through the entire Old Testament. He is a revelation
of God. because he is God. He said, I
and my Father are one. Jesus Christ is God Almighty
in human flesh who came down here to satisfy the law and to
go to the cross and honor his justice and redeem the people
from their sins. Three questions about Christ
that every believer can answer. Number one, who is he? Number
two, what did he do? And number three, why did he
do it? Can you answer those questions? Who is Jesus Christ? Who is this
bade from the virgin's womb? Who is this carpenter from Nazareth's
shop? Who is this man of Galilee? Who is this crucified Redeemer? Who is this risen substitute? He's God Almighty. God was in
Christ. God was in Christ, reconciling
the world unto Himself. I and my Father are one. What
did He do? He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities.
The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his stripes
we are healed. The just died for the unjust
to bring us to God. He who knew no sin was made sin
for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
That's right, the sinless was made sinful, that the sinful
might be sinless. Why did he do this? Because we
couldn't do it, because the law couldn't do it, because angels
couldn't do it, because even the Father himself could not
justify a sinner without a suitable, sufficient sacrifice. He did
it that God might be just and justify the ungodly. He did it
that we who had no righteousness might have one. He did it that
we who were bound for eternal condemnation might be taken to
eternal glory. Jesus Christ. Who is he? He's
God Almighty. What did he do? He died for his
people. Why did he do it? That almighty
God might be just and justify the ungodly. That every attribute
of a holy God might be satisfied in his holy Son. God to satisfy,
man to suffer. The God-man a suitable substitute. You seek the Lord. You'll seek
Him continually. There'll be no break in it. There'll
be no interruption in it. You'll continually seek Him till
you find Him in saving faith. And you'll seek Him with your
heart. Because that's where the work of grace is done. It's done
in the heart. It's a heart work. These people at Pentecost were
pricked in their hearts. That's right. It's with the heart
man believe it. And you'll seek him in his son
in truth. Listen to Romans 10, 13 carefully. Whosoever shall call upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved. But how shall they call on him
in whom they have not believed? And how Shall they believe in
Him of whom they've not heard? And how shall they hear without
a preacher? Do you want to know God? Do you
want to know God in truth or ceremony? Do you want to know
God in truth or ritual? Do you want to know God in truth
or profession? Do you want to know God in truth
or religion? If you want to know God in truth,
go to His Word. Lay aside the books written about
His Word and look to His Word. Do you want to know God in truth?
Look to Christ. God was in Christ, reconciling
the world unto himself. And Paul said, I know whom I
have believed. Paul didn't say, I know what
I believe, although he did. He said, I know whom I have believed.
Faith is in a person. The object of saving faith is
a person, the Son of God. I know whom I have believed.
I am persuaded He is able to keep that which I have committed,
not to the church, to Him. I've committed my soul to Him.
I've committed my hope to Him. I've committed all things to
Him. And He's able to keep it to that great day. All right,
fourthly, they that seek the Lord, they seek Him remembering
their sins and their unworthiness. Now, you listen to this scripture
in Isaiah 51, verse 1. Listen carefully. Hearken to
me, ye that follow after righteousness. Ye that seek the Lord, look to
the rock from which you were hewn. Look to the hole of the
pit from which you were dug." Isn't that something? Hearken
to me, he said, you who follow after righteousness. That's what
Paul wanted. He said, oh, that I might be
found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of
the law, but the righteousness which is of faith in Christ Jesus. You that follow after righteousness.
You that seek the Lord. Remember the rock from which
you were hewn, and the hole of the pit from which you were dug."
That's Isaiah 51, verse 1. Who's God talking to? He's talking
to Israel. And you know what He's saying to Israel? He's saying,
look back. Look back to the pit of idolatry.
Look back to the paganism. Look back to the darkness of
sin from which I called your father Abraham. And Abraham was
an idolater when God called him, living in paganism. And look
back to the spot from which I delivered you. It's not anything I saw
in you. It's not because of anything
that you contribute. It's by my grace that you live. And Paul said this, by the grace
of God, I am what I am. And in seeking the Lord, in seeking
the Lord continually with my heart, in seeking the Lord in
truth, I never forget where He found me from the place the place
from which he called me, the guilt and sin out of which he
lifted me. Paul said, I was a blasphemer.
I'll never forget that. I was a persecutor. I was injurious. I hated God. I persecuted the
church. He could have passed me by. David
said, my sins are ever before me. I was conceived in sin, shapen
in iniquity, brought forth speaking lies. I remember. I remember. And those that seek the Lord,
Those that seek the Lord always remember what they were and what
they are by birth, by nature, by practice. And they're able
to sing with John Newton's amazing grace how sweet the sound that
saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I'm
found. I was blind, I was lost, I was
blind, but now I see. It was grace that taught my heart
to fear. And grace my fears relieved,
how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed. Through
many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come, I have already
come. It was grace that brought me
safe this far, and grace will lead me home. The man who seeks
the Lord will justify God in his condemnation He'll justify
God in every charge against his sin. He'll justify God. That's right. He knows the pit
from which he was dug. He knows the rock from which
he was hewn. He knows the grave from which
he was raised. He knows the pit and the darkness
from which he was lifted. Christ lifted me when nothing
else could help. Christ lifted me. Never forget
that. Never forget that. Start it out
at the cross, it'll wind up right there. started out trusting Him,
will continue the journey and finish it right there. And then
in the fifth place, they that seek the Lord, seek Him with
a single purpose. Now listen to Psalm 27.4. Listen
to it. One thing have I desired of the
Lord, one thing. That will I seek after, that
I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord. Now, you're going to have to
figure out what's the one thing that you desire and the one thing
that you seek after. Man can't have two goals and
seek the Lord. Man can't serve two masters and
seek the Lord. Some of you are seeking wealth.
You can't seek wealth and seek the Lord. Some of you are seeking
security. Some of you are seeking recognition.
Some of you are seeking fame. Some of you are seeking the praise
of men. Some of you are seeking personal power. The man who truly
seeks the Lord can say with David, one thing have I desired, and
that will I seek after. What is it, David? To be a powerful
man on this earth, no sir? To have many friends, to have
great riches and great wealth and great education, great intellect,
no sir? One thing, that I may dwell in
the house of the Lord all the days of my life, and to behold
the beauty of the Lord. The man who seeks the Lord has
one goal, one object, one desire. You know what it is? Paul summed
it up. Oh, that I may win Christ and be found in Him. Oh, that
I may know Him and the power of His resurrection. And I count
all things, my heritage, my tradition, my custom, I count all things,
my acclaim, my power, my prosperity, I count all things. My fame,
my recognition, my ceremonies, I count all things. but dumb,
that I may win Christ and be found in him." A divided heart
is an unstable heart. If any man lack wisdom, and wisdom's
Christ, if any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God, but let him
ask in faith, nothing wavering. You've got to make up your mind.
Do you want Christ or Christ and? Which is it? Do you want
Christ period, or do you want Christ and this and Christ and
that and Christ and something else? You can't have but one
goal, and seek the Lord. One goal. Alright, in the sixth
place, and this is the last point. They that seek the Lord, seek
him while he may be found. While he may be found. This is
important. Old Felix sat there on the throne, and Paul talked
to him about righteousness, and judgment, and eternal life, and
he listened to him a while, And then he said, I believe it was
Agrippa, he listened to Felix, he listened a while, then he
said, Paul, you go your way, when I have a more convenient
season, I'll send for you. It never came. He never had that
season. He never had that opportunity.
Now is the accepted time. Behold, today is the day of salvation. Listen to Isaiah 55, 6. Seek
ye the Lord while he may be found. While he may be found. Old Blind
Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting out there. outside
of Jericho by the roadside, blind in darkness, in poverty, a beggar,
sitting on the ground, living off the arms of somebody else.
And he heard a commotion. And he said, what's that? What's
that? What's the noise? And somebody said, listen, Jesus
of Nazareth, passeth by. Passeth by. And my friend, I
don't know where you get the idea, and I want you to listen
to me now, I'm not being harsh, I'm being truthful. I don't know
where you get the idea that God has nothing better to do than
to stand outside your heart's door and knock for 50 years.
Until you condense in to do business with him. There's no scripture
to this effect at all. Not any scripture whatsoever.
But the scripture rather says, now is the accepted time. Today
is the day of salvation. Boast not thyself of tomorrow.
God doesn't command you to do anything tomorrow. He commands
you to do it right now. Right now. And he gives you no
assurance of tomorrow. And the scripture says this,
teach me to number my days, that I may apply my heart to wisdom.
And old blind Bartimaeus heard that good news, that gospel. Jesus of Nazareth passeth by,
and he began to cry out, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy
on me. And somebody said, hush. He said,
I can't hush. I've got one shot. I've got one
opportunity. He's passing by. I'm in need,
and he can meet my need. I'm in darkness, and he can give
me light. I'm in poverty, and he can give me wealth. I'm in
sin, he can save my soul. I've got one shot. I will not
hush. I will not stop. I'll cry louder,
and he cried louder, Jesus, our son of David, have mercy on me.
And you know what Scripture said? This most beautiful statement,
I guess, in all of God's Word. And Jesus stood still. All the
demons of hell couldn't stop him. All the forces of nature
couldn't stop him. But the cry of one sinner, one
sinner in need. One sincere, seeking, earnest,
heartbroken sinner stopped the Lord in his tracks. And he said,
Bartimaeus, what do you want me to do for you? And he said
that I might see. And our Lord gave him sight.
Listen to me, friend. The grave is not the place to
seek the Lord. Judgment is not the place to
seek the Lord. Now is the day. Today. Now is the accepted time. Seek
ye the Lord while he may be found. The title of this message is
Seeking the Lord. If you want it on cassette tape,
you can have this week and next week's tape by writing to me.
There's a small charge, three dollars for both sermons. Until
next week at the same time, Henry Mahan bidding you a very pleasant
good day.

Seeking the Lord

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Seeking the Lord

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