Seeking The Lord

 

I've had some thoughts on my mind about seeking the Lord.  And with this thought of seeking the Lord, we can include things like seeking the truth or searching the Scriptures.  My mind keeps going back to right before I was born again and thought I was saved.  I started really questioning why my life was at the place it was and if there could be hope for me.  If you'd like to read my full testimony you can find it here but to get straight to the point, I had come to a place in my life where I was questioning if I was truly saved then why didn't I have the power to overcome my sinful behavior.  I was praying prayers like "God, have you hardened my heart like Pharoah?  Are you going to pour out your wrath on me and use me as an example?".  And while part of me reasoned if that was God's plan for me, at least I am part of His plan, a huge part of me wasn't ready to accept "screw up" as my fate.  I reached out in a local parenting group on Facebook asking for a house church in the area, thinking I needed to find a church that most closely resembled the one in the Bible.  And what I was presented with was "we're just like the church in the Bible, by the way, do you speak in tongues".  For the next couple weeks I was picked up for meetings and after the meetings I was presented with this idea of being born again of water baptism and the infilling of the Spirit and I argued with it.  I fought with every scripture out of context that I had.  I pulled out my "Romans road to salvation" from the Pentecostal church.  I pulled out my "confess with your mouth and believe in your heart" (Romans 10:9-10).  I pulled out my John 3:16, not realizing it was part of the larger conversation where Jesus said you must be born again to see or enter the kingdom of Heaven.  

So I've been thinking about that time, right before my scriptural born again experience, and I think,  if I had only fought with them and left it at that, or worse yet, if I hadn't spoken up and pretended to agree and then left it at that, I would never have been born again for myself.  What made the difference in my life and in countless others' is that even though we doubted the scriptures that were presented to us, we went on our way and sought the Lord, we searched, we tested it out.  

For me personally, I blogged what I was being told during those first couple weeks and I blogged how I felt about what I was being told.  I wrote about how I didn't want to think I'd believed a lie since I was 10 years old.  I wrote about how if what these people were showing me in the Bible was true, how could so many sincere, devout people be wrong?  And every time I read a scripture in Acts that seemed to confirm what I was being told, I blogged it with a ton of question marks.  And for about two weeks I'd argue with these people in person then go home and pray in tongues daily for the first time since I'd received 10 years earlier, and I read Acts from the beginning and I asked God to prove it.  I was desperate to know, and that searching was the difference between coming to the truth and never knowing.  If I had stopped short at any point during those two weeks and just set my mind to believing the made up versions of the Gospel I'd heard my whole life, I would have never been born again.  Let's look at some scriptures.

But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. - Deut 4:29 

We can't seek the Lord half-heartedly.

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. - 1Ch 16:10-11 KJV

Seeking the Lord needs to be a constant pursuit.  James 4:8 tells us that if we draw near unto God, He will draw near unto us.  You're not searching in vain but there is a search that needs to take place.

Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD. - 1Ch 22:19 KJV

1 Corinthians 3:16 says of the Spirit-filled church that those true believers are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in them.  That's the house we are all now building, a spiritual one.  And for that to happen, we must first set our heart and soul to seek the Lord on his terms.

Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave [it] for an inheritance for your children after you for ever. And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. -1Ch 28:8-9 KJV

Finding the Lord is contingent upon seeking after Him.  Saying you want to be right with God but doing nothing to be right with God isn't going to get you anywhere.  Saying you want the Spirit but not praying for the Spirit isn't going to get you anywhere.  IF you seek Him THEN He will be found of you.  If you seek Him, then you will receive the promise of the Spirit and the promised land of Heaven.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. - 2Ch 7:14 KJV

This is repentance, stop going the way you're going and start going God's way.  It doesn't mean you clean up your life first, but you stop pursuing what you were pursing and start pursing God.  Get baptized by full immersion by someone who preaches the truth to bury your old life, then pray for the Spirit until you receive the Spirit.  The Spirit will help you clean up your life after you receive.  Or, if you're like me and you've already received the Spirit, start using it daily, praying in tongues, and get baptized by someone who has the authority to baptize (someone who preaches and lives the same salvation as Jesus and the first church)... even if you have been baptized before (Acts 19:5).

And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD. - 2Ch 12:14 KJV

Actively prepare your heart to seek the Lord.  Have an honest conversation with yourself about if you're ready to do things the Lord's way, if you really want to be in relationship with Him or if you're just looking for some sort of blessing, and if you're ready to commit.

And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment. - 2Ch 14:4 KJV

And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD [is] with you, WHILE ye be with him; and IF ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. ... And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; - 2Ch 15:2, 12 KJV

We see contingent language here again.  I've often heard "the Lord knows my heart".  Yes, the Lord knows the heart of man is "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jer 18:9).  Our devoutness means nothing if we aren't WITH the Lord.  He's set a pattern for how to be saved in place and He's set a pattern for how to stay saved in place and we have to align ourselves with what He's set out.  If we seek Him on His terms then we find Him.  And if we stay with Him after that, THEN He will stay with us.  Don't forget, Cornelius was devout, god-fearing, alms-giving, always praying, and even seeing angels and he still needed to be saved (Acts 11:13-14).

Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God. - 2Ch 19:3 KJV

And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask [help] of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD. - 2Ch 20:3-4 KJV

And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. - Psa 9:10 KJV

It's a common argument with Atheists that they don't believe in God because they haven't seen any evidence in their own life, that God has never done something for them.  Well, there's a reason for that. God is under no obligation to those who are against Him. 

The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, [and] seek God. - Psa 14:2 KJV

One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, 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, and to enquire in his temple. ... [When thou saidst], Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. - Psa 27:4, 8 KJV

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good [thing]. ... Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. - Psa 34:10, 14 KJV

It's human nature to want all the good things the Lord provides without putting in the effort to enter and maintain a relationship with Him, but we can't let human nature determine spiritual outcomes.  If we want the Lord we have to seek Him.

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. - Psa 40:16 KJV

God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were [any] that did understand, that did seek God. - Psa 53:2 KJV

[[A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.]] O God, thou [art] my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; - Psa 63:1 KJV

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 evermore. - Psa 105:3-4 KJV

Blessed [are] they that keep his testimonies, [and that] seek him with the whole heart. ... Salvation [is] far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes. - Psa 119:2, 155 KJV

Salvation is far from many because they want to be saved in their own way rather than seeking out God's way.  God's way is clear and simple and written in His word multiple times, that if we want salvation, we FIRST have to repent, be baptized, and receive His Holy Spirit, and when we do we will know because we will speak in new tongues (John 3:1-8, Mark 16:15-17, Acts 2, 8, 9, 10-11, and 19).

I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. - Pro 8:17 KJV

Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all [things]. - Pro 28:5 KJV

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: - Isa 55:6 KJV

There will come a time when it's too late.  2 Corinthians 6:2 reminds us that TODAY is the day of salvation.  Tomorrow is never promised.  Hebrews 3:7-8 (written to the Spirit-filled but applicable to everyone) says that TODAY if you hear His voice, don't harden your heart.

And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart. - Jer 29:13 KJV

And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: - Dan 9:3 KJV

By now you may be asking, "okay so HOW do I seek the Lord?"  Pray to Him.  Luke 11:5-13 ask AND KEEP ASKING and you will receive the Holy Spirit.  And then after you receive the Spirit, pray at all times IN THE SPIRIT'/tongues (Eph 6:18).

I will go [and] return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early. - Hos 5:15 KJV

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. - Hos 10:12 KJV

Seek Him until you find Him.  Seek him until you receive the promise of the Spirit.  You'll find what you're looking for if you're really looking for Him.

For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live: ... Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour [it], and [there be] none to quench [it] in Bethel. ... [Seek him] that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD [is] his name: ... Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. - Amo 5:4, 6, 8, 14 KJV

Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger. - Zep 2:3 KJV

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. - Mat 6:33 KJV

The Lord is happy to provide our needs for us, but we first need to seek Him and being right with Him.  How many of us buy clothes and food and cook for a stranger's children?  Do we really expect God to give us everything if we don't even know Him?  

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: - Mat 7:7 KJV

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. - Mat 28:5 KJV

Even after Jesus was crucified, those who loved Him sought after Him and they found Him.  It's the same for us, if we seek Him, we will find Him though receiving the same Spirit that was in Him.

And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. - Mar 16:6 KJV

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. - Luk 11:9 KJV

This is quoted in Matthew as well, but Luke specifically mentions it in regards to persistently praying to receive the Holy Spirit.  It takes determination sometimes.  Not everyone receives right away, but those who want to be right with the Lord and keep praying and seeking His Spirit will find just that.

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. - Luk 12:29-31 KJV

Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. - Luk 17:33 KJV

If we're seeking to save our natural lives we will lose eternal life, but if we're seeking after eternal life we gain eternity and abundant blessing in this life as well.

And as they were afraid, and bowed down [their] faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? - Luk 24:5 KJV

For us this can look like seeking Jesus through sinner's prayers, asking Jesus into our heart, ritualistic religion, etc.  If man made it up, it's dead, it's not going to work.  It doesn't matter how close it gets to the truth if it's not fully truth, it doesn't matter what intention is behind it, John 4:23-24 says those who worship God MUST worship in Spirit AND truth.  The New Testament mentions over and over that it's the Spirit that gives life.  If we want to find Jesus, we have to seek Him through the Spirit.

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. ... Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. - Jhn 5:30, 39 KJV

Jesus didn't seek to do things His own way.  If we want to have a relationship with Jesus we have to have that same attitude, that we are going to do things the way the Lord laid out in His Word.  So search for the salvation command, find out what it says, and then do it.  John 3:1-8, Mark 16:15-17, Acts 2:38-41 and the salvation accounts in Acts chapters 2, 8, 9, 10-11, and 19 ALL show salvation through turning from man's way to God's in repentance, full immersion baptism to bury the old life, and being risen to new life by receiving the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in new tongues.

Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. - Jhn 6:26 KJV

The multitudes only followed Jesus because of the provisions, because He filled their bellies. But it was the 120, the few that stayed after he was murdered and waited in Jerusalem for the Spirit, that received the Spirit.

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: - Act 17:27 KJV

Don't think God is far off.  He's not in the way distance laughing because you're looking in all the wrong places.  He's RIGHT THERE just waiting for you to turn to Him HIS WAY.  

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. - Gal 1:10 KJV

Is your concern for someone else stopping you from seeking the Lord His way?  Are you concerned what your pastor will say?  Are you, like I once was, concerned what your friends will say?  Are you concerned what your parents or siblings or children will say?  Are you MORE concerned about what they say than what God says though?  One of the verses I've clung to for the last 10 years is When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. - Psa 27:10 KJV.  I have lost friends since coming to the Lord.  I've lost the love of a lot of religious family members.  But what I've gained has made it so worth it, and the Lord has never left me.

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. - Col 3:1 KJV

This is written to those who are already saved, who have already obeyed the gospel command to repent, be baptized, and receive the Spirit.  We've got work to do still.  We have to keep seeking the Lord, keep seeking righteousness, keep seek the spiritual things.  Just like when you find a mate, you don't stop building a relationship (or shouldn't) just because you say "I do".

But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. - Heb 11:6 KJV

Again, diligently, not half-heartedly.

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. - Heb 13:14 KJV

Keep seeking to make it to Heaven, even after you've taken those initial steps toward salvation.

[It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings [is] to search out a matter. - Pro 25:2 KJV

Don't take anyone's word for it, not even mine.  Search the scriptures for yourself.  Did a preacher tell you you were saved because you said a prayer?  See if you can find anywhere in the gospels or Acts where anyone said a prayer to be saved?  Were you told to ask Jesus into your heart or make a decision for Christ?  See if you can find that.  Were you told to repent, be baptized, and receive the Spirit?  Check out John 3, Mark 16, and Acts chapters 2, 8, 9, 10-11, and 19 for yourself.  

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. - Rom 3:10-11 KJV

A few verses later Paul tells us this is what is spoken about those under the law (the over 600 Old Testament laws).  But Jesus died so He could pour out the Spirit (John 16:7) and provide a new, better way for salvation.  And through the Spirit, we can seek God and be made righteous.

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. ... But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. - Rom 8:4, 9 KJV

My encouragement today is simple, just like the scriptures, I encourage you to seek the Lord.  Seek the Lord to be made right with Him by obeying the salvation He laid out, then after you've been baptized and received the Spirit, keep seeking Him.  It will be worth it.