Embracing Our Identity as God-Seekers

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, the essence of being a God-seeker is pivotal. It is not merely about approaching God when we need something but about seeking Him with a heart that desires to know Him and serve Him. This is the maturity that Jesus spoke of when He said eternal life is knowing the one true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. Reflecting on my own journey, I recall a moment when God spoke to me, saying, "It's beginning to rain," symbolizing the outpouring of His Spirit. This was a reminder that we cannot do anything without Him, and as we grow, we will need Him more than ever, even when we have abundance.

As we look forward to the future, we must understand the importance of being pillars in our faith. Just as pillars support a building, our faith supports and stabilizes our lives. Over the next few weeks, we will explore these pillars, which include being God-seekers, Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, Scripture-formed, and disciple-makers. Today, we focus on being God-seekers. A God-seeker is someone whose heart is fully committed to God, who seeks Him with all their heart, and who desires to honor Him in every aspect of life.

The Bible tells us that God searches every heart and understands every desire. He is looking for those whose hearts are loyal to Him. Being a God-seeker means having a heart after God, as exemplified by David, whom God chose not for his outward appearance but for his heart. It also means having clean hands and a pure heart, drawing near to God, and letting go of sin. A God-seeker honors God with their life, including their finances, and lives a life of faith, not just in words but in actions.

Moreover, a God-seeker is a doer of the Word, not just a hearer. They strive to align their lives with God's Word and seek to know Him deeply. As Paul wrote in Philippians, knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection is worth more than any earthly gain. This pursuit requires pressing through resistance, letting go of the past, and reaching forward to the future God has for us. As we continue this series, let us embrace our identity as God-seekers, committed to knowing and serving Him wholeheartedly.

Key Takeaways:

1. Maturity in Faith: True maturity in faith is seeking God not just for what He can do for us but for who He is. This involves a shift from self-centered prayers to a desire to know and serve God, aligning with Jesus' teaching that eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ. [01:00]

2. Pillars of Faith: Our faith acts as pillars that support and stabilize our lives. These pillars include being God-seekers, Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, Scripture-formed, and disciple-makers. Each pillar represents a foundational aspect of our relationship with God and our role in His kingdom. [05:25]

3. Heart After God: A God-seeker has a heart after God, seeking Him with sincerity and commitment. Like David, who was chosen for his heart, we are called to pursue God wholeheartedly, not just in appearance but in genuine devotion. [11:51]

4. Clean Hands and Pure Heart: Drawing near to God requires cleansing our hands and purifying our hearts. This means letting go of sin and double-mindedness, striving for single-minded devotion to God, and living a life that reflects His holiness. [16:00]

5. Pressing Forward: Being a God-seeker involves pressing through resistance, letting go of past hurts, and reaching for the future God has for us. It is about being all in, fully committed to knowing and serving God, and living a life of faith that honors Him. [37:04]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - The Beginning of Rain
[02:23] - Desperation for God
[03:31] - Vision for the Future
[04:07] - Understanding Pillars
[05:25] - Pillars in Scripture
[06:12] - The Church as a Pillar
[08:16] - Series Overview
[09:03] - Characteristics of a God-Seeker
[11:51] - Heart After God
[14:35] - Remembering God's Deliverance
[16:00] - Clean Hands and Pure Heart
[18:46] - Honoring God with Life
[21:50] - Living a Life of Faith
[23:04] - Being Doers of the Word
[25:07] - Knowing God
[28:12] - Paul's Pursuit of Knowing Christ
[32:31] - Pressing Through Resistance
[37:04] - Letting Go of the Past
[37:58] - Conclusion and Call to Action

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Chronicles 28:9 - "The Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you."
2. James 4:8 - "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
3. Philippians 3:7-14 - Paul's pursuit of knowing Christ and pressing forward.

#### Observation Questions
1. What does it mean to be a God-seeker according to the sermon? How is this different from simply being a believer? [09:03]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of faith as a pillar in our lives? What are some examples given? [04:07]
3. In the sermon, what is the significance of having "clean hands and a pure heart"? How does this relate to being a God-seeker? [16:00]
4. What personal story did the pastor share to illustrate the need for God's presence in times of abundance? [02:23]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of being a God-seeker challenge the traditional view of faith as merely a set of beliefs? [09:03]
2. What does it mean to have a "heart after God" like David, and how can this be reflected in our daily lives? [11:51]
3. How does the sermon interpret the idea of pressing forward and letting go of the past in the context of spiritual growth? [37:04]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our financial decisions reflect our commitment to honoring God? [19:47]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current prayer life. Are your prayers more focused on asking God for things, or on seeking to know Him better? How can you shift towards the latter? [01:00]
2. Identify one area in your life where you feel double-minded. What steps can you take this week to become more single-minded in your devotion to God? [17:10]
3. Consider a past hurt or failure that you are holding onto. What practical steps can you take to let go and press forward in your faith journey? [37:04]
4. How can you honor God with your finances this month? Is there a specific change you can make to align your spending with your faith? [19:47]
5. Think of a time when you felt distant from God. What actions can you take to draw near to Him and experience His presence more fully? [16:00]
6. Reflect on your role as a pillar in your community or church. How can you be more supportive and reliable in your relationships? [04:07]
7. Identify one person in your life who exemplifies being a God-seeker. What qualities do they possess that you can learn from and incorporate into your own life? [09:03]

Devotional

Day 1: Seeking God for Who He Is
True maturity in faith involves seeking God not just for what He can do for us but for who He is. This shift from self-centered prayers to a genuine desire to know and serve God aligns with Jesus' teaching that eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ. It requires a heart that is fully committed to God, seeking Him with sincerity and devotion. This maturity is not about the abundance of blessings but about a deep relationship with God, recognizing that we need Him more than ever, even when we have everything we need. [01:00]

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"

Reflection: In what ways can you shift your focus from seeking God's blessings to seeking a deeper relationship with Him today?


Day 2: Pillars of Faith as Foundations
Our faith acts as pillars that support and stabilize our lives. These pillars include being God-seekers, Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered, Scripture-formed, and disciple-makers. Each pillar represents a foundational aspect of our relationship with God and our role in His kingdom. As we explore these pillars, we understand that they are not just concepts but essential elements that shape our faith journey and our impact on the world around us. [05:25]

1 Timothy 3:15 (ESV): "If I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth."

Reflection: Which pillar of faith do you feel needs strengthening in your life, and what steps can you take to fortify it this week?


Day 3: A Heart After God
A God-seeker has a heart after God, seeking Him with sincerity and commitment. Like David, who was chosen for his heart, we are called to pursue God wholeheartedly, not just in appearance but in genuine devotion. This involves having clean hands and a pure heart, drawing near to God, and letting go of sin. It is about living a life that honors God in every aspect, including our actions, words, and even our finances. [11:51]

1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV): "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'"

Reflection: What steps can you take today to cultivate a heart that truly seeks after God, beyond outward appearances?


Day 4: Clean Hands and Pure Heart
Drawing near to God requires cleansing our hands and purifying our hearts. This means letting go of sin and double-mindedness, striving for single-minded devotion to God, and living a life that reflects His holiness. It is about being a doer of the Word, not just a hearer, and aligning our lives with God's Word. This pursuit of holiness is not about perfection but about a sincere desire to honor God with our lives. [16:00]

James 4:8 (ESV): "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

Reflection: Is there a specific sin or distraction that is hindering your relationship with God? How can you begin to address it today?


Day 5: Pressing Forward in Faith
Being a God-seeker involves pressing through resistance, letting go of past hurts, and reaching for the future God has for us. It is about being all in, fully committed to knowing and serving God, and living a life of faith that honors Him. This journey requires perseverance and a willingness to let go of what holds us back, trusting that God has a greater plan for our lives. [37:04]

Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV): "Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: What past hurt or failure do you need to let go of to move forward in your faith journey? How can you take a step towards that today?

Quotes


And this is eternal life, Jesus said, that they know you. They know you, the one true God. And Jesus Christ, His only Son, whom you sent. I remember the morning that we started. It was a day just like today. It was an overcast, drizzly kind of day, you know, in the 40s. [00:00:18] (22 seconds)


So here's five characteristics of a God-seeker. Number one, every God-seeker has a heart after God. You're here this morning because you have a heart after God. Listen to me. Look at me. Just look at me. Stop writing. Stop playing with your phone. Look at me for just a minute. [00:11:32] (17 seconds)


That's why we're here today. We have a heart after God. 1 Samuel 16, 7, the Lord does not look at the things that people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord, he looks at the heart. Jesse had seven sons. He actually had eight, but he had seven in the household. [00:12:14] (21 seconds)


If you're seeking God, what this passage is saying to you is this, as you draw near to him, God will draw near to you. But in the nearness that he draws to you as he comes close to you, you want to let go of the sin that so easily besets you. [00:16:13] (18 seconds)


How do you cleanse your hands? By letting go of the sin. Again, letting go of the things that you know aren't pleasing to God. Listen, don't worry about the things that you don't know aren't pleasing to God. I'm talking about just the blatant things that you know aren't pleasing to you. [00:16:23] (17 seconds)


God seeker wants to honor God. It's impossible to please God without faith because anyone who comes to God must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. God seekers earnestly seek the Lord by living a life of faith. [00:21:36] (20 seconds)


So a God seeker is not the person who just talks a good talk. They talk Christian. They got Christianese down. They got the lingo down, but they don't live like a Christian, okay? You want to honor God, you got to live like one. Got to live like one. [00:22:19] (18 seconds)


He says, but what things were gained to me, I have counted lost. Lost. For Christ. All the things that I achieved religiously, all the things that I've walked through, that I've accomplished, that I've done. He says, I count all these things as lost for Christ. [00:28:50] (21 seconds)


Yet indeed, I also count all things lost for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. Think about those words there. I'm counting all my pedigree as nothing in exchange for. Therefore, knowing God. Knowing him. [00:29:11] (22 seconds)


He says, if by any means that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead, is that somehow out of all this that I've been through, all this that I've accomplished, all this that now I've thrown away, somehow, someway. That God would allow me to see eternal life with God forever. [00:31:08] (20 seconds)


You are here. You're here today because you are a God seeker. You're here today because you know. You're here today because you know. what it's like to resist the world, the flesh, the devil. You're here today because you're getting fellowship with other people who've resisted. [00:37:52] (17 seconds)


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Transcript
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