SEEKING THE THINGS OF GOD 5 Drawing Near to God

1.Distinguishing between the sacred and the secular 2.Learning HOW to look 3.The attitude of the true seeker 4.The God of the Bible is worth searching for 5.Drawing near to God

Truths about Sacrifice Sacrifice is a conscious, voluntary decision Sacrifice always seeks a higher objective than the present Sacrifice requires giving up oneself All sacrifice is not equal in God’s sight

Real sacrifice is a deliberate loss Sacrifice defined; to purposely incur a loss with assurance that one will gain more than he lost. which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. (2 Timothy 1:12 ESV)

Real sacrifice is a deliberate loss Sacrifice defined; to purposely incur a loss with assurance that one will gain more than he lost. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. (Hebrews 11:4 ESV)

Real sacrifice is a deliberate loss And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44 ESV)

Real sacrifice is a deliberate loss And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:2 ESV) Real sacrifice is deliberate

Real sacrifice is a deliberate loss But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. (2 Samuel 24:24 ESV) Real sacrifice is deliberate Real sacrifice has a real cost

Real sacrifice is a deliberate loss Acts 5:1-10 Real sacrifice is deliberate Real sacrifice has a real cost Real sacrifice is not self-serving It is offered out of respect Symbolizes the allegiance of the offerer

Real sacrifice begins by giving self We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. (2 Corinthians 8:1-5 ESV)

Real sacrifice begins by giving self God looks upon the heart in every sacrifice And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42 ESV)

Real sacrifice begins by giving self One’s toil/labor is remembered by the Lord Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV)

Real sacrifice begins by giving self The greatest sacrifice without the right heart is useless If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 ESV)

Real sacrifice begins by giving self Every Christian is encouraged to sacrifice his/her life I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1 ESV)

Real sacrifice begins by giving self Every Christian is encouraged to sacrifice his/her life And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Luke 18:29-30 ESV)

Real sacrifice begins by giving self Every Christian is encouraged to sacrifice his/her life Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:12-13 ESV)

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 ESV) No one should sacrifice to God who does not believe in Him No one should believe in God who is not willing to sacrifice to Him