1. Seeking God

2. Being “Religious” is Not Enough

3.   The Pharisees were “religious” people…   Even though they were religious, their religion would not save them. “woe to you, scribes and Pharisees… you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” (Mat. 23:13)   Even though they were people of prayer, their prayer life would not save them. “for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation” (Mat. 23:14)

4. Being “Religious” is Not Enough   The Pharisees were “religious” people…   Even though they were evangelistic, their evangelistic efforts would not save them. “you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” (Mat. 23:15)   They gave to God through tithing. “you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith...Blind guides” (Mat. 23:24)

5. God wants us to seek Him Acts 17:27 (NKJV) 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; Psalm 14:2 (NKJV) 2 The L ORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.

6. God Wants Us To Seek Him Psalm 27:4, 8 (NKJV) 4 One thing I have desired of the L ORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the L ORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the L ORD, And to inquire in His temple… 8 When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, L ORD, I will seek.” Psalm 119:2 (NKJV) 2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!

7. Not all people are seekers of the Lord’s will for their lives. 1 Samuel 15:15 (NKJV) 15 And Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen, to sacrifice to the L ORD your God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.”

8. Not all people are seekers of the Lord’s will for their lives. Psalm 4:2 (NKJV) 2 How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood? Selah Psalm 10:4 (NKJV) 4 The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.

9. Not all people are seekers of the Lord’s will for their lives. Psalm 119:155 (NKJV) 155 Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes. Proverbs 14:6 (NKJV) 6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it, But knowledge is easy to him who understands. Proverbs 15:14 (NKJV) 14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

10. Seeking the Lord’s Will: A Matter relative to Our Salvation: Proverbs 1:28–33 (NKJV) 28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the L ORD, 30 They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. 31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. 32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.”

11. What does it mean to be a seeker of the Lord?  To seek the Lord is to want to know of Him and about Him. Psalm 25:4–5 (NKJV) 4 Show me Your ways, O L ORD ; Teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.

12. What does it mean to be a seeker of the Lord?  To seek the Lord is to want to know His will for your life. Psalm 51:10 (NKJV) 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

13. What does it mean to be a seeker of the Lord?  To seek the Lord will move you to want His will for others.  Cornelius: “Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends.” (Ac. 10:24)  Lydia: “The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.” (Ac. 16:14) …“she and her household were baptized” (Ac. 16:15  Philippian Jailor: “they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house” (Ac. 16:32).

14. What does it mean to be a seeker of the Lord?  To seek the Lord means that He becomes top priority in your life. Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

15. What does it mean to be a seeker of the Lord?  To seek the Lord is to want to become more like His Son. 1 Peter 2:21 (NKJV) 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

16. What does it mean to be a seeker of the Lord?  To seek the Lord is to do everything within your power to want to meet Him face to face and be in His presence for all eternity. 2 Peter 3:12 (NKJV) 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

17. Are You Seeking the Lord? Matthew 16:24 (NKJV) 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires [seeks] to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

18. Are You Seeking the Lord? Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.