Seeking God- God’s search for man.

God’s complaints in:

Failure to seek the God of the house instead of the house of God -

Amos 5:5-6  

5 do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing.”

6 Seek the LORD and live, or he will sweep through the house of Joseph like a fire; it will devour, and Bethel will have no one to quench it.

Failure to put confidence in God and seeking him instead if turning to the resources and methods of the world -

Isaiah 31:1  

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD.

Failure to respond to discipline by turning and seeking God -

Isaiah 9:13  

But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD Almighty.

Failure to return and seek God notwithstanding the consequences of forsaking God -

Hosea 7:10  

Israel's arrogance testifies against him, but despite all this he does not return to the LORD his God or search for him.

Failure of man to seek God through willful refusal of the “pride of countenance,” i.e. a snobbish attitude -

Psalms 10:4  

In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

Failure to render unto God according to the benefits bestowed by God -

2 Chronicles 32:25  

But Hezekiah's heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the LORD's wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem.

Failure to return to God notwithstanding the assurance of his promises -

Isaiah 30:15  

This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.

Failure of men to stir themselves to seek the Lord instead of remaining in a state of indifference and lethargy -

Isaiah 64:7  

No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins.

This is what the LORD says…Jeremiah 29:8-19

Let men beware how they call those prophets whom they choose after their own fancies, and how they consider their fancies and dreams to be revelations from God. False prophets flatter people in their sins, because they love to be flattered; and they speak smoothly to their prophets, that their prophets may speak smoothly to them. God promises that they should return after seventy years were accomplished. By this it appears that the seventy years of the captivity are not to be reckoned from the last captivity, but the first. It will be the bringing to pass of God's good word to them. This shall form God's purposes.

We often do not know our own minds, but the Lord is never at an uncertainty. We are sometimes ready to fear that God's designs are all against us; but as to his own people, even that which seems evil, is for good. He will give them, not the expectations of their fears, or the expectations of their fancies, but the expectations of their faith; the end he has promised, which will be the best for them. When the Lord pours out an especial spirit of prayer, it is a good sign that he is coming toward us in mercy. Promises are given to quicken and encourage prayer.

He never said, Seek ye me in vain. Those who remained at Jerusalem would be utterly destroyed, notwithstanding what the false prophets said to the contrary. The reason has often been given, and it justifies the eternal ruin of impenitent sinners; because they have not hearkened to my words; I called, but they refused.

200 Miscellaneous Commands from the Bible

(50 to 58 out of 200)

            50

Exhort servants to obey

Titus 2:9-10

9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them,

10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

            51

Exhort one another daily

Hebrews 3:13  

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

52

Fear not

Luke 12:32  

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

            53

Fight the good fight of faith

1 Timothy 6:12

 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

            54       

Follow peace and holiness

Hebrews 12:14  

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

            55  

     

Forbear one another

Colossians 3:13  

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

56       

Forbid not children

Matthew 19:14  

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Mark 10:14  

When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Luke 18:16  

But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

            57    

  

Forbid not tongues

1 Corinthians 14:39  

Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

            58       

Forget not to share

Hebrews 13:16  

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.   

Alcoholism

Billy Graham says: “The Bible teaches that there is deliverance from the things that come upon the world…not by chemicals, but by Christ, bringing the mind and heart into harmony with God through submission to His will and accepting His forgiveness…in Christ freedom from the sordid habits which are destroying so many people. Why does the Bible so clearly denounce drunkenness? Because it is an enemy of human life. Anything that is against man and his welfare, God is against.”

Let us see some scripture:

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

John 8:36

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Proverbs 28:13

He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

1 John 1:8-9

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Matthew 11:28

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Galatians 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be misled: “Bad Company corrupts good character.”

Romans 12:1-2

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

We Need a Shepherd

We Need a Shepherd

“The Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep he tends.” Psalm 100:3

Sheep aren’t the only ones who need a healing touch. We also get irritated with each other, but heads, and then get wounded. Many of our disappointments in life begin as irritations. The large portion of our problems is not lion-sized attacks, but rather the day-to-day swarm of frustrations and mishaps and heartaches.

Meaning to Lifting up of Hands

A sign of Divine Power

Exodus 9:29 

Moses replied, “When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the LORD. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the LORD's.

Things God will do

Reward each man

2 Corinthians 5:10 

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Unusual Places to Pray

At altars of animal sacrifices

Genesis 12:7-8

The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

8 From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.

Facts about God

Lips

Isaiah 11:4  

But with righteousness he will judge the needy; with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

Isaiah 30:7  

To Egypt, whose help is utterly useless. Therefore I call her Rahab the Do-Nothing.

Tongue

Isaiah 30:27

See, the Name of the LORD comes from afar, with burning anger and dense clouds of smoke; his lips are full of wrath, and his tongue is a consuming fire.

Feet

Exodus 24:10  

And saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself.

Ezekiel 1:27  

I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.

Eyes

Psalms 11:4  

The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them.

Psalms 18:24  

The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.

Psalms 33:18  

But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

Ears

Psalms 18:6  

In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.

Psalms 34:15  

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry;

Seeking God- God’s search for man.

In Zephaniah 1:4-6 God complains about three classes of people.

1 “Them that are turned back from the Lord,” e.g., such as those who:

a. Draw back from God.

Hebrews 10:38:  But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.”

b. Turn away from God.

Hebrews 12:25: See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?

c. Fall away from God.

Hebrews 6:6:  if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

II. “Those who that have not sought the Lord, e.g., such as those who:

a. Do not even miss him.

Jeremiah 2:1-8  

1 The word of the LORD came to me.

2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: “‘I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert, through a land not sown.

3 Israel was holy to the LORD, the first fruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,’” declares the LORD.

4 Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, all you clans of the house of Israel.

5 This is what the LORD says: “What fault did your fathers find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.

6  They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and rifts, a land of drought and darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’

7 I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable.

8 The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols.

b. Have forgotten him.

Jeremiah 2:32  

Does a maiden forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number.

c. Have other interests.

Jeremiah 2:13  

“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

III. Those who have not enquired for him, e.g., such as those who:

a Became weary of God.

Isaiah 43:22: “Yet you have not called upon me, O Jacob; you have not wearied yourselves for me, O Israel.

b. Are glad to be away from God.

Jeremiah 2:31:  “You of this generation, consider the word of the LORD: “Have I been a desert to Israel or a land of great darkness? Why do my people say, ‘We are free to roam; we will come to you no more’?

c. Do not say “where is the Lord”,

Jeremiah 2:6:  They did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and rifts, a land of drought and darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’

Benefits of Encouragement

 By Rev. Dr. Emmanuel E James

Encouragement is a fascinating idea to think about and to pursue. We need people who can encourage, cheer, support, and inspire us. Encouragement provides vitality, zeal, joy, peace, and contentment. Encouragement gives us satisfaction for the past, positive attitude to face the present, and trust God for the future.  It is gratitude for the blessings received, for the opportunities of today, security and strength for tomorrow.  It is awareness of the presence of God, concern for the needs of our fellow human beings and belief in the promises and power of God’s Word.

The Bible has much to say about the benefits of encouragement. Jesus was a great encourager when He ministered on the earth. He always blessed and encouraged people who came to Him. He encouraged Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, blind Bartimaeus and gave his eyesight (Mark 10:51-52), and encouraged Jairus even when his daughter died. Jesus said to him, "Do not be afraid; only believe" (Mark 5:36). He went to his house and brought her back to life. Moving from town to town, down the dusty roads and by the shining waters of the Sea of Galilee, in the pillared courts of the Temple, or as He rested by the roadside, it was naturally, simply and almost informally Jesus wrought His works of mercy, spoke words of love and encouragement and drew the world to Himself.  We cannot fathom the depth and breadth of the benefits of His encouragement in the lives of millions and billions of people all over the world. What a beneficial life of encouragement was His? He is still the great encourager for us. We all benefit by the benefits of His encouragement.

Another great example of encouragement was Barnabas. His name means “son of encouragement” and the Lord had given him a ministry of encouragement.  He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.  When Saul of Tarsus was converted he was not welcomed by believers. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to seek Saul, found him, brought him to Antioch. Barnabas took Paul to Jerusalem, and took him to the apostles and attested to his sincerity (Acts 9:27). The benefit of this ministry of encouragement was that Paul became a great teacher, preacher, evangelist, missionary, church planter and writer. He wrote 13 of the 27 books in the New Testament.  God used him as a great instrument in His hand to help the early Church develop its strategy of evangelizing, formulating its theology and several other things. What a benefit for the Church for more than 2000 years because in the time of need in Paul’s life, Barnabas encouraged him.

Today we need people who can encourage, cheer, support and inspire us like Jesus. Encouraging others never goes waste. Do not get tired of encouraging people in the time of their need of assistance, help, cheer, support, persuasion and inspiration for in due course of time you will reap the fruits of your noble work. Paul said, “So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters” (Gal 6:9-10 NLT).

We will reap the harvest of blessings and rewards for our ministry of encouragement on the Day of Judgment.  Jesus declares, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matt 25:21). Jesus will say further, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matt. 25:40”.  If anything is excellent or praiseworthy let us encourage one another and become instruments of benefits for each other.

Classes to Honor

Fathers

Luke 18:20  

You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”

Ephesians 6:2

 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—

Mothers

Matthew 19:19  

Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Mark 10:19  

You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”

Others

Romans 12:10  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Widows indeed

1 Timothy 5:3  

Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.

All men

1 Peter 2:17  

Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, and honor the king.

Things “sent” of God – Part 1

Prophets to rebuke Israel

2 Chronicles 24:19  

Although the LORD sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen.

2 Chronicles 25:15  

The anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, “Why do you consult this people's gods, which could not save their own people from your hand?”

Jeremiah 26:5  

And if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened),

Jeremiah 29:1  

This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

An evil Spirit

Judges 9:23  

God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, who acted treacherously against Abimelech.

Adam from the garden

Genesis 3:23  

So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.

Angels to destroy Sodom

Genesis 19:13  

Because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.”

Joseph to preserve life

Genesis 45:7  

But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.