Wednesday, July 16, 2014

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT YOUR HEART AND GOD"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT YOUR HEART AND GOD"
1st Chronicles 22:19 “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God.
Some explanatory thoughts/application/questions, and a prayer:
King David was preparing two things. One for the building of the temple. David had gathered most if not all of the supplies needed to construct the temple. And, had assigned the building of it to his son Solomon. Secondly, David gave wonderful Godly instruction to Solomon as to what to do with his heart as he moved forward in building the temple.
1. Now is the time we live in, and it's now that we can follow David's counsel.
1st Chronicles 22:19 “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God.
We are alive today in Christ. Yesterday is over, and tomorrow is not here yet. We live now, today, one day at a time.
What a blessing to focus our attention on today, on the now, and to realize that this day we can act towards our God, and He will gladly accept our actions.
2. Thank God that we can make the decision to do what David advised Solomon to do.
1st Chronicles 22:19 “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God.
We just like Solomon, and just like any other human being have the capacity of choice, we have a free will. David was encouraging Solomon to make a choice and act towards God.
You and I can make that same choice today, and throughout the day, and in the midst of any situation that arises this day.
3. God has given you a new heart and the freedom of will to follow this Godly counsel.
1st Chronicles 22:19 “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God.
Before you were saved, it would have been impossible to do what David was advising Solomon.
But, now that you are alive in Christ, you also can do what is in this verse. You have been set free by the power of Jesus Christ to act towards God. And, You will find that as you do, God will also act towards you.
4. You can set your heart and your soul to seek after the LORD your God.
1st Chronicles 22:19 “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD God.
Well, here's the counsel about our hearts/souls and God.
(1) You can set your heart and soul.
This is the decision making freedom we have.
Here's how this reads in the NLT "Now seek the LORD your God with all your heart."
The word seek, means to give, put, deliver, bring, appoint, devote, consecrate, commit, entrust, yield.
There was a time when you could not do this. That was when you were dead in your sins and trespasses. When you were under the power and control of sin and Satan. But that has all changed now, you are free, and free to set your heart, the inner you towards God.
(2) You can set your heart and soul to seek after the LORD your God.
Seeking after the LORD your God. This is the goal, this the reason for the decision as it were.
We can draw near to God.
He will draw near to us.
If we seek Him, we will find Him.
He is supremely interested in our seeking Him.
In fact, He has created us to know Him, and to love Him, and to glorify Him.
So, you can rest assured that if you seek Him, He will be found by you.
And, we can seek Him with all of our heart.
We can consecrate ourselves throughout this day, to Him.
Some Questions:
1. What tasks or responsibilities has the Lord set before you to do?
2. Isn't it wonderful that God would actually have a plan for us to fulfill?
3. Do we realize that God has placed His relationship with us above even the task He has assigned to us?
4. Will you take a moment now, and simply do what David counseled Solomon to do.
1st Chronicles 22:19 “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God.
A prayer:
Father, some days we wake up and have the spiritual blahs, other days we wake up and have the spiritual clarity of mind and great interest of heart. Either way, we can day by day, follow the advice given to Solomon. And, we ask that this day, as we move through the day, that You would remind us of Your being with us, and that we have direct access to You every moment of each hour. So, we ask for grace, for power and strength in our inner man, to set our hearts towards You to seek You.
We want to also say thank You for sending Christ, and forgiving us of our sins, and making us Your children. In Jesus name. Amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.