It is Time to Seek the Lord

Christian people have set before them two completely different ways of living. One is of this world, the second not of this world. The first is called survival, attempting to ink out an existence in a not so friendly world where every day is a challenge just to get by. Like John Wayne said, "Life is hard, and if you are stupid it is real hard." The second way is to put God first in your life and seek his kingdom and his righteousness. In doing so you look around and notice that God has met your needs in ways you would never have imagined. How? Mysterious ways. Manna from heaven. Ravens that bring crumbs of bread and choice pieces of meat from the king's table. Or maybe honey out of a rock. Paul could look back over his shoulder at his history with the Lord and say,
And my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Ph. 4:19)

I. Learn to live responsibly without worry, anxiety and resentment. Without stress.

A. Learn from life: Behold the fowls....consider the lilies...the grass of the field.

B. Learn from the Bible: God's Word.

Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)

C. Live by the Bible (Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalms 32:8).

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

II. How do you seek the kingdom?

A. By seeking the will of the king. (Matthew 6:10; 2 Peter 3:9; Matthew 12:50)

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

1. Reaching people for Christ.

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

2. Building the church. I will build my church. I will give you the keys. (Mt. 18:18)

3. Worshiping the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeketh. (John 4:23)

4. Becoming like Christ.

For whom He did foreknow he did also predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son thut he might be the first born among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)

B. By seeking the face of the king (2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalms 27:8; 105:4; Hosea 5: 15)

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seck my face, und turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.

III. How do you find and maintain the righteousness of God.

A. By faith in Christ in His blood not our works. (Philippians 3:9; Ephesians 2:8-9)

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

B. By walking in the light. (1 John 1:6-7)

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

C. By confessing and forsaking our sin. (1 John 1:8-9; Proverbs 28:13)

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from