Psa 23:1-2: The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
- David acknowledged who His leader was.
No one wants to be under any person’s control
- A marriage can be affected if one or the other person
- Uses inappropriate control over the other
- Which can be demonic control
- In a cult, mind control can result in suicide (single or mass)
- Which is considered demonic control
- Drugs and alcohol can lead people
- To think they are in control and are not
- The substance is in control
- Many people want to be in control
- Some have a fear of losing control
- We need to turn all control over to the Lord
- Yes, the unknown is scary
- We are afraid of what may happen in future
EVERY BELIEVER NEEDS TO BE SUBMITTED TO BE LED BY THE LORD
- God doesn’t take control; He leads
- As we give God control over our lives
- It is learning to trust the Lord
- And walk with Him
OUR ENTIRE BEING NEEDS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE LORD
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death: but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
- We have to learn the life led by the Holy Spirit
- Not by our old nature
- The old nature seeks to be led by our soul (mind, will, and emotions, what feels “right” to us)
- What feels right may not be what God wants
- True peace comes when we learn to be led by the Spirit of God
OUR ENTIRE BEING NEEDS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE LORD
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death: but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
- We have to learn the life led by the Holy Spirit
- Not by our old nature
- The old nature seeks to be led by our soul (mind, will, and emotions, what feels “right” to us)
- What feels right may not be what God wants
- True peace comes when we learn to be led by the Spirit of God
THE BIBLE CALLS US SAINTS: MEANING WE ARE SET APART FROM SIN AND SET APART FOR GOD AND ARE BEING SANCTIFIED
1 Corinthians 1:2: Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
- The Blood of Jesus is what sanctified us initially
- In order the reflect the glory of God in our lives
- We should voluntarily give ourselves to Him and live for Him
THE WORD SANCTIFIED MEANS: TO CLEANSE OR SET APART FOR SACRED USE: TO DECLARE OR MAKE HOLY
- It takes time for us to let go of some things
- God works with us
- And we should work with God
- It is not just saying the prayer and doing what you want
- We seek to allow God to take control of our lives
SOME THAT COME OUT OF DEEP SIN WILL NEED JESUS TO BE THEIR DELIVERER
- To drive away from them those entities that drive their flesh
- That have them do things that the person does not want to do
- We don’t all have the same testimony
- Some of us may have had a darker past
- But we are made new by the Blood Jesus
- And Jesus works with us
- We all have individual needs
- It is a supernatural work of God in our entire being
Romans 12: 1 says, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
The Heart of God is for His people to seek Him
God wants people to seek him
Ac 17:27
Also see: 1 Ch 16:11; 1 Ch 22:19; Ps 14:2; Ac 15:16–17; Am 9:11–12; Heb 11:6
People are called to seek God
Is 55:6–7
Also see: Ho 10:12; Am 5:4–6
The Lord promises that people will seek Him
Je 50:4
Also see: Ho 3:4–5; Ho 5:13–15; Zep 2:3; Zec 8:20–23
Find the promises of God by seeking Him
Pr 8:17
Also see: Deut 4:29–31; 1 Ch 28:9; 2 Ch 15:1–2; Is 45:19; Je 29:11–14; Mt 7:7–8
Take the opportunity to seek God in this life
2 Co 6:2
Also see: Lk 16:19–31
Seek God with all your heart
The seeking of God begins in the heart
Ps 27:8
Also see: 2 Ch 11:16
Seek the Lord wholeheartedly
Je 29:13
Also see: Deut 4:27–29; 1 Ch 22:17–19; 2 Ch 15:12–15; Ps 63:1
The priority of every Christian is to seek God and His Kingdom
Mt 6:33
Also see: Ps 27:4; Mt 13:44–46
People seeking God examples:
2 Ki 22:11–20 Josiah; 2 Ch 14:2–7
Jehoshaphat seeking God:
2 Ch 17:3–6; 2 Ch 20:1–4
Seeking God has good consequences
Seeking God leads to life
Am 5:4–6
Also see: Ps 69:32; Ro 2:7–8
Seeking God leads to forgiveness
2 Ch 7:14
Also see: 2 Ch 30:18–20; Is 55:6–7; Je 26:17–19
Seeking God leads to blessing
Ps 119:2
Also see: Ps 24:3–6; Is 65:9–10
Seeking God leads to provision
Ps 34:8–10
Also see: Mt 6:31–33
Seeking God leads to protection
Ps 27:4–5
Also see: Ezr 8:21–23
Seeking God leads to understanding and wisdom
Pr 28:5
Also see: Da 2:17–23
Seeking God leads to renewed strength
Is 40:30–31
Also see: Lk 22:42–43
Seeking the Lord leads to rejoicing
1 Ch 16:10
Also see: Ps 40:16; Ps 70:4; Ps 105:3
There are hinderances to seeking God
The hinderance of Unrighteousness
Ho 10:12–13
Also see: Is 59:1–2
The Hinderance of Pride
Ps 10:4
Also see: 2 Ch 26:16–18
The hinderance of putting trust in human resources
Is 31:1
Also see:2 Ch 16:12; Ho 5:13–15
The hinderance of Idolatry
Zep 1:4–6
Also see: Ro 1:21–23
Seek the Lord with you whole heart and you will find Him.
Give your heart to Jesus today by saying this prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for dying on the cross for my sin. Please forgive me. Come into my life. I receive You as my Lord and Savior. Please, help me to live for you the rest of this life. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, I pray.
Amen.