The Quest

Acts 17:27

 

REACH OUT TO THE LIVING GOD, DISCOVER WHO HE IS, AND EXPERIENCE HOW INTERESTED HE IS IN YOU.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  Acts 17:27

 

Quest – a search or pursuit made in order to find or obtain something; an adventurous expedition undertaken to secure or achieve something. (Dictionary.com)

 

God hard wired you for a discovery quest – Frank Moore

 

Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live..”  (Acts 17:22-26 NIV)

 

His reference is the tower of Babel in Gen Chapter 11, where God confuses the language, and scatters mankind. If he wanted fellowship with man, why scatter them? They didn’t build the tower of Babel with the right motives. It was about themselves, and not about God. He’s giving them a chance to try it again.

 

 

I. REACH OUT TO THE LIVING GOD

 

1. Let The Word and Holy Spirit Guide You

 

      I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you (John 14:18)

 

2. Accept God’s Love

 

Love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these (Mark 12:30-31)

 

 

II. DISCOVER WHO HE IS

 

For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:28-31 NIV)

 

1. Pursue And Experience Purity (For He is a holy God)

 

            Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8)

     

2. Develop A “Christ Like” Character! (Baptized, Believing, Bold)

 

To them God has chosen to make known among the gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27)

 

III. EXPERIENCE HOW INTERESTED HE IS IN YOU

 

When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” At that, Paul left the Council. A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others. (Acts 17:32-34 NIV)

 

1. Believe God Will Empower You!

 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

 

             Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and

             opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

             (Revelation 3:20)

 

2. Do It Together

 

REACH OUT TO THE LIVING GOD, DISCOVER WHO HE IS, AND EXPERIENCE HOW INTERESTED HE IS IN YOU.

“Living the Life I’ve Longed For”

Ephesians 2:8-9

Real Living Starts When We Embrace Christ, Grow Spiritually, And Befriend The Holy Spirit.

 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.  ~ Ephesians 2:8-9

 

EMBRACE CHRIST

 

                 1.  Admit to yourself and to God that you have done wrong.

                 2.  Confess your sins

 

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ~ 1 John 1:8-9

 

                 3. Embrace Christ As Part Of God’s Plan

 

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit. ~ Psalm 32:1-2

 

                  4. Be “Born Again”

 

In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’” “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” ~ John 3:1-8

 

Grow Spiritually

 

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him - you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ~ 1 Peter 2:1-5

 

1.     Participate In The Journey

2.     Communicate With God Daily

3.     Bring Self-Discipline And Good Choices To Your Life

4.     Let Go Of Your Past Failures & Sins

5.     Seek Opportunities To Honor Christ

 

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. ~ Philippians 3:7-11

 

Befriend The Holy Spirit

         `08 JAN - FEB MEMORY VERSES 

 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).

 

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you (John 14:18).

 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no command greater than these (Mark 12:30-31).

 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God (Matthew 5:8).

 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

 

To them God has chosen to make known among the gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Collossians 1:27).

 

 

 

Experiencing True Love
    Mark 12:30-31

Pursue God While Serving Others, Then You’ll Find True Love

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” ~ Mark 12:30-31

PURSUE GOD BY LOVING HIM MORE THAN ANY THING

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  ~ Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. ~ Leviticus 19:18

The first command summarizes the first four of the 10 commandments given to Moses; and the second summarizes the last six.

Sadducees Love Wealth & Power
 
• Control Temple Exchange
• Serve As Political Force With Rome

Pharisees Love Religion & Power

• 613 individual statutes in the law (365 negative & 248 positive)
• Interpret & administrate punishment

We Love Power Over Others, Material Comfort, Self

LOVE OTHERS THROUGH SERVICE AND PERSONAL SACRIFICE

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. ~ 1 John 3:16-18

The Golden Rule Came From Jesus 

In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. ~ Matthew 7:12

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. ~ John 13:35

Loving Others Requires Self Discipline And Sacrifice

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. ~ Ephesians 4:31 – 5:3

Loving Others Requires Acknowledging Personal Limitations

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.  We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.  ~ 2 Corinthians 4:7-10

BELIEVE AND EXPECT TO FIND TRUE LOVE

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ~ 1 John 3:1

Experience Guidance and Empowerment (Not Alone)
    
Experience Personal Accomplishment (Contentment)

Experience True Love (Intimacy With God)

Pursue God While Serving Others, Then You’ll Find True Love

“A Purity That Experiences God”

Matthew 5:8

 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. ~ Matthew 5:8

 

Walk Before God With Integrity, A Cleansed Heart, And In Loyalty To The Lord’s Calling; And I Promise You Will See God.

 

Excuses, Excuses I Hear Them Every Day….

 

“Nobody’s perfect”

“Kids will be kids”

“Expect her to get angry, she’s a red head”

“Look, men are vulnerable and weak when it comes to this”

“He can’t help it, look at his family”

“Sure I call in sick when I’m not. But I work hard when I’m there”

“Everyone tells a white lie now and then”

“Everybody does it”  

 

“Purity is not so much perfect performance as it is pure intentions and undivided loyalty.” ~ Frank Moore

 

A Pure Heart Walks With Integrity Before God  (Genesis 17:1)

 

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. ~ Genesis 17:1

 

·                     24 years ago he left everything to follow God

·                     Still waiting for a son

·                     Waiting for his promised land

·                     Waiting for the spiritual blessings God promised his family

·                     Making mistakes and facing hardships

·                     Experiencing tests and trials

·                     After stumbling, Abraham gets direction from God, gets up,

             and starts all over again.

 

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe. ~ Philippians 2:12-15

 

 

A Pure Heart Experiences God’s Spiritual Cleansing (Psalm 51:10)

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. ~ Psalm 51:10-12

 

·                     A Heart Cauterization (Forgiveness of Sin)

·                     A Right Spirit (Freedom From Sinful Desire)

·                     God Living Within (Holy Spirit Power)

 

 

A Pure Heart Demonstrates Undivided Loyalty To God (Matthew 19:21-26, James 1:2-8)

 

            What Is Your Most Prized Possession?

 

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  Matthew 19:21-26

 

           In Whom Do You Trust?

 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. ~ James 1:2-8

 

In order to be pure in heart, we must remove all stumbling blocks that stand between us and fellowship with God and his will for our lives. We must keep a light touch on our possessions, social status, desires, ambitions, and goals in life. We must adopt God’s perspective for self denial. ~ Frank Moore

 

Walk Before God With Integrity, A Cleansed Heart, And In Loyalty To The Lord’s Calling; And I Promise You Will See God.

 

 

 

Receiving Holy Spirit Power

Acts 1:8

 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.  ~ Acts 1:8

 

The Power Of The Holy Spirit Changes Your Mind And Soul, Addresses The Sin Issue, And Equips You For Evangelism.

 

Holy Spirit Power Changes Your Mind And Soul [Thinking, Feelings, Principles] (Ephesians 3:16-19, Acts 8:18-19)

 

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. ~ Ephesians 3:16-19

    

Then Job replied to the LORD: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”  Job 42:1-6

 

Holy Spirit Power Addresses The Sin Issue (James 1:2-4, 12-15; 1 John 1:7-2:1)

 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything… Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.  ~ James 1:2-4, 12-15

      

            Trials Help Us:

-       Grow In Patience

-       Become Mature And Complete In Our Faith

-       Fellowship With God

 

            Temptation Targets Us For Defeat

-       Temptation Is Fact, And Usually Catches Us Off Guard

-       Temptation Originates Outside Of Us

-       Temptation Is Universal, But Has Its Limits

-       We CAN Resist Temptation, And Stand Tall

         

            Sin Cannot Hold Us

 

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  ~ 1 John 1:7-2:1

 

            Live Above Habitual Sinning And Self-preference By Being Responsible And Accountable

 

Holy Spirit Power Equips You For Evangelism/Outreach (1 Peter 3:15-16; Matthew 28:18-20)

 

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ~ 1 Peter 3:15-16

 

 Witness Through A Clear Conscience And Transparent Conduct

 

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. ~ Matthew 28:18-20

 

 Evangelism Is Everybody’s Business

-       As You Are Going

-       Make Disciples In All Nations

-       Baptize Them Into Faith

-       Teach Them Doctrinal Principles And Lifestyle Practices

 

The Power Of The Holy Spirit Affects your Mind And Soul, Addresses The Sin Issue, And Equips You For Evangelism

 

 

Letting Christ Live In Me

Colossians 1:27

 

 

To them God has chosen to make known among the gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory ~ Colossians 1:27

 

Christ living within us produces a “Christ-like” character, generates “sanctification” and personal sacrifice, and moves with “right” choices.

 

CHRIST LIVING IN ME PRODUCES A “CHRIST-LIKE” CHARACTER

 

Cherish, Admire Christ

 

Romans 8:29 - God wants us “to be conformed to the likeness of His Son.”

 

2 Corinthians 3:18 – We are being transformed into His [Christ’s] likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

 

Christ-Like Character¹       

1.       Jesus loves the Father First and foremost, and loves us as an outgrowth of His relationship with the Father (Matthew 22:37-40).

2.       Jesus has an engaging personality (John 3:1-21, 6:1-2).

3.       Jesus lives a life of humility (Matthew 11:29; Matthew 18:1-5; Mark 10:43-45; John 13:2-16).

4.       Jesus has a sense of humor (Matthew 7:3, ; 23:24).

5.       Jesus lives a balanced life.

6.       Jesus has a heart of compassion and was hands on in dealing with people (Matthew 8:14-17).

7.       Jesus is courteous (John 4:4-26).

8.       Jesus practices and promotes fairness (Mark 2:23-24, Matthew 16:13-23).

9.       Jesus is thoughtful (Luke 22:50-51).

10.   Jesus shows appreciation and pays compliments (Luke 7:36-50).

11.   Jesus does not create conflict, neither does He run from it when it arises (John 4:1-3; Luke 20:1-8, 14:1-4).

12.   Jesus does not contemplate his plight in life and feel sorry for himself (Luke 23:28).

13.   Jesus is not vindictive, nor does he seek revenge (Matthew 5:38-41).

14.   Jesus does not need to make a name for himself (Matthew 11:12:11-16, 16:20).

15.   Jesus expresses strong emotion and indignation when the occasion calls for it (Matthew21:12-13, Mark 10:13-16)

16.   Jesus continuously demonstrates courage.