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In pursuit of God a guide.
The main passage of scripture for this guide will be Philippians chapter 3. In verses
15-17 Paul urges that those who are spiritually mature should have the same attitude. For those who have a different attitude, God will make it clear that they will have to change. However, we must all go forward according to
the same rules. That is imitating the way that Paul pursued God and paying attention to those who follow the right example that has been set for us.
Philippians 3:15-17
15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on
some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of
those who live according to the pattern we gave you.
This study seeks to establish the ground rules for this walk as we go forward in the Pursuit of God.
Rule 1
We must accept the authority of the Scriptures. For those who find this position untenable there will be no starting point. Faith must be founded on
fact. Scripture is the factual record of God's revelation of himself. Anything short of this result is confusion and will have no absolutes upon which to build our Faith. For those who rely upon their feelings for knowledge of God,
fear is inevitable.
Rule 2
As we read the scriptures we will understand God's promises, the future of the World and the final destiny of mankind, which will fill us with hope. Four Faith Building Facts 2. God is Omnipresent. All Present. 3. God is Omnipotent. All Powerful. 4. God is Love. As such He is the lover of all humanity. The next two passages should raise the level of our Faith? Romans 8:38
We will only know God through Faith. Finding Faith Hebrews 11:6
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who
comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who
earnestly seek him.
Everyone can have
faith. It is like a seed. When planted in our hearts it will grow into a mighty plant.
Matthew 13:3 & 19
3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out
to sow his seed.
19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not
understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in
his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
Romans 10:13-17
13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." [1]
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how
can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can
they hear without someone preaching to them?
15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How
beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" [2]
16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says "Lord,
who has believed our message?" [3]
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message
is heard through the word of Christ.
[1]. 13 Joel 2:32
[2]. 15 Isaiah 52:7
[3]. 16 Isaiah 53:1
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not
see.
How can we be sure and certain that the God we worship is the true God? Is it true to say that Faith is not the outcome of our
own thoughts and feelings but rather the acceptance of that which God has stated in the Bible?
1. God is Omniscient. All Knowing.
All knowledge is comprehended by God in its totality. There is nothing that he
does not know, especially about me. Psalm 139:1-5
Psalm 139:1-5
1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from
afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all
my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
He is everywhere all the time. Psalm 139:9-12
Psalm 139:9-12
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night
around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the
day, for darkness is as light to you.
He is greater than the universe that He created. He is more powerful than those
that oppose Him. He is unrestricted by the existence of force, object or objection
Psalm139:13
Psalm139:13
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's
womb.
We are the
benefactors of God's love. God who knows everything about us all the
time has chosen to Love us!
1 John 4:9-10
9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only
Son [1] into the world that we might live through him.
10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his
Son as an atoning sacrifice for [2] our sins.
[1]. 9 Or his only begotten Son
[2]. 10 Or as the one who would turn aside his wrath, taking away
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
[1] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
[1].38 Or nor heavenly rulers
Rule 3 Micah 6:6-8 In which way has God asked us to worship Him? Psalms 139 What do verses 16-18 & 23-24 say to you? What do
we need to be humble about? Exodus 32:33 Hebrews 5:7 Are there lessons to be learnt from the example of Jesus? 1 Peter 5:6 What does it mean to allow God to pick us up? Four forward steps of faith. 1. Acknowledge our need of God and confess that need to Him
We must walk in humility. If, as a result of our Faith we have understood a little more of God's grace and mercy then we are invited to humble
ourselves before Him. Humility has to do with attitude
Micah 6:6-8
6 With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the
exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves
a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand
rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of
my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD
require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with
your God.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were
written in your book before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to [1] me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum
of them!
18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake, I am still with you.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious
thoughts
24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting.
[1].17 Or concerning
The LORD replied to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me I will blot
out of my book.
Romans 8:33
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God
who justifies.
Hebrews 5:7
During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions
with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he
was heard because of his reverent submission.
James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift
you up in due time.
2. Bow before Him believing that His love is greater than our need.
3. Commit ourselves into His care and cease from self struggling.
4. Depend upon the Word that he speaks into every situation that we face.
Rule 4 2 Chronicles 7:15 1.10 Deut. 27:26
1 Peter 2:24 The cost of God's commitment of love. 1 John 1:9 Do we need to learn again the need to confess our sins?
Acts 2:38 What were Peters instructions to those who wanted to know more? The provision of the Holy Spirit. John 14:23-26 Who will receive the Holy Spirit? How will the Holy Sprit help us? Romans 15:13
Titus 3:5 Luke 11:13 How do we receive the Holy Spirit? Acts 5:32 Is there a condition to this request? What should the prayer of those who desire to walk with God be?
We must walk within the limits of God's Provisions The provision of the forgiveness of our sins.
2 Chronicles 7:15 States the conditions of forgiveness?
Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in
this place.
Galatians 3:9-13
9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of
faith.
10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written:
"Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written
in the
Book of the Law." [1]
11 Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The
righteous will live by faith." [2]
12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does
these things will live by them." [3]
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse
for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." [4]
2.11 Hab. 2:4
3.12 Lev. 18:5
4.13 Deut. 21:23
1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to
sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Acts 2:38
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 51:10-12 David's prayer is a model for all those who would seek God.
Psalm 51:10-12
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within
me.
11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to
sustain me.
John 14:23-26
23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.
My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our
home with him.
24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you
hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me."
25 All this I have spoken while still with you.
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my
name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything
I have said to you.
John 14:26
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my
name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have
said to you.
Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of
righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so
that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:3
Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says,
"Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy
Spirit.
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of
his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the
Holy Spirit,
Luke 11:13
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit
to those who ask him!"
Acts 5:32
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has
given to those who obey him."