Explores cultivating a deep, authentic relationship with God, prioritizing His preeminence, and finding joy in His presence, away from public performance of faith.
Welcome, beloved brothers and sisters. It is a joy, a privilege, and a blessing to gather here today, united in faith, bound by love, and driven by a shared hunger for the divine word of God. We are here, not by chance, but by divine appointment, drawn together by the irresistible pull of God's love, a love that is as vast as the universe and as intimate as a whispered prayer.
As we gather here today, let us remember the words of the great Charles Spurgeon who once said, "True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that - it is spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth." Let this thought be our guiding light as we navigate the themes of today's sermon.
Our scripture for today is Matthew 6:4, "so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
This passage, nestled in the heart of the Sermon on the Mount, is a profound reminder of the intimate, personal nature of our relationship with our Heavenly Father. It beckons us towards a faith that is not performed for the applause of others, but lived out in the quiet corners of our lives, where only God can see.
The presence of God is a place of immense joy. It's where we find the deepest satisfaction and the purest delight. It's where we are fully known and fully loved. It's where we can be ourselves, without fear of judgment or rejection. It's where we can let go of our worries and anxieties and rest in the assurance of God's love and care for us. It's where we can experience the fullness of God's grace and mercy. It's where we can find peace in the midst of the storms of life.
When we talk about pursuing pleasure in God's presence, we're not talking about seeking after fleeting, worldly pleasures. We're talking about seeking after the eternal, unchanging, and unending pleasure that comes from knowing and being known by God. This is a pleasure that is not dependent on our circumstances or our feelings. It's a pleasure that is rooted in the very nature of God Himself.
The world offers us many different kinds of pleasures: Some of these pleasures are good and wholesome, while others are harmful and destructive. But even the best pleasures that the world has to offer are temporary and fleeting. They can't satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. They can't fill the emptiness that we often feel inside. They can't give us the peace and joy that we so desperately crave.
God offers us a different kind of pleasure: A pleasure that is deep, lasting, and satisfying. A pleasure that fills our hearts with joy and peace. A pleasure that comes from being in His presence and experiencing His love. This is the pleasure that we should be pursuing.
When we pursue pleasure in God's presence, we're not just seeking after a feeling or an experience. We're seeking after a relationship. A relationship with the Creator of the universe. A relationship with the One who knows us better than we know ourselves. A relationship with the One who loves us more than we can ever comprehend. This is the ultimate pleasure. The pleasure of knowing and being known by God.
But how do we pursue this pleasure? How do we cultivate this relationship with God? How do we enter into His presence and experience His love?
First: We need to recognize that God is always with us. He is not distant or detached. He is not aloof or indifferent. He is close to us. He is present with us. He is involved in every aspect of our lives. We don't have to go somewhere special or do something special to be in God's presence. We are always in His presence. We just need to become aware of His presence.
Second: We need to make time for God. We need to set aside regular times for prayer and Bible study. We need to make God a priority in our lives. We need to give Him our undivided attention. We need to listen to His voice and respond to His leading. We need to spend quality time with Him, just like we would with any other person that we love and care about.
Third: We need to be honest with God. We need to share our thoughts, our feelings, our struggles, and our victories with Him. We need to pour out our hearts before Him. We need to confess our sins and ask for His forgiveness. We need to express our gratitude for His blessings. We need to tell Him about our hopes and dreams. We need to be real with Him.
Fourth: We need to trust God. We need to believe that He is good, that He loves us, and that He wants what is best for us. We need to trust Him with our lives, with our futures, and with our eternities. We need to trust Him in the good times and in the bad times. We need to trust Him when we understand and when we don't understand. We need to trust Him when we feel His presence and when we don't feel His presence.
As we continue to immerse ourselves in the divine wisdom of Matthew 6:4, we are drawn to the notion of God's preeminence ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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