INTRODUCTION: (“Seek” Video from sermonspice.com = 1:45)
You know, again and again in scripture we find that God reveals himself to those who seek after Him. In fact, God seems to say that there is joy and pleasure in the search for Him. Psalm 70:4: “May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you!” (NIV)
But we know there can be fun in seeking and finding, right? After all, who hasn’t played “hide and seek”? In that game, both parties find pleasure in seeking. If you are “it” it’s the excitement of the search and the fun of finding. If you’re the “hider” there’s the anticipation of how long it will take you to be found. But the whole point of the game is finding right? I mean if you’re the hider and you find this incredible spot, well, at first you feel great – but if minutes turn into hours the fun disappears. If it gets too long you’ll start sticking out a foot or rattling the bush because no one wants to hide and never be found. There is a joy in being found. There is excitement for both parties in the seeking, but the pleasure is in the finding.
The same is true of God. God knows there can be excitement in the search and pleasure in the finding. Paul said it this way: “God made the world and everything in it… He gives everyone life and breath and everything else. God did this so that people would seek him and find him.” Acts 17:24-25 & 27 NIV So, this morning as we continue in our series “Intentional Christmas,” we want to talk about an intentional pursuit, purposely seeking God.
Now, I want to be right up front with you as to the purpose of this message. It’s really for two different groups of people. First, maybe spiritually, you’re kind of on the fence. You’re not sold out to the whole Jesus thing and you’re not sure why being a part of the church is worth it. Well, if that’s you this morning, first of all we are glad you’re here, but secondly I’m praying that by the end of this message you will at least be willing to say, “I need to find out if this whole Jesus stuff is true. It’s too important to be passé about this.” C.S. Lewis once said, “Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” So, this message hopefully will get you to seek seriously the truth of Jesus. But also… if you are a believer I want to challenge you today to ask yourself: “How authentic, honest and personal is my faith?” Do I believe because of my parent’s, because it’s expected or is it really mine?
And that brings us to our sermon in a sentence: You will find God when you seek Him with all your heart. That sermon in a sentence is actually a verse of scripture. In Jeremiah 29:13, God says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) But the question is: How do we do that?
Well, I want us to look at three snapshots from that first Christmas, three groups of people who were intentional seekers. They did it differently, but they all found the Jeremiah principle to be true. And if you will seek God the way they did, you will have the greatest chance, like our video said, of finding love, peace, joy, and hope because you’ll find Him.
I. SEEK PASSIONATELY: Matthew 2:1-12The first snapshot is from Matthew the second chapter – it’s the Wise Men or Magi. They are great examples of those who seek passionately. Their story is one of intentionally putting in time and effort into their search. Now, we don’t know a lot about these men. Matthew 2:1 calls them “Magi,” where we get the word magician. But most scholars see them as wise scholars, possibly scientists, especially in the field of astrology.
But while we may not know exactly who these men were, we do know they studied. How do we know that? Because when they finally get to Jerusalem they say to Herod, “We saw his star when it rose…” (Matthew 2:2 NIV) How would they even know to ask about “his star”? Many scholars think they were from a land that had previously held Jewish people – like Daniel in Babylon – and so they would’ve had access to the writings of the OT prophets where they could glean this information. In fact there is a scripture referring to the Messiah or coming one of God in Numbers 24:17 that may have started their search: “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel...” (Numbers 24:17 NIV) So, they were passionate about finding this “King” this One who would come out of Jacob or Israel. So, much so that they were willing to leave family & friends & travel a great distance.
But passion wasn’t enough. The magi didn’t have all the answers but they’re willing to go and seek. In fact, some say they may be the only traveling men to ever stop and ask for directions. I’m sure a woman said that. But while they don’t have all the answers, they are willing to diligently look to find answers.
And when it comes to seeking here’s what I suggest. Do, what they did. Be passionate about seeking God – study the same two sources these wise men of old did.
1. Bible. I agree with scholars who think it would’ve been impossible for the Magi not to have had some OT writing to help them, to at least ignite their passion. How else would they know about the appearance of the star, to discover the when of Jesus’ birth? And because they willing to seek, when they arrive in Jerusalem, they find priests who can give them the where from scripture, that Jesus is to be born.
So, the first source to go is the Bible. Too many times people simply dismiss the bible as “another religious book.” But did you know that the Bible is NOT like other religious books? Did you know we have more manuscripts to give credibility to the document than any other ancient writing? More than Caesar’s Gallic Wars or Homer’s The Iliad and the Odyssey, documents we accept without question. Do you realize it’s the only book to be written by 40 different authors over a period of 1500 years on 3 different continents and yet have a unity of them throughout the entire book? Try getting 40 different authors in the same room and the same day and see if they can do that let alone over 1500 years on 3 different continents. No other book tells the unified story of God coming down to man to redeem him.
And have you read this book? You say you can’t understand it? What parts did you read? Try the book of John and see what it says about how Jesus lived his life. Our try the book of James. See what it says about how to practically live your life.
2. Here’s a second source they went to: Creation. They would have agreed with Psalm 19:1-4
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. …their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (NIV) When they looked to the heavens, to the stars they saw the proclamation of God – the work of his hands.
Creation can still be a source of seeking God. In fact, Romans 1, says it is a clear source. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made…” (Rom. 1:20 NIV) Ask yourself this question: When you look at all the intricacies of creation, from the plants to the animals to the complexity of your eye – are you ready to say all that began by mere chance? Are you aware that not all scientists accept evolution as a logical creation theory? Are you familiar with “intelligent design?” That says that everything we see that has a design always has an intelligent designer. Do you understand that evolution is just as much a belief system as Christianity? I mean after all no matter whether you believe in the account of God’s creation in Genesis or a Big Bang, chance theory of evolution we all must admit it’s what we “believe” happened. Why? Because none of us were there to witness what actually happened. So, it takes belief. And the big question is: What do you believe and why do you believe it?
The Magi apparently spent months if not years of study, travel, hardship and even threat to discover Jesus. How much effort have you given? How much passion have you expended? If you wonder about this Jesus my question to you is… have you sought HIM? I have talked to dozens of seekers who, when it comes down to it, must admit that their lack of faith is not because they have sought passionately, but rather have given in culturally. Their lack of belief or faith is based on assumptions and an acceptance of culture not an honest, passionate search.
II. INVESTIGATE PERSONALLY: Luke 2:8-18
We find the second snapshot in Luke 2 in a field of sheep. One night, when everything is routine and ordinary there are shepherds working the night shift that get the shock of their lives. All at once the sky lights up and an Angel exclaims: “I bring good news of great joy.” And what is the good news? Vs: 11: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (NIV) And there is a heavenly celebration and the angels are gone. And in V:15- "When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another...” “Let's send somebody to see if that is true." No. They said.. "When we have an opportunity let's go check that out but in the meantime let's get these sheep settled down, those angels drove them bananas." That's not what it says.. It says, "When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said.. ‘let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’" Here’s the second thing we’ve got to do in seeking. Like the shepherds we must investigate personally. The shepherds did and they found Mary and Joseph and the baby just as the angel had said.
Now, I hear people today say, "I don't know whether this Christianity stuff is all it's cracked up to be. I mean there is so much confusion and division." "I don't know whether Jesus was just a good teacher or something more." And they make those statements, but they never do much more that go to church on Christmas and Easter, they never really study the Bible, they never investigate the facts, they just go through life wondering. Rom. 10:17- "Faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word of God." (NIV) In other words get into the Word yourself. Listen, I know I may be talking my way out of a job here but if all you do is come and listen to us? You, at best have got a second-hand faith! I would encourage you today, if you want real meaning & real fulfillment in your walk with Jesus then investigate Him yourself. Follow in the footsteps of such men as the late C.S. Lewis, an intellectual and Oxford graduate. He was an atheist and set out to disprove Christianity. In the end he became one of the most prolific writers and greatest supporters of Jesus Christ in modern history. Or find about Lee Strobel who was an atheist and a successful journalist. Learn how when his wife became a Christian he spent the next two years trying to rescue her out of what he thought was a cult. In the end, after two years of investigation he discovered it would take more faith to remain an atheist than to believe in Jesus. Or read about Josh McDowell, a pre-law student and intellectual. He believed Christianity was for weaklings and shallow thinkers. But he was challenged to actually investigate the claims. For two years he did so, even dropping out of school to take his investigation to the middle East and Europe. In the end he did not find religion he found a relationship with the living Jesus Christ!
This is one of the reasons I love the Gospel of Luke so much. It doesn’t begin with “In the beginning…” or “Once upon a time…” No, it begins with the personal investigation of this Doctor Luke… “Many people have set out to write accounts about the events that have been fulfilled among us. They used the eyewitness reports circulating among us from the early disciples. Having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I also have decided to write an accurate account for you…so you can be certain of the truth…” (Luke 1:104 NLT)
You say you don’t believe? Based on what? Have you done what Luke or the men I mentioned have done? You say you believe? But is yours your parent’s faith? Your preacher’s faith? Listen, take a cue from the shepherds. They decided as we must – to investigate personally. I believe if you do that you'll find, like the shepherds, that investigation leads to verification and subsequently to personal conviction.
III. WAIT PATIENTLY: Luke 2:25-38
The 3rd snapshot is of a couple of senior citizens: Simeon and Anna. They give us the example that even though you seek faithfully you must sometimes also wait patiently.
Seeking God is not always an immediate reveal. It wasn’t for the Wise men, the shepherds had to at least walk always and seek the baby. And it was certainly true for these two. Simeon ad Anna experienced a long drought in their dream to be a special part of God’s work. Simeon and Anna had come to the temple for years. Luke tells us: “Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout… It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to the temple to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised you may now dismiss your servant (and when he says “dismiss” he means die, which is why we believe he’s fairly aged) in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation…” (Luke 2:25-30 NIV)
And Anna, well Luke 2:37 tells us Anna, who is 84, never left the temple. They both had hoped to see God’s son. And they both saw their dream come true as they met Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus. But it took a long time for it to happen. How patiently they waited.
Someone once said, “Patience is actively believing God’s promises.” Sometimes as we seek passionately and personally or as go through trials or times where we don’t think God hears us or when we don’t think He isn’t moving like He should, we need to take a cue from these two senior saints. They did not give up!
The older I get the more I wonder what am I leaving as my faith legacy? Not my possessions legacy, not my popularity legacy, not even my character legacy but my faith. One of the things that’s going to last is for others to see in us practical and patient “right living.” I want, more than anything, for my children, my grandchildren and those in the sphere of my influence to know that I continued to seek, continued to learn, continued to never give in to the enemy, that I never gave up. And I cannot think of a better inscription on my tombstone than what Simeon said so long ago: “My eyes have seen your salvation… I can now be dismissed in peace.” That peace that only the Prince of Peace can bring. But that takes a life of seeking passionately, investigating personally and often waiting patiently for God to do His work in and through us. Seeking has never been or will ever be a quick fix.
But it can bring something that nothing else can provide. The Star of Wonder guided the Magi across the miles, but it was something else that fueled their journey. The Shepherd’s walked to Bethlehem, but it was something else that moved them from the fields to the manager. It was the same thing that compelled Anna to remain in the Temple in Jerusalem day after day, year after year. It was the same thing that quickened Simeon’s heart when he encountered Mary and Joseph and their infant son at the Temple. It was hope.
For most of human history, hope lay nearly dormant, like a still pond, with only occasional ripples stirring its surface. The birth of Jesus was like a boulder dropped into the middle of the pond. Those in the immediate vicinity—the shepherds, the Magi and faithful servants of God like Anna and Simeon who were blessed to witness His arrival—were drenched with hope.
Oh, they didn’t fully understand all the implications of His birth, but they recognized that something momentous had occurred. They realized that something beyond them had happened. What they were seeing was a Savior.
Remember what the Angel told the shepherds? “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you…” The Angel told Joseph – “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Why a Savior? Because he came for this reason – to save you and me from our sin.
You know, we often hear and see at this time of year the saying, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” That’s a good saying but it doesn’t tell the whole story. You know who is the reason for the season? You are… and you are… and you are… and I am. Because we are the sinners in need of a Savior and only Jesus in all his perfection could be that one. Doesn’t that make it crucial to intentionally to pursue him? To seek passionately, to investigate personally and to wait patiently. And I believe that if you will do that you will find that he’s been there all the time – just waiting for you.
PRAY
