SEEKING GOD

Dear Friend in Christ,

Several years ago a very graphic movie was made about the horrors of the Vietnam war. There was one scene in the movie where a foot soldier stepped on a land mine and half of his leg was blown away.

Frantically he fell down and began to scream hysterically. So loud was his outburst of pain that he put the rest of his comrades in danger by giving their position away.

To prevent this from happening the master sargeant jumped on top of him, cupped his hand over the fallen soldier's mouth, and said through gritted teeth, "Take the pain! Take the pain!"

Forgive me for using this gut-wrenching illustration to make my point but sometimes we all face brutal trials that for us are equally severe. Also, I am wondering if God sometimes asks us to do the same thing. "Take the pain!"

Why do I say that? The Bible does tell us to endure hardship like a good soldier in Christ. If we are enduring hardship then that means the hardship is not taken away. Right?

Let's also not forget that He never did take away Paul's thorn in the flesh. When God told Paul "My grace is sufficient for you" was He telling him to "Take the pain"? I believe He was and now we must ask the question "Why?"

When you think about it, this is not a hard question to answer. What it all comes down to is that God insists on being number one in our lives. He wants us to seek Him more than anything else.

Here's what I'm saying. Sometimes our trials get so bad that we seek the answer to our problem more than we seek Him. We crave the solution so much that it becomes a god-like idol to us and God says we are to have no other gods before Him.

The enemy sends trials our way to distract us from God and from fulfilling the call on our lives. The devil is hoping we'll get so distracted by the trial that we'll spend more time seeking the solution to our problem than we do God.

We are told in scripture to not be deceived by the wiles of the devil and this is one of his most cunning and successful strategies against the body of Christ.

So what should we do? Keep doing what we were doing before the trial began. Learn to seek God more than the solution to all our problems. Seek His face and not His hand.

Trust me, when you do this you are showing the devil that he cannot and will not win this battle. God will not leave you stranded and before you know it the victory will come rushing into your life like a mighty wave on the open sea.

I say again, don't make the same mistake I've made several times over by making a god or an idol out of the solution to your problem. Seek God and for sure the victory will be yours. After all, it is He Who always leads us to triumph in Christ Jesus.

Below is a message I wrote called "Seeking God." Read it and be blessed.

Your friend. His servant,

Randall J. Brewer

“SEEKING GOD”

BY

RANDALL J. BREWER

It will not take long for a Christian who has made the commitment to walk by faith and fulfill the call of God on their life to realize that there is a demonic host arrayed against the body of Christ. James 1:2,3 tells us that our faith will be tested by various trials hurled at us by the evil one. There is a curse on the earth and our adversary the devil is a thief who comes to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10).

1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” You don’t have to look for the devil, he’ll find you. Adam and Eve were commissioned by God to rule the earth and before you know it the devil shows up.

Not long after Jesus was born Herod ordered all babies two years old and younger to be killed in an attempt to kill the Child born “King of the Jews.” When Jesus was baptized He went into the wilderness and after fasting forty days the devil showed up and tempted Him three times. Afterward, when Jesus went into the synagogue and announced that He was anointed by God, the people grew outraged and tried to throw Him off a cliff.

Ps. 2:1,2 says, “Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.’”

We read in 1 Peter 4:12,13a, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings…”

Know with certainty that you will be attacked when you become a threat to the enemy. Never was this more true than in the life of David. 1 Chron.. 14:8 says, “Now when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all of Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David.”

The devil knows you are anointed. In fact, it should be noticed by all you come in contact with. The power of God is in you and with you and upon you and working through you. You are a walking fireball for God and you are dangerous to the devil. Because of that you are a target and it is foolish to think you can coast through life without having to deal with the attacks of the enemy.

“And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail…” (Luke 22:31,32a). During the time of David the Philistines were the enemies of God and His people. Today our enemy is not flesh and blood. Paul says in Eph. 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Without a doubt, the Philistine spirit is alive and well on planet earth.

Tests and trials come into the life of every born-again believer. Oftentimes they come when you least expect it, when everything seems to be going good for you. When the Philistines rose up to search for David everything was going well for him. He had just become king over all of Israel and an army of mighty warriors were prepared and ready to fight for him.

1 Chron. 14:1-3 says, “Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, with masons and carpenters, to build him a house. And David perceived that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, for his kingdom was highly exalted because of His people Israel. Then David took more wives in Jerusalem, and David begot more sons and daughters.” Life couldn’t be better for David when the Philistines heard that he had been anointed and rose up in battle against him.

Consider Job 16:12-14, “I was at ease, but he has shattered me; He also has taken me by the neck, and shaken me to pieces; He has set me up for his target, his archers surround me. He pierces my heart and does not pity; He pours all my gall on the ground. He breaks me with wound upon wound; He runs at me like a warrior.”

All was going well for Job. He was “at ease” when from out of nowhere the enemy attacked. Why did this happen? Job 1:1 says, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” In vs. 8 God calls Job “My servant”. When you are a threat to the devil you can expect a visit from the enemy.

Notice what happened to Jesus in Mark 4:35-41. Vs.35 says, “On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, ‘Let us cross over to the other side.’” Jesus and His disciples were going on a God-ordained mission to the country of the Gadarenes. Once there Jesus would deliver a man possessed by a legion of unclean spirits, a man who would later go and “proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him, and all marveled” (vs. 20).

All was going well when this journey began. The water was still and calm, no clouds were in the air, and it was so peaceful that Jesus “was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.” Suddenly, from out of nowhere, we read in vs. 37, “And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.”

A study of the Greek language reveals that this was no ordinary thunderstorm but was instead a demonic-induced storm of hurricane-like proportions. It was unlike anything these career fishermen had seen in all their lives. And it all happened because Jesus and His disciples had become a threat to the devil.

Since tests and trials will always come to those who use the power of the anointing to tear down the kingdom of the enemy, we must know what to do on the “evil day” when they do happen. The attitude we have and what we decide to do about it will be the deciding factor as to whether or not we live a victorious Christian life and fulfill our heavenly call.

What did the disciples do when they saw the water pouring into their boat and realizing they were about to capsize? Frightened and fearing for their very lives, they did the only thing they could do. They went to Jesus.

Peter learned this lesson well. Sometime later he and the disciples were again in another storm but this time Jesus was not with them. Jesus had just fed the multitude and had sent the disciples to the other side of the lake while He bid farewell to the multitude and then went up on a mountain by Himself to pray..

“And when evening had come, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary” (Matt. 14:23b,24). In the fourth watch of the night Jesus walked out to them on the sea and when the disciples saw Him the ever impulsive Peter called out, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water” (vs. 28).

Jesus told him to “Come” and Peter jumped out of the boat and walked on the water to go to Jesus. Vs. 30 says, “But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’”

Peter’s life was going downhill really fast but he knew Jesus was his ever present help in time of need. When the storms of life rise up help can always be found in the arms of a loving Savior.

Ps. 50:15 says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will glorify Me.” Job said in the midst of his calamity, “For I know that my Redeemer lives…” (Job 19:25a).

When the Philistines rose up against David because they heard that he had been anointed they “went and made a raid on the Valley of Rephaim. And David inquired of God…” (1 Chron. 14:9,10a). David was “a man after God’s own heart” and this means he sought the Lord continually.

Consider these verses that David wrote in Ps. 34. “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Vs. 4). “This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles” (vs. 6). “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry” (vs. 15). “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles” (vs. 17). “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of them all” (vs. 19). Seeking God is always the first step in having breakthrough in your life.

Everybody, it seems, is searching for something. The devil is roaming about seeking whom he can devour (1 Peter 5:8) and God is searching throughout the whole earth ready to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him (2 Chron. 16:9).

It is interesting to note that both God and the devil are searching for the same thing. They are looking for people who happen to be God’s ultimate creation. One wants to destroy them while the Other wants to bless them abundantly (John 10:10).

In the same mode, sinners and believers are also searching for something in their lives. Sinners are looking for the same thing as believers but they’re looking in all the wrong places. They dive headfirst into the world of sex, drugs, and money in hopes of finding the same fulfillment and self worth that can only come in a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Believers, on the other hand, know that true fulfillment comes not in things but can be found by obeying the words of Is. 55:6a which tells us to “Seek the Lord while He may be found.” From this verse deductive reasoning tells us that there will come a time when He won’t be able to be found. We must, therefore, take all the more heed to seek Him out while we still have the opporunity to do so.

We must realize that God is never a convenience in life.. He must be sought after to be found. Inside each of us needs to be a strong, intense desire that propels us to search out, crave, and strive after a relationship with the one, true God.

Ps. 42:1,2a says, “As the deer pants for the water brooks so pants my soul for You, O God. You are my God, early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.”

The stronger your desire for the things of God the greater your effort will be in finding them. Ask yourself, when was the last time you turned off the television set and sought the face of God? Do you refuse overtime on Sundays so you can go to church with your family instead? The key word here is “desire”.

1 Peter 2:2 says, “as newborn babes desire the pure milk of the Word that you may grow thereby.” 1 Cor. 12:31 tells us to “earnestly desire the best gifts.” This intense craving will draw you closer to God and cause you to overcome the hindrances of ignorance, carnality, instability, and dullness of hearing. An accurate description of such a search can be found in Ps. 119:15,16, “I will meditate on Your precepts and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes and I will not forget Your Word.”

When the promise of finding God is brought into full manifestation one must cling to Him and never let go. Jesus said in John 15:4, “Abide in Me, and I in you.” The word “abide” means ‘to remain stay, dwell, reside.’ It means to ‘continue in, dwell in, walk with, live in, seek after.’

Abiding in Jesus means to live in total unison with God. It also means to take up permanent residence. If you’re abiding somewhere you’re not just staying there temporarily as in a short stay at a hotel or a two week vacation with family and friends. Abiding means you’re living there continually.

You get to know Jesus by spending time with Him everyday. When you abide in Jesus you think about Him all the time. You think about Him at work and you think about Him at home. You think about Him when you’re shopping and you think about Him when you’re watching a ballgame. You think about Him when you’re doing the dishes and you think about Him when you’re mowing the lawn.

When you abide in Jesus He becomes the Lord of your life twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. He is your “all in all” and is involved with you every moment of every day.

As if seeking God and finding Him was not enough of a blessing in and of itself, God rewards all serious “God chasers” with an endless supply of unspeakable blessings. When we earnestly seek Him with our whole heart (Ps. 119:10a) then the blessings are sure to follow.

Ps. 68:19 says, “Blessed be the Lord Who daily loads us with benefits” and Heb. 11:6b calls God “a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” When we seek His face and not His hand never again will we have to worry or concern ourselves with whether or not our needs will get met.

Jesus said in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” Ps. 107:9 tells us, “For He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with goodness.” When you seek God He will be found by you (1 Chron. 28:9) and in His presence is fullness of joy (Ps. 16:11).

He will not forsake you (Ps.. 9:10) and His favor (Lam. 3:25) and His protection (Ezra 8:22) will be ever present in your life. You shall not lack any good thing (Ps. 34:10) and Ps. 37:4 says, “delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Gifts of righteousness (Hosea 10:12) will be yours and God will give you understanding in all things (Prov. 28:5) when you seek Him with your whole heart and make Him your top priority. Never again will you walk in fear (Ps. 34:4) and the absolute life of God will flow through your veins.

The Lord said in Amos 5:4, “Seek Me and live.” The gift of life is truly the greatest blessing of all and it comes as a result of seeking the Lord. The end of the age is near and it’s time for the church to get on it’s face and seek God like never before.

God wants a close relationship with us so much that in His infinite wisdom He created a void in all of us that only He can fill. It is His desire that this void would drive us to the point of searching Him out so that He can fill that emptiness with love, joy, and a sense of fulfillment so deep and meaningful that it can only be described as “heaven on earth”.

Remember, God must be sought after to be found. To show the importance of this there is at least one circumstance in the Bible that describes the consequences for not seeking God.

2 Chron. 15:12,13 says, “Then they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; and whoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel was put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.”

This passage of scripture that should make you tremble may be in the Old Testament but it’s still the Word of God. Always remember that if the work done at the cross did not change the message of the old covenant then the same principles still apply today. No, you will not be taken out and killed for not seeking God but there is an adversary out there seeking a way to destroy your life. Our only hope is avoiding this dreadful calamity is in the arms of our loving Savior.

2 Sam.. 22:31b says, “He is a shield to all who trust in Him.” He is ready, willing, and more than able to help you out of life’s difficulties and bless you abundantly, but He must be sought after to be found. We must, therefore, be careful not to brush off into nonexistence the importance of seeking God. It truly is a matter of life and death.

PRAISE GOD
BLESSED BE THE ONE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD