Topic: SEEK THE LORD
Date: 5th May, 2019 (Thanksgiving Service)
Minister: Pst Stephen Olumade
Text: Isaiah 55:6 KJV
6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
From our scriptural text above, there are two key questions about seeking the Lord and one of them is when? The “When” talks about time to seek God? When can God be found? and when is God near? The “When” is a question of time, let’s go over the scriptural text again “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near”, it means if God is not sought after at the time he can be found, then such individual may not find him, in summary there is a time God may not be found and there is a time God may be far. So, when (time) can God be found?
WHEN CAN GOD BE FOUND?
* NOW (TODAY): There is no better time to seek God than now, seek God now, because now is the accepted time, seek him today because today is the day of salvation according 2nd Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation). seek him today because today is the day of the Lord.
* EARLY: Seeking God early is another time that God can be found according to Proverbs 8:18 which says I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Seeking God early have a wide range of interpretations, it could mean seek him early in the day, seek him early in life, seek him early before embarking on that journey, seek him early before going into that marriage, seek him early before starting that business, that project, that career e.t.c
* IN THE DAYS OF THY YOUTH: Eccesiates 12:1 says “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” Seek the Lord as a youth, seek him in the days of thy youth, seek him when the evils days has not come. Don’t be among the class of youths that believe in having fun and enjoying youthful exuberance with the mindset that when they become old and stricken in age they would then turn to seek God. I tell you the truth it does not work that way, its better to seek God early in life.
Dearly beloved, seek God now, seek him today, seek him early don’t delay in seeking your maker cause delay might be dangerous.
TIMES WHEN GOD MAY NOT BE FOUND
* AT A LATER TIME: Many seek God at a later time, they procrastinate or postpone the time to seek God. When God gives you a revelation about something or someone, it’s because he wants you to pray and seek him either to stop an impending evil or to bring to manifestation his purpose, but many would forget, take it with levity or even procrastinate until they begin to see signs, then they turn to seek God. Beloved, seeking God at a later time is like doing the right at a wrong time and at that time there could have been damages. So seek God now not later.
* AT YOUR OWN TIME: Many seek God at their own time. God has his own time likewise men have their time but God’s time is not the same as that of men, just as Isaiah states that the thought and ways of God are not the same with that of men. When you seek God in his own time, he makes all things beautiful Ecclesiastes 3:11, In Mark 10: 46-52, when Bartimaeus the blind man heard that Jesus was passing at a time which certainly would not have been convenient for him because of the crowd and because he could not see, but he must have said to himself, if I miss getting Jesus’ attention at that time, he would possibly remain blind for the rest of his life, and truly Jesus did not pass through that city a second time. So beloved, seek God in his own time cause he will make all things beautiful.
* ONLY WHEN THINGS ARE BAD: Many seek God only when things are bad. Beloved. it is not right to seek God only when things are bad, in fact it is better to seek God early when things are good because it gives you an edge in the days of trouble, beside when you seek God when things are good it prevents things from going bad. Beloved let’s be wise.
* WHEN OLD: Many choose to seek God when they become old. Many young people always have the notion that when they are old and stricken in age then they will seek God, thinking their youthful and active days is theirs for them to enjoy, explore life and catch fun while their inactive days will be for God. Beloved, it is not a wise decision at all because death is not a function of age, and you are not the owner of your life and your days but God, so give it to God, seek him now and you will never regret it.
The second question which is Where? The “where” talks about the place, the location where God can found. It means if God is not sought after at the place he can be found, then such individual may not find him, in summary there are places God may not be found and there are places where God may be far. So, where can God be found?
WHERE CAN GOD BE FOUND?
* THE HOUSE OF GOD: God can be found in his house and in his holy temple. The presence of God is available in his temple, no wonder David said he was always glad when people said to him let us go into the house of the Lord (Psalms 122:1). In Psalms 27:4 David said “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple“. So the Psalmist always seek to dwell in the house of God because there he can find God. Beloved, the house of God is the place where you can find him, ensure to go to church today and you will find God in Jesus Name.
* THE GATHERING OF GOD’S PEOPLE: Another place where you can find God is in the gathering of his people. Wherever the people of God are gathered in the name of the Lord e.g in the church for services, in the house for fellowship, in the hall for special christian programs, in an open air crusade for evangelism, in camp grounds waiting on God in fasting and prayer e.t.c God is always present there. He confirmed this in Matthew 20:18 saying For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. So if you seek God today, then don’t miss the gathering of God’s people today.
* IN THE SECRET PLACE: The secret place is another location where finding God is most probable, please note this clearly when we talk about the secret place, it is solely the secret place of God and not any other secret places as stated in Psalms 91:1 saying He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. So when you make your closet, your prayer room, your daily devotions the secret place of God, you will find God there.
Beloved, discussed above are three important places where God can be found, where God is ever near to you and to any one who seeks him.
Finally there are places where men seek God but may never find him because they are wrong places.
WHERE GOD MAY NOT BE FOUND
* THE SECRET PLACE: The secret place we are discussing here is not the same as one mentioned in Psalms 91, This one is the secret place of darkness where the devil abides. Many due to their problems and challenges, while some in search of prosperity and security seek God for help but in such a very wrong place. God cannot be found in such secret places irrespective of the names the place might be called e.g shrine, ritualist altar, secret altar e.t.c Some even call themselves prophets or servants of God but if you are sensitive and observant you will know that God is far from being there
* SOME GATHERING OF MEN: Not all gathering of men are of God, The scripture is clear that where two or three are gathered in my name, I will be in their midst (Matt 18:20), therefore any gathering that is not in the name of God calls for caution and carefulness. Don’t be deceived to be seeking God in a gathering where you are not sure of or where the purpose of the gathering is not clearly defined, it might be a trap to bondage. Please be sensitive.
Dearly beloved, in conclusion, be mindful of where you seek God, seek him in the right place and not in the wrong place, seek him at the right time and not at the wrong time, remember the scripture says seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. God bless you.
PRAYER:
* Father, help me to seek where and when I will find you in Jesus Name.
* Father, help me to seek you in the right place and not in a wrong place in Jesus Name.
* Father, give me wisdom and understanding of the time to seek you in Jesus Name.
* Father, help me to seek you with all my heart..
