|
DATE |
CHURCH |
SUBJECT |
PREACHER |
BIBLE
REF. |
|
19.08.07 |
All Saints Church |
A God Who Seeks |
Rev. Tony Higton |
Luke 15 |
|
Why do we do evangelism? Why do we carry out mission? It is
because we have a God who loves and wants all human beings to
love him. It is also because we have a God who communicates. He
speaks to us through Jesus, through the Bible, through creation,
through conscience and in other ways. This God also identifies.
He came to be one of us, sharing the pain, suffering, stress and
temptations of the world in order to save us through dying on
the cross. He also rescues us from condemnation and eternal
death.
However, there is another reason – He is a God who seeks.
Firstly, he seeks those who have not yet come to faith in Christ
or who have not yet become involved in the church.
Jesus uses three illustrations of this. He tells the story of
the lost sheep. The shepherd has 100 sheep but realises that one
is lost (meaning someone not yet trusting in Christ) so he
leaves the 99 sheep safely and well-provided for (the regular
congregation who are well cared-for) and he searches for the
“lost sheep.”
He then tells the story of the lost coin. A poor widow had ten
silver coins but lost one. So she puts the nine into safe
keeping and searches for the lost coin.
These two stories show that God is always searching for those
outside the church, and so should we. 50% of my job is amongst
the congregation, making sure they are OK. But the other 50% is
outside the congregation, seeking to help and encourage those
who don’t attend church.
Finally, he tells the story of the lost son. A young son asks
for his inheritance before his father’s death. He goes away and
blows it all on parties, drink and prostitutes. Finally, he
decides to return to his father to see if he will make him a
hired hand. But the father sees him coming, rushes out, welcomes
him and holds a welcome home party for him.
Gods is like that when we decide to come to him, even if we have
blown it by wrong behaviour or stupidity.
So if the church is godly (like God) it will spend much of its
time, money and energy seeking to benefit and encourage those
outside the church, and to draw them to Christ.
Secondly, God seeks worshippers.
Jesus said that “true worshipers will worship the Father in the
Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the
Father seeks.” (John 4.23-24)
Does that mean that God is insecure and needs to be constantly
told how wonderful he is? Or is he some sort of megalomaniac who
demands constant praise? Of course not.
No, God is love and like any person who loves, he longs for a
response of love from his beloved. Do you realise that God loves
you infinitely and eternally – yes, you? And he longs for you to
respond to his love. He longs to hear from you. He longs to
bless you. Why not let him? This is why the first and greatest
commandment is to love God with your heart, mind, soul and
strength.
Finally, God seeks helpers
who will carry out his will in the world, bring justice, peace,
healing and eternal life to people.
God is seeking you. Will you let him find you by responding to
him in trust?
God is a God who seeks people throughout the world. The church
is called to do the same. |
Do
We Believe in 3 Gods?
