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[0:00] Of course, our desire is that we would find God and seek Him and find Him so that we can know Him and love Him.

[0:22] We are seeking God, to find God, to know Him more and more so that we love Him more and more.

[0:35] And of course, that loving Him will carry on into eternity, into heaven. So, this is a pretty important subject. We've covered a number of things because we have kind of approached this study with this premise.

[0:52] That if you're going to seek God to find Him, then we need to seek Him the right way. And the Bible gives us some instructions about that. And I am not proposing that these six that we've been studying would encompass all of the ways that God wants us to seek Him.

[1:15] But these cover some of those major areas and maybe even highlight some ways to seek God that we've not thought of. For example, the first one, seek His face and not His hands only.

[1:31] We've studied that. Number two, seek Him with an obedient spirit. A spirit that says, yes, Lord. Number three, seek Him with a heart that is pure.

[1:43] A heart that wants one thing. And that is God. The person of God. Number four, seek Him with the language of praise. Number five, seek Him filled with the Holy Spirit.

[1:59] And then finally, and we just got into this last week and we'll finish this up. Seek Him where He likes to be found. Seek Him where He likes to be found. God is everywhere all the time.

[2:12] Everywhere present, nowhere absent. But there are some places where God likes to be the most. And we need to seek Him where He likes to be found. And I've said that there are three places where God likes to be found.

[2:29] And the first one is rather obvious. This is what we studied last week. But just kind of by way of review, seek God in the quiet places of life.

[2:39] The quiet places of life. That is, those times and places that we set aside for personal communion with God.

[2:51] A quiet place. A quiet time. Where we are away from distractions as best we can be. And it goes by a number of different names.

[3:03] You know, a quiet time. Communion. Devotional. Whatever you want to call it. I think we all understand the point here.

[3:14] Alright, so seek Him in the quiet place. That's where He likes to be found. And maybe we could even say He likes that best of all. And so this is very crucial that we spend this time with Him.

[3:26] Whether it be early in the morning for you or late in the evening or any other time. It's good to make this a part of the discipline of your life.

[3:37] And not allow it to just be a haphazard thing or just when you think of it or when you need it the most. But that it be part of your daily kind of routine of life.

[3:48] So incorporate that. And discipline yourself to that. And it takes a discipline, doesn't it? You know, to make sure that you set aside that time.

[4:03] A quiet time. A quiet place with God. Alright, so that was the first place. And now we're ready for the second. And there are two others. And number two.

[4:14] The place where God likes to be found. Seek God in the regular routines of life. This might sound a little strange.

[4:26] And the reason why it may seem a little strange to us. I don't know if strange is the right word. Maybe it's something we haven't thought about. I mean, seeking God in just the regular routines of life.

[4:38] And I'm talking about even some of the most mundane things in life. Seeking God there. The reason why that kind of catches us a little bit.

[4:48] It makes us think. Is that for most of us, we have this idea that we have to be doing something religiously oriented. Before we're going to experience God.

[5:01] Or see God. Like, for example, going to church. We have kind of compartmentalized experiencing God to religious activities. Even the first one we mentioned here and talked about last week.

[5:15] This quiet time. You know, whether it's in church. Or doing some religious activity. Or even spending a time reading the Bible. Or praying. We have this idea that it is just in those places.

[5:28] Those times. That we're going to experience God. And of course, that's just not true. What does the Bible tell us? And I think I put this passage down there for you.

[5:41] Colossians 3. Is that in your notes? Colossians 3.17. And as a matter of fact. Well, let me just read it. I think I have it there for you. Whatever you do.

[5:53] In word or deed. Now that pretty much covers it all, doesn't it? Whatever you do in word or deed. You say, well, what about thoughts? Well, thoughts. What are thoughts? It's just words in your brain.

[6:04] In your mind. Whatever you do in word or deed. Do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Giving thanks to God the Father through Him. And then he mentions some specific areas.

[6:15] But let's skip on down to verse 23. And whatever you do. Do it heartily. As to the Lord. As to the Lord and not to men. Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of inheritance.

[6:29] For you serve the Lord Christ. You serve Him. I know. I do that at church. Right? Well, yeah, there. But everywhere else. And in everything you do.

[6:40] And so, we do everything for His glory. We do it as unto Him. And that includes all the routine things. Even the mundane things.

[6:52] Of life. Let me give you another passage. I don't think I included this one in here. In fact, I just thought about this this morning. Ephesians 5.18.

[7:03] And you don't need to turn to it. Most of you already know what is the gist of that verse. Very famous verse.

[7:14] What is it that Ephesians 2.18 is talking about? Anybody know? Give us a start. We can all do business. How about being filled with the Holy Spirit?

[7:29] Be filled with the Spirit. So, here in Ephesians 5.18. The Bible is speaking of our need to be Spirit-filled. In fact, it's going further than just speaking of our need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

[7:40] It's commanding us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Alright? We already know that. We've studied that passage. But right after Paul speaks of that.

[7:50] The next two subjects he deals with. Are number one. The home life. Number two. The work life. Right after he gives us this command.

[8:02] Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5.18. Ephesians 5.20 and following. Paul talks about the husband and wife relationship. Marriage.

[8:13] And then right after that. He continues that subject. By covering all of the basics or basis for family. For the family life. Parents to their children.

[8:25] Children to their parents. Right after he gives this command in Ephesians 5.18. Then he talks about the home life. And then in Ephesians chapter 6 verse 5. All this family carries over into chapter 6.

[8:38] And then in verse 5 of chapter 6. Paul speaks or starts talking about the work relationship. That area of life.

[8:49] You see. So what is the point there? What is he telling us? Well. He is saying that the spirit filled person. Which is the person that. Where the spirit is in control. The Holy Spirit is in control.

[9:00] Where that person is in communion with the very spirit of God. Being led by the spirit. Communing with the spirit. Guided by the spirit. Empowered by the spirit. All of those things.

[9:11] The person who is spirit filled. Will have a right relationship at home. And a right relationship at work. And so here is the point. God likes for us to find him.

[9:24] In the regular routines of life. Because you see. Getting filled with the Holy Spirit. Is not so that you can shout at church. It is so that you can work at work. Whether that is in the home.

[9:36] Or in the secular sense of your employment. I know I have quoted this before. But Ruth Graham. Famous wife of the famous evangelist Billy Graham.

[9:47] Had. Maybe she still does. I don't know. A plaque right above her kitchen sink. And it says on the plaque. Worship services held here three times daily.

[9:58] Now isn't that interesting? See she has discovered something that we need to discover. Now we don't need to just put it on plaques. We need to live this out. And apply this to our lives.

[10:09] But she has discovered. And someone has put it this way. That God walks down the highways of life. Not just in the church. Or in the quote sanctuary. Where we gather for worship.

[10:21] And so forth. God walks down the highways of life. And I'm saying in the regular routines of life. And so we need to look for Him there. And we will find Him there.

[10:33] In those kind of mundane things. Just the regular routines. And so He will speak to us there many times. When we aren't expecting Him to.

[10:46] Just in the routines of life. In fact I was working at Lifeway some years ago. When I was working on my doctorate. I thought of this as a prime example.

[10:57] And you know as preachers. If we're smart. We'll especially look for God. And truths about God.

[11:10] Truths about life. We look for Him everywhere we're going. I mean it makes for great illustrations. In your sermons. You know. The other day this and such and such happened to me. But if we're not opening our eyes to these things.

[11:23] We don't see them. This is a good idea for Sunday school teachers as well. But even for all of us. Anyway. I was working at Lifeway some years ago. And one of my favorite things to do.

[11:35] And was to build book displays. Have you ever been in Lifeway. And have you ever seen a stack in the floor. Of books. That are stacked in a spiral.

[11:46] Ever seen those things. And some of them can be quite elaborate. You know. And so that when it's done. It just comes right up out of the ground. And has. You know. Out of the floor. It has this spiral.

[11:59] And kind of a. Interesting kind of design to it. And I'd always wondered. How do you do that? And so the store manager taught me one day. And I said. Well that's simple. And so I was building one of these spiral displays.

[12:12] With these books. And I was about. So far up. And someone. Walked by and said. How do you do that? It's just amazing. How you can make that so straight. And so consistent.

[12:24] In the spiral. And I said. Well it's simple. You see. As long as. The corner of all four books. Comes and meets in the middle. Then.

[12:35] It'll be straight. All the way up. And God spoke to me. At that very moment. He said. As long as you've got the center right. All the outside will be right. And.

[12:46] And. There's an application to the life. You get the center of your life right. And that. Of course. Being. Christ at the center. Then. All the other. Things of your life.

[12:56] Will. Will be right. And so. Here's just a routine thing. Mundane thing. Actually. I enjoy doing it. But. But. Just work. You know. And.

[13:07] God. Spoke to me. There. That's just one illustration. And I bet. Each of you. If you've thought about it. You could. Testify. To God. Speaking to you.

[13:17] In. In. In a way. That was totally. Unexpected. And. God. Just found you there. And taught you something there. Maybe it was in some. Very. Very. Regular thing.

[13:28] Something you do. Day in. Day out. Maybe. It. It. It. Might be. Just. Something you don't even enjoy doing. And. God. Still speaks. To you there. And so. God.

[13:39] Speaks to us. In the regular routines of life. We can find him there. Third. And finally. Seek God. When you are in fellowship. With other Christians.

[13:50] When you are in fellowship. With other Christians. Now. The passage I have for you there. Some Bible. Astute Bible scholars. Might take issue with.

[14:02] But let me. Read it. And then let me explain my point. In Matthew chapter. 18. Verse 19. Jesus says. And again I say to you. That if two of you agree on earth.

[14:15] Concerning anything that they ask. It will be done for them. By my father. In heaven. And you know what. A lot of people have used that verse.

[14:25] Out of its context. And have claimed that it says. That all you have to do. Is get two believers together. And agree on something. And it will be done. That's not what this verse is talking about.

[14:36] If we were to go back. And look at. At the context. What precedes this. The context of it. Is church discipline. It's when a church. Comes together. And there's a sinning.

[14:48] Member. And. Who's unrepentant. And the church. Makes a decision. And God says. If two or more of you. The congregation. Agree.

[14:59] Then I. Am. There. It will be done. Alright. But I don't want to just stop. With verse 19. Verse 19. Is. A specific application. Of.

[15:09] A. General principle. And the general principle. Comes in verse 20. For where two or three. Are gathered together. In my name. I am there. In the midst of them.

[15:20] Now that's the general principle. Now. Jesus is using this. General principle. To. Back up. To validate. The specific.

[15:32] Application. And that specific application. Is. In. In the context. Of church discipline. Where you bind in heaven. Be bound on earth. So. Or bind on earth. And be bound in heaven.

[15:43] Where two or three. Agree. It will be done. That's the specific application. But the general principle. Is. Two or three. Are gathered together. In unity. In fellowship.

[15:53] With one another. I'm right there. In the midst of you. Now that's a promise. And that. Is why I use this passage here. Because what we're talking about. Is. Unity.

[16:04] With other believers. Fellowship. With our brothers. And sisters. And. God likes to be there. And we will find him there. We need to seek him there.

[16:17] When we're in fellowship. With one another. You know. Life. Itself. Is. Frequently. Characterized. By. A. The metaphor. Of a road.

[16:27] That. That life. Is a road. You know. We are. We're. Traveling the road of life. And so forth. And that's a familiar. Kind of. Metaphor. But I would say to you.

[16:38] That our relationship. With one another. As believers. The body of Christ. It too. Is like a road. And I'll tell you how. When you have a road.

[16:49] You usually have a ditch. On each side. All right. A hazard. A danger. A pitfall. Whatever you might want to call it. Well let's just call it ditches. To keep with the metaphor.

[17:00] We've got the road. And the ditches. Now in a relationship. One ditch. We could call. Dependence. Where. Where a person.

[17:10] Just utterly dependent. Always dependent. On someone else. That's not a healthy. Kind of. Relationship to have. The other ditch.

[17:22] We could call. Independence. And that. On the opposite end of the spectrum. Also. Is not a healthy. To be absolutely independent. You know. A lone ranger Christian.

[17:33] I'm just going to go it alone. I can do it alone. Don't need anybody's help. So on the one hand. You have those. Who are utterly. Always dependent. Upon someone else. And. And not really.

[17:44] A contributor. To the relationship. At all. Which is utterly dependent. And then on the other hand. You have those. Who are absolutely independent. Don't need anybody. Alright. Now.

[17:54] The middle of the road. Is interdependence. Alright. So. Dependence. That's unhealthy. Independence. Equally unhealthy. But the middle of the road.

[18:05] Is interdependence. A mutual dependence. In this sense. That. That. We are all together. All a part. Of the body.

[18:17] Of the body. And we are interdependent. Upon one another. We are all contributors. As well as receivers. We have our part.

[18:28] God has placed us in the body. Just like a body. Has eyes. And a nose. And mouth. And ears. And hands. And feet. And legs. Not everyone is a hand.

[18:39] Not everyone is a foot. And you know the analogy. And so. Just like a body. Fits together. Interdependently. That is. We are all. Mutually dependent. Mutually dependent.

[18:50] On one another. Just like a body. Is that way. We are like that. In the body of Christ. In the body of Christ. So. Here is the idea. Here is the principle. God.

[19:01] Reveals himself. Through others. Yes. He does. In the quiet places. Where it is just you and God. But.

[19:12] He also does so. When we are with others. Fellowshiping with other believers. And God will speak to us. He will reveal himself to us. We will find God there.

[19:24] In that relationship. With other believers. And so we need to seek for him there. In that relationship. We need to hear. And listen.

[19:36] When we are together. With other believers. Let me. And I don't know. Did I put. First Corinthians. Second Corinthians 1. 3. On your notes. Alright. I did. So. Go ahead.

[19:46] You can turn to that. Or you can listen to it. Or jot it down. Second Corinthians. Chapter 1. And verse 3. Actually. Verses 3 and 4. The Bible says.

[19:58] Blessed be. The God and Father. Of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Father. Of mercies. And God of all comfort. God of all comfort. That's an important phrase.

[20:10] We'll get back to that in a minute. God of all comfort. Who comforts us. In all our tribulation. That. We may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble.

[20:24] With the comfort. With which we ourselves are comforted by God. Now. It's kind of. Back and forth. Back and forth. Kind of. You know. The phrase is a little.

[20:34] Little. Maybe. About word of the best way. But. It's not confusing really. Let me read it again. Blessed be the God and Father. He is the God of all comfort.

[20:45] Who comforts us. In all tribulation. That we may be able to comfort those. Who are in any trouble. With the comfort. With which we ourselves are comforted by God. It's a marvelous principle.

[20:57] Now. The God of all comfort. That phrase actually. Is from a word. In the Greek text. That is used in other places.

[21:07] To describe the Holy Spirit. It is the word paraclete. Or paracletos. It's a compound word. Preposition. Kind of means come alongside.

[21:18] But it means literally. And it's translated this way. The God of all counsel. Actually more literally. Comfort yes. But it's comfort through counsel.

[21:29] He's the God of all counsel. And so in verse 4. Again it says. Who comforts or counsels us. In all our tribulation. That we may be able to counsel. Those who are in any trouble.

[21:41] With the same counsel. Which ourselves are counseled by God. Alright. So it's a mutual kind of work. God comforts me. I can comfort others.

[21:51] Or God counsels me. So that I can counsel others. Alright. Pretty simple. Straightforward principle. Now let me ask you something. And this is implied in the text. But if God counsels me.

[22:04] So I can counsel others. Do you suppose that he counsels others. So they can counsel me. Huh. Why say yeah.

[22:15] It's implied in the text. And yet. Quite often. We don't allow others to counsel us. Or comfort us.

[22:28] We're okay with the idea. Of being counseled. So we can counsel others. But we kind of. Sometimes stop short. Of allowing that. To go in the reverse.

[22:39] And yet. If we're going to seek God. So we can find God. We must have. Those kind of relationships. Where we're seeking.

[22:51] God's voice. God's presence. God. Revealing himself. Revealing his will. We need to be looking for that. Coming from others. Within the body of Christ.

[23:03] And so. I would say to you that. In those times. And there will be times. Our times. When you can't find God. In the quiet places. You just can't seem to hear from him.

[23:14] Maybe that he's wanting you. To seek him. In another place. And maybe that other place. Is through. Fellowship. With other believers. That we seek.

[23:25] God. And he wants to reveal himself. Through. A brother. Or a sister. God wants us to seek him. Through others. And if you've ever done that. You know why he does.

[23:36] And all of us. I hope have. Experienced this. That God. Actually speaks to us. Reveals himself. Through another believer.

[23:47] And the reason he does it. Not just so that we will find him. So that we can know him. And love him. But also. It draws us together. I mean. When you. You go to a brother.

[23:58] Or a sister. And you humble yourself. To that brother. Or that sister. And God gives you. Say an answer. An answer to a question you have. Or God reveals.

[24:10] Some part of his will. To you that way. It draws you together. In Christian love. And so. It's not only. Beneficial to. The one who. Needs to find God.

[24:21] And is seeking him. Also beneficial. To the one. God chooses. To. To reveal himself. Through. And also beneficial. To the whole. Body of Christ. The whole. Family of God.

[24:32] When we're all engaged. In that. That kind of. Seeking after God. Finding God. And so. We're talking about that. Aren't we? We're talking about.

[24:42] Finding God. And. You know. He often speaks. Through. Our wives. Fellas. Oh yeah. He does.

[24:54] And. Wives. He can speak to you. Through your husband. He can speak to us. Through our children. In manifold ways.

[25:07] I mean. How many of us. Have learned things. About God. About God's will. Through our children. I don't mean. Just simply. That our children. Have been given. Some spark of wisdom. And they say something.

[25:18] You know. Profound. It could happen that way. But. Just in some experience. With them. That God speaks to us. Through our relationship. With them. Maybe they've messed up. And God speaks to us.

[25:28] That way. You know. A host of ways. So we need to seek God. In those relationships. And allow him to speak to us. That way. He can even. By the way. Speak to us.

[25:40] Through someone. We have little. Very little respect for. Huh? Yes. Maybe even. Someone. We would consider.

[25:50] An enemy. Someone. We don't like. Someone who. Maybe opposes us. And God. I mean. Listen. If God could use a donkey. To speak to the prophet.

[26:02] Bain. Then he could use anyone. To speak to him. And so. We ought not. Just. You know. Dismiss.

[26:12] That possibility. Out of hand. Just because that person. Maybe. You don't have any respect for. Maybe. You know. They grade on you. Maybe. You know. Whatever the reason. We need to seek God.

[26:25] And be ready to hear from him. In. Whatever way. And. Our problem is that. We sometimes slip into this mode. Well. If it doesn't come straight from God. I'm not interested.

[26:36] You know. I just want to hear straight from him. And then we don't hear from him. I mean. If your back itches. What does your back say? It says.

[26:48] Hand. Could you help me out a little bit here? I can't scratch my itch. Or is it itch my scratch? Whatever. Or you bump your head. What does your head say?

[27:01] Ouch. But. You know. You need a hand up there. To kind of rub it. Or to do something. You know. We're interdependent. Upon one another. God speaks to us.

[27:11] Through others. And. And will we listen? That's. That's the question. Alright. But. If you want to find God. There are three places. That he likes to be. In the quiet places.

[27:23] That make sure you've got. You seek him there. The regular routines of life. Right. Whatever you do.

[27:34] Do all for the glory of God. And God will. Meet you there. And. When you are in fellowship. With the body of Christ. And that's where you'll find God.

[27:46] And when you find God. You will know him. And when you know him. The more you know him. The more you love him. And that's the whole show. David. I was just thinking. We were talking. About the council.

[27:58] And everything. Something came to mind. About. When. Joseph and Mary. Were traveling. In the town. Jesus. Was with him. As a. As a young boy.

[28:08] They. Misplaced him. But he didn't know where he went. And how he was. Teaching. People. About scriptures. And how everybody. Went around him. Made.

[28:19] How much he knew. Right. And seeking that. You know. To hear it from a child. Yeah. The words that were coming from. Yeah. Preparing us. For a week.

[28:30] I would probably share. Well. God. Can just speak to us. Through anyone. Through any circumstance. And. We need to look for that. Be attuned to that.

[28:42] And not just. Confine. That. To. Religious moments. You know. I'm using the word. Religion. Kind of a. Kind of all conclusive way.

[28:53] But. Spiritual activities. You know. And for the believer. Every. There isn't anything. That is secular. It is all spiritual. What happens here.

[29:05] But also. Even. In the mundane. Kind of routine. Things. In your life. Thank you.