A person's movements or attitudes make it clear that they are searching for something that they recently lost. To lose something or someone close to you can be tragic.
Examples:
Christians who are spiritually upset and running from church to church are searching for something. Only fervent Bible study, constant prayer and exemplary living are how we can obtain back what we lost.
1. Have we (the church) lost our sense of what the Christian life is about? There are those who are only Christian on Sunday and worldly the rest of the week. This is no way for a Christian to behave. These Christians have spectatoritis: the absense of conviction, moral indecisiveness and cowardice in the face of the enemy.
2. Has the church lost its sense of urgency? Are we preaching with the urgency that Jesus could return at any moment as we should? We should be living each day as though Jesus were returning that very same day! It is important that we do not lose our sense of urgency.
"When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." Acts 1:6-7
3. Have we lost respect for the Bible as the infallible word of God?
Bone of our bone; flesh of our flesh. The Bible must become more than just mere words on a page. God's word must be expounded. It must be exemplified in our daily living. We should have a love and respect for the Bible.
4. Are you on fire for the Lord? Has Satan shamed you into quiet instead of you making a joyful noise for the Lord?
Do not be deceived into thinking that you cannot worship God in dignity and truth. Have you lost your joy? If so, go get your joy back! Pray this prayer and wait for restoration.
"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar." Psalms 51
Don't lose your sense of involvement, sense of urgency, respect for the Bible and don't lose your joy. This joy I have, the world didn't give it to me and the world can't take it away. Keep your eyes focused on Jesus. Don't let the world dictate who you are.
"Peace be still." Jesus is our peace even in the middle of a storm. Take your eyes off of the storm(s) in your life and keep them on Jesus. He will see you through all of your storms. I will look to the hills from whence cometh my help; for my help comes from the Lord. If you want to make it through, take your eyes off man, etcetera and keep them on Jesus! No matter what, keep your eyes on Jesus.
The more dependent I am on God, the more of himself that He puts in me. Don't stop, but keep pressing your way through the storm.
The SON causes the SUN to shine.
Quit worrying about what you lost. If your eyes are on Jesus it won't matter no way. If you have Jesus, you have enough to start all over again. Those things that are lost you can count it as done. Because I have Jesus I have joy. Jesus will give you a peace that surpassses all understanding. Learn to be content in whatever you are in. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.
Examples:
- No shepherd would leave his flock except for in a dire emergency.
- The woman searched her entire home only resting for a moment.
- The father who stood watching for hi son day after day.
Christians who are spiritually upset and running from church to church are searching for something. Only fervent Bible study, constant prayer and exemplary living are how we can obtain back what we lost.
1. Have we (the church) lost our sense of what the Christian life is about? There are those who are only Christian on Sunday and worldly the rest of the week. This is no way for a Christian to behave. These Christians have spectatoritis: the absense of conviction, moral indecisiveness and cowardice in the face of the enemy.
2. Has the church lost its sense of urgency? Are we preaching with the urgency that Jesus could return at any moment as we should? We should be living each day as though Jesus were returning that very same day! It is important that we do not lose our sense of urgency.
"When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." Acts 1:6-7
3. Have we lost respect for the Bible as the infallible word of God?
Bone of our bone; flesh of our flesh. The Bible must become more than just mere words on a page. God's word must be expounded. It must be exemplified in our daily living. We should have a love and respect for the Bible.
4. Are you on fire for the Lord? Has Satan shamed you into quiet instead of you making a joyful noise for the Lord?
Do not be deceived into thinking that you cannot worship God in dignity and truth. Have you lost your joy? If so, go get your joy back! Pray this prayer and wait for restoration.
"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar." Psalms 51
Don't lose your sense of involvement, sense of urgency, respect for the Bible and don't lose your joy. This joy I have, the world didn't give it to me and the world can't take it away. Keep your eyes focused on Jesus. Don't let the world dictate who you are.
"Peace be still." Jesus is our peace even in the middle of a storm. Take your eyes off of the storm(s) in your life and keep them on Jesus. He will see you through all of your storms. I will look to the hills from whence cometh my help; for my help comes from the Lord. If you want to make it through, take your eyes off man, etcetera and keep them on Jesus! No matter what, keep your eyes on Jesus.
The more dependent I am on God, the more of himself that He puts in me. Don't stop, but keep pressing your way through the storm.
The SON causes the SUN to shine.
Quit worrying about what you lost. If your eyes are on Jesus it won't matter no way. If you have Jesus, you have enough to start all over again. Those things that are lost you can count it as done. Because I have Jesus I have joy. Jesus will give you a peace that surpassses all understanding. Learn to be content in whatever you are in. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.