Seeking After the Lord

Place: I.Hall 6:7:97

Reading: Isaiah 55: 1-13

SEEKING AFTER THE LORD

In D.L.Moody's early days in Chicago, a man who attended the services regularly seemed on the verge of deciding for Christ. Moody urged him to accept the Saviour. " No," Mr. Moody I cannot. My business partner is not a Christian, and if I accept Christ, he would ridicule me." Finally, annoyed at D.L.Moody's continually urging him he stopped attending. One day the man's wife came to D.L.Moody's house and said to him, " Mr. Moody my husband is very ill. Doctors say he cannot live. Won't you come down and speak to him before he dies ?"D.L.Moody hurried to the home, found the man ready to listen, and brought him to the point of decision. The man seemed to accept Christ. To everyone's surprise he got better. Mr. Moody visited him in convalescence.

He said to him, " Now God has been so good to you and raised you up, so of course, as soon as you are able to come to the Tabernacle you will make a public confession of your acceptance of Christ." " No, Mr. Moody I cannot do that, for my partner would ridicule me, and I cannot stand ridicule." Finally he said, " I am going to move to Michigan. Then I will." D.L.Moody told him that the Lord could keep him in Chicago just as well as in Michigan, but he would not listen. Just a week later he had a relapse. Mr. Moody was again called and went to his bedside. The dying man said,

" I don't walk you to talk to me. It will do no good. I've had my chance and thrown it away." Moody quoted to him the verse, " him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out," and asked, " may I pray with you ?"

" No, it won't do any good." Moody knelt to pray, but could not and that sinking man kept repeating, " The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and I am not saved," until he died.

My .... do you recognise that the Lord is not always to be found ? God withdraws from men because of their sin and rebellion. ( Rom 1:24 ) Some people seem to think that the name of God is spelled in reverse .... Dog.

They believe at their convenience they may call upon God and He will obey them and come to their aid. My .... that is a mistaken notion of God. Listen to what God says: " Because I have called and ye refused: I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded: but ye set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer: they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me." ( Prov 1:24-28 ) My .... do you recognise that the Lord is not always to be found ? That is why Isaiah cries to the nations and individuals. " Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near." ( Is 55:6 ) I want to talk to you this .... about

Seeking after the Lord ! Look at this remarkable statement and notice ....

(1) A PRESENCE WHICH IS IDENTIFIED

" Seek ye .... while He is near." ( 55:6 ) It's God's presence that the prophet is speaking of here. It seems that there is a time when God is near us and will be found of us, and that there is also a time when He is distant from us and will not be found of us. Now:

(a) GOD'S PRESENCE IS CONTINUALLY NEAR TO US:

Bible scholars speak to us of the Omnipotence of God. They simply mean that God is all-powerful. ( Matt 19:26 ) They speak to us of the Omniscience of God.

God is all knowing. ( 1 Jn 3:20 ) They speak to us of the Omnipresence of God. God is everywhere present.

Do you recall the words of the psalmist ? " Whither shall I go from thy spirit ? or whither shall I flee from thy presence ? If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost part of the sea: even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me."

( Ps 139:7-10 ) So there is a sense in which God is ever to be found. He is ever near us ! (a) But there are times when:

(b) GOD'S PRESENCE IS ESPECIALLY NEAR TO US:

My .... there are times when He is unusually near and that's the time, when we must seek Him, and enter into His kingdom. Now when there are those times when the Lord comes specially near to us ? When are those times when the Lord draws near to sinners ? Well, I believe the Lord comes specially close to us:

(1) In our Youth: When the mind is open: the conscience is tender and the soul is responsive. Surely the fact that most are saved in their childhood and youth points to this fact ? The Lord says: " I love them that love me: and those that seek me early shall find me."

( Prov 8:17 ) My .... there is no time for seeking the Lord like those days before our hearts are increasingly ensnared by the wickedness and ways of sinful habits.

For as the years pass the difficulties of deliverance from the grip of sin become compounded. Y. folk this .... I plead with you to seek the Lord now .... before the Devil ensnares you: before sin entices you: before friends encourage you ! (1)

(2) In His Providence: Do you remember blind Bartimaeus who lived in Jericho ? He was a professional beggar who sat by the wayside .... a common enough sight in Eastern Lands. But one day he heard the noise of a passing crowd and learned from a bystander that " Jesus of Nazareth passeth by."

( Lk 18:37 ) It was the opportunity of a lifetime. He had heard of Jesus, how He raised the dead, healed the lame, gave sight to the blind. He recognised that Providence was affording him a wonderful opportunity and with determination he grasped it with both hands.

" Jesus Thou Son of David have mercy on me."

( Lk 19:39 ) Wise man. For Jesus of Nazareth never came that way again. He was on His way to Jerusalem and from Jerusalem He went to Calvary !

My .... has the Lord been drawing close to .... in recent days through providential encounters ? Has death entered the very circle where you move ? Has a friend been taken ? Has the Lord laid His hand on you in sickness ? My .... the Lord comes specially close to us:

(3) Through our Friends: When their voice and testimony has unusual power to penetrate the secret places of our souls. The Lord comes near to us:

(4) In the Preaching of the Gospel: When it borne home to our hearts by the Power of the Holy Spirit ! Sinner .... can you not look back to a time when during a gospel mission or an evangelistic service God came especially close to you ? When He tugged at your soul: when He challenged your heart: when He directed your thoughts to His Son ? The Lord comes near to us:

(5) In the Hour of Direct Divine Contact: When He lays His hand upon us, reveals to us our sinfulness and need. When He awakens us to the brevity of life: the reality of death: the nearness of eternity: the awfulness of Hell itself. My .... there are favourable times to get saved. Times when God's presence is especially near to us and how wise it is then to " Seek the Lord while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near." ( 55:6 ) Can I ask has God been coming especially near to you in recent days ? Has He been stirring your young heart ? Has God spoken to you through the circumstances of life ? Through the testimony of a friend ? In the preaching of the Word ? My .... if He has " Seek the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near, " for He may never again come so near to your soul. (1)

(2) A PLEA WHICH IS JUSTIFIED

For here is Isaiah pleading with the nations: calling upon the nations to seek the Lord. My .... this plea is just and right for the nations are at a distance from God because of sin. That's why Isaiah says in ( 55:7 )

(a) WHY ARE WE TO SEEK THE LORD ?

Because we are at a distance from God because of sin.

Listen to the words of the prophet: " All we like sheep have gone astray: we have turned everyone to his own way: and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." ( 53:6 ) Listen to God as speaks through Isaiah,

" But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear." ( 59:1 ) And my .... the clear implication of this statement is that man is not in close fellowship with God. Do you recall that prior to the entrance of sin into the world Adam the First man and Representative of all men enjoyed with fellowship with God. But my .... when Adam disobeyed God he tumbled to his fallen condition. Adam had sinned. ( Gen 3:8 ) And what was the effect of that sin ?

Very simply it was that his children did not bear God's image but Adam's image. ( Gen 5:1-3 ) That is they shared in his nature. Thus Adam's corrupt, sinful, fallen nature was transmitted to every generation that followed.

That's why Paul says, " Wherefore as by one man .... "

( Rom 5:12 ) My .... our problem does not lie in the environment: our circumstances but in our hearts. By nature we're strangers to God and to Grace. We dwell afar off in an environment of rebellion and sin. Ill: It is said of baby turtles that they instinctively head for the sea once they are hatched, so man turns his face towards sin once he is born ! My .... do you recognise that you're a sinner ? By birth: by nature: by practice: by choice ? Do you realise that this is why you're to seek the Lord ? For to seek the Lord is the first step in reversing the direction in which your life has been going since birth. (a)

(b) HOW ARE WE TO SEEK THE LORD ?

Isaiah says, " Seek ye the Lord .... " ( 55:6 ) What does this imply ? How are we to seek the Lord ? My .... we are to:

(1) Seek the Lord ACTIVELY: " Seek ye the Lord." It implies that we must not lie still and wait for some unexperienced impulse. My .... in the work of salvation there is something that man cannot do. ( Jn 3:8 ) But there is something that he can do and this text demands action. We are to do that which lies within our power and responsibility. We are to " Seek the Lord." Sure, salvation is free and it is the gift of God's grace, but we must seek it: we must call upon God for it. My .... have you been sitting still waiting for something sensational to happen ? Have you been waiting for a flashing light: a funny feeling ? Have you done absolutely nothing in relation to your soul's eternal welfare ? My .... I would stir you up this .... to seek the Lord: to call on the Lord: to " strive to enter in at the strait gate." ( Lk 13:24 ) (1)

(2) Seek the Lord WHOLEHEARTEDLY: It must be an all-out search. This is not how most people engage in spiritual things. King Solomon said, " And so I saw the wicked buried, who had come and gone from the place of the holy." ( Eccl 8:10 ) My .... is that not how you have attended this place of worship ? Have you not gone out as you have come in ? There has been no seeking or finding the Lord, otherwise you would not be as you are. " Seek the Lord." Yes, we are to:

(3) Seek the Lord PENITENTLY: That is we are to renounce the sins which we have loved. Do you see what Isaiah says here ? My .... the same voice that says,

" Seek ye the Lord," says also ( 55:7 ) " His way," is his course of life: his course of conduct: his habitually sinful conduct. You see he who would tread the way of God must forsake the way of sin. " And the unrighteous man his thoughts." ( 55:7 ) My .... do you think that you're alright this .... because you haven't been openly sinful ?

Tell me: what about your thoughts ? Have they been always pure: loving: kind: good ? Ill: In his book

" Grace Abounding," J. Bunyan tells how he was walking through the fields when a voice from heaven did dart into his soul. " Bunyan will you have your sins and go to hell, or will you leave your sins and come to heaven ?" My .... have you turned from your sin ? Have you sought the Lord PENITENTLY ?

(4) Seek the Lord BELIEVINGLY:

For there must not only be Repentance but Faith. That's why Isaiah says, " And let him return unto the Lord."

( 55:7 )Faith in the Work of Christ: faith in the Word of God: faith which however weak at first rests simply in the Saviour. Now have you sought the Lord like this ?

Do you believe this .... that Christ is able to save .... ?

That Christ is willing to save you ? Tell me: have you actually trusted him to save you ? Look again: we must

(5) Seek the Lord PRAYERFULLY: " Call ye upon Him while He is near." ( 55:6 ) Do you know what the Bible says ? " Whosoever shall call .... saved. "

( Rom 10:13 )My .... what are you seeking in life ?

Are you seeking to become more rich ? Are you seeking a prosperous retirement ?Are you seeking to climb the social ladder ? Are you seeking a bigger and better job ?

Are you seeking to extend your business ? " SEEK YE THE LORD." ( 1) (2)

(3) A PERIOD WHICH IS SPECIFIED

For Isaiah cries, " Seek ye the Lord while He may be found .... " ( 55:6 ) When are we too seek the Lord ?

(a) IN THIS PRESENT LIFE:

" While He may be found .... " ( 55:6 ) You see there is a limit beyond which the opportunity for " seeking the Lord," is not extended. What is the limit ? This present life. My .... while your present life lasts " seek the Lord." For once your life is over you can never find him.

Do you remember what the Lord Jesus said, " He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved, but he that believeth not .... shall another chance in a future state .... shall another opportunity in the life to come .... No: No: he that believeth not shall be dammed."

( Mk 16:16 ) The Saviour offers no hope for someone who passes from time into eternity without Him. My .... reject the Lord Jesus and what hope can be there be for you ? But you say, " preacher if my lifetime is the period, then I will wait until death to seek the Lord."

But notice what Isaiah says " Seek .... He is near." In other words the PERIOD is not only (a) but:

(b) DURING THIS PROPITIOUS INTERVAL:

" While He is near." ( 55:6 ) My .... the Lord is near you just now. He is pleading with you. He is knocking at the door of your heart. Will you call upon Him ? Will you seek Him ? Will you trust Him ?

(c) AT THIS PRECISE MOMENT:

For if the opportunity is limited to this present life and if this present life is brief: frail and uncertain, then my .... you must " seek the Lord," now for " behold now .... "

( 2 Cor 6: 2) Ill: The story is told of a young lady who was urged to trust Christ after she attended a gospel mission. Hesitating she said, " I'll seek the Lord tomorrow." But the next evening instead of going to the mission she accepted an invitation from a friend to attend a dance. When her Mother reminded her of her promise she replied,

" I'm sorry, I don't want to disappoint John, I'm going out with him tonight if it kills me." She went upstairs to dress. John arrived and after waiting for some time, her mother but there was no response. They investigated and found her slumped over her dressing table. A heart attack had ended her life. She had put off receiving the Saviour at the cost of her soul. My .... how will you respond this .... ? Will you Spurn the Lord ? Or will you Seek the Lord ? Oh, sinner ..... Seek Him in this present life: Seek Him at this precise moment. " Seek the Lord."