Who is God seeking?. What do people seek? n This time of year, people are thinking about looking for presents. n People look for things for themselves.

Who is God seeking?Who is God seeking?

What do people seek?What do people seek?

This time of year, This time of year, people are thinking people are thinking about looking for about looking for presents.presents.

People look for People look for things for things for themselves as themselves as well.well.

How do people seek for How do people seek for religion?religion?

Something that suits or fits them.Something that suits or fits them. People look for religion like they People look for religion like they

look for a car, clothes, or food.look for a car, clothes, or food. We end up with numerous We end up with numerous

churches and belief systems.churches and belief systems. This is a problem because there is This is a problem because there is

only one God and one faith.only one God and one faith.

Ephesians 4Ephesians 4

4. There is one body and one Spirit, just 4. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your as you were called in one hope of your calling; calling;

5. one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 5. one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

6. one God and Father of all, who is 6. one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you above all, and through all, and in you all.all.

Deuteronomy 6:4Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear O Israel: The Hear O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!LORD our God, the LORD is one!

Do people really know Do people really know themselves?themselves?

It is true that we know what we want.It is true that we know what we want. But, how well do we know our own But, how well do we know our own

bodies?bodies? Some don’t even know their own blood Some don’t even know their own blood

type or the location of their liver.type or the location of their liver. Can we truly know what to seek in Can we truly know what to seek in

spiritual matters, if we are basing it spiritual matters, if we are basing it upon what we want? The way we would upon what we want? The way we would do it?do it?

Do we know what is best Do we know what is best for us?for us?

Jeremiah 10:23Jeremiah 10:23 O LORD, I know the O LORD, I know the way of man way of man isis not in himself; not in himself; It isIt is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.

We know based upon this world We know based upon this world and its knowledge we cannot know and its knowledge we cannot know God.God.

I Corinthians 2I Corinthians 2

9. But as it is written: 9. But as it is written: “Eye has not “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those which God has prepared for those who love Him.who love Him.””

10. But God has revealed 10. But God has revealed themthem to us to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.things of God.

I Corinthians 2I Corinthians 2

11. For what man knows the things 11. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.except the Spirit of God.

God is the one who is God is the one who is seeking.seeking.

God has His criteria for what He God has His criteria for what He wants in a worshiper and how they wants in a worshiper and how they should worship Him.should worship Him.

He is the creator of everything and He is the creator of everything and truly qualified in telling us how to truly qualified in telling us how to serve Him and what is best for us.serve Him and what is best for us.

Genesis 1:1Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.created the heavens and the earth.

Psalm 1Psalm 1

1. Blessed is the man who walks not 1. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; sits in the seat of the scornful;

2. But his delight 2. But his delight isis in the law of the in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. day and night.

Psalm 1Psalm 1

3. He shall be like a tree planted by the 3. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.does shall prosper.

4. The ungodly are not so, But are like 4. The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away.the chaff which the wind drives away.

Psalm 1Psalm 1

5. Therefore the ungodly shall not 5. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the in the congregation of the righteous.righteous.

6. For the LORD know the way of the 6. For the LORD know the way of the righteous, but the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.ungodly shall perish.

John 4: 7-26John 4: 7-26

23. But the hour is coming, and now is, 23. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.Father is seeking such to worship Him.

24. God is Spirit, and those who worship 24. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.Him must worship in spirit and truth.

So who is God seeking?So who is God seeking?

Jesus draws two linesJesus draws two lines

The first line is between the Jews worship The first line is between the Jews worship and the Samaratins worship.and the Samaratins worship.

II Kings 17:27-34II Kings 17:27-34 The second line is between the former The second line is between the former

worship and what is coming and now is, worship and what is coming and now is, that the true worshipers will worship God that the true worshipers will worship God the way He truly desires to be the way He truly desires to be worshipped. worshipped.

Romans 7:6Romans 7:6

Who is God seeking?Who is God seeking?

1. What is spirit?1. What is spirit?

2. What is truth?2. What is truth?

3. Are we God’s people who worship 3. Are we God’s people who worship in spirit and truth?in spirit and truth?

What is spirit?What is spirit?

God is Spirit.God is Spirit. Pneuma- current of air, breath. Pneuma- current of air, breath.

(human) the rational soul (by (human) the rational soul (by implication) vital principle, mental implication) vital principle, mental disposition.disposition.

God is not bound by physical body, God is not bound by physical body, and is eternal. and is eternal.

We have a spirit.We have a spirit.

What is spirit?What is spirit?

Ecclesiastes 12:7Ecclesiastes 12:7 Then the dust will Then the dust will return to the earth as it was. And the return to the earth as it was. And the spirit will return to God who gave it.spirit will return to God who gave it.

We MUST worship God in our spirits.We MUST worship God in our spirits. Not bound by a location like Jerusalem, Not bound by a location like Jerusalem,

or by carnal ceremonies and dress.or by carnal ceremonies and dress. By our hearts, spirits worshipping to By our hearts, spirits worshipping to

God’s spirit.God’s spirit.

What is spirit?What is spirit?I Timothy 2:8I Timothy 2:8 Therefore I desire that the men Therefore I desire that the men

pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wraith and doubting;without wraith and doubting;

I Corinthians 3:1I Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.carnal, as to babes in Christ.

Philippians 3:3Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,flesh,

What is truth?What is truth?

While we have the right attitude and While we have the right attitude and spirit, let’s not forget God’s word.spirit, let’s not forget God’s word.

John 17:17John 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.Your word is truth.

Jesus is the truth.Jesus is the truth.

John 14:6John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through comes to the Father except through Me.”Me.”

What is truth?What is truth?

Without the truth from God, we Without the truth from God, we couldn’t know Him or how to couldn’t know Him or how to worship Him.worship Him.

John 17:3John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.have sent.

Are we God’s people who Are we God’s people who worship in spirit and truth?worship in spirit and truth?

Do we meet God’s requirements for the Do we meet God’s requirements for the people that He seeks?people that He seeks?

If we wish to be His people it must be If we wish to be His people it must be according to His will, and not according to according to His will, and not according to THIS world or what we want.THIS world or what we want.

Mark 7:5Mark 7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?”hands?”

Are we God’s people who Are we God’s people who worship in spirit and truth?worship in spirit and truth?

Mark 7:6Mark 7:6 He answered and said to He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. lips, But their heart is far from Me.

7. And in vain they worship Me, 7. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’commandments of men.’

Are we God’s people who Are we God’s people who worship in spirit and truth?worship in spirit and truth?

Mark 7:8Mark 7:8 “For laying aside the “For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men-- the washing of tradition of men-- the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” such things you do.”

9. And He said to them, “All too well 9. And He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.that you may keep your tradition.

Are we God’s people who Are we God’s people who worship in spirit and truth?worship in spirit and truth?

Search the Bible for truth and how God Search the Bible for truth and how God wants to be worshipped in all areas of wants to be worshipped in all areas of worship and life. worship and life.

Romans 10:1Romans 10:1 Brethren, my heart’s Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. that they may be saved.

2. For I bear them witness that they 2. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.to knowledge.

Are we God’s people who Are we God’s people who worship in spirit and truth?worship in spirit and truth?

Romans 10:3Romans 10:3 For they being For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. to the righteousness of God.

4. For Christ is the end of the law for 4. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who righteousness to everyone who believes.believes.

Are you a Christian?Are you a Christian?

Luke 13:23Luke 13:23 Then one Then one said to Him, “Lord, said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are are there few who are saved?” And He said saved?” And He said to them, to them,

24. “Strive to enter 24. “Strive to enter through the narrow through the narrow gate, for many, I say gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to to you, will seek to enter and will not be enter and will not be able. able.

Are you a Christian?Are you a Christian?

25. When once the Master of the 25. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the house has risen up and shut the door, you begin to stand outside door, you begin to stand outside and know at the door, saying, and know at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are not know you, where you are from,’ from,’