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Seek His Face

2 Chron. 7:14

14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. NKJV

Introduction:

Vance Havner said,

“We claim we want to have a revival and save our face,

when the first thing we must do is to lose our face, and seek His.”

I must confess a feeling of inadequacy to preach on this subject.

I have not always sought His face, and I may never have sought His face as diligently as I needed to.

I have learned form my study for this message. I have learned more about what it means to Seek His Face.

1. WHY. . SEEK HIS FACE?

A. Seek His Face because of His . . Command. 7:14d

14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and

seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and

will forgive their sin and heal their land. NKJV

1. This is an unusual command.

a. It is not a seeking of His hand.

b. It is not a seeking of His blessings.

c. It is a seeking of Him, His Presence, just Him.

Illustration

Children are told not to ask grandparents if the brought them gifts, but to wait and let the grandparents talk about gifts later. Just love your grandparents.

On one occasion I flew into the town where my daughter lived. My Son-In-Law met me at the airport with my grandson, and granddaughter. Brandon, (five at that time) and Brittanie (three at that time) hugged me and talked some, but Brittanie look puzzled. She finally said “I am not supposed to ask you something.” So I said, “what are you not supposed to ask me.” She was delighted I ask, and she said, “I am not supposed to ask if you brought us any presents.”

She was clever, but she was not most interested in me but in presents I might bring.

We can understand a three year old doing that, but what if she did it today at eighteen?

B. Seek His Face because of Our . . Confidence. 7:14e

“. . . then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

1. We have confidence He meet our needs.

2. We have confidence He will do what He says.

C. Seek His Face because of His . . Confirmation. Heb 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must

believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Illustration

An evening was given to waiting upon God in the home of an elder. Around midnight Duncan turned to the local blacksmith: "John, I feel the time has come for you to pray." With his cap in his hand John rose to pray, and in the middle of his prayer he paused, raised his right hand to heaven, and said:

"Oh God, You made a promise to pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground, and, Lord, it's not happening." He paused again and then continued: "Lord, I don't know how the others here stand in Your presence; I don't know how the ministers stand, but, Lord, if I know anything about my own heart I stand before Thee as an empty vessel, thirsting for Thee and for a manifestation of Thy power." He halted again and after a moment of tense silence cried:

"Oh God, Your honor is at stake, and I now challenge You to fulfil your covenant engagement and do what you have promised to do." Many who were present witnessed that at that moment the house shook. Dishes rattled in the sideboard, as wave after wave of Divine power swept through the building. A minister standing beside Duncan turned and said: "Mr. Campbell, an earth tremor!" But Duncan's mind, however, was in the fourth chapter of Acts, where the early Christians were gathered in prayer and, we read: "When they had prayed the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost."

Application

WHY. . SEEK HIS FACE?

1. Seek His Face because of Who He is,

2. Seek His Face Because of What He did,

3. Seek His Face Because of What He does,

4. Seek His Face Because of Where He is.

2. How. . Do I Seek His Face?

Introduction:

A face has normal parts to it. This is my hand, and if I said it was my face you would say “that is his hand not his face. A face has certain characteristics. A face has eyes, ears, mouth, nose etc..

A. If I Seek The Face of God, I will seek His . . Eyes.

1. Seek His Eyes and . . Find Grace.

Gen 6:7-8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

2. Seek His Eyes and . . Do Right. Deut 13:18

18 because you have listened to the voice of the Lord your God, to keep

all His commandments which I command you today, to do what is right in

the eyes of the Lord your God.

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are

open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." NKJV

Illustration

A friend shared this about his wife: Val has always shared with our boys (and others) that Psalm 32:8 speaks of God guiding us with His eyes. The only way to be able to see God guiding us with His eyes is to look at His face.

Psalms 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.

LORD HELP ME SEEK YOU FACE And

SEE AS YOU SEE!

B. If I Seek The Face of God, I will seek His . . Ears.

Ps 34:4-6 4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all

my fears. 5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not

ashamed. 6 This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And

saved him out of all his troubles. NKJV

Rev 2:7, 11,17,29 ; 3: 6, 13, 22

7 "He who has an ear , let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. NKJV

LORD HELP ME SEEK YOU FACE AndHEAR AS YOU HEAR!

C. If I Seek The Face of God, I will seek His . . Mouth.

Ex 24:3 3 So Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all

the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said,"All the words

which the Lord has said we will do." NKJV

Jer 23:16 Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the

prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; They speak a vision of

their own heart, Not from the mouth of the Lord NKJV

LORD HELP ME SEEK YOU FACE And HONOR

ALL YOUR WORDS!

D. If I Seek The Face of God, I will seek His . . Mind.

Isa 40:13-14 13 Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or as His counselor

has taught Him? 14 With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him,

And taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, And showed

Him the way of understanding? NKJV

1 Cor 2:16 For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Isa 55:6-7 6 Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the

wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; NKJV

LORD HELP ME SEEK YOU FACE SO

I MIGHT KNOW YOUR MIND!

Illustration

Charles Spurgeon wrote, "If you are not seeking the Lord, the devil is seeking you."

We must not wait until we are attacked by Satan to think about the strategy we should use to escape the enemy of our soul .

Application

How. . Do I Seek His Face?

Seek To see, hear, think and speak like Him.

3. When . . Do I Seek His Face?

A. Seek His Face . . First. Matt 6:33

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. NKJV

Ps 63:1 God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You;

My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. NKJV

Illustration

Howard Hendricks a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. Boarded a plan and shortly thereafter he heard the announcement about the flight being delayed. The man in front of him went up to the stewardess, and really complained, and final got off the plan. Dr Hendricks got up and went to the stewardess and told her you are a fine representative of American Airlines. She said I don’t represent American Airlines. Dr Hendricks look puzzled and then the stewardess said “Oh I work for American Airlines, but I represent the Lord Jesus Christ.

I think the stewardess had been seeking the face of the Lord

B. Seek His Face . . Foremost. Psa. 42:1-2

1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. 2

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. NKJV

Illustration Personal

In studying this phrase of scripture I have in my prayer times tried to seek the face of God with a special focus. I have prayed thinking about the eyes of God, and thought my eyes at times are not godly eyes, oh Lord help me seek your eyes, and to see what and how you see.

I have prayed thinking about the eyes of God, and thought my eyes a times are not godly eyes, oh Lord help me seek your eyes, and to see what and how you see.

I have prayed thinking about the mouth of God, and thought my mouth at times does not speak godly words, oh Lord help me speak words that honor you “Let the words of my mouth ...... be acceptable to you.

I have prayed thinking about the moind of God, and thought my mind at times does not think godly thoughts, oh Lord help me to havce the mind of Christ. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you.”

THE SECRET (by Ralph Cushman)
I met God in the morning, When my day was at its best, And His presence came like sunrise, Like a glory in my breast. All day long the presence lingered; All day long He stayed with me;

And we sailed in perfect calmness, O'er a very troubled sea. Other ships were blown and battered, Other ships were sore distressed, But the winds that seemed to drive them, Brought to us a peace and rest.

Then I thought of other mornings, With a keen remorse of mind, When I too had loosed the moorings, With the Presence left behind.

So I think I know the secret, Learned from many a troubled way; You must seek Him in the morning, If you want Him through the day.

1 Chr. 7:14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. NKJV