Seek Christ What we have to do is ask ourselves are we seeking out Christ and His things as much as we seek out the things of this world?

Seek Christ The Jews of Jesus’ time were looking for the Messiah. John the baptizer came along and they wondered if he was the Messiah. Matt. 3:1-6; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-6 – Many went to him. Luke 3:15 – They reasoned in their hearts about John John 1:19-20 – the Jews sent Priests to ask John if he was the Messiah

Seek Christ There were others who were waiting for the Messiah. 1 Peter 1:10-12 – prophets of old and angels sought the Messiah John 4:25 – the Samaritans were waiting for the Messiah

Seek Christ With so many people waiting for the Messiah it makes us wonder why more didn’t find Him when He was here. The same reason they didn’t find Him then is the same reason why many cannot find Him today, their hearts are not right.

Seek Christ Who are you to say someone’s heart is right or not? You’re judging my heart and you can’t do that. You’re right, I can’t do that only Christ can.

Seek Christ We can get and idea about a person’s heart by their actions. Ex. 5-14 – The heart of Pharaoh was not right. He heard God’s word and saw the power of God yet he refused to obey the commands of God. It ultimately cost him his army. Acts 8:20-21 – Peter told Simon that his heart was not right. Rom. 6:17 – Paul tells the Romans that they obeyed from the heart.

Seek Christ What we must do and encourage others to do is to simply go back to the Bible. First, we have to seek after the things of God. Matthew 5:6 – Those who hunger for God… Matthew 6:33 – Seek the kingdom Matthew 7:7-11 – Seek and you will find

Seek Christ Second, we need to make sure that we are seeking God and not just waiting for Him. Matthew 8 – the leper and the centurion sought out Jesus Matthew 14:13 – the multitudes sought him on foot Luke 7:36-38 – the woman sought Jesus Mark 5:29-34 – the woman sought out simply to touch Jesus

Seek Christ So many of them sought Jesus but when they heard Him they didn’t like what He said. Mark 10:17-22 – The young ruler Luke 9:57-62 – Three men who held on to this world John 6:60-66 – many stopped following Jesus because what He taught was difficult for them

Seek Christ Others were seeking the Messiah and recognized that Jesus was the Messiah. John 1:45 – Philip said to Nathanael that he had found Him John 4:39-42 – many Samaritans believed that Jesus was the Christ – *REMEMBER THIS John 6:67-69 – the apostles believed that Jesus was the Christ

Seek Christ We must seek God for spiritual life. John 14:6 – Jesus is the way There is an implied command of direction in this statement. If Jesus is the way to the Father He will tell us of that way.

Seek Christ What did Jesus command? Acts 9:10-16 – Jesus commanded Ananias to go to Saul Acts 22:10 – Jesus had already told Saul that he would be told what to do Acts 22:14-16 – the first thing for him to do was be baptized so his sins would be washed away

Seek Christ And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ Acts 22:16 Ananias did not say, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and call on the name of the Lord and be baptized, because your sins have been washed away.”

Seek Christ Acts 2:38 – Peter told the multitude to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins Peter did not say, repent and be baptized because your sins have been forgiven. repent and be fully convinced that your sins are forgiven.

Seek Christ Many Samaritans believed because they heard the words of Jesus. John 4:39-42 ----------------------------------------------------- The simple word of God is either to be believed or not. Won’t you be like the Samaritans and hear what God says and believe and be baptized?