{"id":1220,"date":"2016-06-25T18:29:40","date_gmt":"2016-06-25T18:29:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/solidrockbiblechurch.com\/srbc\/?p=1220"},"modified":"2016-06-25T18:29:40","modified_gmt":"2016-06-25T18:29:40","slug":"pursuing-the-presence-of-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/solidrockbiblechurch.com\/srbc\/pursuing-the-presence-of-god\/","title":{"rendered":"PURSUING THE PRESENCE OF GOD"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">Listen online<\/span><\/p>\n<!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('audio');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-1220-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/solidrockbiblechurch.com\/srbc\/audio\/112915PursuingThePresenceOfGodPM.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/solidrockbiblechurch.com\/srbc\/audio\/112915PursuingThePresenceOfGodPM.mp3\">https:\/\/solidrockbiblechurch.com\/srbc\/audio\/112915PursuingThePresenceOfGodPM.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">Download audio<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">    <a href=\"https:\/\/solidrockbiblechurch.com\/srbc\/audio\/112915PursuingThePresenceOfGodPM.mp3\" target=\"_self\" class=\"emd_dl_blue_four\" download>Download<\/a>\r\n        <style type=\"text\/css\">\r\n    .emd_dl_blue_four {\r\n        -moz-box-shadow:inset 0px 1px 0px 0px #97c4fe;\r\n        -webkit-box-shadow:inset 0px 1px 0px 0px #97c4fe;\r\n        box-shadow:inset 0px 1px 0px 0px #97c4fe;\r\n        background:-webkit-gradient( linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0.05, #3d94f6), color-stop(1, #1e62d0) );\r\n        background:-moz-linear-gradient( center top, #3d94f6 5%, #1e62d0 100% );\r\n        filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(startColorstr='#3d94f6', endColorstr='#1e62d0');\r\n        background-color:#3d94f6;\r\n        -webkit-border-top-left-radius:0px;\r\n        -moz-border-radius-topleft:0px;\r\n        border-top-left-radius:0px;\r\n        -webkit-border-top-right-radius:0px;\r\n        -moz-border-radius-topright:0px;\r\n        border-top-right-radius:0px;\r\n        -webkit-border-bottom-right-radius:0px;\r\n        -moz-border-radius-bottomright:0px;\r\n        border-bottom-right-radius:0px;\r\n        -webkit-border-bottom-left-radius:0px;\r\n        -moz-border-radius-bottomleft:0px;\r\n        border-bottom-left-radius:0px;\r\n        text-indent:0;\r\n        border:1px solid #337fed;\r\n        display:inline-block;\r\n        color:#ffffff !important;\r\n        font-family:Georgia;\r\n        font-size:15px;\r\n        font-weight:bold;\r\n        font-style:normal;\r\n        height:25px;\r\n        line-height:25px;\r\n        width:90px;\r\n        text-decoration:none;\r\n        text-align:center;\r\n        text-shadow:1px 1px 0px #1570cd;\r\n    }\r\n    .emd_dl_blue_four:hover {\r\n        background:-webkit-gradient( linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0.05, #1e62d0), color-stop(1, #3d94f6) );\r\n        background:-moz-linear-gradient( center top, #1e62d0 5%, #3d94f6 100% );\r\n        filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(startColorstr='#1e62d0', endColorstr='#3d94f6');\r\n        background-color:#1e62d0;\r\n    }.emd_dl_blue_four:active {\r\n        position:relative;\r\n        top:1px;\r\n    }\r\n    <\/style><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">&#8220;THE PASSIONATE PURSUIT OF GOD&#8217;S PRESENCE&#8221; &#8212; In the mission statement of a church.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">WHY ? &#8212; IF WE LOVE HIM, WE WANT MORE OF HIM.\u00a0 HOW MANY SEEK HIM MORE ?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">HOW ?\u00a0 Prayer.\u00a0 Study.\u00a0 Walking.\u00a0 Seeking.\u00a0 Service.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">\u00a0GOD INITIATED THE PROCESS.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"><strong>1 John 4:19<\/strong>\u00a0 <em>We love Him, because He first loved us.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"><strong>Luke 19:10<\/strong>\u00a0 <em>For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.<\/em><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">1. WHY PURSUE AFTER GOD ?<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"> A. IT IS MORE THAN JUST KNOWING HIM. <\/span><\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"><strong>Zechariah 8:22<\/strong> <em>Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"> B. IT TAKES PREPARATION. <\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">ARE YOU PREPARED TO GIVE MORE OF YOURSELF TO HIM ? SEEKING GOD IS NOT JUST TO SATISFY YOUR CURISITY. IT COMES WITH GREATER SENSE OF APPRECIATION AND RESPONSIBILITY.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">2. PURSUING GOD HAS A PURPOSE.<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"> A. IT IS TO HAVE A GREATER KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT HE WANTS THROUGH KNOWING HIM AND HIS WAYS. <\/span><\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"><strong>Ezra 8:21<\/strong> <em>Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of Him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"> B. IT IS TO RESTORE THE BLESSINGS OF THE PAST. <\/span><\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"><strong>2 Chronicles 7:14<\/strong> <em>If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"> C. IT IS TO RESTORE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD THAT HAS BECOME BROKEN DUE TO SIN. <\/span><\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"><strong>Hosea 5:15<\/strong> (GOD SAID) <em>I will go and return to My place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek My face: in their affliction they will seek Me early.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">3. DOES PURSUING GOD MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE ?<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"> A. ONE MAN&#8217;S PRAYERS CAN CHANGE MANY OTHER PEOPLE. HE CAN MAKE THEIR SPIRITUAL DESIRES COME ALIVE. <\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">HEZKIAH<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"><strong>\u00a02 Chronicles 30:19<\/strong> <em>That prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">B. WHEN WE FAIL TO PREPARE OUR HEARTS AFTER GOD BURDENS US WITH THE DESIRE TO SEEK HIM, WE COULD END UP DOING EVIL. <\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">REHOBOAM. <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"><strong>2 Chronicles 12:14<\/strong> <em>And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">C. GOD DOES NOT WANT PEOPLE TO SEEK HIM AS A HOBBY. HE REWARDS ONLY THOSE WHO SEEK HIM WITH ALL THE HEART. <\/span><\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"><strong>Jeremiah 29:13<\/strong> <em>And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">4. HOW DID PEOPLE PURSUE GOD IN THE PAST ?<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"> A. PRAYER. <\/span><\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"><strong>Daniel 9:3<\/strong> <em>And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">B. STUDY HIS WORDS.<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">C. SEEKING HIM IN EVERY ACTIVITY OF LIFE. <\/span><\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"><strong>Proverbs 3:6<\/strong><em> In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">D. IN PRAISE. <\/span><\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"><strong>Psalms 22:3<\/strong> <em>But Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">SOME PEOPLE SEEK AFTER GOD FOR BLESSINGS. THEY FAIL TO SEEK THE PERSON OF THE LORD INSTEAD. \u00a0Like a woman seeking a rich man to marry. It isn&#8217;t the person she loves, it is his money. <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"><strong>Luke 12:30<\/strong> <em>For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">SOMETIMES SEEKING GOD IS INCONVENIENT. MANY TIMES GOD MAKES IT THAT WAY SO THAT YOU MUST PROVE YOUR SERIOUSNESS TO HIM.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\"><strong> John 6:24<\/strong> <em>When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither His disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">\u201cPursuing The Presence Of God\u201d<\/span><\/h5>\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">A Bible Study with Dr. Ed J. MacWilliams<\/span><\/h5>\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: helvetica;\">112915<\/span><\/h5>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen online Download audio &nbsp; &nbsp; &#8220;THE PASSIONATE PURSUIT OF GOD&#8217;S PRESENCE&#8221; &#8212; In the mission statement of a church. WHY ? &#8212; IF WE LOVE HIM, WE WANT MORE OF HIM.\u00a0 HOW MANY SEEK HIM MORE ? HOW ?\u00a0 Prayer.\u00a0 Study.\u00a0 Walking.\u00a0 Seeking.\u00a0 Service. \u00a0GOD INITIATED THE PROCESS. 1 John 4:19\u00a0 We love Him, because He first loved us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[12],"tags":[33,69,38,34,50,41],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/solidrockbiblechurch.com\/srbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1220"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/solidrockbiblechurch.com\/srbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/solidrockbiblechurch.com\/srbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/solidrockbiblechurch.com\/srbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/solidrockbiblechurch.com\/srbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1220"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/solidrockbiblechurch.com\/srbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1220\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/solidrockbiblechurch.com\/srbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/solidrockbiblechurch.com\/srbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/solidrockbiblechurch.com\/srbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}