The Desire for God
The sermon encourages believers to prioritize seeking and desiring a close relationship with God in their daily lives.
Andrew Murray emphasizes the profound necessity of seeking, knowing, loving, and praising God daily, asserting that this pursuit is the most glorious endeavor a person can undertake. He encourages believers to recognize that true fellowship with God should be the ultimate desire of their hearts, leading to a transformative experience in their lives. Murray highlights that God desires an intimate relationship with each individual and will empower them to achieve this closeness through prayer and earnest seeking. He urges listeners to express their longing for God, as illustrated in Psalms, and to make this pursuit a priority in their daily lives.
Text
"All night long I search for You'. Isaiah 26:9
What is the best and most glorious thing that a man needs every
day and can do every day? Nothing less than to seek, to know,
to love, and to praise God Himself. As glorious as God is, so is
the glory which begins to work in the hearts and lives of people
who give themselves to live for God.
Have you learned to seek this God, to meet Him, to worship
Him, to live for Him and for His glory? It is a great step forward
in the life of a Christian when we truly see this and consider
fellowship with God every day as the chief end of our lives.
Take the time to ask yourself whether knowing your God
and loving Him with your whole heart is the utmost desire of
your heart. You can be certain that God greatly desires that you
should live in this intimate fellowship with Him. He will, in
answer to your prayer, enable you to do so.
Begin today by speaking these words to God in the stillness
of your soul: "O God, You are my God; I earnestly search for
You. My soul thirsts for You; my whole body longs for You ...
I follow close behind You" (Psalm 63:1 & 8). "(I) search for Him
with all (my) heart" (Psalm 119:2).
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The importance of seeking God daily - Understanding God's glory - The impact of living for God's glory
- II points: - The necessity of intimate fellowship with God - Recognizing God's desire for relationship - The role of prayer in seeking God
- III points: - The significance of heartfelt worship - The call to thirst for God - Following God closely in daily life
Key Quotes
“Nothing less than to seek, to know, to love, and to praise God Himself.” — Andrew Murray
“It is a great step forward in the life of a Christian when we truly see this and consider fellowship with God every day as the chief end of our lives.” — Andrew Murray
“O God, You are my God; I earnestly search for You.” — Andrew Murray
Application Points
- Set aside dedicated time each day to seek God through prayer and reflection.
- Cultivate a heart that longs for God's presence and glory in every aspect of life.
- Practice expressing your desire for God openly in your prayers and worship.