To Seek and Thirst After God

(Sabbath After Unleavened Bread 2022)

Fred R. Coulter—April 23, 2022

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Greetings, brethren! Welcome to Sabbath after the last day of Unleavened Bread! Every once in a while we get a Holy Day and a Sabbath back-to-back! We do that with Pentecost especially every year.

Tomorrow begins the second week toward Pentecost. Let's look at what we have to do in this world today. There are a lot of things that we can look at that are troubles and difficulties. There are a lot of things that are taking place that are beginning to line up the end-time prophecies. So, we need to watch those.

But what is the most important thing that you and I—all the brethren everywhere—need to do? Well, the title of this message is To Seek and Thirst After God—His way! We will see why, and what God is doing. Remember that in spite of all of the things you see going on in the world, don't let those things distract you to take you away from your relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ!

We're going to cover a number of Psalms, kind of like continuing where we left off yesterday, only on a different subject. This has to do with our personal relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ. This is what we must be doing, because Jesus said, 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness!'

If you're searching and hungering after that righteousness, you were searching and hungering for God and His way and His love.

Notice how David starts out his prayer; it's very interesting!

Psalm 61:1: "Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth I cry to You when my heart is overwhelmed…" (vs 1-2).

This tells us today, with all the things are coming to pass and taking place, don't let your heart get overwhelmed. But if it does, turn to God!

"…lead me to the Rock higher than me…[always come to Christ] …for You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower against the enemy" (vs 2-3).

Now Satan the enemy is beginning to manifest himself in overt ways that he didn't do before. But now he's got everything lined up. Notice the focus, and this always has to be the focus of what we do.

Verse 3: "For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower against the enemy. I will dwell in Your tabernacle forever…" (vs 3-4).

We're dealing with eternal life! Too many people focus on: Is he a good person? Is she a good woman? Or man? A lot of people can have good behavior as far as the world goes, but that doesn't mean that their heart is converted. When the going gets tough, you will see what happens.

"…I will take refuge in the hiding place of Your wings. Selah." Tie in Psa. 91, 'In the shadow of Your wings.'

Verse 5: "For You, O God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name." That's quite a prayer!

Just think about it! God is going to give us the rulership of the world under Christ. I mean, think about that for a minute. When you look out and see the world that's in the mess that it is in today, and all because of men turning against God, turning to Satan the devil, and rejecting the truth of what God wants for their own ways.

God has called us so that under Christ we can bring the Truth of God to the world! The rule and reign of God the Father and Jesus Christ.

That's something! So, when you see all this mess, remember that the resurrection and return of Jesus Christ is the solution. No other solution will work! There may be a tiny bit of things that can be handled, and that will temporarily solve something, but the only solution is the return of Christ and the resurrection.

Verse 5: "For You, O God, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear Your name."

Now notice carefully the word may and the word let! Just keep that in mind for the future.

Verse 6: [#1]"May You add to the days of the king's life… [God says that He's going to give us eternal life] …[#2]may his years be as many generations." They will!

If you live forever there will be many generations!How many generations are we going to have in the Millennium.

• if you say there are 50 years—that's 10 generations
• if there are 25 years—that's 20 generations

Verse 7: [#3]May he abide before God forever… [live before God] …prepare mercy and truth to preserve him."

Look at those two words mercy and truth; that's what we need now.

• What is it that God has done through Jesus Christ for us?
• That He hasn't done to the world?
• That He hasn't done to the Protestants?

And none of the other religions will have any of this!

I want you to understand that because of this how important your calling is, and how important you are to God. We will see later that God Himself loves you, and all of these things you need to keep in mind.

Matt. 11—here is a special thing that has happened to each one of us. This is Christ's and the Father's direct intervention into our lives. We know that in John 6:44 we're told that the Father draws us! Then in John 6:45 we'll all be taught of God!

That's why we have the Word of God; it teaches us, encourages us, inspires us.

Matthew 11:25: "At that time Jesus answered and said, 'I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent…'"—of the world; they're not going after true eternal life!

What they want to do is make robots, and combine robotics with human beings and have that as the post-human person. But even though they may have temporary success, guess what? They can't give life! Any life that they deal with has come from God. Yet, they reject God. So, that's quite a conundrum, isn't it?

"…and have revealed them to babes" (v 25). That's because we're to have the attitude of a loving, obedient child toward God the Father and Jesus Christ!

As far as the world is concerned, they know nothing about what God is teaching us. They look upon us as nothing to them.

Verse 26: "Yes, Father, for it was well pleasing in Your sight to do this." Think about that!

• God delighted in calling you
• delighted in opening your mind
• delighted in helping you understand about Jesus Christ

He wants you in the Kingdom!

Verse 27: "All things were delivered to Me by My Father…"

• read about that in the Bible
• read all the prophecies of the Millennium
• read the prophecies of living forever

Today, we have the tremendous blessing of being able to have those tremendous telescopes. The Hubble telescope has been working for decades, and they put a new one up there, a bigger one, the James Webb telescope! It shows awesome sights in the universe! God has made it all, and He's got a great purpose for it all that He's going share with all of those who enter into His Kingdom.

So, God has chosen us! The weak! The rejected! The babes! He has revealed these things to us through Christ.

Verse 27: "All things were delivered to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son personally chooses to reveal Him!

Think about that! You may be rejected by a lot of people and a lot of things, but God has chosen you! God has chosen all the brethren to know the mystery and the secret of God: what He's doing and how He's going to solve all the problems of the world! He personally has done this!

Verse 28: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are overly burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me…" (vs 28-29)

That's why we have the Gospels. Study those and learn about Jesus.

"…for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (vs 29-30).

We're going to see something else that's important concerning God the Father directly, personally intervening with us. This is very difficult to fully comprehend. But how much God has revealed to us shows us what it's like, and we can hold that in awe and wonder that God has done this. Not get lifted up and say, 'I'm on God's side and you're not.' That's the carnal way! But in thanksgiving, in humility, in love and in service to God!

Notice what God is planning; Ephesians 1:3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly things with Christ."

What does that mean? First of all, the Word of God, because this came from God from heaven! And heavenly things; that is understanding the plan of God.

• How is He going to solve it?
• When is Christ going to return?
• What is it that we're going to be doing?

Verse 4: "According as He… [God the Father] …has personally chosen us for Himself before the foundation of the world in order that we might be Holy and blameless before Him in love; having predestinated us for sonship to Himself through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His own will" (vs 4-5).

Let me tell you something: When you get down and discouraged, you take this section of the Scriptures as a start to help you overcome being discouraged or depressed or frustrated. God's Spirit will intervene and help you! But there is the plan! Just like Jesus always does:

• kept His mind on the Kingdom
• kept His mind on the goal

Let's build on this that we have covered here so we can understand:

• where we're going
• what we're doing
• what God is doing

How we need to hunger and thirst after God because this is what He is doing! This is what He wants!

1-John 3:1: "Behold!…. [Listen up! we might say today] …What glorious love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God!…."

The King James has it wrong, that we are 'adopted.' NO! We received the Holy Spirit, which is the Holy Seed to make us His very own children, not adopted!

"…For this very reason, the world does not know us because it did not know Him" (v 1)—because Jesus didn't reveal it to them! He didn't show it to them! Only to those whom He has called.

Here is quite a thing and special. Even though we're not yet in the Kingdom, even though we have not yet been born again from the dead through the power of the resurrection, God looks at the completed product when He's done working with us at the resurrection.

Verse 2: "Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be; but we know…"

• He's given us knowledge
• He's given us understanding

"…that when He is manifested… [Christ returns] …we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him exactly as He is" (v 2).

Notice that this tells us how we are motivated to do the things that God wants:

• to love God
• to keep His commandments
• to study His Word
• to be faithful

Verse 3: "And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, even as He is pure." Getting rid of all sin! That's a process!

2-Cor. 6 shows us the same thing, almost exactly. It shows us that even though all these things are going on in the world, we need to stay close to God and continue to develop that character. That's the most important thing that we need to be doing every single day, day in and day out, all the time; and why we are not to be in the world!

Look at all the solutions that are given by those who are leading the world in solving the problems and saving America and putting it back on the right track. Let me tell you:

• IF you can completely stop abortion
• IF you can't get rid of al drugs
• IF the Protestants don't repent and keep the Sabbath

There will be no lasting change at all! Those three things must be solved first! Therefore, God wants us to focus on what we need to do:

• to develop the character
• to overcome sin
• to overcome Satan the devil
• to overcome the world
• to overcome our own personal sins, emotions and difficulties

2-Corinthians 6:14: "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and lawlessness have in common?…."

Even though it may sound simple enough to do different things, there is no commonality between righteousness and lawlessness.

"…And what fellowship does light have with darkness? And what union does Christ have with Belial?…." (vs 14-15).

All of the solutions out there—even the best of them—always end up Belial: men without character running it and twisting and perverting it! So, it never works!

"…Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? And what agreement is there between a Temple of God and idols?…." (vs 15-16).

We're all a Temple of God with the Spirit of God in us! Yes, without a doubt!

"…For you are a Temple of the living God, exactly as God said…"

This is what God wants us to do, why we are to hunger and thirst after God, and seek His way all the time!

God says to each one of us with His Spirit: "…'I… [the Father in heaven above and Jesus Christ at His right hand] …will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people'" (v 16). That's an amazing thing!

Verse 17: "Therefore, come out from the midst of them and be separate,' says the Lord, 'and touch not the unclean, and I will receive you; and I shall be a Father to you… [the children of God] …and you shall be My sons and daughters,' says the Lord Almighty" (vs 17-18).

Notice how this section of Scripture sums up like it did in 1-John 3:1-3. 2-Cor. 7:1 is a little different expression than 1-John 3:3

2 Corinthians 7:1: "Now then, beloved, since we have these promises…"

Look at how great and wonderful they are; all the promises of God. That might be a good Bible study for anyone: What are the promises of God? What is it that He has said that He will give to us? You can find that in the Old Testament and the New Testament and put it all together. It's going to be a marvelous picture, indeed!

"…we should purge ourselves from every defilement of the flesh and the spirit…" (v 1)

That comes by confession and repentance; that's how they're purged. These things cannot be overcome by physical, human, carnal means! These are spiritual things that can only be overcome with the Spirit of God!

"…perfecting Holiness in the fear of God" (v 1). That's quite a promise! What a thing that is, indeed!

Psa. 62 tells us why we should not get involved in politics. We need to understand politics, and realize that certain things can be done through politics. But always remember that in all politics Satan is just around the corner, and will rear his ugly head, and things will go wrong! Just like they are today.

Psalm 62:1: "Only for God does my soul wait in silence; from Him comes my salvation." It all must come from God!

Verse 2: "He only is my Rock and my salvation; He is my fortress; I shall not be greatly moved." That's how you stay:

• steadfast
• faithful
• loving
• loyal

Verse 3: "How long will you imagine mischief against a man? You shall be slain, all of you… [that's the way it is with the world] …you shall be like a bowing wall and as a tottering fence." Politics can't solve it!

Verse 4: "They only consult to cast him down… [get rid of God and those who believe in God] …from his great height; they delight in lies…"

We have never seen a time when there are so many lies. Who is the father of lies? Satan the devil!

Revelation 12:9: "…the Devil and Satan, who is deceiving the whole world…" He has all of these tools to do it today!

Psalm 62:4: "…they bless with their mouth, but inwardly they curse. Selah…. [notice the attitude we need to take]: …My soul, wait in silence for God alone… [no one else is going to solve the problem but God and His Word] …for from Him comes my hope" (vs 4-5).

What are the three? Faith, hope and love! God holds out to us the greatest hope!

Verse 6: "He only is my Rock and my salvation; He is my strong tower; I shall not be moved." You stay firm, faithful and solid in believing God!

Verse 7: "In God is my salvation and my glory, the Rock of my strength; my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times…" (vs 7-8).

Not just when you get in trouble; don't wait until you get in trouble to come back to God! You come to Him every day, every day:

• in prayer
• in study
• in learning
• in growing
• in overcoming

"…you people; pour out your heart before Him…" (v 8)—in prayer; let God know! When you do, there will be:

• times of tears
• times of joy
• times of silence and awe

When you grasp the magnitude of what God is preparing!

"…God is a refuge for us. Selah" (v 8)—that's where we turn! Here is the truth of all politics in the world:

Verse 9: "Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie; when weighed in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity."

Isn't that true? Look at it! Look at our President! Look at the leaders of the world! They're all a lie! That is an amazing thing; we have never seen it this bad! That's why we need to yield ourselves to God. These Psalms tell us how to do it, so we can hunger and thirst after God, and:

• be filled with His Spirit
• be filled with His Word
• be filled with His Truth

So that we can withstand all of the attacks of the wicked, the evil and Satan the devil!

Verse 10—here's the way of the world: "Trust not in oppression…"

That's what they did! Look at what they did to all the trucker in Canada just a few weeks ago.

"…and do not take pride in stolen goods; if riches increase, do not set your heart upon them" (v 10).

Why? Because they can go BOOM! and they're gone! Look at what they did in Canada, and know that they can do it to anyone anywhere! They can freeze your bank accounts and you will have nothing! That's why it's not good to have all your money in a bank! Think about that! How long are you going to last?

Now, this gets into the mark of the beast, which is coming. But how long do you think that people are going to last if they don't have some things that they have done to be able to survive for whatever length of time, if and when that happens?

Verse 11: "God has spoken once; twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God."

True riches are the riches of God spiritually! Having wealth on this earth, God gives the power to those—that is true wealth, true honest money—who trust in God!

Verse 12: "Also to You, O LORD, belongs mercy; for You give to every man according to his work."

• Doesn't that sound like New Testament?
• Doesn't God say, 'I know your works'?

God understands our works!

• IFwe have faith, we will have works!
• IF we don't have faith, we will have a different kind of works!
• IF you do nothing, that is your work!

Maybe you never thought of that!

Everyone acts upon what they believe that's in the heart and mind! That's why it's important that we draw close to God and understand what God has done! And understand how He has done it so we can serve Him! So that we can survive all of these difficult times that are coming upon us!

(break@38:22)

Psa. 63 is one my favorite Psalms because it tells us a lot about David. We'll tie this in with what Jesus told us we need to do toward God, the most important thing!

Psalm 63:1: "O God, You are my God…" That's personal and individual to every single one that has the Holy Spirit of God! He is your God!

"…earnestly I will seek You!…." Not just haphazardly, but:

• diligently
• constantly
• spiritually

In repentance and yieldedness to God!

"…My soul thirsts for You…. [Notice David's attitude;Jesus told us to express this]: …My flesh longs for You, as in a dry and thirsty land where no water is, to see Your power and Your glory… [remember we're going to see Him as He is] …as I have seen You in the sanctuary" (vs 1-2).

Remember that David had the Ark of the Covenant in a special tent in his house. There he had Asaph and some priests who ministered right there to David and he could look in. It must have been a time when he saw some sort of outline of God! "…as I have seen You in the sanctuary."

Verse 3: "Because Your loving kindness is better than life… [better than living] …my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name" (vs 4-5).

It's quite an interesting thing; look at how David was 'a man after God's heart' with this attitude:

Psalm 42:1: "As the hart pants after the water brooks…"

How thirsty do some of these animals get? When they haven't had water for a while, when they get it they're really, really thirsty.

"…so my soul pants after You, O God" (v 1)—look at how he:

• desired God
• wanted to see God
• wanted to be in His Kingdom

This is what keeps us going all the time, in good times and bad times; in whatever difficulties we may find ourselves.

Verse 2: My soul thirsts for God, for the living God… [notice what David says, because this is what it's going to be when the resurrection occurs]: …when shall I come and appear before God?"

Why does David do this? Because here he found himself in a difficult time! He was having a difficult trial, and he didn't know which way to go, which way to turn. But David knew that he needed to seek God with all his heart, mind, soul and being!

Verse 3: "My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day, 'Where is your God?' I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me…" (vs 3-4)

Notice how he's praying to God from the very inner depths of his being.

Verse 5: "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and moan within me? Hope in God…" See how important this is in these days that we're living in today!

"…for I shall yet, praise Him for the salvation of His countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore, I will remember You from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermons from Mount Mizar" (vs 5-6).

See how David brings out his problem and difficulty. Then he looks to God's solution! And here it is right here:

Verse 8: "The LORD will command His loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me, even a prayer to the God of my life."

These are here for us to learn how in difficult, difficult times, we come to God!

Verse 9: "I will say to God my Rock, 'Why have You forgotten me?….'" Sometimes we feel that way!

Now you know why we need the whole Bible! Especially the Psalms help us in these difficult times. Notice how David gets his mind on God, and he's thinking about what it's going to be like to be in the Kingdom of God.

Remember, he had this little tent where he could look through and see the Ark of the Covenant. Therefore, the time until the temple was built it was in David's house.

Psalm 84:1: "How lovely are Your tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!"

• so great
• so wonderful
• so beautiful
• so spectacular

Made in awe and just marvelous colors and everything!

Verse 2: "My soul longs, yea, even faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." That's seeking God!

Verse 4: "Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will still be praising You. Selah…. [stop, meditate and think on it] …Blessed is the man whose strength is in You; Your ways are in their hearts" (vs 4-5).

Verse 7: They go from strength to strength, every one of them appearing in Zion before God. O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah" (vs 7-8).

Now, let's see what Jesus tells us. In bringing this out, I need to bring out to you a project that we've been working for nearly four years: revamping George Ricker Berry's Interlinear Greek-English New Testament. Putting it in the original order. We have made several corrections to the things pertaining to the Holy Spirit so that they're properly translated. Then on the side columns of the pages will be the Faithful Version.

What I want to do is share with you Mark 12:29-30. {Fred reads the Greek; not transcribed}

A man came up and said, 'Which is the first commandment of all.' This becomes important, because the first commandment of all is what we do to seek God!

I'm going to read to you in Greek, and one of the things I'm doing is practicing and practicing reading the Greek. When this book if finally published—hopefully sometime this summer—then I want to be able to read the Greek to have it recorded. That's going to be another difficult job. What I will do is I'll read a phrase in the Greek and then interpret it or give you the translation of it.

Mark 12:29 (FV): "Then Jesus answered him, 'The first of all the commandments is, "Hear, O Israel. Our one God is the Lord, the Lord."'" That's the actually meaning in the Greek!

Verse 30: "And you shall love the Lord your God… [here's how]: …with all your heart…"

That's where we start with everything, this great commandment. This is how we seek after God.

"…and with all your soul… [you whole being] …and with all your mind…" (v 30).

See how this ties in with what David was doing? That's why he did!

"'…and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment" (v 30).

This is going to be quite a project, but the most important thing we need to do is continue:

• learning from the Word of God
• growing and overcoming
• loving God with:
  • all our heart
  • all our mind
  • all our soul
  • all our understanding
  • all our strength

That's how David loved God! Notice what happens when you do that:

Psalm 84:5: "Blessed is the man whose strength is in You…" We rely on

• the strength of God
• His Spirit
• His Word
• to lead us
• guide us
• direct us

"…Your ways are in their hearts" (v 5).

Isn't that something? Think about that! The most important thing that God is doing!

Hebrews 10:16: "'This is the covenant that I will establish with them after those days,' says the Lord, 'I will give [write] My Laws into their hearts, and I will inscribe them in their minds.'" That's what God is doing!

This is the important thing that is going on with everything that is taking place in the world. Wherever the people of God are that are drawing close to God:

• relying on Him
• keeping His Laws
• loving Him
• serving Him
• coming together whenever it's possible to fellowship

And in these days the way that it is, we are scattered!

But we can be thankful for the live streaming and for what we have with DVDs, CDs. You have the Word of God, The Holy Bible in Its Original Order, A Faithful Version to help you grow in grace and knowledge!

Psalm 84:8: "O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah."

That's quite a prayer! God will hear us! That's why prayer, study and fasting together help you draw to God.

Verse 9: "Behold, O God, our shield, and look upon the face of Your anointed."

David did the same thing that Jesus did, kept his mind on the goal, on the Kingdom:

Verse 10: "For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness, for the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD will give grace and glory… [this is so encouraging]: …no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You" (vs 10-12).

This is how we build on what we have learned during Unleavened Bread as we go toward Pentecost. We then look forward to the first resurrection!

It's amazing all of these Psalms, and you go through them and think WOW! What kind of life did David have? It seems as though that he was chased from 'pillar to post' having difficulties and problems, sickness and weakness and things that come upon him. But he always turned to God. That's what we need to do! Sometimes when we get trouble and problems are coming along, we get so discouraged that we don't pray and study. That's the very time we need to!

Psalm 65:1: "Praise waits for You, O God, in Zion; and to You shall the vow be performed. O You Who hears prayer…" (vs 1-2).

What I want you to do is stop and think about all the prayers that God has answered in your life beginning with the most important one: that you have God's Spirit! That He has called you!

When we were in your trouble and didn't know what to do. When we didn't understand where any of these things were coming from, we cried out to God and said, 'O God, hear me!' That's just about our first prayer! Look at all the other prayers down through time, down through the years: prayer after prayer after prayer! Sometimes they're not answered for quite a space of time. But they are answered!

Verse 2: "O You Who hears prayer, unto You shall all flesh come." That's going to be something, isn't it?

Notice that David confessed his sins! We ought not do like Adam and Eve. Remember what they did? Adam said, 'O Lord, it's the woman.' And the woman said, 'O Lord, it's the serpent.' God said, 'Oh no, you chose!'

Verse 3: "Iniquities prevail against me; as for our transgressions, You shall forgive them." Confess them and He forgives them!

Verse 4: "Blessed is the one whom You choose and cause to come near You…"

Isn't that what we read at the beginning? What God has done:

• to call us
• to bring us out of this world
• to give us the knowledge of the Father and of the Son
• how we can grow in grace and knowledge

"…that he may dwell in Your courts; we shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, even Your Holy Temple. By awesome works in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation…" (vs 4-5).

That's the resurrection! Isn't that going to be awesome? Isn't that going to be fantastic? He will hear and answer!

"…You are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of those of the distant sea" (v 5).

That's how God intervenes for us! That's how God wants us to love Him! Think about Him and pray to Him in every way!

Psalm 67:1: "May God be gracious to us, and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us. Selah…. [that's what God wants] …So that Your way may be known on earth…" (vs 1-2). That's why we are to preach and teach the Gospel wherever we go.

"…Your salvation among all nations. Let the people praise You, O God; let all the people praise You. let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You shall judge the people righteously and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. Let the people praise You, O God; let all the people praise You. The earth shall yield its increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him" (vs 2-7). That's when we are in the Kingdom of God!

Now let's look at something that's important to add to it. In order to accomplish this, God is the One Who has to make it happen through Jesus Christ.

This is something we really need to grasp; John 14:21: "The one who has My commandments and is keeping them, that is the one who loves Me, and the one who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will manifest Myself to him." That is spiritually by giving understanding through the Word of God and the Spirit of God!

Look at the phrase: "…shall be loved by My Father…"; in spite of all that goes on, if you're loving God the way we covered: with all your heart, mind, soul, strength and being! God the Father loves you personally and individually! That's why Jesus said that we're to love one another! Yes, when we get together, brethren, we need to love one another! Help one another! To realize that the Great Sovereign of the universe—God the Father—is involved in our lives and has given us His Spirit!

Verse 23: "Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.'"

Those two verses are the most important verses in the Bible concerning our relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ.

• when we understand that
• when we see that
• when it is in our heart
• when it is in our mind
• when it moves us to prayer and study
• when it moves us to yield to God
• when it moves us in thanksgiving and awe of everything that He has done and is doing

He reiterates that again in:

John 16:25: "These things I have spoken to you in allegories… [everything leading up to here] …but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in allegories, but I will plainly disclose to you the things of the Father."

That's what He has done for us! We understand the way of God and the plan of God.

Verse 26: "In that day… [that's now, whatever day it is] …you shall ask in My name; and I do not tell you that I will beseech the Father for you, for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God" (vs 26-27).

The Father Himself loves each and every one that has the Spirit of God! That's how:

• to encourage yourself
• to love God
• how these things come together the way that God works

Psa. 20 is an important Psalm to always keep in mind. Notice this prayer of what God will do for us, IF we love Him and pray to Him, He will hear and answer!

Psalm 20:1: [#4]"May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble…"

• to hear you
• to answer you
• to help you
• to give you a way of escape

"…the name of the God of Jacob set you on high, [#5]may He send you help from the sanctuary, and strengthen you out of Zion. [#6]May He remember all your offerings and accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah" (vs 1-3).

We can say those are our prayers, crying out to God, and our work and service to God!

[#7]May He grant you according to your own heart and fulfill all your plans."

Of course, based upon the fact that it's the will of God, and that we're looking to the Kingdom!

Verse 5: "We will shout for joy in your victory… [that's what we will do on the Sea of Glass] …and in the name of our God we will set up banners. [#8]May the LORD fulfill all your prayers." That's what God wants!

This is what is going to help us and sustain us in the days following the days of Unleavened Bread.

• Who knows what's going to happen this summer?
• Who knows how things are going to work out?

This is most important thing we need to have!

It starts with loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and being! And hungering and thirsting after God!

May God bless you in everything that you do! Amen!

Scriptural References:

• Psalm 61:1-7
• Matthew 11:25-30
• Ephesians 1:3-5
• 1 John 3:1-3
• 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
• 2 Corinthians 7:1
• Psalm 62:1-4
• Revelation 12:9
• Psalm 62:1-12
• Psalm 63:1-5
• Psalm 42:1-6, 8-9
• Psalm 84:1-2, 4-5, 7-8
• Mark 12:29-30
• Psalm 84:5
• Hebrews 10:16
• Psalm 84:8-12
• Psalm 65:1-5
• Psalm 67:1-7
• John 14:21, 23
• John 16:25-27
• Psalm 20:1-5

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Psalm 91
• John 6:44-45

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 3/13/22

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