People spend all their time and effort seeking after “these things” instead of simply seeking God. (Matt. 6:33)

​1. If you seek the Lord, you will find Him.
(II Chronicles 15:2; Deuteronomy 4:29; Isaiah 55:6)
People should seek the Lord while they still have the privilege of religious freedom. (13)


2. When you seek the Lord, you will rejoice. (Psalm 105:3;, 40:16; 70:4)
Seeking the Lord may mean sacrificing those things we think we need to make us happy.


3. When you seek the Lord, you will understand. (Proverbs 28:5; Psalms 69:6)
Everything God allows to happen is geared toward the end of drawing us unto Himself and to lead His
children into a trusting relationship.


4. Those who seek the Lord will be greatly rewarded. (Ezra 8:22; Hebrews 11:6)
Because the rewards are so appealing, we start seeking after the rewards instead of seeking after God.
If you feel you have not received what you feel you should, maybe you should examine what it is that God has given you.

One great theme: the Mystery of the Church
1. The entire age of the Church was totallynunforeseen in the Old Testament.


2. The church as the Bride of Christ. (Eph. 5:22-30)
Marriage is to be compared to the Church, not the other way around.


3. Concept of the indwelling Christ. (26-27)
Jesus can actually indwell our lives and make us brand new creations. (II Cor. 5:17; Rom. 8:16: Gal. 2:20;
II Peter 1:4: I Tim. 3:16; Col. 2:3)


4. The gospel is just as much for the Jews as it is for the Gentiles. (Rom. 11:25)
The hardening of the Jews is only temporary.


5. The removal of the church from the world. (I Cor. 15:51; I Thess. 4:15-17; Phil 3:20)
The promise of the transformation of our bodies offers a wonderful hope to us in this life.


What to do with the Mystery
1. We are stewards of the mystery. (I Cor. 4:1)
Our job is to keep the content of the mystery intact.

2. We are administrators of the mystery. (Eph. 3:8)
We need to go and tell people about Jesus and salvation.

The Bible as a mystery: believable characters exotic setting, twisting plot, available clues, solution given at the end.


Components: Problem to be solved
                    villain to conceal truth


Problem of the Bible: man and his sin
                              consequences: in the present- void and emptiness in our lives
                                                    in the future: death and separation from God.

The answer was there all the time. (Romans 1:1-4)
Why a mystery? It is a matter of timing. (I Timothy 2:5-6; Galatians 4:4)
God doesn't just want people to understand the plan.
He wants people to love Him and want to know Him.
The Pharisees had all the clues. They refused to believe.
It was at this point that Jesus started to speak in parables.
The mystery was revealed, but only to those who had ears to hear.
“The sign and the Word have already been spoken, now it's by faith that you must look and you must listen.”

​Crossing over to a new year is like Israel crossing over to a new land.
We do so with
1. God's Provision (11)

A land that “drinks rain from heaven” reminds us that He is our source.

The land of Egypt depended on human resources, Canaan was totally dependent on God.


2. God's Presence (12)

He is a personal Lord and Savior.

The eyes of the Lord are upon us. (II Chronicles 16:9)


3. God's Promise (13-15)

This promise is conditional.

Israel's primary purpose was to love God.


4. God' Protection (16)

His protection carries with it a warning.

The only way to love the Lord with all your heart is to saturate yourself with a conscious awareness
of His Word.