(Day 20) Seeking God Through His Word, Prayer, and Fasting

Philippians 3:1-17

There are people that we admire for their hard work that leads to them being successful. We learn their stories about how they overcame in the face of adversity to reach the pinnacle of their careers and profession. From business moguls to those that excel in academics; from the talented entertainers to the gifted athlete, we love to see people achieve their dreams against all odds. These feel good stories challenge us to believe that if we demonstrate a consistent work ethic and really apply ourselves, we too can achieve special things.

It's no different when it comes to people of faith, those that live to do God's will. We should have an even greater admiration for the ones that demonstrate a unique love for God and exhibit great faith when the storms of life pound against them. We see them as examples to emulate and we're encouraged simply by witnessing them walk out their faith. It may be a parent, grandparent, pastor, coworker, or even a person you've heard about that has a story that inspires you. Whether we get to watch them up close or from a distance, their episodes of excellent courage for God and fights of faith gives us examples to glean from to incorporate into our experiences.

The Bible gives us many examples of those that we call champions of faith who triumphantly rose from obscurity to the open pages of Scripture, as they trusted God, believed God, and held on to His promises. One such example is the apostle Paul, who went from being a great persecutor of God's people to a powerful servant of God. After he encountered the Lord as he was on his way to Damascus to arrest believers in Christ, he began to seek the true and living God with an all out search as his life's assignment. He says, But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ - (Philippians 3:7-8).

For Paul, everything paled in comparison to the reward of obtaining Christ. Literally, Paul understood Christ to be our winner's prize. The very pursuit of Him and His purpose is rewarding in and of itself because it draws us out to reach for what matters most of all; the beauty of embracing our Savior. The treasure that awaits the seeker is God allowing His moving presence to be caught by those that reach for Him; for He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). What enables us to endure and surge forward through opposition and obstacles is the joyful expectation of the touch from our Savior to our soul.

As God called Abram, He's calling you and me to separate from carnal things, distractions, and even people, to get us in position to launch into a trajectory that will lead to the life God has ordained for us. Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing - (Genesis 12:1-2). Notice that before God would show Abram what was in store for him, he had to first separate himself by getting out of where he was and from family. But what God had for him would also be a blessing to his family, it simply had to start with him. When we step out in faith to God's call, not only are we blessed, but God lets the blessings run down to our family and friends as well.

After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward (Genesis 15:1). It's not the things we acquire or the possessions we have; for the sincere seekers of God, He is our exceeding great reward. Which should cause us to really desire to be close to the One that demonstrated great love for us by giving His life on the cross. Paul said, that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead (Philippians 3:10-11).

As we are in pursuit of God, we gain knowledge of Him and are recipients of the same power that raised Christ as it energizes and sustains us in our fiery trials. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you (Romans 8:11).

BENEFITS OF SEEKING GOD

1. Access to know God - increasing in our understanding of our infinite God

2. Access to resurrection power - God causes His strength to raise, restore, renew us

3. Access to fellowship with Christ - to see our suffering through the lens of fellowship with the Savior and the purpose of God being accomplished in it.

When we sincerely seek God, He allows us in and begins to mold and shape us (being made conformable unto His death), rendering our flesh to death. The closer we get to our holy God, the more flesh must die. With the word of God, prayer, and fasting, we break through our fleshly resistance and are released to go after God.

The apostle Paul sets forth a powerful example for us to follow. We admire his commitment to Christ and all that he went through to be a blessing to the countless people that have read the words he was inspired of God to write in scripture; having written over 2/3 of the New Testament. Yet Paul wouldn't boast of the magnitude of his impact or the many powerful ways that God used him to be a blessing. He kept his eyes on the prize, that being His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His pursuit of God was his life's journey.

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-14). We must also be in a lifetime pursuit of the presence of God; letting go of what's behind us to reach for Christ and all that He has before us. Reaching with an all out stretch for the glory of God and for His promises. Not to be denied because God grants access to those that seek Him; so we push, we pray, we praise, we press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (verse 14).

From the heart and hand of Pastor Reginald Reaves