God's Special Forces

From the Word for You Today Message: When You Lose A Loved One.

‘We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep,’ 1 Thessalonians 4:13 CSB
Do you remember the first time death forced you to say the final goodbye to a loved one? At the funeral you heard words like departed, passed on, gone ahead. These were unfamiliar terms. You wondered, ‘Departed to where? Passed on to what? Gone ahead for how long?’ When someone dies after a full life, you can accept that. But what if they die as a result of violence? Or after a long battle with illness? Now your dreams are buried as they lower the coffin into the ground. Paul writes: ‘We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.’ (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 CSB). Those words turn our hopeless sorrow into hope-filled sorrow. How? By assuring us that we will see our loved ones again. Isn’t that what we desire to believe? We long to know our loved ones are safe in death. We yearn for the reassurance that the soul goes instantly to be with God. But do we dare to believe it? According to the Scriptures, yes! At death, a Christian immediately enters the presence of God and delights in conscious fellowship with the Father and with others who have gone before. These words on a believer’s gravestone say it all: ‘The parting is for a moment, but the meeting will be for eternity.’

May this message bring you comfort. God bless, Ps Donato Ruben Diele

https://donatordiele.academia.edu/

Dr. Donato R Diele

Why Does God Allows Suffering?
Sermon by Pastor Evangelist Dr Donato R Diele 30th July 2023 Melbourne

Today if you are going through some dark times in your life, be assured that God knows what you are experiencing right now and He is there for you.

We don’t have an unattached God that seems to be so far away, but we have a God that is involved in all areas of His creation, and not like the God described in the song by Bette Midler; God is watching us from a distance. No, He is there with us no matter what we are going through today! He is a God we can call on, and He answers us when we cry out to Him. Let us open our bibles to (Psalms 34:15-22)

Why does God allow suffering?

Let us look into some of the world events that have happened in the past 50th years that have left millions of people asking the same question, why? In 1976 in Guatemala in South America between the borders of Mexico and El Salvador when a terrible earthquake occurred, and it seemed that almost the whole country was sinking. The president asked a newsman if he would go on television to explain to the people why God would allow such a tragedy to happen to their country.

People asked me a similar question when the World Trade Centre on September 11, 2001, the Twin Towers were struck by two jet planes fully loaded with passengers. How could God allow this to happen? Why did he not intervene? Where is God?

On September 11, 2001, God was exactly where He always is – in Heaven in total control of everything that happens in the universe. Why, then, would a good and loving God allow such a tragedy to happen? This is a more difficult question to answer. Let me try to explain in the best way I can.

First, we must remember, as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:9 NKJV) limited human beings can't understand the ways of an infinite God (Romans 11:33-35).

Second, we must realize that God is not responsible for the wicked acts of evil men. The Bible tells us that humanity is desperately wicked and sinful (Romans 3:10-18, 23). God allows human beings to commit sin for His own reasons and to fulfil His own purposes. Sometimes we think we understand why God is doing something, only to find out later that it was for a different purpose than we originally thought.

God looks at things from an eternal perspective.

We look at things from an earthly perspective. Why did God put man on earth, knowing that Adam and Eve would sin and therefore bring evil, death, and suffering to all mankind? Why didn’t He just create us all and leave us in Heaven where we would be perfect and without suffering?

It must be remembered that the purpose of all creation and all creatures is to glorify God. God is glorified when His nature and attributes are on display. If there were no sin, God would have no opportunity to display His justice and wrath as He punishes sin. Nor would He have the opportunity to show His grace, His mercy, and His love to undeserving creatures. The ultimate display of God’s grace was at the Cross where Jesus died for our sins. (John 3:16-17

The Great Rescue Mission, right there was the unselfishness and obedience displayed by His Son Jesus, who knew no sin but was “made sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). This was all to the “praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:14).

When thinking of September 11, we tend to forget the thousands of miracles that occurred on that day. Hundreds of people were able to flee the buildings just in the nick of time. A small handful of firemen and one civilian survived in a tiny space in a stairwell as one of the towers collapsed around them.

Yes, September 11 was a terrible day. Sin reared its ugly head and caused great devastation. However, God is still in control. His sovereignty is never to be doubted.

Could God have prevented what happened on September 11?

Of course, He could, but He chose to allow the events to unfold exactly as they did. He prevented that day from being as bad as it could have been. Since September 11 until today 2023, how many lives have been changed for the better? How many people have placed their faith in Christ for salvation as a result of what happened in the past?

Whenever something drastic happens, there is always an opportunity to surrender to God and accept His Saving Grace. The words of Romans 8:28 should always be in our minds when we go through dark times and it seems like there is no way out, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, and are called according to His purpose.” We must love God to be able to see light and the end of the tunnel and without Christ, we are in darkness.

The Bible says that Job suddenly lost all of his wealth and his children. He did not know that a mighty spiritual battle was going on. Satan had accused God of making Job his pet and giving him worldly possessions. The devil said to God, “If You take all those possessions away from him, he’ll curse You and turn from You.” But God replied, “You can do anything to him, except you can’t kill him, and then we’ll see” (Cf. Job 1:11-12).

Job never asked why those things were happening to him. The closest he ever came was when he said; “Show me why You contend with me” (Job 10:2). Job was sharing his agony of spirit with the very God he could not understand.

Suffering carries several messages to all of us. Suffering carries a message of mystery. The Bible says, “Great is the mystery of godliness”
(1 Timothy 3:16) When Billy Graham was asked to explain the tragedy of the fire at the MGM Grand Hotel, he had to say, “There’s a mystery to tragedies like this. We don’t know the answer.” And we may never know until God explains all things to us.

For humans, there is a mystery as to why God created the earth. There is a mystery as to why He put people on this earth. But God has revealed answers through the Bible and through the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ. In the Bible, you will find the answers to the questions and the problems of your life.

But man rebelled against God. The man said, “I don’t need You, God. I can build my world without You.” God said, “If you take that position, you will suffer and die.” Man took that position, and he began to suffer, and he has been dying ever since. Physical death is just the death of the body, but the spirit lives on. If your spirit is separated from God for eternity, it will be lost forever.

The Bible teaches that Satan is the author of sin. Sin is the reason that we have afflictions, including death. All of our problems and our suffering, including death itself, are a result of man’s rebellion against God. But God has provided a rescue in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ. That’s why Christ died on the cross. That’s why He rose from the dead.

In suffering there is also a message of compassion.

On Nov 21 1980, when the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas burned, survivors were brought into the Convention Centre, where Billy Graham Crusade meetings were being held. In an interview, Governor Robert List talked about the good times at the MGM only 24 hours before. “And how quickly,” he said, “the music has stopped.” One day, if you don’t know God, the music will stop for you also. It will be all over. The Bible says, “It is appointed for men to die once but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).

As fire swept through the MGM Grand Hotel, the amazing thing started to take place, the emergency crews, the military people, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, the doctors, the nurses and the people who come to donate clothes and food. It was compassion in action. Is it amazing when disaster strake people pull together, I call it the mateship spirit in action? Carry each other burdens. We all have seen this in our own country of Australia during the fires of Ash Wednesday and Black Friday and also during the floods in recent years that have changed the landscape significantly across our nation.

In suffering there is a message of unity.

Isaac’s twin sons, Jacob and Esau, had been arguing and fighting. But when Isaac died, they came to bury him. Because of their father’s death, the two sons came together. Jesus prayed “that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You” (John 17:21). And that’s the way we ought to be as Christians, one in Christ. If you have been born into the family of God, you are a child of God. You are brothers and sisters.

Suffering holds a message of comfort.

In Second Corinthians we read, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Because tragedy happened to you, it gives you a greater sense of oneness with others who experience tragedy. You can feel for them in that suffering situation. Because we have been comforted through the Word of God, we in turn may be able to comfort others.

Question: What should be our attitude toward suffering from now on?

First, it should be one of worship. We ought to say, “O God, I believe You are the great and mighty God. I don’t understand all the things that are happening right now in my life, but, O God, I trust in You.”

Second, we should ask God to teach us all He would have us learn about Him, about ourselves, about others and how we can minister to those who are suffering.

Third, our attitude toward suffering should glorify God. People are going to watch us as Christians. They will ask, “How is it that Christ is so in control of his or her life that he or she was able to help others?”

Jesus suffered and died for us on the cross, but God raised Him from the dead. Jesus Christ now sits at the right hand of God the Father, and He sees our suffering. He sees our life every day and knows exactly where we stand.

The Bible teaches that we are to be patient in suffering. That’s the hardest thing of all, to be patient, to have songs in the night. Tears become telescopes to heaven, bringing eternity a little closer.

In suffering there is also, I believe, a message of warning. The Prophet Amos said, ‘You were like a firebrand plucked from the burning, Yet you have not returned to Me,’ Says the Lord. ‘Therefore thus will I do to you! Prepare to meet your God, O Israel!’ (Amos 4:11-12).

This question is also for us.
• Are we prepared to meet God?
• And, what do we need to do to be ready?

We respond by doing these three things.

First, we must repent of our sins. Say, “Lord, I’m a sinner. I’m willing to repent of my sins.” This involves a change in the way you think and the way you live. Jesus said, “Unless you repent, you will perish” (Cf. Luke 13:3).

Second, by faith, we must receive Jesus Christ into our hearts. Faith means total commitment. It means you have to bring your mind and your emotions to Christ by faith. You have to say, “Lord, I will receive Jesus Christ into my heart.”

Third, we must be willing to follow Him and serve Him in discipleship. That means reading your Bible and praying and witnessing. That means loving: “By this, all will know that you are My disciples if you have a love for one another” (John 13:35). The characteristic of every believer is love.

God gives us His love, a supernatural love. That’s the reason husbands and wives can love each other in a new dimension when they know Christ. That’s the reason children and parents can love each other in a new way when they come to Christ.

Let me conclude this message by inviting you to become a follower of Christ Jesus and accept him as your personal Lord and Saviour.

If your answer is yes, receive Jesus Christ today into your heart. Follow Him and serve Him from this moment on and trust Him with whatever the future holds for you. Your sins are forgiven and wiped away forever, as far from the North to the South and the East to the West, also your sins are forgotten and remembered no more. He came for you and me and paid for our sins with his own life on the cross. That debt has been paid in full.

Jesus came not to condemn the world but to save and seek the lost. My dear Brothers and sisters, we have a God that cares for each individual human being, and no one is excluded that comes to Christ Jesus and he will never reject you no matter what you have done (John 3:16-17) and that is something to be thankful and grateful.

Let us pray: Heavenly and Almighty God, we come before you humbled and sorrowful, aware of our sins, and ready to repent. Lord, forgive us for we have sinned before you. Wash away our sins, purify us, and help us to turn from sin. Lead us to walk in your ways instead, leaving behind our old lives and starting from today a brand new life in you guided by your Holy Spirit. We ask in the precious, Name above all Names, The Name of Jesus Christ your Begotten Son, My God bless you and keep you under His Mighty Love, Amen.

Ps Evangelist Dr. Donato R Diele.

Do not Forget your Lord your God

2 Kings 17:38-39

Why We, Like the Israelites, Need to Be Reminded of Who God Is

This is significant to us as believers in Jesus today because we get to know that He is God. Whether we are encountering a difficulty or we are overcome with happiness, we are called to remember that He is God. We are invited to reflect on this truth because we have been bought at a high price.

Who Is Your Master?

Read Romans 6:15-23.

If you think you can live a godly life by your own strength, you are in deep trouble. Although we play an important role in our sanctification and are commanded to obey the Lord, we cannot grow into Christlike people without depending on Christ Himself. Therefore, we must surrender completely to our rightful master and loving King—the Lord Jesus Christ.

Every person on the face of the earth has either sin or Jesus as their master. There are only two choices; there is no third. The question is Which master are you obeying?

Slavery to sin produces unbearable guilt here and now and eternal separation from God forever (see v. 21). In contrast, slavery to righteousness gives you freedom from guilt and shame and guarantees you eternal life (see v. 22). If you choose to serve sin, you will eventually receive the wages you deserve—judgment. But if you choose to serve God, He will give you the gift you could never earn—eternal life.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, the greatest gift you can give yourself is to remember today whom you serve. You are a slave to righteousness; you belong to the family of God. May you find grace at hand to live according to your blood-bought identity!

Prayer: "Search me, God, . . . See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24). I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

"But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life" (Romans 6:22).

"Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy" (Psalm 61:1-3, ESV).

When our heart is overwhelmed with the cares of this life, we must take the time to cast them upon the Lord (1 Peter 5:7). Like Psalm 61 tells us, we are to cry out to God, for He alone is our protection and refuge against the chaos of this life. Jesus Christ, our rock, is our firm foundation when the ground beneath our feet feels shaky. We can run to Him for safety and trust that when the waves crash in around us, He will be our fortress in the midst of the storms of life.

Let's pray:

Father,
I am stressed out and overwhelmed. I cry out to You, knowing that you care for me and that You do not want me to find safety in anything else but You. I run to You and look to You to bring a peace that passes all understanding, for You are my fortress and protection against the storms of life. Thank You, Jesus, that You are a firm foundation. In the midst of chaos and troubles, You are constant, and You are unshakable. I do not build my life upon sinking sand, but You, my rock and my redeemer. Thank You for being near to me when I am worried or afraid. I can always lean upon You and trust that You are always working things out for Your glory and for my good.

In Your Precious Name Jesus we pray,
Amen.

“Knowing God’s will for your life”

Do you pray to know God’s will for you?

We need to ask for guidance as well as listen for answers. Each of us is called for a specific purpose. It’s true that we may never know the full extent of our purpose during our lifetime, but that doesn’t excuse us from trying.

Perhaps some of you here are being called to the ministry. Most will be called to marriage.

Perhaps your gifts call you to the work in the medical field, or as lawyers or teachers or waiters.

Beyond that, all should consider how we are being called to serve within the community. We are all called to work for social justice.
I understand that calls to serve come at different times to different people and certainly working to provide for and care for a family is a top priority and should be.

That priority includes instructing in and modelling our faith. Children need to know that God loves them and has a plan for them as well. Many families work together to gather food or clothing or the poor.

Parents can also help their children by pointing out the gifts God has given them and encouraging them to use them.
We all have gifts. We won’t all be great athletes, musicians or painters. But God has a plan for us that uses the gifts we have been given.

Thankfully, many are gifted as mechanics, electricians and plumbers!

The important thing is acknowledging that God does have a plan for us that no one else can fulfil and that we seek to hear his voice in all we do. May God guide you and reveal to you his plan for your life as you seek his face.

God bless, Ps Evangelist Donato Ruben Diele

The Call to Combat
Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. (Ephesians 6:10)

Jesus Christ is a general. The church is a fighting force. Christian people are soldiers. Christian living is war. The call to become a Christian is a call to combat. It's a call to enlist in the forces of General Jesus, to fight his enemies, to pursue his strategy and objectives, to wear his protective gear and attack with his weapons.

If you think Jesus came into the world to make it instantly peaceful and comfortable, think again. Jesus says, "I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). Jesus came to start a fight, and he has already won the decisive battle. But the war isn't over yet. Jesus calls people to join his forces and march with him to final victory. The outcome is certain, but the fighting still rages, and there can be no peace until every stronghold falls and the last enemy is defeated. Only when the war is over can we enjoy the benefits of peace and freedom. Until then we live in a combat zone. We must fight for Jesus, or else we are against him. It is impossible to be neutral.

Does this sound too aggressive and violent? At some points in history, bloody religious wars have been fought under the sign of the cross, and terrible crimes have been committed in the name of Jesus. But that's not the kind of combat Jesus calls for. It is impossible to change hearts by force. When Christ calls people to combat, it is warfare of a very different kind.

We must fight spiritual enemies, and we must use spiritual weapons. The enemy is not a nation or its military; the enemy is far worse. The war is not conflict between nations; the powers involved are greater than any nation. The weapons are not guns and blades and bombs that destroy humans; the Lord's weapons blast the bunkers of evil and devastate demons. "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Christianity is spiritual warfare, with larger and longer- lasting results than any physical, political war.

God bless, Ps Evangelist Dr Donato Ruben Diele

Keep your eyes fixed on the prize that is installed for all those who finish the race.

Hebrews 12:22 Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honour, right alongside God.

Never give up and never give in on the things that God has promised to you. God bless and keep you.

Possessing Godly Integrity

Finding people with integrity in this day and age is a daunting task. While many people may desire to live with integrity, they fall short when they are put to the test. They may reason away certain actions, justifying them with a twisted worldview. But what is our integrity worth? Is our integrity worth an hour's pay if we lie on our timecard? Is our integrity worth the office supplies we slip into our pockets on the way home? Is our integrity worth the damage of spreading a bit of juicy gossip?

Possessing godly integrity is rare in today's world because people are determined to live for themselves. They compromise their integrity because they are looking out for themselves instead of living for someone other than themselves. This outlook on life infiltrates behaviour, which results in dishonest action.

As we look at the life of Paul, one thing is crystal clear: He lived for no one but God. Everything Paul did was for the glory of God. Paul was scorned by men. In fact, there was a period shortly after his conversion during which he was eyed cynically by everyone. The Christians did not trust him, and the Pharisees wanted to put him in prison. Yet over time, Paul proved he was not after fame and certainly not fortune.

Paul's aim in life was to live for the glory of God. When that becomes our primary purpose in life, integrity will be a natural by-product. If we are living for and thinking about God first and foremost before we act, then what follows will be the activity that intentionally honours Him. Integrity will not be contrived but overflowing.

May God guide you and direct your steps so that we might be the ambassadors for Christ Jesus in all that we do and say, God Bless.

A Word of Encouragement.

God encouraged Joshua with the promise of His presence. True prosperity and success come from holding tenaciously to the Word of God. This doesn't mean we won't face setbacks or opposition in our work for the Lord. It doesn't mean that every person we share the Gospel with will want to listen. But ultimately, we will be on the right path when we follow God's Word. As Scripture says: "Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble" (Psalm 119:165).

God also encouraged Joshua with the promise of His presence. "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9).

Even more than God's promises or His written Word, we have the presence of God. "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4). When we make our relationship with God a daily priority, when we consistently seek and listen to His voice, when we trust in Him moment by moment, then God will give us the victory.

Stay focused on God and His promises and stay connected with the Body of Christ.

God bless, Ps Donato.

Bacchus Marsh - Wikipedia Bacchus Marsh (Wathawurrung: Pullerbopulloke)[3] is an urban centre and suburban locality in Victoria, Australia located approximately 50 kilometres (30 mi) north west of the state capital Melbourne and 14 kilometres (9 mi) west of Melton at a near equidistance to the major cities of Melbourne, Ba...

‘He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.’ 1 John 1:9 KJV

The story of David and Bathsheba is the stuff movies are made of—lust, adultery, premarital pregnancy, murder, and cover-up. And it looked like David was home free, except for one important detail: ‘The thing that David had done displeased the Lord.’ (2 Samuel 11:27 NKJV) In the Bible, God refers to David as ‘a man after His own heart’ (1 Samuel 13:14 NLT), but the same Bible says, ‘Be sure your sin will find you out.’ (Numbers 32:23 KJV)

So God sent the prophet Nathan to tell David, ‘I anointed you king… Why then have you despised the Word of the Lord?’ (2 Samuel 12:7–9 NLT) Then God passed sentence: ‘I am going to bring calamity on you… before all Israel.’ (2 Samuel 12:11–12 NIV)

From that day on, tragedy and turmoil plagued David’s family. On many levels, ‘the way of transgressors is hard’ (Proverbs 13:15 KJV), not the least of which is that sometimes God takes away your peace so that you will acknowledge your sin. It took an unplanned pregnancy, the murder of an innocent man, a child’s death, a prophet’s persuasion, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit before David’s heart softened and he admitted, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ (2 Samuel 12:13 NIV)

And when he prayed those words, God treated David’s sin the same way He treats ours: ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ (1 John 1:9 KJV) As long as you keep excusing, defending, and rationalising your sin, God can do nothing for you. But the minute you confess it to Him, He will forgive you. Isn’t that wonderful?

From The Word For Today Devotion Message.

"How to seek God’s face"

As I was preparing this message about seeking God’s face, I realized that I don’t think many people truly understand the importance of seeking God’s face. Prayer is too often viewed as talking to an invisible God that the idea of seeing His face is thought of as impossible, but it is possible when we seek Him with all of our hearts, minds and souls.

The Bible gives this great example in Moses. He would spend time with God speaking to Him as one would with another person. He would come out of these times with God with the glory of God on Him so much that His face glowed like the sun that he had to put on his face a covering so the people would not be afraid of him. Exodus 34:29–35. Looking at the face of God changes you and opens us up to receive more of who He is and to understand more of His intent.

How many of you have been misunderstood through email or a Facebook post. It may have been a joke that your reader didn’t pick up on. It may have been worded completely right but was interpreted differently due to how the reader was feeling at the time. There is something about being face to face that removes misinterpretations. The same is true with God.

Many times in Scripture, God’s people are encouraged to seek the face of God. A familiar verse declares, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).
If we can’t see God’s face, how do we seek God’s face?

The Hebrew word for “face” in the Old Testament has often translated “presence.” When we seek the face of God, we are seeking His presence. The call to seek God’s face was issued to His people because they had abandoned Him and needed to return to Him.

A person’s face reveals much about his or her character and personality. We see the inward emotions of a person expressed outwardly on the face. We recognize a person by looking at his or her face. In a sense, one’s face represents the whole person. For the writers of the Bible, the human face could represent the entire person.

In Psalm 105:4, God’s faithful ones were called to “seek his face always.” Even if we have not abandoned God, there are times when we neglect to pursue Him. God’s face, His holy character, is often obscured by our human condition and fleshly desires. That is why the Lord urges us to seek His face continually. The Lord desires to be our constant companion in every experience of life. He wants us to know Him. If we draw close to Him, God will draw close to us: “Come close to God, and God will come close to you. The Apostle James said: Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty, is divided between God and the world” (James 4:8, NLT).

When we approach God in prayer, we are seeking His face: The Psalmist said “Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God their Saviour. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob” (Psalm 24:3–6).

The true nature of worship is to seek God’s face. The Christian walk is a life devoted to seeking God’s presence and favour. The Lord wants us to humbly and trustingly seek His face in our prayers and in our times in His Word. It requires intimacy to look intently into someone’s face. Pursuing God’s face is equivalent to developing an intimate relationship with Him: “O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!” (Psalm 63:1–3, NLT).

Having God’s face smile on us is an expression of His blessing, love, and favour: “May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you” (Numbers 6:25, NLT; see also Psalm 80:3, 7, 19). When we draw close to God, we are blessed with His shining favour. We do not pursue Him only to give Him a list of wants and needs because we know God is already aware of what we need (Matthew 6:7–8, 32–33). We trust that He will take care of us.

Seeking God’s face means desiring to know His character and wanting Him—His presence—more than any other thing He can give us.

Seeking God - Why is it important?

God is the giver of life (1 Timothy 6:13; John 10:10). He is the great I AM (Exodus 3:14). In God, we find purpose, meaning, and satisfaction. Humans were created for relationship with God and relationship with one another, just like Christ and the church, intimacy between each other. If we do not seek God, how can we know Him? How will we experience the life He gives? Apart from seeking Him, how will we understand His great love and our purpose? Because of the graciousness of God and the gift of free will, God does not force Himself upon us. He draws us to Himself. He pursues us, and we seek Him.

Jeremiah 29:13-14a says, "'You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the LORD." God asks us to seek Him. He longs to be found. We know part of who God is, and that gives us a desire to know even more (1 Corinthians 13:12). Driven by our hunger for the life that is in God, we seek Him.

God sought us first.
The very act of creation is one of pursuit – He created us so that we could know Him. And through Jesus, He has sought to restore us to Himself. He has given us an invitation to come to know Him. Jesus told His disciples to ask, seek, and knock; in doing so they would receive God's good provision (Matthew 7:7). Jesus even prayed for future believers that they would be with Him (John 17:20-26). He promised to continue to make Himself known to us. It is clear that God desires a relationship with us. He has given us a taste of who He is (Psalm 34:8), and we are invited to continue to seek Him to more deeply understand His goodness.

We seek God because He has invited us to do so.
Knowing God is a privilege. We seek Him through prayer, Scripture reading, worship, and fellowship. In seeking God we come to know Him better and we bring Him glory.

Why Seek God?

Other than sheer obedience to the Bible, why do we need to seek God? Why does he tell us to seek him? Is he hiding? No, God is not hiding. The reason God instructs us to seek him is that he wants to be found.

Are you searching?

Bible quotes in the Old and the New Testament:
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul (Deuteronomy 4:29).

“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me” (Proverbs 8:17).

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9).
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth … did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us (Acts 17: 24, 27).

We need to seek God because we’re surrounded by so many distractions.

What Is Seeking?

The word “seek” in Hebrew in Strong’s Concordance means “to search out by any method.” In Greek, it means to “seek to find.” Although Strongs gives more meanings and elaboration, the core meaning of the word “seek” supports God’s desire to be found.
To seek something is to crave after it. One who seeks is tenacious. We seek God through prayer.

What Are We Seeking?

We go to God in prayer about many things, provision, healing, comfort, wisdom, etc. and there’s nothing wrong with that. We have needs and God desires to provide for us.

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33).
Luke 12:32 elaborates on God’s desire to provide for us, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”
Seeking these types of things can be called seeking the “hand of God.” It’s seeking what he can do for us or give to us. As I said, there is nothing wrong with this, but there is a deeper relationship God desires to have with us. This is found through seeking the “face of God.”

Why His Face?

The Bible verses for seeking the “face” of God are all found in the Old Testament. The Hebrew word used for face means “face, the part that turns.” It comes from the root that means “to turn, to face, appear, and look.” This implies being face-to-face with God, which is a place of deep intimacy.

Look at how these two scriptures are differently worded and illuminate relationships. One uses the word face, while the other doesn’t.
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always (Psalm 105:4).
Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually! (Psalm 105:4, ESV).

God wants us to seek his face because he wants to be known by us. We can learn a lot about God without knowing him intimately. Intimacy with God can only take place when we make time to know Him and spend time with Him that He reveals Himself to us.

Every human has a desire to be known and to be loved. God has this desire as well and he richly blesses those who seek his face.
The Lord promises us: They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Saviour. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob (Psalm 24:5-6).
To seek God’s face is to seek a deeper relationship with him. This is done not only through prayer but also through worship. Those who seek the face of God will not be disappointed.

How Do We Seek the Face of God?

I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. – Psalm 119:58
As we draw near to God, He will draw near to us (James 4:8). God wants to be sought out, but He is also eager to reveal Himself to those who love Him. As we cultivate and honour this relationship, seeking the face of God becomes easier and easier.

Conclusion

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” He made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. – 2 Corinthians 4:6
God says that He has placed this light in our hearts to display the face of Christ. To seek the face of God, we need to dive into our hearts and find Christ there. As we think about whatever is trustworthy, good, noble, and praiseworthy, our minds are drawn into God’s presence (Philippians 4:8). Dwell on things above (Colossians 3:1-2). Let your mind meditate on heavenly things. Also, ask the Holy Spirit to help lead you into His presence. He is eager to help lead us to more of Christ.

King David said: As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. – Psalm 17:15

As it said in one of my old favourite songs; Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full into His wonderful face. There is perspective for you in the looking. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace. It’s not just a song; it’s an experience available to each of us. God is in complete control of this world, and looking at His face gives peace and security to our lives. There is healing for you in the looking. He cannot hide His love for you when you look at Him. His love overflows into His expressions. Feelings of unworthiness and shame are washed away when you see His loving eyes for you.

The Bible is full of exhortations for us to be seeking the face of God. God loves to spend time with us, and we need the time with Him. Misconceptions and faulty thinking are realigned in the power of His face. Christian is never distant from joy in their lives when they have spent regular time looking at God’s face. As you look into His face He may tell you to be holy, but all of a sudden you no longer see it as a rebuke or an unreachable goal. You can see the tenderness in His eyes. Now there is nothing else in the entire world you would rather do. And, you believe it is possible.

Take time now and seek His face, God bless.

Pastor Evangelist Dr Donato R Diele March 2022 of Just Believe Ministries International