Sermon

God’s Search

Michael Beck

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We are told that the Father looks throughout the earth for those whose hearts are perfect toward Him.

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart isperfect toward him. (2 Chronicles16:9)

In Old Testament times, God’s searches for a man who met His standard came up empty.

And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head (Isaiah 59:16,17)

And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. (Ezekiel 22:30)

Above all, the Father seeks for men to worship Him – in spirit and in truth.

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23,24)

While Jesus knew that the “hour” when God would receive the worship He desired and required was coming, He also stated that it was “now” present in the earth. How so? Because HE was in the earth as the perfect godly man (i.e. the true worshipper.)

A godliness that had been hidden from the eyes of men, was revealed when the Word was made made flesh and dwelt among us. The life of Christ has been displayed before us as the pattern of the true worshipper the Father was seeking.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)

And evidently great is the mystery of godliness, which was manifested in the flesh… (1 Timothy 3:16)

godliness > Gr. – eusebeia > good worship

The sacrifices and offerings of the bodies of animals was never what God really wanted. Such prefigured the true worship which God seeks. In order for Jesus to go before us as the perfect example of true worship, the Father prepared for Him a body, which He would offer up to Him.

Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. (Psalm 40:6-8)

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. (Hebrews 10:5-7)

All of us have been created for God’s pleasure. True worship which gives God power (i.e. our bodies and control over them) is what gives Him pleasure. 

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11)

We have been saved to worship God. Through the mercies He has given us, we are to give (i.e. “present”) our bodies to Him. The more we worship Him by giving Him power, the more we enter into and discover what His pleasure is.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1,2)

acceptable > Gr. – euarestos > well-pleasing


Michael Beck is a pastor in the Dallas, TX area and the main author on Signpost. Receive a daily devotional he publishes every morning via email.