When the Right Time to Seek the Lord

1 WHEN THE RIGHT TIME TO SEEK THE LORD Hosea 10:12 (King James Version) Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. INTRODUCTION: ANY TIME IS A GOOD TIME TO PRAY, FOR THE BIBLE SAYS: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (King James Version) Pray without ceasing. 1 Chronicles 16:11 (King James Version) Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually. HOWEVER, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE REALIZE THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN PRAYING AS WE SHOULD THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE WAKE UP TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT SEEKING GOD AS WE SHOULD THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE SENSE A NEED FOR GOD, AND WE GO TO HIM IN PRAYER. IT IS A PROUD, WICKED MAN WHO DOES NOT FEEL A NEED TO SEEK GOD O Psalms 10:4 (King James Version) The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. 2 I. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DELIGHT 1 Chronicles 22:17-19 (King James Version) 17 David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, 18 Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people. 19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD. A. WHEN THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS FELT---"IS NOT THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH YOU?" B. WHEN PEACE SURROUNDS YOU ---"AND HATH HE NOT GIVEN YOU REST ON EVERY SIDE?" C. WHEN PROSPERITY COMES TO YOU---"THE LAND IS SUBDUED BEFORE THE LORD AND BEFORE HIS PEOPLE." 1. DON'T FORGET GOD WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WELL!!! 3

II. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DIFFICULTY GOD SPOKE OF TIMES WHEN THE ISRAELITES WOULD BE IN CAPTIVITY: Deuteronomy 4:29 (King James Version) But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. A. STRUGGLES WILL COME; SEEK HIM! B. STUMBLING BLOCKS WILL COME; SEEK HIM! 1. DON'T QUIT! SEEK HIM!!! III. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DISCOURAGEMENT 2 Chronicles 20:1-3 (King James Version) 1 It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. 2 Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Haz a zon/ ta mar, which is En ged i. 3 And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. A. AT THE FUNERAL HOME, SEEK HIM B. IN THE FAMILY  CHILD IN JAIL  DIVORCE  MEDICAL CALAMITY  LOSS OF JOB 4

IV. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DECISION Luke 6:12-13 (King James Version) 12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; A. ABOUT A MATE B. ABOUT MONEY C. ABOUT A MINISTRY V. SEEK HIM IN TIMES OF DEFILEMENT 1 John 1:9-10 (King James Version) 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. Isaiah 55:6-7 (King James Version) 6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. A. CONFESS YOUR SINS B. CLAIM GOD'S CLEANSING 5 C. CONSECRATE YOURSELF