Today, the first Sunday of 2013, we begin a new message series called “Goals 2013.” What do you desire for your life, for your family and for your church in this New Year? What does God desire for your life, for your family and for your church in 2013? The answers to those two questions may not be the same. If you and God are on a different page concerning 2013, then this won’t be a good year for you. However, God wants you and Him to be on the same page, because He has good plans to bless you in the coming year. So, in this message series, we’re going to be looking at the goals that God has for each one of us, so that we can align our desires with His goals.
Matthew 6:33 (NIV) But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
In 2013, God’s Word instructs us to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. What that means is that our goals must be first and foremost God’s goals. When we seek God’s goals first, then all the things we need will be given to us. In this passage in Matthew 6, all these things refers to our needs, our needs for food, clothing and shelter. To seek God’s kingdom first means that we seek His goals in every aspect of our lives. We seek God’s goals first in our families, in our jobs, in our recreation, in our relationships and in our church. When we do that, God takes care of all the necessities of life. Pretty good deal isn’t it. When God takes care of all our needs, guess what? We don’t need to worry, God’s got everything covered.
Matthew 6:34 (NIV) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
We don’t have to worry about tomorrow, because God cares for those who put Him first in their lives. That doesn’t mean we won’t have some trouble in our days, but God will help us through that trouble. God promises to give us the strength and resources to reach the goals that He has set for us.
Now, in our message series, Goals 2013, we will be looking at some basic godly goals that God’s Word teaches are to be goals for every believer. These goals are areas that each one of us can continue to grow in throughout our lives. These goals can be applied to ourselves personally, to our families, to our church and beyond. But God also has some very specific goals for you in 2013 that are different that His goals for the other people here today. How can discover God’s specific goals for you? As you pursue God’s general goals, He will make clear His specific goals for your life this year.
Today, my message is entitled “Seek God’s Face.” We are going to look at the goal that God has for each believer regarding building our relationship with Him. This is the foundational goal to the other ones we are going to talk about in this series. If you get this one right, the rest come easier. Without pursuing this goal in 2013, you will have a difficult year.
Today, we are going to look at a passage in 2 Chronicles 7 where King Solomon had completed the building of the temple and had dedicated it to God. The temple was the place where God was worshipped and God met with His people. In the New Testament, each believer is called a temple of God, for God dwells within each one. Each local church is also called a temple of God, for God dwells within each local church. After the dedication of the temple, God appeared to King Solomon and spoke to him.
2 Chronicles 7:12 (NIV) the LORD appeared to him at night and said: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.
God has chosen each believer for Himself. Let’s look at what this passage teaches us about the goal of seeking God’s face in 2013.