Brothers and sisters,
we've come here to meet with the living God.
The One who is your Savior, your Lord,
the Lover of your soul.
He's loved you from all of eternity.
The One who began your salvation
back in eternity, if you will,
who foreknew you; will glorify you.
And without faith it is impossible
to please Him,
for he who comes to God
must believe that He is,
and that He is a rewarder of those
who seek Him.
We come to Him by faith.
We come looking to Him; trusting Him.
Our eyes are on Him.
Who has He revealed Himself to?
Who are you coming to here?
To meet with?
The living God.
The Omniscient One.
The All-Powerful One.
The One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills.
The One who all things are open and laid bare before Him.
The One who knows your every need;
who has every hair of your head numbered.
When you come to Him to ask for a fish,
here in a moment,
He's not going to give you
something that you don't want - a snake.
When you come and ask Him for an egg,
He's not going to trick you
and give you a scorpion - something that will hurt you.
Your Father is a good Father.
Your Savior, your Lord on the cross
bought all the benefits that allows you
right now to come into the presence,
and be seen by your Heavenly Father
holy and blameless and without any reproach.
And He is a rewarder
of those who seek Him.
So, when you come to the Lord,
expect He's not only going to hear you
and meet with you,
but there is reward there.
And there's reward beyond what you
can grasp with your hand.
It's things that will be granted by grace
to perceive with your heart and your mind.
To be enriched as an heir of God
and a fellow heir with Christ.
So remember a couple little exhortations
from Luke 11, for instance.
Remember this One who you come to
is like the friend at midnight.
You come desperate.
You come at a very importune moment.
And yet, He's willing to give to you
because you persist.
You won't let go of this God.
What you need, you don't come,
with a quiet, little voice: "May I please have...?"
There's a sense of boldness
as you come before His throne of grace.
Remember the widow who needed help
and she came to the unjust judge.
She would not leave that judge alone.
He finally gave in.
How much more your Heavenly Father
willingly gives in.
And then lastly,
remember a few words
from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
out of John 14.
"Whatever you ask in My name,
that will I do, so that the Father
may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask Me anything in My name,
I will do it.
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,
ask whatever you wish,
and it will be done for you.
In that day, you will not question Me about anything.
Truly, truly, I say to you,
if you ask the Father for anything in My name,
He will give it to you.
Until now, you have asked for nothing in My name.
Ask and you will receive,
so that your joy may be made full."
Don't forget that last part.
So that your joy may be made full.
Amen.