Renewing Our Lives and Ministries Through God's Word

Pursuing Our God

The Pursuit of God

Exodus 33:12-23
Paul J. Bucknell
Note: 'Seminar Exercises' enable God's people to discuss and think through the area of knowing God by exercises and discussion questions. This is the last of seven sections that compose one longer article on Pursuing Our God, which discusses how a person can grow in their relationship with the Lord through special times with Him. This is part of a larger ADT training series, Renewing Our Lives and Minstries Through God's Word, –Renewing your spiritual life and ministries through improving the quality of your time in God's Word. Click to see the full 3-day schedule of this Renewal ADT series.)

Seminar Exercises and Discussion

    1. Pursuing our God
 
Discover how a person can grow in their relationship with the Lord through special times with Him.
 
God wants to reveal more of His glory to us. This is the way we pursue the Lord throughout our lives. God desires to be found. Do we want to find Him?
 
The Pathway. 1 Peter 1:14-15 sets before us the pathway of knowing God more intimately.
“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;” 1 Peter 1:14, 15.
  1. •Quietly read and study 1 Peter 1:14-15.
  2. •What is the overall goal for the lives of His children?
  3. •What does he say about this process? 
  4. •Are there any obvious problems holding you back?
The Pursuit. God in 2 Chronicles 15:1-2 frankly tells  His people the key to knowing Him more.
 “Now the Spirit of God came on Azariah the son of Oded, and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the LORD is with you when you are with Him. And if you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” 2 Chronicles 15:1, 2,
  1. •Quietly read and study 2 Chronicles 15:1-2.
  2. •What happens if you seek God? Why do you think this is so? How have you seen this in your own life?
  3. •What happens if you forsake Him? Why do you think this is so?  How have you seen this in your own life?
  4. •What do you want for your life? How do these verses reveal God’s blessings are associated with His presence?
  5. •Name one clear step for you to really seek after God? Discuss.
 
Different depths of intimacy with God. There are evidently different levels in our relationship with God. Let’s look at what three saints found.
 
“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Philippians 3:10).
Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. (Philippians 3:12-16).
• Moses. What made Moses want to see God’s glory (Exodus 33:18)? What is behind this whole quest to know God? Is it a good one? What shapes our pursuit of God? What limits this quest?
• John. How does 1 John 3:1-3 help us better understand this whole process?
• Paul reveals his heart in Philippians 3:10-16. Meditate on his words. Can you in a similar way say these things from your heart? Why or why not?

A Look at Our Spiritual Lives

Exodus 33 Bible Study: The Importance of Faith

Our faith and trust in God largely shape not only what commitments we have in life but equally on how we carry them out. Explore the importance of faith has on our service and life.
• Read Exodus 33:12-17 and review its context.
• What is it that Moses really wants in 33:12?
• Observe Moses’ faith. How does his faith affect what he says, asks, wants and does?
• Describe the setting of Exodus 33:18-23.
• Contrast three Exodus passages: 19:3-6; 33:7-11; 33:18-23. Firstly, describe each of them.
    19:3-6 –
    33:7-11 –
    33:18-23 –
• How does 33:18-23 differ from 19:3-6?
• How does 33:18-23 differ from 33:7-11?
• What is Moses’ request of the Lord? (18)
• What does God agree to do for Moses (19)?
• In what way is God restricted (20)?
• What is God’s plan for revealing His glory to Moses (21-23)?
Application. Let us suppose that the sum number of incidents by which we will be judged at the end of our lives will be one million. Each one will be examined to find our love and faithfulness toward our Lord.
• How many of them would be rooted in selfishness or faithfulness?
• How will God judge our works?
• Pick out at least two incidents in your life. Examine them from different perspectives. Discern your effort (best, partial. irresponsible), attitude (complain or joyful), obedience (compliant with authority or not), sacrificial spirit (for others or for self), and faith (trust in God or self).
 
 
 


Pursuit | Typical | Experiential | Adventurous | Stages | Torch | Exercises

This is the fourth session of the ADT 3-Day Seminar on Renewal

Reviving Your Faith | Deepening Our Reflections | Tracing Our Life's Journey | Pursuing Our God 

The Heart of Discipleship (Isaiah 50:4) | The Heart of Discipleship ( Isaiah 50:5-9)

Exodus: Overview Christ in Exodus 3 Whys in Exodus

Titus: Overview Pastoral Overview Called into His Service (Titus 1:1-4) Church Planting (Titus 1:5-9)

 
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Biblical Foundations for Freedom


By Paul J. Bucknell


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