Seekers, Skeptics, and Saints 

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I. Seekers search for God (Person, Word, Will) wholeheartedly, until they find Him, and He searches for them to bless them.

Jer 29:11 I know the thots that I think toward you, says the LORD, thots of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12  call..pray..13 you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.14 I will be found by you, says the LORD

Jn 4:23 the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship (Respond to Revelation) the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

Jn 20:1 Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early/still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away 2 she ran to Peter/John 6 Simon Peter came and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there  Lk 24:12 Peter departed, wondering to himself at what had happened.    Jn 20:8 Then the other disciple (John), who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed.

Jn 20:11 Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."

14 Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.

15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.' "

18 Mary Mag told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. Mk 16:9 they did not believe

II. Skeptics are slow to believe, and miss blessings because of preconceptions, ignorance, and resisting the HS (Acts 7:51)

Acts 7:51"You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.

Lk 24:11 And (the women's) words seemed to them like idle tales, and (the eleven) did not believe them.

Lk 24:13  two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus 16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. 19 "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. 21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 certain women of our company, arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."

25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 

26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?" 27And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.  28 Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. 29 But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them. 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32 And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?" 33 So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" 35 And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. 

Jn 20:19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! 

As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." 26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. 27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." 28 "My Lord and my God!"29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in/by His name/power. Mt 28:19-20

III. Sanctified/Saints embrace God's values, separate from what holds them back, and serve others in Christ's stead by the HS

Jn 21:1 Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias 3 Peter "I am going fishing."  "We are going with you also." They went out...caught nothing. 5 "Children, have you any food?" "No." 6 "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some."

15 "Simon, son of Jonah, do you agapao Me more than these things?"  "Yes, Lord; You know that I phileo You." "Feed My lambs."

16 "Simon, son of Jonah, do you agapao Me?" "Yes, Lord; You know that I phileo You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep."

17 "Simon, son of Jonah, do you phileo Me?" Peter was grieved 'cs He said to him the third time "Feed My sheep. 19 "Follow Me."

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. What attracts people to Christ? Why do some believers seek after God and others don't?

2. Why are some believers quick to believe all God has revealed, and others struggle? How does one change their preconceptions?

3. Do you love Jesus? Why? How does your love for Him show in your ambitions and actions? What's the Great cOmmission?