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Seeking Clues about Seekers
1. Seekers are outside the family of God
Matthew 2:1
"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem." NIV
Luke 2:28-32
"Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying:
'Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to Your people Israel.'" NIV
2. Seekers are intelligent
Matthew 2:1
"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem" NIV
Numbers 24:17 "
I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel." NIV
Daniel 9:25
"Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble." NIV
3. Seekers go where they expect to find answers
Matthew 2:1
"After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem." NIV
1 Peter 3:15
"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," NIV
Zechariah 8:21
"This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.'" NIV
4. Seekers are curious
Matthew 2:2 and asked,
"Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." NIV
5. Seekers desire to worship
Matthew 2:2
"and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw hHs star in the east and have come to worship Him." NIV
Romans 1:20-23
"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities — His eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles." NIV
6. Seekers have friends who are like minded
Matthew 2:3
"When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him." NIV
7. Seekers will look in the wrong places
Matthew 2:4-5
"he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 'In Bethlehem in Judea,' they replied," NIV
8. Seekers will spend significant time and money on their search
Matthew 2:1
"Magi from the east came to Jerusalem" NIV
Matthew 2:7
"Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared." NIV
9. Seekers are encouraged by the deceiver
Matthew 2:8
"He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 'Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.'" NIV
10. Seekers are drawn by God
Matthew 2:9-10
"After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed." NIV
Matthew 9:37-38
"Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.'" NIV
11. Seekers recognize the truth when they see it
Matthew 2:11
"On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him." NIV
2 Kings 6:15-17
"When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. 'Oh, my lord, what shall we do?' the servant asked.
'Don't be afraid,' the prophet answered. 'Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.'
And Elisha prayed, 'O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.' Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." NIV
1 Corinthians 2:14
"The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." NIV
12. Seekers become worshippers
Matthew 2:11
"On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him." NIV
Matthew 2:11
"Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh." NIV
Matthew 2:12
"And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route." NIV
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