Pursuing God and His Word, Part 1.

Pursue (in the weeks ahead we’ll be looking at specific characteristics that God wants us to pursue).   
 
What does the word pursue mean?   

• BAGD Lexicon Definition on p. 254.   
  • Dioko - “to follow in haste to find something, run after, pursue…strive for, seek after, aspire to something.”   

 
“When the world trade center was bombed in 2001 President Bush used a   
phrase that is commonly used by politicians, ‘stay the course.’ He said we would ‘stay the course’ in our fight against terror. To stay the course is ‘to stand firm in pursuing a goal or course of action, to persevere in the face of whatever challenges or obstacles one may encounter.’” From Sermon Central  
 
For Example.  

• Pursuit drills in Football. Pursuing the Ball and or Ball Career.  
• Police in hot pursuit.   
• Black Friday shopping.   
• Grocery Shopping…specials/sales/while supplies last.  
• The newest phone coming out.   
• The best parking spot or spot in line.   
• In hot pursuit of the restroom.   
• Each example has a sense of intensity, initiation, purpose and intentionality.  

 
Another definition for pursue that comes from the KJV Dictionary states… “To follow as an example; to imitate.” https://av1611.com/kjbp/kjv-dictionary/pursue.html  
 
Who can we turn to for an understanding of what it means to pursue?  

• Who should we follow as an example and imitate in this lifestyle of pursuing? The answer is, God.  
  • He is the perfect example of a someone who is a PURSUER. 
    • He is not a deserter…He is a PURSUER.  
    • Matthew 18:12 (NIV) "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?  
    • Song:  So Will I (100 Billion X) by Hillsong United  
      • God of salvation
        You chased down my heart
        Through all of my failure and pride
        On a hill You created
        The light of the world
        Abandoned in darkness to die Lyrics to So Will I  
    • He took the initiation to chase me down…to pursue me first, before I ever thought of pursuing / chasing after Him, before I ever understood the concept of pursuing. He initiates the act of pursuing!  

 
Can mankind be PURSUERS as well?  

• The answer is, Yes! 
  • Genesis 1:27 (NIV) So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them… 
    • Meaning…we share some of His characteristics. In this case, the characteristic of Pursuing. This is why we’ll see in the weeks ahead that He’s telling us to be PURSUERS of some specific characteristics.  
  • The Problem.  
    • It is possible for His creation to pursue or imitate incorrect examples, goals or courses of action.  
      • Often times in football the quarterback will fake the handoff to the running back and leave the defense, audience and cameraman all confused. The defender will end up tackling the runner who doesn’t have the ball and get up looking and feeling pretty silly.  
      • One time I had a catcher make an awesome throw down to 2nd base in a game…to my disappointment there was no one on 1st who was even stealing.  
      • One author from gotquestions.org raises the question, “What is the meaning of ‘chasing the wind’ in Ecclesiastes?” His answer is that, “The book of Ecclesiastes uses the phrase chasing after the wind at least seven times…Chasing the wind is a metaphor for pursuing futility. The author of Ecclesiastes learned that pursuing meaningless things—things that do not have eternal significance—is only chasing after the wind.”  
      • Psalm 16:4a (NLT) Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.  
      • Jeremiah 2:25 (NIV) …you said, ‘It’s no use! I love foreign gods, and I must go after them.’ 
      • Each are aimless pursuits…missing the mark…sinful.  
  • The solution.  
    • Stop leaning on your own understanding…Acknowledge Him and He’ll direct your path of pursuing (Prov. 3:5-6).  
    • Develop the skill of pursuing that which God would have you to chase after.  
    • Ask yourself, “Am I a currently more of a Pursuer or am I more of a by-standard (watching / observing from the sidelines)? Make hot pursuit contagious. Like a cop after a criminal, or a defender after the ball, or a potty-dancer after a restroom, or an intense Black Friday shopper who won’t let nothing get in his or her way.   

 
When pursuing takes place there is often a meeting or a collision. The collision for this section is…

Collision: The Sinner and Salvation in God.   
He’ll continue in hot pursuit after you, and what’s beautiful is when the two collide on their way to each other. Remember, He’s always in pursuit after you. 

"City On Our Knees (Live)" Lyrics  
by TobyMac    
If you gotta start somewhere why not here
If you gotta start sometime why not now
If we gotta start somewhere I say here
If we gotta start sometime I say now
Through the fog there is hope in the distance
From cathedrals to third world missions
Love will fall to the earth like a crashing wave
Tonight's the night
For the sinners and the saints
Two worlds collide in a beautiful display
It's all love tonight
When we step across the line
We can sail across the sea
To a city with one king
A city on our knees…  
For the sinners and the saints
Two worlds collide
In a glorious display
Cuz its all love tonight
When we step across the line
https://www.newreleasetoday.com/lyricsdetail.php?lyrics_id=98689  
 
Now reciprocate that pursuing lifestyle…He’s pursuing you…how can you pursue Him? By… 
Pursuing His Word  

• For some of you, you just checked out, if you haven’t already. 
• The “Thanks, but I’m not interested,” mindset is already consuming you.  
• Why is it that when others are challenged to seek out God’s Word that they turn and run the opposite direction? His Word is confrontational. I get it. But He’s a Pursuer and He’s Pursuing you…give Him a chance and take baby steps into exploring His word if you’ve never done so before. 
• Or maybe you don’t feel it important enough? All else is chasing the wind.  
• Maybe take it from someone else who is passionate and pursuing God and His Word…someone from God’s word. These aren’t actors and this isn’t false advertisement.  
  • The Psalmist states this in the following passages… 
    • Psalm 119 (ESV)
      16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
      35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
      47 for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.  
    • Psalm 119:97-105 (ESV) Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.  
    • Psalm 1:2 (ESV) but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  
    • Psalm 112:1 (ESV) Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments!  
• From God Himself… 
  • Joshua 1:8 (ESV) This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.  

 
The collision for this section is… 
Collision: When your eyes and God’s Word meet. 

• Stay close to His Word.  
• Hunger for it.  
• Consume it.  
• Meditate on it…put no time limits on it…day and night.   
• Understand it.  
• Remember it.  
• Keep it.  
• Greatly delight in it.  
• Love it.  
• Pursue it.    

Challenge: Pursue God and His Word. Rest in the fact that He’s pursuing you each and every day.