Sunday School Lesson 21
The God Chasers
MEMORY VERSE: “My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.” – Psalm 63:8
BIBLE PASSAGE:Psalms 63:1-8 KJV
INTRODUCTION: A God chaser is a person whose passion for God’s presence presses him to chase the impossible in the hope that the uncatchable might catch him. A child chases a loving parent until suddenly the strong arms of the father enfold the chaser (Gen. 5:24; Phil. 3:12).
LESSON OUTLINES
- Examples Of God Chasers
- The God Chaser’s Map
1. EXAMPLES OF GOD CHASERS
The Bible records examples of those who diligently sought after God and were found of Him. They include: Enoch (Genesis 5:22, 24); Moses (Exodus 33:13-23); Jacob (Genesis 32:24-30); Ezra (Ezra 7:10); Daniel (Daniel 6:10-22); David (Psalm 63:1-8); and Paul (Philippians 3:7-14). They were not chasing after God because of what they wanted for themselves alone, but whole-heartedly believed God (John 6:65-69). They also acknowledged their emptiness and nothingness without God (John 15:5).
2. THE GOD CHASER’S MAP
A map gives a representation of a location needed for navigation. Anyone chasing after God must understand His spiritual location. While God is omnipresent, His manifest presence is only for those who diligent chase after Him. Hence among others, the Lord will be found in the place of praise (Psalm 100:3-4; 22:3). He will be found in the place of prayer and fasting (2 Chronicles 20:3; Ezra 8:21; Daniel 9:1-3). You will also find the Lord when you strive to live in holiness (2 Chronicles 34:3; Ezra 6.21; Hebrews 12:14). Ultimately, the Lord will be found in His Word (John 5:39; Ezra 7:10; Psalm 34:4).
CONCLUSION: We require the Lord to help us and be on our side when seeking the Lord. We cannot do it by human efforts. Let us call on the Lord today to help us.
QUESTIONS:
- Mention other examples of God chasers apart from those listed above.
- Where can one find God and be found of Him?
FURTHER READING:
Monday; Psalm 119:63 (KJV)
63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
Tuesday: Psalm 119:115 (KJV)
115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.
Wednesday: Proverbs 9:6 (KJV)
6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Thursday: 1 Corinthians 15:33-35 (KJV)
33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
Friday: Luke 4:42 (KJV)
42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.
Saturday: Genesis 32:24-27 (KJV)
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
Sunday: 1 Samuel 30:1- 6 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; 2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. 3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. 4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.