The Advantages of Seeking God Early(Sunrise Service) Print

 

NEW LIFE BIBLE CHURCH

A FAMILY FRIENDLY, NEVER ALONE, PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH

SERMON:  The Advantages of Seeking God Early

Allen S. McLauchlin, Pastor

April 8, 2012

 

Hope: Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices that they might come and anoint Him.  Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.  And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.  But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. Mark 16:1-6

 

TRUE FELLOWSHIP: Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.  At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place.  Mark 1:35; Luke 4:42

 

 

GODLY CHILDREN: Remember, also, your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no delight in them".  Romans 12:1

 

You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. Deuteronomy 6:7

 

Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.  Proverbs 22:6

 

Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job 1:5

 

 

COMPANIONSHIP: The Lord said, "It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”  For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. Genesis  2:18,24

 

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.  This beginning of [His] signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.   John 2:1,2,11

 

Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.  Marriage 13:4

 

 

FINANCIAL SECURITY: Honor the LORD with your wealth,  with the first fruits of all your crops;  then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.  Proverbs 3:9,10

 

Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”  Malachi 3:10

 

But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering,  Genesis 4:4

 

 

SPIRITUAL MATURITY: Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD.  Genesis 17:27

 

Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it.  He called that place Bethel.  Genesis 28:18

 

So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the LORD had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands.  Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him.  Genesis 34:4,5

 

Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.  Luke 21:38

 

FORGIVENESS: So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb.  The two were running together and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first.  Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb.  John 20:3,4,6

 

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your name, and to declare Your loving-kindness this  morning. Lamentations 3:22,23; Psalm 92:2