Sermon Title: Seek the Lord
Text: Isaiah 55:6 — “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon
Him while He is near.”
Introduction: The Search for a
Treasure
In 1622, a Spanish ship called Nuestra SeƱora de Atocha sank in a
hurricane off the Florida Keys, carrying tons of gold, silver, and jewels. For
more than 300 years, the treasure remained hidden beneath the ocean.
In the 1960s, a man named Mel Fisher became convinced that the
treasure could be found. For 16 years, he searched relentlessly. He lost
money, boats, and even family members in tragic accidents. People mocked him
and told him to quit. But every day, Fisher would say three words to his crew: “Today’s
the day.”
In 1985, Mel Fisher finally found the Atocha treasure—worth over $400
millions of dollars.
Early 1990s: Further legal actions continued, and Fisher ultimately
secured sole ownership of the treasure
Why would someone give their entire life to search for treasure?
Because he believed it was worth finding.
Isaiah 55:6 calls us to a far greater search—not for gold that fades, but
for God Himself.
1. Why Are We Seeking the Lord?
Biblical Foundation:
- Jeremiah 29:13,
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your
heart.
- Matthew 6:33, But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will
be given to you as well.
- Psalm 63:1
The reason as to why we seek after God.
We seek the Lord because only God satisfies the deepest hunger of the
human soul. People seek success, approval, money, relationships, or
pleasure—but none of those can replace God.
God did not create us merely to survive; He created us to know Him.
Illustration:
Many people achieve their dreams—career success, fame, wealth—only to admit
they still feel empty. Celebrities, athletes, and business leaders often
confess that reaching the top didn’t bring the peace they expected. That
emptiness points to a spiritual hunger that only God can fill.
2. How Do We Seek God?
Biblical Foundation:
- Hebrews 11:6, And without faith it is impossible to please God,
because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards
those who earnestly seek him.
- Matthew 7:7, Ask and it will be given to you; seek and
you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
- Psalm 119:10
To seek something, we have to leave other things. We can’t wish for new
houses yet still attached to the old house. See the thing is like this:
Your
past is not the house you live in,
but the road that taught your feet to walk.
You make your home not in yesterday’s shadows,
but in the living presence of our Lord Jesus.
The
past is your teacher, not your shelter—
a voice behind you is not a roof above you.
Your dwelling is found not in your yesterday but in the holy nearness,
You
dwell instead where grace breathes life—
in the radiant presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Seeking God is intentional. You don’t stumble into a relationship
with God accidentally. Just like Mel Fisher studied maps, currents, and
history, we seek God with purpose—through prayer, Scripture, worship,
obedience, and faith.
God is not hidden from sincere seekers; He responds to hearts that truly
pursue Him.
Illustration:
If a student wants to excel, they don’t wait until the night before the exam.
They study daily. In the same way, spiritual growth comes from intentional time
with God, not occasional interest.
3. Creating a Path to God
Biblical Foundation:
- John 14:6, Jesus answered, “I am the
way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me.
- Romans 5:1–2, Therefore, since we have been
justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained
access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of
the glory of God.
- Hebrews
10:19–22
God has already made a path to Himself through Jesus Christ. We
don’t create our own way—Jesus is the way. Through repentance, faith,
and grace, God opens access into His presence.
He
is the road beneath our feet,
the light ahead of our eyes,
the rest waiting at the end—
and the strength that carries us there.
We
are not creating a path to God—
We are walking
the One
who came to us.
Seeking God means walking the path He has provided, not the one we
prefer.
Illustration:
Imagine trying to reach a destination but refusing to use the only bridge
across a river. You could be sincere, but sincerity doesn’t change reality.
Jesus is the bridge God provided so we can reach Him.
4. Daily Seeking the Lord
Biblical Foundation:
- Luke 9:23, Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my
disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
- Psalm 5:3, In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my
requests before you and wait expectantly.
- Lamentations
3:22–23
Seeking God is not a one-time event; it’s a daily discipline. Just
as our bodies need daily food, our souls need daily connection with God.
Yesterday’s devotion cannot sustain today’s challenges.
Illustration:
A marriage thrives not because of one good conversation years ago, but because
of daily communication. In the same way, a vibrant walk with God requires daily
prayer, Scripture, and surrender.
5. What Does It Mean for God to Be
Found?
Biblical Foundation:
- James 4:8, Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash
your hands, you
sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- Psalm 34:10, The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
- Acts 17:27
When God is “found,” it doesn’t mean we fully understand Him—but that we experience
His presence, forgiveness, guidance, and peace. God allows Himself to be
known personally.
He is not distant; He is near to those who draw near to Him.
Illustration:
Finding God is like tuning a radio to the correct frequency. The signal was
always there, but once tuned correctly, the sound becomes clear. Seeking aligns
our hearts to hear God’s voice.
6. Do We Have a Limited Window to Seek
God?
Biblical Foundation:
- Isaiah 55:6, Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is
near.
- Proverbs 27:1, Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day
may bring.
- 2 Corinthians 6:2,
For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you and
in the day of salvation I helped you.”
I tell you, now is the time
of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Isaiah says, “Seek the Lord while He may be found.” This implies
opportunity—but also urgency. We are not promised unlimited time. Hearts can
harden, opportunities can pass, and life can end suddenly.
Grace is available now—but tomorrow is not guaranteed.
Illustration:
Mel Fisher searched for years, but he searched while the opportunity existed.
If he had waited another century, someone else would have found the treasure.
In the same way, spiritual opportunity demands timely response.
Conclusion: The Greatest Treasure
Mel Fisher found gold that will eventually fade. But those who seek the
Lord find something eternal—salvation, purpose, peace, and everlasting life.
God is not asking you to search blindly. He promises:
If you seek Him, He will be found.
Today is the day.
Now is the time.
The treasure is worth the search.
“Seek the Lord while He may be found.”
Closing Altar Call: “Today’s the Day”
As we come to the close of this message, I want to return to those words
Mel Fisher spoke every morning:
“Today’s the day.”
For 16 years, he believed the treasure was out there—and one day, it
finally was found.
Bother and Sister, today I’m not talking about gold at the bottom of the sea.
I’m talking about your soul and your relationship with God.
Isaiah 55:6 says, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him
while He is near.”
That tells us something powerful: God is near right now.
Who Is This Call For?
This altar call is for:
- Those who have never
truly sought the Lord
- Those who once
walked with God but have drifted away
- Those who are
busy, distracted, tired, or spiritually dry
- Those who know about
God but don’t really know Him
God is not asking for perfection—He’s asking for surrender.
The Window Is Open—Right Now
We don’t know what tomorrow holds.
We don’t know how many opportunities we’ll get.
But we do know this: right now, God can be found.
The same God who says “Seek Me” also says, “Whoever comes to Me, I
will never turn away” (John 6:37).
An Invitation to Respond
If you feel the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart—don’t ignore it.
That stirring is God saying, “I’m near.”
If you want to:
- Seek God for
the first time
- Return to Him
- Renew your
commitment
- Or simply say,
“Lord, I want You more than anything else”
I invite you to step out of your seat and come to the altar.
This walk is not about embarrassment.
It’s about obedience.
It’s about choosing eternal treasure over temporary things.
A Prayer at the Altar
As people come, you may lead them in a prayer like this:
“Lord, today I come seeking You.
I admit my need for You.
I turn away from my sin and my self-reliance.
I believe You are near, and that You receive me.
I choose today to seek You with my whole heart.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Final Encouragement
My brothers and sisters, don’t leave this moment behind.
Don’t say, “I’ll seek Him later.”
Later is not promised—but now is available.
If God is calling you,
today’s the day.
