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Thread: Everyone Who Seeks Finds - Francis Frangipane

  1. #1

    Everyone Who Seeks Finds - Francis Frangipane


    The Eternal Imprint

    It is to our shame that in our era church services do not focus more on actually seeking God. Yes, we do honor God and thank Him for what He has done. We hear a sermon and perhaps enjoy a time of fellowship with others. Yet only rarely do we depart a congregational meeting with the fire of eternity reflecting off our faces. Instead we fill up with information about God without actually drawing near to Him. Most of us are still largely unaware of God's presence.

    While we rightly need church programs, fellowship, and times for ministry training, we must not assume that religious indoctrination is the same thing as actually seeking God. And while I am often blessed listening to contemporary Christian music, even godly entertainment is no substitute for my own worship encounter with God.

    Therefore let us ask ourselves: Is there a place and a time set apart in our spiritual lives where we can give ourselves to seeking God? What if the Spirit of God actually desired to manifest Himself during our worship service? Would the Lord have to wait until we finished our scheduled program? I respect and recognize the need for order; we need the scheduled times for announcements and the defined purposes that currently occupy Sunday mornings, but have we made room for God Himself?

    "He Knew Not That His Face Shone"

    When we first determine to draw near to God, it may seem we have little to show for our efforts. Yet be assured: even the thought of seeking God is a step toward our transformation. Still, we often do not notice the first signs of our spiritual renewal, for as we grow increasingly more aware of God, we simultaneously grow increasingly less aware of ourselves. Though we may not see that we are changing, others certainly will.

    Consider the experience of Moses. The Lord's servant had ascended Mount Sinai and there stood before the living God. The eyes of Moses were actually filled with God's sun-like glory; his ears actually heard the audible sound of the Lord's voice. Yet when Moses returned to the people, the Bible says he "did not know that the skin of his face shone" (Exod. 34:29). When the Israelites saw the fire of God's glory on the face of Moses, "they were afraid to come near him" (v. 30). They saw he had been with God.

    The church needs more people who have, like Moses, climbed closer to the Almighty, people who have stood in the sacred fire of God's presence. Instead we exhaust ourselves arguing over peripheral doctrines or styles of music in our song services. Perhaps there are benefits to constantly debating the nuances of our doctrines, but are we not more truly thirsting for the reality of God?

    Our goal is to, day by day, draw nearer to God. He has commanded that we come boldly to His throne of grace. To receive the help we need, we must arrive at His throne. Remember also that our confidence comes from Christ Himself. He promised,

    "Everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened" (Matt. 7:8).

    If we do not cease seeking and knocking, we will discover unfolding degrees of intimacy with God. Even now, He's drawing near. The Lord promises, "Everyone who … seeks finds" (Matt. 7:8).

    Master, to possess more of You is the heart-focus of my existence. Draw near, blessed Redeemer, and fulfill Your desire for me by fulfilling my desire for You.


    Adapted from Francis Frangipane's book, I Will Be Found by You,

  2. #2
    Amen. I get frustrated with all the peripheral, yet important "stuff" that takes away time from seeking Him. IMO, the Mary vs. Martha stuff.

  3. #3
    Well, as I've said many times now. This is why the 24/7 prayer movement and corporate prayer is so important. If these "seeking" times are not built into the Church culture by the leaders, they don't just automatically get built, after all. Leaders cannot model what they do not comprehend in depth themselves.

    At my old Church, we just assumed that our pastor and dear friend really "got" this, but he didn't. For him, "seeking God" was praying about his sermon. So when my husband and I went full throttle to build a prayer structure in the Church, it was just really misunderstood.

    At our current Church, 3 hours is set aside for intercession, worship, and prayer (live musicians) every Monday. We have 6 hour burns quarterly (I wish we had them monthly). And we have had 24 burns as well.

    I've said this time and time again, but it bears repeating. IMO, if you have not been in the atmosphere or this type of passion for seeking God, then it will not be important to you, because you do not see the benefit. I can say with all sincerity that when my son did the internship at the Fredericksburg Prayer Furnace, that it totally and completely changed him. No one has to drag him kicking and screaming to a prayer meeting or Church. No one has to make him do daily devotionals. I hear him all the time....singing his heart out to Jesus in his devotionals. Being in an atmosphere where seeking God is FIRST PLACE makes all the difference.

    And sadly and oddly, it is probably the least emphasized out of everything. Having been able to visit IHOP on at least 5-6 occasions, I can honestly say that being in the prayer room for a couple of sets is one of the best and most amazing experiences of my life. The live sets at FPF are also awesome, but they don't go 24/7. You can literally be there for 4 hours and not even look at your watch. Amazing.

    I love Francis Frangipane's writings. He was a great influence on me as a baby Christian.

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    FaithfulOne (02-05-2016)

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