Amos 5:4-6 KJV
For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live: [5] But seek not Beth–el, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beer–sheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Beth–el shall come to nought. [6] Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Beth–el.

Bethel was the place where they worshipped the God of Heaven. When the kingdom was divided the king at the time, Jeroboam, king of Israel, set up two idols, calves. One in Bethel and the other in Dan.

1 Kings 12:26-30 KJV
And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: [27] If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. [28] Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. [29] And he set the one in Beth–el, and the other put he in Dan. [30] And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.

Amos told them not to seek Bethel because of the idols that were found there but rather seek the Lord.

1 Chronicles 16:11 KJV
Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

1 Chronicles 22:19 KJV
Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.

May I remind us today not to seek worldly goods and pleasures but rather seek the Lord. Many think that we must seek earthly pleasures. Where earthly pleasures are sought for, earthly pleasures will be given. You will always find what you are looking, seeking, for and what you put into something you will always get out.

The place of Bethel had become a place of Idol worship and he said to seek the Lord not Bethel. Seek Christ not other gods!

Let me ask you this morning, what are you seeking? More finances, fame, acceptance? May we find ourselves seeking good and not evil.

We must seek him first. The Bible states in Matthew 6:33 but seek ye first.... many have sought first their family, their job, their car but that's not what God says. He says, seek ye first the kingdom of God.

What are you seeking?

Colossians 3:1-3 KJV
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. [2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. [3] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

As Christians we are admonished to not only seek the Lord and seek the kingdom of God, but also to seek those things which are above.

What are the things that are above? This could mean the rewards that we will get from above. The Bible states in 2 Corinthians 3:11-15 that the foundation has been laid which is Jesus Christ but we must build on that foundation. What can we build? Gold, silver, and precious stones. Or wood, hay and stubble.

Every man's work will get tried and we must seek the gold, silver and precious stones. Things that will last.

Seek those things which are above, how about his will? Did you know that in the prayer that Christ gave to his disciples to pray it had in there the request for the will of God to be done on earth as it is being done in Heaven? (Notice Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4)

Let us be seekers of:
A.) The Lord
B.) Of the kingdom of God
C.) Of the things which are above

Life application: when we got born again we were changed. Sometimes we drift from time to time doing our own thing but our main priority is to seek Christ, his Kingdom and those things which are above. May I encourage you to keep looking to Jesus. The Bible states in Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Sin will either keep you from the Bible or the Bible will keep you from sin. That's why we must seek him daily, seek his kingdom, and seek those things which are above.

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