Seekers

Pastor Hilton opens with Matthew 7:7-8, focusing on "seek and ye shall find." He distinguishes seeking from mere looking—just as one can hear without listening, one can look without truly seeing. Seeking requires intentionality and purpose, not passive observation. Drawing from Jeremiah 29:13, he emphasizes that wholehearted seeking is essential. He references Jesus' question to the crowds about John the Baptist: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see?" underscoring that entering the wilderness demands a purpose. Pastor Hilton applies Matthew 6:33, urging the congregation to seek first God's kingdom, not temporal needs. He illustrates true seeking with the parable of the lost sheep and the woman with the lost coin—both actively search until they find. He warns against becoming content with past spiritual experiences, citing examples of those who once were on fire but stopped seeking and drifted away. The merchant seeking goodly pearls shows the value of the kingdom: selling all to obtain it. Pastor Hilton then connects seeking to the Great Commission—Jesus told the disciples to go, not just gaze at his ascension. He challenges the church to be seekers of the lost, sharing stories of coworkers and a Bible study group as evidence of hungry hearts. He concludes that the Son of Man came to seek, and believers are called to join that mission with holy boldness, trusting the Holy Spirit to give words in the moment.