{"id":1106,"date":"2024-07-29T15:21:27","date_gmt":"2024-07-29T15:21:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/?page_id=1106"},"modified":"2025-12-15T20:30:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T20:30:49","slug":"search-me","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/search-me\/","title":{"rendered":"SEARCH ME"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-headings-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-3ce90d30849814d437d72197c1dce827\"><strong>SEARCH ME<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Psalm 139<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>INTRODUCTION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well good morning and welcome again to church. Thank you for coming today. I realize that this is the end of spring break for most of our community. Even so, I am so glad to see you. Thank you for coming and making this service a part of your weekend activities and plans.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I invite you to take your Bible out with me &#8212; and turn to <strong>Psalm 139<\/strong>. This is probably a very familiar passage for many of your. It\u2019s one where the writer reminds us that our great God knows all and sees all \u2014 and is more than able to manage even the heaviest of baggage that we might be carrying with us.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, beginning in verse one \u2014 the psalmist <strong>David<\/strong> writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-9e7246b52634ed3d6717cbf28b29e6ee\"><strong><em>1<\/em><\/strong><em>You have searched me, Lord,<\/em><em>and you know me.<\/em><strong><em>2&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>You know when I sit and when I rise;<\/em><em>you perceive my thoughts from afar.<\/em><strong><em> 3<\/em><\/strong><em>&nbsp;You discern my going out and my lying down;<\/em><em>you are familiar with all my ways. <\/em><strong><em>4&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>Before a word is on my tongue<\/em><em>you, Lord, know it completely. <\/em><strong><em>5<\/em><\/strong><em>&nbsp;You hem me in behind and before,<\/em><em>and you lay your hand upon me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-headings-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-58028d0f074063629500dd5f70c08119\"><strong>TRANSITION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The point of this message is really just to establish a starting place for us \u2014 and lead us to become very honest and open with God.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s my goal today to help you stand with arms wide open before your maker \u2014 inviting Him to have total access to every area of your life. And that by doing so, you will welcome Him to claim the baggage that you\u2019ve been carrying around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s the thing with <strong>Baggage<\/strong> \u2014 everyone\u2019s got it!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It comes in all shapes and sizes \u2014 but no doubt you\u2019ve got some. Maybe you don\u2019t want to admit it, or maybe you\u2019re in denial.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You know \u2014 baggage is a strange thing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014 Sometimes , our baggage becomes part of our identity. It\u2019s who we are. Carrying it around almost seems natural and expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014 Sometimes we can\u2019t imagine life without it. Maybe we\u2019ve carried it around so long that it brings us a sense of comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2014 Or maybe for you, it\u2019s just all you\u2019ve ever known. Maybe you don\u2019t even realize that its there.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m calling it baggage \u2014 but it really has a lot of names. Maybe for you it\u2019s a <strong>hurt<\/strong>, or a <strong>hang-up<\/strong>, or a <strong>bad habit<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Or maybe it has an even more specific name. Maybe for you it\u2019s called <strong>anger<\/strong>. And everywhere you go, it seems to trail behind you on a hand truck. Only this piece of baggage leaves you feeling mad and frustrated and just bent out of shape \u2014 with everyone.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Or, maybe your baggage is called <strong>sensitivity<\/strong>. For you, it shows up at the most inopportune times, when you least expect it. But it causes you to take everything personally, and so you often end up feeling hurt, or sad. Sometimes it causes you to strike out at others (as a way of self-preservation). Others notice it, and tend to guard themselves and walk on eggshells.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe your baggage is: <strong>unforgiveness<\/strong>, or <strong>unfulfilled expectations<\/strong>, or <strong>disappointment<\/strong>, or <strong>insecurity<\/strong>, or <strong>low-self-esteem<\/strong>, or <strong>broken relationships<\/strong>, or <strong>arrogance<\/strong>, or <strong>a bad-habit<\/strong>, or <strong>an unresolved past,<\/strong> or<strong> fear<\/strong> \u2014 or maybe it\u2019s <strong>a sin <\/strong>that you\u2019ve not completely released or confessed to <strong>Christ<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whatever it maybe \u2014 if it\u2019s not dealt with, it will weigh us down, and eventually wear you out!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s worse, it has the potential to hinder you from achieving your God given-potential in life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every sin we hide or justify becomes a hinderance to a vibrant relationship with Jesus. Baggage can begin to pile up like a wall between us and the joy and favor the Lord wants to bestow upon us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our baggage must be released if we are to walk freely in the blessings of the Lord. But some times we are hesitant to release it to the Lord because we think He\u2019s going to condemn us for having it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet, what we often fail to recognize is that <strong>Jesus didn\u2019t come<\/strong> <strong>from heaven to earth to condemn<\/strong> <strong>us \u2014 but to save us.<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He condescended from heaven to earth to set you free from being a life-time baggage handler. And, while our baggage may often be a private frustration \u2014 like a wound that seems like it will never heal, it\u2019s often in that place of your greatest frustration that God will reveal his greatest glory \u2014 and his most powerful work in your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the first step in ridding our lives of baggage is to be honest with ourselves.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Everyone has baggage \u2014 the real question is:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-headings-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-5be629af0650c3aba2f4debc8f568180\"><strong>WHAT BAGGAGE ARE YOU CARRYING?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When we acknowledge the truth that we are not perfect people \u2014 and that we have baggage in our lives, then we are positioned to be freed from all that weighs us down.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In <strong>John 8:32<\/strong>, <strong>Jesus<\/strong> said,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-eed4c360a5521bf62aa8d337410ffcd9\"><em>\u201cThen you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>John 8:32 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When we\u2019re honest about our baggage, we are positioned to be freed from it.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re going to become free of your baggage, then you have to begin by admitting your need.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the very first beatitude, <strong>Jesus <\/strong>said,&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-540cfc82935058db1cf376352a71eaac\"><em>\u201cGod blesses those who realize their need for him.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Matthew 5:3 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What Jesus was stressing in this passage is the fact that you need more than you to fix your problems and lighten your load.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Too often, we try to fix problems, and in our attempt to fix them \u2014 we only make them worse. And that\u2019s because our approach is human \u2014 but <strong>God\u2019s<\/strong> approach is divine.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Did you know, the <strong>Bible<\/strong> says<strong>,&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b59137e36fa4285c71380391d0979b6d\"><em>\u201cThere is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>We simply can\u2019t trust ourselves to figure it all out. Left to ourselfes, our human nature will tend to do wrong \u2014 and go about things the wrong way. And that\u2019s because our human nature is still \u201ctainted by sin\u201d.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, when we reach the end of our rope and give up our self-sufficiency, God can move into our lives with healing and growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the mission that <strong>Jesus<\/strong> came to accomplish. He speaks of this in <strong>Luke 4.<\/strong> Here he stated that His mission was to claim the baggage that holds us back and ultimately, set us free.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Listen to how He put it in <strong>Luke 4:18<\/strong>. Quoting from the prophet <strong>Isaiah,<\/strong> Jesus defined His own mission in this way. He said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-a2663104b042295630d90033f7e97454\"><strong><em>18<\/em><\/strong><em> \u201cThe Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me <\/em><em>to proclaim good news to the poor<\/em><em>. He has sent me <\/em><em>to proclaim freedom for the prisoners<\/em><em> and <\/em><em>recovery of sight for the blind<\/em><em>, <\/em><em>to set the oppressed free<\/em><em>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Jesus\u2019 mission on this earth was to claim your baggage!&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, as we embark on this 5 week expedition through the cluttered corners of our lives, let\u2019s agree to do so in truth. Because there\u2019s no place for denial in the throne room of God (only truth and transparency).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And here\u2019s what you need to know \u2014 even if you\u2019re life is weighed down with <strong>heavy baggage<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-headings-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-a09a2c1f9c9e8c8bc4c8b7770507f176\">1. <strong>God still loves you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>So, while you might be tempted to deny the existence of your baggage or even hide it \u2014 there\u2019s really no point in doing so, because <strong>God<\/strong> <strong>knows all things!<\/strong> He sees all things. He is above all things. And even still, He loves you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The writer of <strong>Hebrews <\/strong>tells us in <strong>Hebrews 4:13,<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-857128f3fe7f47ff73c5aa79a48d07f0\"><strong><em>13&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><em>Nothing in all creation is hidden from God\u2019s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His point is that <strong>God<\/strong> knows all, sees all, and perceives all things \u2014 even your weightiest of baggage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He even knows those deep inner thoughts that we have, before any of them are spoken from our mouths. And if this is the case, then why would we act as though we are free when we are really weighed down by something in this life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It makes so much more sense just to admit our need for <strong>God\u2019s<\/strong> help.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As scripture attests, He is clearly aware of each and every aspect of our lives! He has been from the start \u2014 and the good news is that He will not abandon you in the midst of this trial.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You know, according to <strong>John <\/strong><strong>3:16-17<\/strong><strong> (Message), God\u2019s<\/strong> love exceeds our greatest need. As <strong>Jesus <\/strong>put it,<em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-b692283c01f702b2547fac3b9d1dac09\"><em>\u201cThis is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn\u2019t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And so, even if you\u2019re life is scattered with heavy baggage . . . <strong>God<\/strong> still loves you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But that\u2019s not all, because the <strong>Bible<\/strong> says \u2014 if your life is weighed down with baggage . . .&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-headings-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-5dd29bf85548035dccdce02486ae08d1\">2. <strong>God can <\/strong><strong>free<\/strong><strong> you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>While you may be powerless on your own to rid yourself of the weighty things of this life \u2014 God is not! The <strong>Bible<\/strong> tells us in <strong>Luke 18:27<\/strong> that <strong>Jesus<\/strong>, referring to salvation (and His ability to remove the guilt and shame of sin from our lives), told those who questioned him that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ec711f41274aba6b369833ed7504cd29\"><em>\u201cWhat is impossible with man is possible with God.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Luke 18:27<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The situation you are in right now may seem hard, or even hopeless \u2014 but not with<strong> God<\/strong>! <strong>God<\/strong> is able to set you free from the baggage that holds you back.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes this happens by <strong>God<\/strong> changing you \u2014 and sometimes it happens by <strong>God<\/strong> changing your situation. But the important thing to remember is that He has the power to do both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to <strong>God\u2019s great power<\/strong> \u2014 we must recognize the fact that it is without limit! &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, the whole of <strong>Christianity<\/strong> is one continuous work of <strong>God\u2019s omnipotence<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Consider <strong>the birth of Jesus<\/strong> \u2014 it was a miracle of divine power. That\u2019s why the angel said to <strong>Mary<\/strong>: <em>&#8220;With God nothing shall be impossible.&#8221;<\/em>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Or consider <strong>the resurrection of Jesus<\/strong> \u2014 it too was a testimony to <strong>God\u2019s omnipotence<\/strong>. The Bible describes that miraculous act as being done by the exceeding greatness of God\u2019s mighty power.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Consider your <strong>salvation<\/strong> \u2014 yet again an act of <strong>God\u2019s divine power<\/strong>, releasing you from the bondage of sin.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>And consider the <strong>ongoing<\/strong> <strong>act<\/strong> of <strong>God\u2019s<\/strong> <strong>work<\/strong> <strong>to<\/strong> <strong>make you like Him<\/strong> \u2014 to make you holy. Even this is a testimony of His unlimited power, which stands triumphantly above all things.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>So, when it comes to your <strong>baggage<\/strong> and the battles that accompany it, <strong>God is able<\/strong> to deliver you!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Along with freeing you from the baggage that weighs you down \u2014 <strong>Christ<\/strong> is also able to free you from the <strong>guilt and shame<\/strong> that tags along and often follows discarded baggage. It was this message that the apostle <strong>Paul<\/strong> gave us when he wrote the words of <strong>Romans 8:1-2. Listen to it in The Message <\/strong>translation.Here <strong>Paul<\/strong> writes,<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-e48525444fae6cdf2c28d75b174121bd\"><strong><em>\u201c<\/em><\/strong><em>(You) no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Romans 8:1-2 (MSG)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One author refers to this as the <strong>great heist of grace<\/strong>. As he puts it, the <strong>grace<\/strong> of <strong>God<\/strong> actually robs us of our shame \u2014 removing it from our lives for good!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By removing shame and blotting out our sin, <strong>God<\/strong> gives us the freedom we need to gain a new perspective on our lives, to see the value we have in His eyes and to discover His great plans for our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So today, we can either choose to live defeated or live delivered \u2014 but the work of <strong>Christ<\/strong> through the <strong>cross<\/strong> was to completely set us free!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And so, even if you\u2019re life is scattered with heavy baggage, know this . . . God still loves you and He can free you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But that\u2019s not all, because the <strong>Bible<\/strong> says \u2014 if your life is weighed down with baggage . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-headings-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-62ec844ff536fb3d3a4f27dc6366836b\">3. <strong>God will <\/strong><strong>restore<\/strong><strong> you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s a promise!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It was the psalmist who penned these words in <strong>Psalm 71:20 (NIV). <\/strong>He wrote,<em>&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-0850d5dc7e8ffa7af8a5debce7902d20\"><em>\u201cThough you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>God will restore you, but, only to the point that you are willing to be honest with yourself and honest with Him.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s more, is that He isn\u2019t going to force upon you the blessings that you don\u2019t want to receive. While He has made salvation available, only those who welcome it receive it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Likewise, while He has made your deliverance and restoration in this life available to all, only those who are willing to invite Him into their lives to do His will and to accomplish His work are ever going to experience it personally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What I\u2019m saying is that \u2014 like the psalmist <strong>David,<\/strong> we need to come to that place where we recognize God\u2019s power and invite His work in us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And that\u2019s just what He does in <strong>Psalm 139<\/strong>. He welcomes the <strong>presence of Christ<\/strong> into all the deep down dark corners of his life. It\u2019s like he opens the doors of his heart and mind to God and says, \u201cYou\u2019re free to search and seize\u201d all the baggage that weighs me down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And this isn\u2019t a new idea. In fact, it\u2019s something that <strong>great men and women<\/strong> of God have done for ages.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In <strong>verse 13-16<\/strong> of <strong>Psalm 139<\/strong>, <strong>David<\/strong> says to <strong>God<\/strong>,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-c39653fa3a7fa15e7b402d5b839dcb48\"><em>13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother\u2019s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>David<\/strong> understood that <strong>God<\/strong> had always been actively working in His life. And the same is true for you and me as well.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>And He hasn\u2019t stopped.<\/strong> From your conception to your death, <strong>God<\/strong> has been and will continue to be working on you. And that\u2019s because He has a <strong>distinctly divine plan<\/strong> for your life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your life is not some random, <strong>godless-game of chance.<\/strong> You were designed with purpose, and distinction, and destiny! God has you here for a purpose \u2014 and that is <strong>to know him<\/strong>, <strong>to honor him<\/strong>, and <strong>to steward everything<\/strong> <strong>He\u2019s placed in your hands<\/strong> for His glory!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And so, He is on your trail. In fact, God has been pursuing you for your entire life.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s the painful reality of our lives&#8230;We all have this baggage of guilt and shame and sin that we carry around with us &#8212; and it\u2019s not a laughing matter. It\u2019s no joke \u2014 its a serious problem.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And the reason its such a problem is because <strong>it seeks to hold us back<\/strong> and <strong>deter us<\/strong> from fully serving <strong>Christ<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If it\u2019s <strong>fear<\/strong> \u2014 it tells us that God\u2019s not <strong>trustworthy<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If it\u2019s <strong>guilt<\/strong> \u2014 it tells us that God\u2019s not <strong>kind<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If it\u2019s <strong>brokenness<\/strong> \u2014 it tells us that God <strong>doesn\u2019t care<\/strong> about us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If it\u2019s <strong>anger<\/strong> \u2014 it tells us that God\u2019s not <strong>good<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Every piece of destructive baggage in your life is something&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>that seeks to deter you from trusting God fully!&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>At it\u2019s core\u2014it seeks to separate you from God and&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>deter you for experiencing His best in your life.<\/strong><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But that\u2019s why <strong>Jesus\u2019<\/strong> <strong>death, burial,<\/strong> and <strong>resurrection <\/strong>is so important, because through it we discover <strong>God\u2019s perfect plan<\/strong> to love us, to free us, and to restore us to Himself.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And so, <strong>if you have<\/strong> <strong><em>experienced<\/em><\/strong> <strong>the gift of salvation<\/strong>, then celebrate God\u2019s continual work in your life!&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Listen, <strong>salvation<\/strong> isn\u2019t the end \u2014 it\u2019s just the beginning. So <strong>give Him access<\/strong> to <strong><em>\u2018ALL OF YOU\u2019<\/em><\/strong>. And experience His deliverance from the weighty things you\u2019ve been carrying around.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>So, how do we respond to this message?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We do as <strong>David<\/strong> did \u2014 and we pray as he prayed. Look at it with me. In <strong>verse 23-24<\/strong> he prayed;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-20f2514ee78931b20260519c17d4672f\"><em>23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s clear&#8230;<strong>David<\/strong> wants to be free of anything that would weigh him down, anything that would prevent him from reaching his full potential in<strong> God<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why not pray <strong>David&#8217;s prayer<\/strong> and make it your own. Ask <strong>God<\/strong> to search you and lead you in the way of righteousness. And over these next 5 weeks, as <strong>God<\/strong> shows you some things that you need to <strong>\u201clay down\u201d<\/strong>, <strong>be obedient<\/strong> to the leading of <strong>His Spirit<\/strong> and <strong>\u201clay it down\u201d!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-headings-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-ee235d23e36ff5a31f92e6ff217d56ad\"><strong>CONCLUSION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The good news is that the God who is your creator is also you <strong>redeemer<\/strong>. So when we welcome Him into our lives to SEARCH US, He won\u2019t destroy us \u2014 He will make us right!<strong> So, let\u2019s give Him full access! <\/strong>Let\u2019s Pray!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-headings-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-dffc97f28f2c541441d1cb9d5517c520\"><strong>CLOSING PRAYER<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SEARCH ME Psalm 139 INTRODUCTION Well good morning and welcome again to church. Thank you for coming today. I realize that this is the end &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1106","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1106","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1106"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1106\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2661,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1106\/revisions\/2661"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}