The Pursuit of God The Gaze of the SoulAugust 24, 2014Michael’s Personal Goal: To fix my eyes on Jesus, running my leg of the race with greater intentionality and focus“…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.” Hebrews 11:6Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1aFor it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8Consequently, faith comes from hearing the Message, and the Message is heard through the Word about Christ. Romans 10:17“Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live. 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. Numbers 21:8-9 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him.” John 3:14-151.Faith Defined: Faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving GodApp: All Eyes on Jesus!Those who look to Him are radiant;their faces are never covered with shame. Psalms 34:52. Obtaining Faith: directing the heart’s attention to Jesus“…run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1b-2aApp: As you begin by putting your sights on Jesus in the first place, you develop this gift by keeping your sights there and eventually it becomes your ARM (Auto Response Mode)So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 1:6-73. Strengthening Our Gaze: the value of faith disciplines“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35…let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?