Return to Me
Sunday April 19, 2020
Notes
1. Move Up Higher
John 6:16 Living
When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force and make Him their King, He went up higher into the mountain alone.
Luke 14:15–24 NKJV
Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him,“Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 Then He said to him, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, 17 and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ 18 But they all with one accord began to make excuses.
- The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’
- And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’
- Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’
The servant came and reported these things to his master being angry, said ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Luke 14:24
24 For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”
Mark 8:36 NKJV
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
Malachi 3:13–15 NKJV
Your words have been harsh against Me,” Says the Lord, Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, And that we have walked as mourners Before the Lord of hosts? 15 So now we call the proud blessed, For those who do wickedness are raised up; They even tempt God and go free.’ ”
2. This Changes Everything
Isaiah 55:6–10 NKJV
Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater,
There is Protection in the Secret Place.
Psalm 31:20
You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the schemes of men. You conceal them in Your shelter from accusing tongues.
There Is Rest In The Secret Place.
Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Isaiah 55:11–13 NKJV
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. 12 “For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the Lord for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
3. Seated With Jesus
Ephesians 2:6 NKJV
and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
2 Chronicles 7:12–15 NKJV
Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.
Daniel 12:3 NKJV
Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.