WEBVTT 00:04.250 --> 00:10.404 [SPEAKER_00]: In today's first 15, we're going to look at the longing we all share for fascination. 00:11.386 --> 00:19.744 [SPEAKER_00]: We serve an absolutely fascinating God, a God who has created a whole world to fascinate us. 00:20.247 --> 00:32.908 [SPEAKER_00]: May we set our eyes on Him today by the power of the Holy Spirit that our longing for fascination would be satisfied in relationship with our powerful and good God. 00:33.910 --> 00:36.214 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 00:55.094 --> 01:12.816 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Romans chapter 1 verses 22 and 23, Scripture says. 01:13.977 --> 01:28.982 [SPEAKER_00]: claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images, resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 01:33.309 --> 01:38.938 [SPEAKER_00]: All of humanity is marked by an insatiable desire for fascination. 01:39.796 --> 01:46.525 [SPEAKER_00]: We long for that, which is unexplainable, intensely interesting, and unfathomable. 01:47.967 --> 01:54.015 [SPEAKER_00]: But too often, we settle for being temporarily fascinated by the things of the world. 01:55.216 --> 02:09.195 [SPEAKER_00]: We look at concepts, cultures, and man-made creations, and find fascination in that which 02:10.964 --> 02:19.641 [SPEAKER_00]: You and I were created to be fascinated by the invisible nature and miraculous supernatural works of God. 02:21.344 --> 02:30.863 [SPEAKER_00]: We were created to know personally the God who created a universe so vast that its enormity is beyond measure. 02:32.513 --> 02:43.423 [SPEAKER_00]: were created to experience communion with the God who created that which is so miniscule, even our largest microscopes can't capture it. 02:45.205 --> 02:52.252 [SPEAKER_00]: We serve a God of wonder who alone can satisfy our insatiable longing for fascination. 02:54.074 --> 03:01.761 [SPEAKER_00]: But somewhere along the way, we've chosen as a people to seek fascination in the world 03:03.023 --> 03:09.352 [SPEAKER_00]: Romans 1, verses 22 and 23, gives us insight into this destructive pursuit. 03:10.874 --> 03:28.980 [SPEAKER_00]: Scripture says that early on in history, humans claiming to be wise, became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images, resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 03:30.445 --> 03:34.691 [SPEAKER_00]: thin turned our gaze from God to His creation. 03:35.853 --> 03:45.867 [SPEAKER_00]: We exchanged that which would wholly fascinate us for all of eternity, for idols that were never designed to satisfy us at all. 03:47.609 --> 03:55.120 [SPEAKER_00]: You can see it all around, in our culture we idolize the creative over the creator. 03:55.960 --> 04:00.646 [SPEAKER_00]: We lift up men and women, instead of looking to the king of kings. 04:02.328 --> 04:07.854 [SPEAKER_00]: We spend hours placing our hope in that which will never fully satisfy us. 04:09.596 --> 04:11.038 [SPEAKER_00]: I can see it in myself. 04:12.139 --> 04:15.343 [SPEAKER_00]: I jump from material thing to material thing. 04:16.084 --> 04:23.993 [SPEAKER_00]: TV show to TV show, idea to idea, just looking for something to fascinate me. 04:24.580 --> 04:29.611 [SPEAKER_00]: I'll be fascinated with something for a week or month at most and then I get bored. 04:30.914 --> 04:38.231 [SPEAKER_00]: We buy and sell, get in and out of relationships, and ride emotional roller coasters. 04:38.692 --> 04:43.382 [SPEAKER_00]: The whole time thinking, this will be it, this is what I'm missing. 04:45.134 --> 04:59.376 [SPEAKER_00]: God is calling us to a restored life, where our need for fascination is satisfied in Him, producing peace, joy, fulfillment, and purpose. 05:01.519 --> 05:12.576 [SPEAKER_00]: He is calling us to stop seeking fascination in that which is fleeting, and to root ourselves in Him who is eternally satisfying. 05:13.990 --> 05:25.112 [SPEAKER_00]: He is calling us to look at the world through a heavenly perspective, to see that all of his creation good or bad would draw us to himself. 05:27.777 --> 05:36.133 [SPEAKER_00]: Take some time and guide it prayer, to assess the ways in which you are seeking satisfaction for your longing to be fascinated. 05:37.210 --> 05:44.250 [SPEAKER_00]: May you be wholly fascinated by your present, eternal, and loving Heavenly Father today. 06:06.472 --> 06:10.442 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, where do you seek fascination? 06:12.066 --> 06:19.384 [SPEAKER_00]: Are you looking to the created or the creator to satisfy your need to be fascinated? 07:01.990 --> 07:02.591 [SPEAKER_00]: next. 07:03.793 --> 07:07.898 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask the Holy Spirit to help you explore the depths of God. 07:09.340 --> 07:11.123 [SPEAKER_00]: Have faith in God's Word. 07:12.485 --> 07:20.135 [SPEAKER_00]: First Corinthians 2 verse 10 says, these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. 07:21.117 --> 07:30.850 [SPEAKER_00]: For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 08:01.711 --> 08:13.383 [SPEAKER_00]: And last, ask God to teach you something new about himself. 08:14.885 --> 08:20.431 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask him to show you how he desires to satisfy your longing for fascination. 08:22.212 --> 08:29.440 [SPEAKER_00]: Some five verse seven says, because of your unfailing love, I can enter your house. 08:30.213 --> 08:33.912 [SPEAKER_00]: I will worship at your temple with deepest awe. 09:16.754 --> 09:21.865 [SPEAKER_00]: God designed the world in such a way that it would direct us back to Him. 09:23.328 --> 09:35.775 [SPEAKER_00]: He wants you to be fascinated with your spouse, nature, ideas, creation, and even entertainment as long as they direct you back to their true source. 09:37.308 --> 09:50.924 [SPEAKER_00]: He wants to fascinate you, both through the works of his hands, and in spending time with him, in meditation, worship, study of the word, and simply listening as he speaks. 09:52.586 --> 09:57.832 [SPEAKER_00]: He's designed so many wonderful avenues with which to satisfy your longings. 09:59.013 --> 10:02.978 [SPEAKER_00]: Just don't get caught up with the created things themselves. 10:04.460 --> 10:09.229 [SPEAKER_00]: May God satisfy your longing for fascination today and every day. 10:09.270 --> 10:13.979 [SPEAKER_00]: May He remain the source of your wonder and awe. 10:15.001 --> 10:16.664 [SPEAKER_00]: The choice is up to you. 10:17.987 --> 10:21.574 [SPEAKER_00]: What will you spend your time and energy seeking today? 10:36.252 --> 10:41.518 [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you so much for listening to today's podcast, The Longing for Fascination. 10:42.239 --> 10:44.101 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with Verse 15. 10:44.982 --> 10:51.910 [SPEAKER_00]: As you go about your day today, look for opportunities to have your longing for fascination satisfied in God. 10:52.852 --> 11:00.100 [SPEAKER_00]: Allow yourself to take in the world around you, the grandeur of it, as well as its fascinating details. 11:00.755 --> 11:09.410 [SPEAKER_00]: And tomorrow, we'll take a look at our longing for beauty and how God desires to satisfy it in meaningful ways every day. 11:10.652 --> 11:15.000 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you seek Him.