The audio from Sunday's sermon is available to listen online or via the podcast. God helped me, and there was a good response to a call for prayer. One young guy made a public declaration of the faith he had come to over the last few weeks in private. There is great joy in heaven over one sinner who repents!

Here are my notes, although they are perhaps less complete than usual.

Introduction

Welcome to the family. Want you to share in our joy. We unashamedly love kids here!

Joy of new birth only matched by the pain of those that couldn't.

You are here - some of you to share Ant and Sue's joy; others are also welcome - we want you to feel what it's like to be in God's family where we share each other's joy and pain.

A SENSE OF BELONGING, OF GOOD RELATIONSHOPS AND SIGNIFICANCE, IS WHAT WE ALL LOOK FOR

A woman who prayed for a son. We have also prayed for spiritual children � for some of you to be born again and join the family of God!

BEING NEEDY

ADVERTISING PLAYS ON OUR SENSE OF NEED

Some of us would have heard this before.

But this brings to the fore something we will all experience if we haven't already - the vivid reality when money and friends can't help.

Actually, we are ALL needy - quiet desperation despite our outward contentment.

Cried out for a relationship to make her significant � the cry of every heart � a child, a husband, a wife, a friend.

Things are hard - to God or away. Coming to meet God, not just go to church.

OUR FELT NEED IS NOT OUR REAL NEED - WHAT WE REALLY NEED

God is thinking - I could give her whatever, but that's not what she needs. She needs me.

• Our longing for significance, meaning, and relationships is actually a God-shaped hole.
• People say - but how will knowing God help?
• The greatest the most loving, the most amazing person in the universe.

HOW TO GET GOD! OR WHAT GOD FINDS IRRESISTABLE

There is a kind of person God finds irresistible � the one who crys to Him from a sense of NEED! God wants us to focus on HIM not ourselves . . .

According to C.J. Mahaney, "There is something that acts like a magnet to capture God's attention . . . humility."

We have nothing to give that wasn't given to us. But not only do we not have anything to give, but we are in debt.

A divine exchange is called for. God wants EVERYTHING from us � He will also take our sin, for GOD gave His own Son away to death . . . substitutionary Gospel . . .

WE NEED TO LEARN TO FOCUS OUR LIVES ON GOD RATHER THAN OURSELVES!

She didn't want a child to fulfill her own need - she wanted one to give to God.

CONCLUSION

NEEDY PEOPLE NEED GOD

THE RESULT AND IMPLICATIONS FOR US

2.8 He raises up the poor from the dust;

He lifts the needy from the ash heap

to make them sit with princes

and inherit a seat of honor.

Everything we have has been given us by God, we should hold onto it lightly and use it for Him!

Job - "The Lord gives, Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

Always answers cry of the desperate - Psalm.

Get caught up in God's purposes.

Seeking God, not just things.

Same God who can make the barren a mother of six!

Can't outgive God.

The God who gave His Son!