RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Something We All Desire

“I’ll be a friend to Jesus”

“And He walks with me and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own”

“I’m a child of the King”

Modern Concepts

“Instrumental music in worship makes me feel closer to God”

“The atmosphere in the worship makes me feel closer to God”

“The upbeat singing makes me feel closer to God”

“There’s so much energy & love in the room. God must be here.”

Modern Concepts

“How to Feel Closer to God” Dr. Bill Gaultiere, Reformed Church of America, Crystal Cathedral, www.newhopenow.org

“On my retreat I was able to push through the distractions and anxieties and enter God's love, joy, and peace. I did it simply by entrusting myself to God. For weeks prior to the weekend I prayed that God would use this time in my life and in my relationships with Him and with my wife. And on the retreat I continually focused and refocused myself - my energies, my thoughts, my affections, and my prayers on God. When admiring the beauty of the flowers, when breathing the cool ocean air, when hiking the nearby mountain, when meditating on a scripture passage, when confessing a sin, whatever I was doing or experiencing I talked to God about it. And often I nodded or smiled to my wife or pointed at something I wanted to share with her, so that she was included in many of my encounters with God.”

Modern Concepts Barbara Lardinais, Apostolic Team Ministry (ATM)

network of churches, www.hannahscupboard.com

“God is close to us always and we may learn how to abide in him better as time goes by but I must also admit that there will be times we do not "feel" close. On an emotional level sometimes God seems very distant, even though he is not…I don't want to put words in God's mouth but I sometimes think he withdraws temporarily so that we will press in for him deeper. He wants to take us to the next level like a shepherd who heads out to the next pasture while the wooly ones are busy eating. The sheep look around and don't see him so they start scrambling to find him and keep at it until they do.”

Modern Concepts http://answers.yahoo.com – “I do not feel

in ANY way close to God”

“Though there are no rules or steps to becoming a Christian, the following is a Biblical summarization of what you need to know and do:…If you prayed a prayer like this and meant it with all your heart, YOU ARE SAVED! You have been "born again" spiritually as a child of God. Your sins have been washed away and you are a person with a new nature. “

Modern Concepts Billy Graham – from lesson “How to Know Jesus” on

www.billygraham.org

“Here is how you can receive Christ:1. Admit your need (I am a sinner).2. Be willing to turn from your sins (repent).3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave.4. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit.(Receive Him as Lord and Savior.)”

“This is just the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ. To deepen this relationship you should:1. Read your Bible everyday to know Christ better.2. Talk to God in prayer every day.3. Tell others about Christ.4. Worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached.5. As Christ's representative in a needy world, demonstrate your new life by your love and concern for others. “

GODEmotion

GODEmotion

GODEmotion

GOD

Emotion

Terms To Look At…

God and Christ IN Me Me being IN God and Christ Dwell in God or Christ God and Christ dwelling in Me Close to God and Christ Fellowship With God and Christ Know God & Christ Relationships with God or Christ

God & Christ In Me

Goal and Desire Eph 3:14-19

Requirements Love the Brethren - 1Jo 4:12-13“If we love one another, God dwelleth in us,

and his love is perfected in us.” Keep Christ’s Word – Jn 14:23“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man

love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

Me In God & Christ

Requirements Keeps Christ’s Commandments - 1Jo 3:24 “And he that keepeth his commandments

dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”

2Jo 1:9 “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in

the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Close (Nigh) to God & Christ

It’s possible to think your CLOSE but in fact be FAR - Mt 15:8

“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”

Brought close to God by Christ’s Blood…not an Emotion -Eph 2:13

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

Close (Nigh) to God & Christ

Close to God by Doing His Word Ps 145:18 “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon

him, to all that call upon him in truth.”

Jn 17:17 – “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

Jas 4:8 “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

Fellowship With God & Christ

Requirement - 1 Jn 1:5-10“If we say that we have fellowship with

him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Know God & Christ

Requirement - 1 Jn 2:3-6 “And hereby we do know that we know him, if

we keep his commandments” Know – Ginosko

Mt 1:25 - “Ginosko” between people can be a personal relationship

Explains Mt 7:23“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Relationships With God & Christ

Friendship with God & Christ Requirement - Jn 15:14“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I

command you.”

Christ’s Family - Mt 12:50 – “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father

which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Children of God - 1 Jn 3:1-10 “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.”

Terms To Look At…

RELATIONSHIP REQUIREMENT

God and Christ IN Me Me being IN God and

Christ Close to God and

Christ Fellowship With God

and Christ Know God & Christ Relationships with God

and Christ

Love Brethren & Keep Word

Keep Commandments

Purify your hearts Walk in the Light

Keep His Commands Do the will of God

Relationship Requires Baptism

Rom 6:4 – “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

1 Cor 12:13 – “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

Gal 3:27 – “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”