James Lee 3 March 2013 Building A Deep Relationship With God
- the importance of having a lifelong alliance and deep relationship with God - Our journey of discipleship is : essentially a journey with God a journey of growth in our relationship with Him
Q : How is the state of our relationship with God? - I do not believe in having a passive relationship with God. - we need to work on growing our relationship with God
- The bible tells us we are to love God with ALL our heart, soul, strength and mind. * Deuteronomy 6 : 1-9 - first commandment in the New Testament - the lives of King Saul and King David and their respective relationships with God
- much in common between Saul and David - distinguished young men hand picked by God - both committed major wrongs - Yet one was rejected as king by God while the other had a lasting relationship with God.
- The key difference lied in their hearts, meaning the depth of their relationship with God.
3 Important observations into what it entails to have a deep relationship with God : I) Remembering God in Times of Goodness II) Responding to God s Correction III) Recognizing what Really Matters
I) Remembering God In Times Of Goodness - Saul s appointment as king over Israel was thus a sovereign appointment by God. - Saul appeared, however, to have forgotten that after he became king, his kingship became the reason for his downfall.
I) Remembering God In Times Of Goodness - material and familial blessings are legitimate outcomes of having a healthy relationship with God - But if we are not careful, God s blessings can become the very things that draw us away from Him.
I) Remembering God In Times Of Goodness - over time, if we are not careful, we may end up allowing our lives to be gradually taken over by the things and people that God has blessed us with - It can be a very subtle process.
Deuteronomy 8 : 11 18 Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, 12 lest - when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14 when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
I) Remembering God In Times Of Goodness - easy to forget God when times are good, and life becomes comfortable - we need to constantly remind ourselves that all we have, and all that we are, is a result of God s grace and provision
I) Remembering God In Times Of Goodness - In times of adversity, we need to remember the blessings and goodness God has given and done for us in the past, to encourage ourselves and to keep our spirits up. - cultivate an attitude of gratitude and humility regardless of how successful we may be
II) Responding to God s Correction - the manner Saul and David responded to God when confronted with their wrongdoings - Saul was under specific directions from God to totally destroy the Amalekites
II) Responding to God s Correction - Saul did not carry out the Lord s instruction. - Saul tried to justify his actions * 1 Samuel 15 : 20-21
II) Responding to God s Correction 1 Samuel 15 : 20 21 And Saul said to Samuel, But I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.
II) Responding to God s Correction 1 Samuel 15 : 22 23 But Samuel replied: Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king.
II) Responding to God s Correction - Our struggle with sin and the weakness of the flesh continues even after we say the sinners prayer. * Romans 7 : 14-25
II) Responding to God s Correction Romans 7 : 14 25 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
II) Responding to God s Correction - God understands our struggles with sin. But He also loves us too much to leave us in our struggles. - How we respond to God s correction each time becomes critical in terms of whether we grow deeper in our relationship with Him.
II) Responding to God s Correction * Abraham Lincoln : My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God s side, for God is always right. - God s correction is always justified.
II) Responding to God s Correction - David repented immediately when confronted by the prophet Nathan regarding his adultery with Bathsheba and the plotting of Uriah s death. * 2 Samuel 12 : 13 * Psalm 51
II) Responding to God s Correction - Teachability is fundamental to our discipleship journey. - our sins and failures per se will not separate us from God - It is our attitude towards sin and our weaknesses which will affect our relationship with God.
II) Responding to God s Correction - God can see through our hearts - an attitude and posture of contrition
III) Recognizing What Really Matters - easy to forget what or who are we living our lives for - live on earth is actually very short when we look at it through the lens of eternity Q : At the end, what will we be able to say to God? Q : What will God say to us?
III) Recognizing What Really Matters - rather than trying to fit God into our lives, we will fit our lives around Him instead * Joshua 24 : 15 But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. - God has not short changed us in any way.
III) Recognizing What Really Matters - we have an almighty God who loves us and who wants to have a deep relationship with us - anchor our lives upon a strong relationship with God, and truly live
Conclusion - constantly remember God for His goodness & blessings - importance of responding with the right attitude to God s correction - at the end of the day, the only thing that matters is our relationship with God