God’s Plea to the Christian: Let’s Get Better Acquainted

 

Colossians 1:10:  “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

II Peter 3:18:   “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen. “

Both of the above verses speaks of growing in the Knowledge of God!!

 

Psalm 46:10:   “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

 

• In December 2012, God had burdened my heart to something truly spectacular for Him in this season of life.   One of those requests was to win at least two people to Christ EVERY week of the year.
• Another request was to get to Know God on a much deeper level than ever before.

            A lot us know ABOUT God, but do we REALLY know God?  Are we close to Him?  Is He near to our hearts?  Are we living each day with the complete awareness that God is living within us, and Sees; Knows; and is Aware of all that we Think, Say, or Do?

 

What is your desire in the “Relationship” you have with God?

 

Yes, we know ABOUT God, but this is not enough this year—for this is only INTELLECTUAL!

I want to Really Know God Intimately!!

Please turn to Psalm 42: 1:  This year, as I am nearer Heaven I find a yearning deep in my soul!!  I not only want to know God; but I desperately want people to truly see what a life spent with Jesus really looks like!!

 

Romans 8:29: “.. to be conformed to the image of his Son…”

 

•   Eph.  5: 1:  “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.”

 

How does Scripture DESCRIBE Intimacy with God?

 

1.      John 10:11 describes one way:  A Shepherd with his Sheep.  So close to his sheep, he would be willing to die for them!

 

2.      Isaiah 54:5  &  Jer. 31:32 mentions God as The Husband  & Ephesians 5: speaks of Jesus being the Bridegroom with the Church as His Bride!!   A good husband will do anything for his wife and Family!!   There is a closeness in my marriage that no one else even comes close to Bonnie!

 

 

3.      A Parent-Child relationship. Any of us would do ANYTHING for our Children.    We love them;  want to spend time with them; 

                         Romans 8:15:     Abba lit.  “Daddy”    Do you see God as your Father?  

 Think of all He does for us as His Children.   

 

Intimacy with God WILL lead you to the place where you become known in Heaven as:

 

1. A Friend of God as Abraham.   Turn to James 2:23 please.     Class:  What was there in Abraham’s life that led God to call him His friend?      His Obedience:  Gen. 11:31;  Ur was highly advanced; well ahead of its time.  He ‘Willingly’ left a Beautiful and modern city in order to obey God.    

Gen. 12: 1-4;   Later, was willing to obey even though it meant the sacrifice of his Son.

 John 15:12-14. 

 

2.     To be known in Heaven as one : ”Who Walked with God”    

 Only two people in the Bible is it said of, that he walked with God!

Read  Genesis 5:22 & 24  and Genesis 6:9: 

Why do you suppose that it was only said of two men out of the 1,181 men mentioned in the Bible that Scripture says, “They walked with God?”      In a future article, we will Search the Scriptures to see what is involved in Walking with God!!

3.      To be known in Heaven as:   “A Man after God’s own Heart!”   Acts 13:32.   

Today has just been the beginning to what I believe will be a Life-Changing study in ALL our lives.  

• God desires us to walk with Him intimately;
• God desires us to yearn and long to spend time with Him;
• God desires us to become His close Friend as was Abraham.

It is Possible to be known in these ways, but it will not be easy!!  Will you take this journey with me this year?

Perhaps you can share with us the struggles you face in walking with God.

Pastor, How Can I REALLY Live a Life of Victory?

Christians EVERYWHERE are asking the same Question about Victory!

 As I have traveled across America, and in several Countries, one question which I can count on being asked of me is: “Pastor, can I REALLY Live a Life of Victory as a Christian?”   This of course saddens me deeply, knowing that so many good, loving Believers are struggling to live a life of Victory.

I shall continue teaching on this subject for a few weeks, as there is an intense desire in my heart to help elevate your walk with God.   To truly walk with God is to walk in Victory.   As I pen these words, I am envisioning you sitting across my desk, asking for my counsel from your question.  May I first acknowledge your desire?  I applaud you for searching for this answer.  Now, as you and I are sitting across the desk, let us pray right now expressing this to our Father.

A Prayer to our Father for Victory

Our Father, my dear Brother/Sister in Christ has come for spiritual assistance.   They have been struggling in their walk with You.  At times they have been very close to you; yet at other times had felt distance in the relationship.   Today, we come together with a desire on our hearts.  That desire is to live a life of Victory.   We claim Psalm 37:4 where YOU Promised to give us the desires of our hearts IF we would only delight in you.  Father, our delight is in You!   You are our joy!  We love You and desperately wish to honor You with our hearts and lives.  Now we ask, and even claim the promise of receiving the desires of our hearts.  Please help my dear friend to experience a life of sustained Victory.   Amen.

It is Definitely Possible to Live in Victory!

Everyone faces difficult situations; however, there is no need to allow them to rob you of your victory and joy! This is what was happening in the Book of Philippians.  The Christians in the Church at Philippi has four major thieves robbing Christians of their Joy and Victory.  Let me show you.

1. The first Thief of Joy is  Circumstances.

In Philippians, Paul was in jail and it appeared to many that it was a bad thing.  Not so to Paul.  The attitude Paul had, was that God allowed circumstances to enter into his life for the express purpose of leading others to Jesus.   Notice Philippians 1:12-14:  “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;  ¹³So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;     ¹⁴And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”    Paul said it became a good thing that he had been arrested as he had won more people to Christ and in fact, other Christians who previously were fearful of witnessing, had become soul-winners for God.

1. 2.      The second thief of Victory is People. 

Each of us have lost our joy because of People at some point in our lives.  Paul issued the prescription to overcome this thief in Philippians 2:1-3:  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.   ³Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.   ⁴Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

1. 3.      The third thief Victory are Things.         

People are ALWAYS wanting more! Never really satisfied. This insatiable craving will never be fully satisfied though seeking possessions.  Eleven times in this chapter Paul uses the word things.  In Philippians 3:19, Paul points out that MOST Christians “…..mind earthly things.”  Your solution is to focus on “Heavenly things”., Philippians 3:20.

1. 4.      The fourth thief of Victory is Worry.        

Worry means to be pulled apart.  Our fears pull us in one direction while our Faith pulls us in the opposite direction.  Worry is really saying to God, “This is too big for even you God!   I have no hope!  I cannot expect any relief from heaven!   Worry is an inside job which will completely remove ALL joy and energy from your life.  However, worry is like a rocking chair in that both will provide you with something to do, yet neither will get you anywhere.

Why worry when you CAN trust our Omnipotent, Compassionate, Omnipresent Father who loves you so much that He provided for your greatest need by sending His Son, Jesus to pay your sin debt for you?  Wow!    I decided that since I trusted God with my eternal, never-dying soul to take me to heaven many years ago, whom I barely knew, then I could now trust Him to provide, protect, and work on my behalf.

What are some thieves that have been robbing you of your Victory and Joy recently?  And what steps will you take to remove that thief?  Please take a moment and share your thoughts.