SUNFLOWER INTRO
The Sunflower is probably the most amazing flowers God created.
They literally follow the sun.
No I don’t know about you, but one the most amazing things I have seen is a field of sunflowers. Watching one follow the sun through is cute. Watching hundreds in absolute unison follow the sun is actually quite incredible.
Something I found out recently, is that Sunflowers continue tracking the suns direction long after sun set. Through 360 degree’s they ensure that they are always oriented in the direction of the sun.
Their unity is totally dependant on one thing. Their relationship to the sun.
SUMMARY
As we continue today along the series of relationships, we are going learn how it is that we can orientate our lives to God, how we can relate to God, and how that brings us into a special unity in relationships with others. Wives husbands children, friends work colleagues, and yes even opposing super 14 supporters.
THE SUNFLOWER CHALLENGE – JEREMIAH 31:33
Last week we looked at the invitation from God. I am your God and you are my people. Jeremiah 31:33
THE PASSION OF GOD FOR THE RELATIONSHIP
Do you remember that God wants us to relate to him. He begs of it us. He wants so much that he gave his only begotten son to get that relationship happening.
CHALLNEGE AND QUESTIONS
What more do you want from a God to get your attention? How much more brightly do you need the sun to burn before you take up the sunflower challenge?
To accept Gods invitation to relate to him. TO RSVP and say God I want that relationship.
I want to orientate my life to you in a relationship that is based on where you are both day and night?
RELIGION VS RELATIONSHIP
To fully understand relationship with God, we must first understand what relationship.
In the context what would the opposite of relationship be?
Well in the context, I think the opposite would be religion.
RELIGION A VS B
A 19th-century Danish theologian identified two kinds of religion – Religion A and Religion B.
RELIGION A
The FIRST is “faith” in the name of religion only.
(2 Tim. 3:5 “They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that.”)
It’s the practice of attending church without genuine faith in the living God. Its practice with no personal relationship.
RELIGION DEFINITION
* Webster defines “Religion” as, “a particular system of belief or worship built around God, moral ideals, a philosophy of life, etc.”
RELIGION B
Religion B, on the other hand, is a life-transforming, destiny-changing experience.
It’s a definite commitment to the crucified and risen Savior, which establishes an ongoing personal relationship between a forgiven sinner and a gracious God.
RELIGIONS SUMMARY
There are a lot of “Religions” in the world that has nothing to do with God.
There are a lot of people with “Religions” that will never receive an eternal blessing.
1. OUTSIDE AND NOT WHAT GOD SEES
RELIGION ALONE focuses on the things others can see and forgets that God can see everything about them.
Luke 11:39-40 “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are still filthy--full of greed and wickedness! Fools! Didn’t God make the inside as well as the outside?”
2. WORRIED ABOUT WHAT OTHERS THINK WANTS TO BE PERFECT
RELIGION ALONE worries about what others may think and wants to be PERFECT.
(Luke 11:42-43 “But how terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you completely forget about justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things. How terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For how you love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the respectful greetings from everyone as you walk through the markets!”
3. LOOKS FOR LOOPHOLES
Religion Alone finds the LOOPHOLES in the regulations in order to avoid obeying them.
Luke 11:46 “"Yes," said Jesus, "how terrible it will be for you experts in religious law! For you crush people beneath impossible religious demands, and you never lift a finger to help ease the burden.”
4. MAKES HEROES OF PAST REJECTS PRESENT
Religion Alone honors heroes of the past but rejects God’s work in the PRESENT.
Luke 11:47 “How terrible it will be for you! For you build tombs for the very prophets your ancestors killed long ago.”
5. ACEDEMIC
Religion Alone seeks a academic understanding of the Bible in order to be in CONTROL.
Luke 11:52 “How terrible it will be for you experts in religious law! For you hide the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.” *
Religion ALONE prevents people from becoming GENUINE Christians! Christians orientated on a relationship with GOD!
Can’t handle storms…
Can’t deal with tough times…
Won’t be able to persevere in the midst of adversity…
Won’t be able to deal with the attacks of the enemy…
Your faith will become faulty…
Your praise will become passive…
Your witness will become weak…
Your testimony will become tired…
A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
Relationship is a connection, an association between you and something else…
Relationship is the kinship that exists between you and someone else…
Relationship is the camaraderie/ companionship that exists between you and those that you are close to…
Being in a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God means there are no SECRETS between you and God and that PRODUCES a CLEAN SPIRIT and LIFE.
Luke 12:1 “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. The time is coming when everything will be revealed; all that is secret will be made public. Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!”
An honest• relationship with God avoids trying to keep secrets.
Being in a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God means that you and God are in COMMUNICATION with each other.
In the old song, “In The Garden” the words of the first verse and• chorus says, “I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses, And the voice I hear Falling on my ear, The Son of God discloses. And He walks with me and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.” * Now that’s COMMUNICATION!
Being in a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with God brings about a PEACE because we know God’s PROTECTION is upon us.
(Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” *
God takes care of the SPARROWS will He not take YOU also, are you not worth more than the SPARROWS?
Being in a Right Relationship with God means you will PRAISE and WORSHIP God for ALL He DOES!
Being in a Right Relationship with God means you will be LOYAL to Jesus no matter what the COST may be!
Being in a Right Relationship with God means you will TRUST the Holy Spirit to GUIDE and DIRECT you in your walk with the Lord.
There are FOUR STEPS essential to beginning the walk of a Right Relationship with God:
GENUINE CONFESSION
Confession means that I am honest to God about my sin.
GENUINE REPENTANCE.
Repentance means I TURN from that sin.
Repentance is a military term meaning, “about face.” OMKEER - It is a TOTAL change in thought and behavior in how we think and act.
GENUINE FAITH.
The Bible says, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that he exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
GENUINE OBEDIENCE.
Obedience is the PROOF that our hearts have been changed by the GRACE of God.
(“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:5-7)
We read in Hebrews, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”
CONCLUSION
Go doesn’t’ care about your religion and your religious practices. God cares about your heart. Your works and religion should be a reflection of your heart.
If you don’t understand your relationship, your place in God, you’ll find yourself trying to do what only God can do. If you are sitting confused, messed-up, discouraged, depressed, unable to praise God the way you feel you are supposed to – it because you are spending all of your energy trying to be your own god. Trying to bless yourself, heal yourself, promote yourself, climb the latter of success yourself, trying to solve your own problems, answer your own prayers, trying to cover up for God, because they feel as if he’s not doing it fast enough,
We spoke about the new last week. Today God is asking through Jeremiah 31:33 for a new relationship with you. It’s a….
A new level of life…
A new level of service…
A new level of giving…
A new level of prayer…
A new level of praise…
A new level of worship…
A new level of stewardship…
A new level of commitment…
A new level of holiness…
