Drawing Near to God
Text: Psalm 73:23-28
Rich and famous not normally Christians
I. Reasons for Drawing Near to God
a. Blessings resulting from a relationship with Him
i. He is continually with me
ii. He holds my right hand
iii. He guides me
iv. He will receive me into glory
v. He is my only help in heaven
vi. Nothing on earth satisfies
vii. I am going to die someday
viii. God is my strength
ix. He is my eternal portion
b. In light of these reasons refusing to draw near is insane
II. Results of Refusing to Draw Near to God
a. Those far from Him will eventually be eternally separated from Him
b. This is our choice
i. Included are those who cheat on Him
III. How to Draw Near to God
a. Recognize that it is THE good
i. Alternative courses of action rejected
ii. Requires getting further away from the world
1. Happy to give things up in order to please him (we do this for people we love)
a. Temptations lose their power
b. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psa 16:11)
2. Sure cure for worldliness and worry
b. Puts trust in Him above all else
i. Reference Valley of Vision prayer (what we expect happiness from is what we put our trust in)
ii. Means surrendering my will to His (He knows best)
c. Trusting Him as the source of all blessings
i. Peace
1. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isa 26:3)
ii. Direction
1. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Pro 3:6)
iii. Joy
1. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psa 16:11)
iv. Every good gift
1. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (Jam 1:17)
v. (all blessings) Including our desire for Him
1. Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. (Psa 65:4)
d. What can I do?
i. Pray
1. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. (Psa 145:18)
ii. Be humble
1. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (Jam 4:6)
iii. Be fervent
1. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. (Mat 11:12)
iv. Be obedient
1. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (Joh 14:21)
v. Be confident
1. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (Jam 4:8)
a. A word about double mindedness
Prodigal son’s return
And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. (Luk 15:20)
ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
