In this series, we will be looking at seven key areas of life and how God can make a difference in each one. Today we’ll consider how we might grow in spiritual health and get closer to God. Now, one might not think we need a reason to understand why getting closer to God is crucial to growing in spiritual health, but let’s just sum it up as follows:
The further away you get from God, the more your life is troubled; but the closer you get to God, the more your life is transformed.
I’m assuming we all want to be close to God, because we’re here today. But the Bible says “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own.” (Isaiah 53:6, NLT) In other words, like sheep, we tend to wander.
So today, we’re going to talk about how to get close to God, how to stay close to God, and if you’ve fallen away from God, how do you get back in close relationship with God.
Fortunately we have a story in the Bible on how to get close to God and stay close to Him. It’s the story of the Prodigal Son, in in Luke 15.
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From this story we learn four things we need to do to get close to God. This is the pathway to spiritual transformation.
1. You’ve Got To Get Fed Up - V. 17 “When he came to his senses”
Nothing is going to happen in your life until first you get dissatisfied with things as they are. If you think you’re just fine, then you can sit out the next seven weeks because nothing’s going to happen until you recognize your need for change. You’ve got to get hungry. You’ve got to get anxious for a change. Nothing happens until you get fed up.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” - Matthew 5:6 (NIV)
Are you there yet? If not, just give it time. God will go to work to develop a holy dissatisfaction in you. He’ll let a little rain in your life. And if that doesn’t work He’ll let in a little bit more. And if that does not work He’ll send a storm. Why? Because though God loves you just the way you are, He loves you too much to let you stay that way. He will do what He can to keep you from wasting your life.
“You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink. But you can salt his oats and make him thirsty.” - Anonymous
God often makes you thirsty by putting salt in your oats. Whether it’s to bring you to Him or to bring you back to Him, God will work to make you aware that you’re headed is wrong way. Now, He really doesn’t have to do much, because you’ll be doing most of the work for Him. When you’re going away from God, you’ll be your own worst enemy, just like the young man in this parable. But just know that when you get fed up, when you decide you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired, that’s God knocking at your door.
2. You’ve Got To Own Up - v. 18 “I have sinned”
I own up to my own sin. That’s the second thing that this young man did. And nothing is going to happen until you own up.
A lot of people today are fed up; but they want to blame something or someone else for their dissatisfaction. So they look everywhere but to God to fulfill them. They blame others for their troubles. They blame God for their troubles. They look everywhere else but to themselves for someone or something to blame for their troubles. Notice how you spell blame: “b-lame.” It’s being lame when you blame other
people or things for your spiritual condition.
The reason your life is a mess is because you are living life your way; and “news flash,” when it comes to life, YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING! Only the Author of life can guide you in living life to the full. That’s why He’s been “salting your oats” as we mentioned earlier. He’s calling you to get fed up and to own up to the fact that your problem is going your own way instead of His way. The Bible calls this sin. And sin is what separates us from God.
“It’s your sins that have cut you off from God.” - Isaiah 59:2 (NLT)
“There’s nothing wrong with God; the wrong is in you.” - Isaiah 59:2 (The Message)
Whether I am coming to God for the first time or returning to Him, I need to own up to the fact that my problem is I’ve been going my own way rather than God’s way. I need to admit my sin and recognize that forgiveness is available because God paid the penalty for my sin by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. I need to admit my sin and turn to God.
The problem with too many people is that they are not fed up. But once you’re sufficiently fed up, you will own up. You will say, “I’ve been going my way too long, I’ve got to turn to God.” When I do that, what is God’s response to my facing up to my sin? He freely forgives.
“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.” - Psalm 51:1-4 (NLT)
When you own up to your sin, you recognize that your problem is that you are in rebellion, going your own way as opposed to God’s way, which leads you to cleanse and forgive you, and He will.
3. You’ve Got To Offer Up - v. 19 “make me”
If you want to draw close to God as one coming to Him for the first time, or as one who is returning to Him, you need to offer up your life to Him. This is the third thing that we find this young man did. He got fed up – he came to his senses. He owned up – he said I’ve sinned against God. Then he offered up.
Notice in how in verse 12, Jesus said the son drifted away saying, “GIVE ME . . .” But here in verse 19, as he comes back to his father, he says, “MAKE ME like one of your hired hands (a servant).” That is transformation: When your heart moves from self-centeredness to God centeredness. Now, this transformation doesn’t happen overnight. But there is a decision that starts the process.
The New Testament was originally written in Greek. The Greek word translated “transformed” is the word, metamorphoo.” It is the word from which we get the word, “metamorphosis.” What is metamorphosis? It’s when a caterpillar becomes a chrysalis; and then goes from a chrysalis into a butterfly. That’s metamorphosis. And it doesn’t happen overnight. There’s that stage when it forms a little cocoon, but when it breaks out a butterfly is stunning!
God made you to be a butterfly. God made you to soar. But you’ve got to go through the transformation process. Transformation is a process but the starting point is what the Prodigal Son says, Make me. That’s offer up. Make me. Transform me. Change me. God, I don’t want to live the rest of my life the way I am living right now. Change me.
Romans 12:2 is our theme verse for this campaign. But listen the what Paul says right before this verse which speaks about transformation:
“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering.” - Romans 12:1 (The Message)
No transformation will happen until you offer up your life to God.
Conclusion: The Father’s Response - vs. 20-23
Notice he didn’t wait for the son to come home. While he was still distant the father ran out to where he was. God is waiting for this
moment in your life. He’s waiting for you to get fed up with your life as it is, to own up to your sin, and to offer up your life to Him. And when you do, He is ready to receive you! But notice what He invites you to when you come to Him - a party, a celebration!
How do I get close to God? Whether I need to come to Him or return to Him, the path is basically the same: I get fed up, I own up; and I offer up. But if I am going to remain close to God . . .
4. You’ve Got To Lift Up - v. 24 “So they began to celebrate.”
Say “thank you” to God. Thank Him for His grace. Thank Him for His love. Thank Him for His goodness. Lift up your praise. Through lifting up our praise and thanksgiving to God, we stay close to Him!
“Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (The Message)
“Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.” - Ephesians 5:19-20 (The Message)
Are you fed up? Then own up. Are you willing to own up? Then offer up. Are you willing to offer up? Then accept the Father’s invitation to life up your praise and thanksgiving to Him. And watch the difference God will be free to make in your life!
