OPENING ILLUSTRATION: Play the video “The Story.”
INTRODUCTION: God desires to build a personal relationship with each of us, cultivating our hearts, character, and purpose to reflect His love and grace in the world.
You might wonder, “Why would God want a relationship with me?” Well, He loves you unconditionally, beyond what human words can express.
Just as a loving parent desires to spend time with their child, God yearns for us to draw near to Him. He cherishes the time you spend in prayer, talking to Him as you would speak to your best friend, pouring out your heart with sincerity.
Cultivating a personal relationship with God is a deeply meaningful journey—one that blends intentionality, vulnerability, and spiritual practice. Eventually, this relationship impacts all our other relationships. What is your relationship with Jesus?
HOW TO BEGIN A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
BE SAVED …
1. REPENTANCE (Matthew 9:13; 2 Corinthians 7:10)
The essence of repentance is beautifully encapsulated in two pivotal New Testament passages: These verses not only highlight the importance of repentance in the Christian faith but also distinguish between mere regret and true, transformative repentance.
Together, these verses portray repentance as an indispensable step towards redemption and spiritual renewal. Genuine repentance involves recognizing one's sinful state, experiencing godly sorrow, and decisively turning away from sin to embrace a life in accordance with God's desires. This transformative process not only aligns one with God's will but also leads to salvation and eternal peace, illustrating the profound mercy and grace at the heart of the Christian message.
2. CONFESSION MADE UNTO SALVATION (Romans 10:9-10)
This powerful passage outlines a two-fold approach to salvation that involves both inward belief and outward confession. Paul underscores that salvation is not merely about intellectual assent but also an act of personal trust and proclamation.
Together, Romans 10:9-10 articulates that salvation in the Christian context involves an intimate and profound transformation that encapsulates both belief and confession. It affirms that true faith is not concealed but rather declared publicly. This confession is both evidence of an inward transformation and a vital step in the process of being saved, demonstrating the importance of both the heart's conviction and the mouth's pronouncement in the Christian journey toward salvation.
3. BELIEVE JESUS AS LORD, KING AND SAVIOR (Romans 10:11, 14)
Together, these verses from Romans convey that to believe in Christ means to trust wholeheartedly in Him and His salvific work, assured that such faith precludes any ultimate shame or loss. This belief is not an abstract concept but a dynamic and personal trust that should be continually nurtured through engagement with the gospel message. The apostle Paul clarifies that genuine faith in Christ is not superficial but involves a conscious, informed decision to rely on Jesus for salvation, a decision influenced profoundly by hearing the word of Christ.
In summary, "to believe in Christ" is to embrace Jesus Christ in faith, assured by the promises of Scripture that such trust is never in vain. It implies a personal, informed trust that goes beyond mere acknowledgment of Christ's existence to a deep, life-transforming reliance on Him for salvation and a life lived in accordance with His teachings.
HOW TO CULTIVATE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST?
1. THE DISCIPLINES
a. WORD (Isaiah 55:11; Hebrews 4:12)
Cultivating a relationship with God requires intentional engagement with His Word, as it serves as the primary means of understanding His character, promises, and will. Isaiah 55:11 offers profound insight into the power and purpose of God's Word.
This verse underscores the divine effectiveness and reliability of God's Word. It reveals that Scripture is not merely a set of human writings but carries the authority and purpose of God Himself. As we immerse ourselves in His Word, whether through reading, meditating, studying, or applying it, we are actively engaging in spiritual formation. The discipline of consistently interacting with Scripture allows God's truth to transform our hearts and minds, shaping us into His image.
By internalizing the Word, believers strengthen their relationship with God. Through His Word, He communicates His love, wisdom, and guidance, offering a foundation for faith and a pathway to communion with Him. Moreover, Isaiah 55:11 assures us that God's Word is never ineffective—it always accomplishes His purposes, whether in encouraging, correcting, leading, or helping us grow spiritually. This means that spending time in Scripture is never wasted; the Word actively works within us to align us with God's will and draw us closer to Him. God's Word is transformative and purposeful, serving as the foundation for a deep and abiding relationship with Him.
b. PRAYER (Acts 6:4)
Prayer is one of the most essential and profound disciplines for developing a personal relationship with God. The importance of prayer is emphasized repeatedly, with Acts 6:4 providing a clear directive "but we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
From this directive, we glean that prayer is not merely an optional activity but is foundational for spiritual leadership and the Christian life. By stating their commitment to "devote themselves to prayer," the apostles demonstrated that prayer is central to maintaining a robust connection with God. It empowers and guides their ministry, interweaving their actions with divine direction and sustenance.
Prayer, as a discipline, involves regular, intentional communication with God. This relational dialogue fosters a deeper understanding of God’s character, guidance for His will, and sustenance for daily challenges. The early apostles committed to prayer to guide their ministry and maintain spiritual vitality; Christians today are called to cultivate their relationship with God through this discipline. Prayer is a profound means of accessing God’s presence, aligning oneself with His will, and nurturing a personal, transformative relationship with Him.
c. WORSHIP (John 4:23-24)
Worship is a central aspect of the Christian faith, playing an essential role in the relationship between God and His people. In the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks directly about the nature and importance of worship.
These verses provide profound insight into the discipline of worship as a means of cultivating a relationship with God. Worshipping "in the Spirit" implies that true worship is empowered by the Holy Spirit and reflects a deep, personal connection to God. It is not confined to physical locations or formal ceremonies but is an expression of the inner workings of the heart and spirit in communion with God. This spiritual dimension of worship allows believers to connect with God on a transcendent level.
Worship encompasses a broad range of expressions, such as singing, prayer, meditation, and the arts, but at its core, it is about a sincere heart posture that desires to honor, revere, and love God. This disciplined approach to worship deepens the believer’s intimate connection with God and is a transformative journey of aligning one’s life with God’s presence and reality.
2. THE LIFESTYLE
a. OBEDIENCE (John 14:15)
A lifestyle of worship extends beyond moments of praise or corporate worship settings; it is about living in a way that continuously honors and glorifies God. In John 14:15, Jesus provides a simple yet profound principle that is foundational to such a lifestyle. To worship God through one’s lifestyle means making a daily commitment to align one's actions, decisions, and relationships with God’s will.
Living in obedience to Jesus’ commands is a powerful form of worship because it reflects a heart that values what God values and seeks to please Him above all else. It involves listening to His voice, spending time in His Word, and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and transform us from the inside out. A lifestyle of worship thus becomes a dynamic interaction with God, where our lives become a continuous offering to Him.
Moreover, obeying Jesus’ commands as an act of love draws us into deeper intimacy with Him. It is through obedience that we come to know God more fully and experience His presence more deeply in our lives. Each decision to follow Jesus’ teachings, no matter how small, is a step towards living a life that truly worships God.
In conclusion, the lifestyle of worship that John 14:15 points us towards is one marked by love-driven obedience. This approach to living not only honors God but also transforms us, aligning our desires with His and making our entire life a testament to His goodness and grace. Cultivating a relationship with God through such a lifestyle invites His presence into every aspect of our lives, turning daily routines into acts of worship and devotion.
b. DESPERATION (Psalm 42:1-2a)
This imagery of the deer panting for water powerfully illustrates the soul's intense desire and need for God. Just as water is essential for the deer's survival, the Psalmist conveys that God is crucial for the spiritual vitality of the human soul. Here, desperation is not depicted as mere want but as an absolute necessity.
Adopting a lifestyle of desperation towards God means recognizing and embracing our profound need for Him in every aspect of our lives. It is an acknowledgment that apart from God, we are spiritually parched and barren. This state of desperation is not a weakness but a passionate pursuit of God, driven by the recognition of His sufficiency in all things.
This approach to cultivating a relationship with God requires humility and honesty about our vulnerabilities and spiritual thirst. It compels us to continually seek His presence, guidance, and sustenance, much like a deer instinctively searches for water sources. By living a lifestyle marked by a desperate need for God, believers keep their hearts open and receptive to divine encounters, making room for profound spiritual growth and transformation.
c. SURRENDER (Romans 12:1)
This passage calls believers to a lifestyle of surrender, emphasizing that such an act of devotion is the "true and proper worship." To surrender to God means to consecrate not just one's spiritual activities but the entirety of one’s life to God's service and will. This involves willingly submitting all aspects of our being—our actions, decisions, thoughts, and desires—to God’s authority and guidance.
The metaphor of presenting our bodies as "living sacrifices" indicates that surrender isn't a one-time event but a continuous, daily commitment. Unlike the sacrifices of the Old Testament, which were offered once and consumed, a living sacrifice means continuously living in a way that reflects God’s will and purposes. It's about making our entire lives an ongoing act of worship and submission to God.
Embracing a lifestyle of surrender is deeply rooted in the recognition of God’s mercy. Paul's appeal is grounded in "view of God's mercy"—acknowledging that our response to God's grace and mercy is to offer ourselves entirely to Him. This perspective shifts surrender from being seen as a loss of freedom to being an act of grateful acknowledgment of God’s sovereign goodness and love.
Living in surrender involves trust and dependence on God. It is characterized by a willingness to let go of control and allow God to lead, believing that His ways are higher and His plans are better than ours. Surrender challenges the cultural values of self-reliance and independence, instead inviting believers into a deeper, more reliant, and intimate relationship with God.
APPLICATION: Cultivating a personal relationship with God is a deeply rewarding journey that involves deliberate commitment, prayer, and the practice of spiritual disciplines. This personal relationship is built on the understanding that God desires to be involved in every aspect of our lives.
Cultivating a personal relationship with God is a lifelong process that requires dedication and intentionality. As we commit to these practices, we open our hearts to a deeper understanding of God’s love, discover our purpose, and experience the fullness of life that comes from walking closely with our Creator.
