“HOW TO BEGIN AND BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD”
Dr. Dennis Deese - www.dennisdeese.com
JOHN 15:9-17
There has never been a greater discourse on the subject of friendship than this one in John 15 because it speaks of a new intimacy and intimacy with God.
Pr 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Pr 18:24 A man [that hath] friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.
Pr 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Ec 4:9-10 Two [are] better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him [that is] alone when he falleth; for [he hath] not another to help him up.
Ex 33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.
Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
What a remarkable epitaph to be called a friend of God. I can’t think of many things better to be said about somebody than he or she was a friend of God.
God wants us to know Him. Do you understand that God in heaven our creator wants to know you and you to know him. Listen to what He says in His Word:
Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
1Jo 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, [even] in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Jer 24:7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I [am] the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
Jer 9:23-24 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these [things] I delight, saith the LORD.
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Paul knew the value of knowing God - listen to his words:
1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
We have 4 basic different classifications of friends:
1. acquaintances - infrequent contact
2. casual friends - common interests
3. close friends - share life’s goals
4. intimate friends - regular contact and trust (this is the relationship God desires with us.)
What kind of relationship does God want us to have with Him? Obviously, God wants far more than what we’ll consider today, but these are some ideas to consider and remember.
He wants our relationship with Him to be:
1. PERSONAL 15:9 “Ye are my friends”
How do you personally get to know God? You have to understand the problem, the barrier that separates humans from God (SEE EPHESIANS 2:13-19).
So in a word what is the solution to the problem - Reconciliation
What is the process for acquiring a relationship with God? How do you correct the problem? How can a sinner who is separated from God resolve the problem? It starts with a:
1. Revelation
2Co 4:4 In whom the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
1Co 2:9-10 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
2. Faith
Ro 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
3. Confession
Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
4. Repentance
Mr 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
5. Acceptance
Ro 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
6. Forgiveness
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2. CONSISTENT 15:9 “Continue ye in my love”
Notice that in this passage God gives us the key to keeping and continuing a close and intimate relationship with Him.
15:10 KEEP 5083 tereo {tay?reh’?o} 1) to attend to carefully, take care of
1a) to guard 1b) metaph. to keep, one in the state in which he is
1c) to observe 1d) to reserve: to undergo something
3. JOYFUL 15:11 “That your joy might be full”
Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.
Notice the:
1. Means 15:10 by abiding in His love
2. Method 15:11 by receiving His joy
3. Measure 15:11 complete & full
4. GROWING 15:15 “Henceforth”
Notice the progress and growth of the disciples relationship with Jesus
1. Servants 13:13
2. Friends 15:15
3. Brethren 20:17
5. FRUITFUL 15:16 “ ye should go and bring forth fruit”
1. Pursued 15:16 “Ye should go”
2. Abundant 15:16 “Bring forth fruit”
3. Lasting 15:16 “Your fruit should remain”
4. Supernatural 15:16 “ask of the Father”
6. INFLUENTIAL 15:12, 17 “love one another, as I have loved you”
We learn to love others by first loving Him and by He loving us
