Steps Toward A Closer Walk With God
Part 2 - Steps To A Special Closeness That Helps Us Excel
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And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.INTRO.: Last week I preached the first part of a two-part message, Steps Toward a Closer Walk With God. Part 1 was - Six Steps To Leaving Behind Hindrances That Hurt Us. If we are to get closer to God, than we all have things we need to leave behind. We must remember that we cannot just lay down things and be close to God. If all we have to do to get to heaven is lay things down, then Christ would not have had to do for our sins. If only sacrificing things in our lives is adequate response, we could do that and make it on our own. We would not have needed a Savior or Messiah. Jesus would not have had to leave heaven and come to earth for us. But, understand from the scripture it is not enough. There is more needed. That is Jesus.
Today I want to use, Part 2 - Steps To A Special Closeness That Helps Us Excel. I also want you to know that if we could just do some things, or just keep a set of rules and that would be enough for us to get into heaven, then, again, Jesus would not have had to come. He would not have had to die a horrible death for our sins to be forgiven. He came for a reason. He came for our complete forgiveness. He came that we might have a good, close life with God.
We all need that special closeness with the Lord. Not just your run of the mill acquaintance, not just the average relationship. We need a special closeness that helps us excel.
If we are going to draw closer to God…
We must go through His Son
We need to understand if we are going to get close to God, it must come through Christ.
John 10:30 I and my Father are one.
John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Heb. 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
So we must understand, if get closer to Him, He will get closer to us.
It will happen because we draw closer to God.
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
If we are going to draw closer to God…
We must search Him out
John 3: 1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Nicodemus searched for the truth he needed and desired through Jesus. He found it and evidently learned enough to draw closer to God through His Son, Jesus. We have record in the scriptures that he was one who came for Christ's body. He first came at night, somewhat secretive, but he drew closer to God, because he searched for Christ.
If we are going to draw closer to God…
We must accept His offer
John 4: 4And he must needs go through Samaria. 5Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 10Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 15The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. 16Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. 17The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: 18For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. 19The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 25The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
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And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? 28The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?This Samaritan woman accepted what Christ had to offer. Eternal life! Living Water that would quench her thirst forever. She recognized the Messiah! She drew closer to God by accepting what His Son had to offer! Won't you do the same?
If we are going to draw closer to God…
We must be honest with Him
Luke 18: 9And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
It is so easy to become self-righteous on our own eyes. It is so easy to see all of the faults others have. It is so easy to blame others for our shortcomings.
"If everyone else would do what they should do I would be a lot better." "If my parents had done a better job, then 'Ole Gary' would be much better off" Of course, my parents are saying, "If Gary had listened to us and all our teaching then he would really be a lot better off."
We can blame all kinds of people if we so choose. But to really get closer to God, we must be honest with Him. We need to accept any blame, acknowledge our shortcomings, and look to Him for help. He knows our "frame" anyway. He knows all of our weaknesses and He knows if we are willing to get closer to Him.
Are you? Are you really willing to get closer to God? If so you must be honest with Him.
If we are going to draw closer to God…
We must give Him something He can use
Mark 6: 34And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. 35And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: 36Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. 37He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? 38He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. 39And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. 40And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. 41And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. 42And they did all eat, and were filled. 43And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. 44And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.
If we want to be closer to God, we should want to give Him something He can use. What is that? US! He can use us. We do not have to be the greatest singer, speaker, and worker. We do not have to be the most holy individual in the universe. We do not have to know all the answers (or questions). But we do have to give Him something He can use. He will not force us to give ourselves to Him. We must do that on our own. Do you want to be closer to God? Then give Him your life and let Him use it for His benefit. He can, He wants to, He will!
If we are going to draw closer to God…
We must follow His example of prayer
Luke 6:12 12And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Matt. 14: 22And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
If we are to get closer to God, we need to follow the powerful example Christ set for us. He prayed constantly. In fact He admonished us to pray always. He encouraged us to ask of God, share with Him our needs. He set the example himself numerous times for us to follow.
Truly if we are to get closer to God we must talk with Him. In all good relationships on earth, they have a key ingredient of good communications. Whether it is on a personal level or a corporate level, personal, or business, we must communicate well. We need to talk to God in order to be close. He wants to listen to us. He wasn’t us to talk to Him. He wants to help us with all our lives.
Make prayer a big part of your everyday life. Draw close to God that way!
If we are going to STAY close to God…
We must heed His advice to sin no more
John 8 1Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
How can we be close to God when we continually have sin in our lives? God, who more than dislikes sin. More than finds it distasteful. More than finds it disagreeable. More than finds it disturbing, hates sin. Yes God hates sin. He hates it in our lives. How can we have the relationship He wants with us when we harbor sin. When we cling to sinful ways? We cannot! We cannot have the closeness He wants and the closeness we need when we let sin distance us from Him!
What is His solution? "GO, and sin no more!"
Leave the sin behind. Let it go. You do not need it. You do need closeness with God.
You do need the joy, peace and comfort He can bring to your life.
So do not forget, to be closer to God…
TODAY ONLY YOU CAN DECIDE…
Am I searching Him out?
Yes
No
Have I accepted His offer?
Yes
No
Have I been honest with Him?
Yes
No
What can I give Him that He can use?
Yes
No
Am I following His example of prayer?
Yes
No
Am I willing to do my best and sin no more?
Yes
No
Gary Marcum - East 38th Street Free Will Baptist - 061001am