Building A Right Relationship With God - COMMUNICATION

 

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.    

John 15:9-11

 

®     Develop Your New Relationship Into A Personal Relationship

Once the relationship is started by getting right with God, we need to make the second step and develop our new relationship into a personal relationship. A good way of illustrating what a personal relationship can be is by showing what it is not.

A Non-Relationship

In the Roman Catholic Church, people are told that anyone who is not a member of the Catholic Church can not get right with God.  They are told that the priests are their connection to God. They’re taught to ask Mary (the mother of Jesus) to pray for them. They also suggest asking various saints to help you as they once helped themselves. In essence, this establishes a chain of helpers that you use to reach to God. However, if the church, priests, Mary, and saints are between you and God, you do not have a personal relationship with God at all.

Developing the Relationship

Fortunately, the Bible reveals that none of the things mentioned above are needed to have a relationship with God. Therefore, you can remove all the “helpers” between you and God (except Jesus), making the relationship a lot more personal. Of course, Jesus paid the price for our sins with His blood, (if you are willing to accept His gift), so He will not stand between us and God—He allows us to stand before God.

Jesus' work on the cross effectively ended that type of relationship.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  Hebrews 4:15-16

Stated another way, the relationship we have with God is as His children —“adopted” through His Son, Jesus Christ.

A time will come when we will literally meet God. In the meantime, how can we develop this “personal” relationship? We do it by following a two-step communication process.

*      Communicating with God

We call our communicating with God “praying.” That is, praying is a way of talking to God. The Bible tells us that God listens to our prayers, and we can use the model prayer in Matthew 6 to get us started. You will notice it contains four parts:

√         Acknowledgement and Praise of God

√         Requests Made of God

√         Asking for Forgiveness

√         Requests to Keep Us from Temptation

 

These are mostly self-explanatory. Because God is really God, He does deserve our praise. Further, as our Heavenly Father, we can expect Him to help us in our lives. By the way, God will not grant every request. As children may not understand why their parents will not let them play in the street, there will be times we do not understand why God does not seem to answer our prayers. You should know that God will give you what is best for you, long term.

Note:  Read the story of Joseph, which starts in tragedy (Genesis 37) but ends in triumph (Genesis 45) to get a glimpse of how this is possible.

Although not part of the model prayer, when God does answer our prayers, it makes sense to thank God for what He has done. Many people have learned that keeping a written record of what they have asked for is helpful. You may be surprised to learn how many prayers will be answered—even though God may not use the same time frame or method that you were hoping for!

We also need to ask God to forgive our sins. Each of us can make a mistake, be overcome in a situation and even at times willing sin and although Jesus' sacrifice paid the price for our sin, it will not pardon us of one excuse. Then once you confess your sin, do not do it again. (To do so would make your confession a lie, wouldn't it?) This is where the request to keep us from temptation comes in.

*      God Communicating with You

God communicates to us, through his written “word,” the Bible.

How is your RELATIONSHIP with God?

Look at seven points in how we can build and maintain a right relationship with God:

POINT #1: We must COMMUNICATE with God through prayer.

We must SPEND TIME with God.

Let's think of a TELEPHONE. When we talk on a telephone, the individual to whom we are speaking is not in our presence but we know that they are there. We talk and they listen. Then they talk and we listen. Our relationship with God is similar.

We talk to God through PRAYER and we listen to God through prayer and as He speaks through BIBLE STUDY and through sermons, by having the Word of God expounded to us.

We need to ask ourselves: Are our prayers fervent and effective?

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.    James 5:16

One way to be more effective in prayer is to spend more time before God.   

One way to be more fervent is to realize that God is our friend. He is not out to get us. He only wants what is best for us. God wants to be our friend:

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth : but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.   John 15:14-15

One trait of a good friend is the ability to be a good listener. God is a very good listener.
God wants you to share your successes and your failures with Him. Talk to God about your trials and tests. Also talk to God about your blessings and the good things that are happening in your life. We should talk to God about things before we do them. Are you going to buy a car or a house? Talk to God about it. God is your financial partner. Pray to God about all decisions.

God wants us to talk to Him.

And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.  "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.  And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.  Matthew 6:5-7

Notice that these scriptures say, WHEN you pray not IF you pray. Notice in verse 6 that it says that God will reward you openly if we pray in a proper manner; in secret not to be seen of men.   It is interesting that the disciples lived and walked with Jesus and yet they asked him to teach them how to pray.

"The Lord's Prayer" was given to us by Jesus as a model prayer to show us how to pray to God.

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.  Luke 11:1-4

We can use "The Lord's Prayer" as a guideline in what to pray about. Put it into your own words.

*      How should we talk to God?

      ¨         We should talk to God as we would talk to our own human father.   

      ¨        We should to talk to God in a natural way, not in a monotone voice.
      ¨         Don't talk to God in a syrupy manner or with King James English with ‘Ye’s and hence and thus’.
      ¨         Talk to God as you would talk to your very best friend; you have no secrets from your best friend.
      ¨         You respect your friends. You would not want to do anything to offend them.
      ¨         We don't want to offend God in how we talk to Him.
      ¨         Talk to God as if He will answer immediately.

 *   Always Realize to Whom You Are Praying!

As you come before God in prayer, be aware to whom you’re praying. This being that you are praying to is the eternal Creator God who has all power and glory.

      ¨         Don't approach God sleepily or carelessly.
      ¨         You might say something that you shouldn't say.
      ¨         Always have a humble attitude in prayer.
      ¨        Abase yourself. Exalt God. He is the creator and we are the created. He is the potter and we are the clay.
      ¨         Realize that you are coming before the very throne of the ruler of the universe!
      ¨         Always remember that God Is Listening!
      ¨         Just as important, realize as you pray that you have God's undivided attention.

*   How can we build on this relationship with God?

    ¨         Spend more time on your knees praying.
    ¨         Praise God! The Psalms are filled with praises to God.
    ¨         Read the Psalms as you are praying to inspire you in how to praise God. David was a man after God's own heart. Read the Psalms to see how David praised God.
    ¨         Sing a church Hymn. This may inspire you and give ideas as to how to pray to God.
    ¨         Thank God for your blessings.

Are we taking the time daily to talk to God?

 POINT #2: TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD:

We must let God COMMUNICATE with us.

Using the example of the telephone; we talk and they listen. Then they talk and we listen. Our relationship with God is similar. We talk to God through prayer and we listen to God speak through bible study, sermons and sermon tapes.

Today there is no reason not to be able to study and learn from God's word.   Bibles, concordances, and other Bible helps are readily available via hardback or technology.    

No matter what method we employ, we need to know what is in the Bible. We need to know that we know! If anyone questions us, then we can say: I have read it for myself and I know what it says! We must be ready to give an answer to every man that asks us a reason of the hope that is in us.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:  1 Peter 3:15

We must be like the Bereans in Apostle Paul's day, who searched the Scriptures daily:

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily , whether those things were so. Acts 17:11

We must study the Bible to show ourselves approved unto God

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.   2 Timothy 2:15

We need to prove all things and stand fast to that which is good.   

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.   1 Thessalonians 5:21

How can we answer another person's question, even our children's or grandchildren's questions if we don't read and study the Bible?

Are we taking the time daily to let God talk to us?

(Biblical Studies)

03/02/22