Approaching God

I. Introduction:

II. Text:

III. Invisible Boundary

A. God is near to each of us, Acts 17:27-28

B. God often feels distant from us

C. It feels as if there were a boundary separating us from a close relationship with God

D. Some boundaries

E. God is spirit and we are spirits in a physical body

F. Flesh and blood cannot enter the heavenly home, 1 Corinthians 15:50 Until our mortal puts on immortality, that barrier will not be breached, v.53

G. We cannot see God but live in a world in which only what is visible is considered real

H. Hebrews 11:6, 27 However, we accept many things on faith that we cannot see physically though we might see their affects: gravity, electricity, atoms, etc. God is infinite and our earthly life is finite.

I. Mankind was not always in this situation

IV. The change in relationship between God and man

A. Originally, man and God were in a close relationship

B. When God created man, He called His creation very good. God talked with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

C. Sin disrupted the relationship between God and man

D. When Adam and Eve sinned, they were cut off from the tree of life, cursed to live in a harsh environment outside of the comforts of the Garden, and would die. Worse of all, the relationship between God and man changed for God had to punish man for his rebellion yet He desired to have man live with Him in harmony again. Each person has rebelled against God by sinning and needs a way to restore that harmonious relationship with God.

E. Under the Old Law, God established the priests to intercede between God and man.

F. The priests received the law given to Moses and spoke for God by teaching the people His law. They also offered sacrifices, in particular the High Priest, for the people to appeal to God for forgiveness of sins. This situation was temporary for God planned a perfect solution in which He could restore harmony between Himself and mankind.

G. God crossed the boundary in order to initiate a relationship with us

H. God sent Jesus to live in the flesh and become a sacrifice in order to satisfy the penalty of sin and restore us to Him.

I. He came while we were sinners, Romans 5:8

J. Through His sacrifice, Jesus became the mediator between God and man, 1 Timothy 2:5

K. Christ brought a new law, His gospel, to transform our lives and to bring us in harmony with God. We pray to the Father through Jesus who intercedes for us.

L. Through obedience to Jesus, we are reconciled to God, Romans 5:11

M. We are not reconciled as servants or captives, but children, 1 John 3:1-3 We look forward to eternity when we will go home to our beloved Father.

N. In heaven, God and man will again live in harmony, Revelation 22:3-4

O. The curse of sin will be gone.

P. There will be no boundaries between God and us.

Q. We will live in the spirit with God. We will see God face to face; we will live in His presence. We live eternally with God in our indescribably wonderful home.

V. While on earth God wants us to have an intimate relationship with Him

A. God seeks to have this relationship with us.

B. He asks to be invited into our lives, Revelation 3:20-21 God seeks those who want to worship Him, John 4:23-24

C. We must answer His loving invitation to develop this close relationship

D. Drawn by the gospel to the Father, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15

E. He has planned our reunion from the beginning of time. He planned to save those who would come to Him through Jesus.

F. God will punish those who reject His invitation

G. 2 Thessalonians 1:8-10 – Punish those who do not obey God To follow God is the most natural thing to do but if we rebel, we turn our back on our Creator, we reject His offer of love and protection, we spit in the face of Jesus hanging on the cross, and we despise every good thing that God offers us to make our lives better on earth and reject the eternal home He offers us. Such a person gains eternal punishment for he has chosen chaos instead of order, madness instead of peace, apathy instead of love, wickedness instead of holiness, and selfishness instead of selflessness; he punishes himself for in rejecting God, he rejects his only hope for peace, safety, true love, and meaning, and order in his world.

H. Develop a close relationship with God

I. Not just by being religious

J. Some religious people did not know him

K. Eli’s sons were priests in the tabernacle but did not know God, 1 Sam. 2:12 People in the time of the judges, Judges 2:10 Some thought they knew Jesus but He did not know them, Matthew 7:21-23

L. Are we developing a relationship with God or going through the motions?

M. It can happen in marriages and parent-child relations

N. Husbands and wives

O. A husband may think he and his wife have good communication at home but their wife thinks they have not really talked for a long time because they only exchange information about the kids, etc. He may think they spend a lot of time together but she probably does not think that sitting together on the couch watching TV or being in the room while he works on the computer is quality time. The wife may think that she is supporting and encouraging her husband to be a better person whereas he views it as nagging. The wife may no longer make the effort to make herself and her house look nice the way she did when she and her husband were dating or were newlyweds. We assume the love so we become stagnant in our efforts.

P. Parent-child relationships

Q. We may take the children’s love for granted and assume that they know we love them though we do not often tell them convincingly and spend quality time with them to show them how important they are to us. A parent who claims to be doing a good job because they say, “I provide financially for my children and make sure that I am home when they are,” is little different from a Christian who claims to have a relationship with God because he gives financially to the church and shows up for services. Both relationships need more effort to flourish and to become satisfying and meaningful.

R. God wants our hearts

S. Love the Lord with all your heart, Matthew 22:37 Through love, keep His commandments, 1 John 5:2-3

T. Do not think that by coming to church and going through the motions you are developing a relationship with God.

VI. Summary: What are you doing to develop your relationship with God? He wants to be a welcome part of each day not someone that you think about with dread because you are not doing what you should be doing. He wants to give meaning to your life, give you peace, excitement, and satisfaction every day. He wants to help you through your struggles and give you strength in the rough times. David said that it is good to draw near to God, Psalm 73:25-28. Are you drawing near to Him in daily prayer, daily study, and daily service and obedience? Or are you going through the motions acting like there is a relationship but feeling no connection with you God?