How do I grow in my relationship with God?

Introduction:

Yesterday, we explored the foundation that is needed to grow as a Godly and masculine man. Today we will start exploring how we can build on this foundation.

Overview of the process that we discussed yesterday:

• Step 1: there is an altercation with God
• Step 2: The choice: Do I respond to this new calling of God?
• Step 3: If I accept or respond to this calling of God, then the process of transformation starts with the a new, transformed identity and life
• If I decide not to accept or respond to the call, then nothing is going to change.

For now, we still focus on Step 1

What should we focus on?

• Hos 4:1-4 (NLT)
  • 1Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel! The Lord has brought charges against you, saying: “There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God in your land. 2You make vows and break them; you kill and steal and commit adultery. There is violence everywhere— one murder after another. 3 That is why your land is in mourning, and everyone is wasting away. Even the wild animals, the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea are disappearing. 4“Don’t point your finger at someone else and try to pass the blame! My complaint, you priests, is with you.
• Hos 4:6-7 (KJV)
  • 6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
• HOS 6:6 (NLT)
  • 6 want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.
• ROM 6:22 (NLT)
  • 22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life!
• 1 TIM 4:7 (NLT)
  • 7 Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly.

From the above we can see that, to grow, we have to:

• Knowledge of God and His Word
• God wants to know us
• We must commit to becoming holy
• We must train ourselves to be Godly

The challenge we face:

• Hearsay: we function on what someone else is saying about the Word of God
• Secondhand knowledge about the Word of God: we do not explore and learn the Word of God ourselves but rely on a 3rd party to convey it to us
• Shallow prayer life
• Shallow church participation
• Sit on the sideline
• Spare wheel mentality
• Matt 7:21 Danger: Am I the one for who Jesus will say “Go away from me…”

How can I correct this?

• ·Learn and know the Word of God
  • 2 Tim3:16-17
    • 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work..
  • This is our life manual as Godly masculine men to grow and function.
• Get to know God through His Word
  • John 1:1-4
    • 1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
• ·Be obedient to that that I have learned
  • Matt 7:21 (NLT)
    • 21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.
  • Matt 6:33 (NLT)
    • 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
• ·Prioritise and spend daily time in the word of God and prayer
  • Matt 6:6-7 (NLT)
    • 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. 7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.
  • Phil. 4:6-7 (NLT)
    • 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
• ·Spend time in your ”foxhole”
  • Heb 10;25 (NLT)
    • 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

How can I correct this?

• Phil 4:13 (NLT)
  • 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
• ·This strength is available for the children of God (exclusively)
• ·Learn to live in a deep relationship with a loving and caring God

Questions to ponder:

• Is your knowledge of God’s Word sufficient?” If not, what are you going to do about it?
• Do you rely on others to interpret the Word of God for you? How can you change that?
• Are you fully consecrated to God?