A closer walk with God

When we understand, we appreciate things more don’t we. When we appreciate things more we use more, when we use more we share more, we become more fruitful, right? This all makes sense. So, we have a closer walk!

1 John 3:1 NASB95

1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

I. God as our Heavenly Father (1Jn3:1)

What a blessing to have Him as our heavenly Father (Jm1:17; Mt7:11)

James 1:17 NASB95

17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

Mt7:11 “11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”

He provides; He comforts; He chastises when needed, but promises to never forsake us (2Cor1:3-4; Heb12:4-11; Heb3:5-6)

There are some responsibilities that come with have God as your Father

We must submit to God (Jm4:7); Must draw near to God (Jm4:8) by cleaning our hands (Jm4:8)

(turn to) Jm4:7-8 “7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Our earthly father loves when we draw to him, our heavenly Father wants, loves when we draw near to Him

Mt23:37 “37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.” (just summarize this one)

How do we purify/cleanse ourselves?

We do that by purifying our minds, our hearts, our hands how we just read in basics back in Jm4:8. - - - how do we do that? glad you asked

Cleanse yourself by repentance (Act8:22) and prayer

Act8:22 “22 “Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.”

Cleanse yourself by confession (1Jn1:9)

1Jn1:9 “9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

II. Jesus is our Lord and High Priest (Heb4:14)

Hebrews 4:14 NASB95

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Think about it, what does it mean that Jesus is “our” “your” high priest? Does He have rule, reign in “your” life? What does that look like?

He is Lord of creation, Lord is of all the lords of this world think of (Rev1:5-6)

Revelation 1:5–6 NASB95

5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— 6 and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

(below is one screen/slide the scriptures are all to be looked up, a couple are to be read, others are to be summarized, be sure when making the outline to look and put on the outline accordingly)

All are subject to Him (1Pt3:22)

(turn to and read) 1pt3:22 “22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.”

All are called His brethren! (Heb2:11-12)

turn to and read Heb2:11-12 “11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying, “I will proclaim Your name to My brethren, In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.””

He intercedes on our behalf (Rom8:34)

(summarize this) Rom8:34 “34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”

He understands us (Heb2:17-18)

(summarize this) Heb2:17-18 “17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”

Our responsibilities of having Him as Lord and High Priest

If He is our Lord we mustdo what He says (Lk6:46)

Lk6:46 “46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (just reference this)

If He is our Lord we must be careful to observe what He taught (Mt28:18-20)

Just reference this

If He is our Lord we must keep His commands (Jn15:10, 14)

turn to and read

Jn15:10 “10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”

Jn15:14 “14 “You are My friends if you do what I command you.”

If He is your High Priest, use Him in that capacity (Heb4:14-16)

Hebrews 4:14–15 NASB95

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:16 NASB95

16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

So be quick to turn to our High priest to obtain mercy.

Be quick to find grace in our time of need

How do we do it, how do we draw near? By prayer!

III. Holy Spirit whom dwells in YOU! (1Cor3:16)

1 Corinthians 3:16 NASB95

16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

He dwells in you, empowers you and works through you. Let that sink in. It is wonderful, and it comes with responsibilities too. My we look at that now?

Wonderful blessings

He gives strength over the flesh (Rom8:11-13; Eph3:16-20)

(summarize this- it is the Spirit doing the work!) Rom8:11-13 “11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

Helps us in our weakness (Rom8:26-27)

(turn to and read this one) ROm8:26-27 “26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Our responsibilities in view of the indwelling

Keep the temple holy (1Cor3:16-17) We are to glorify God with our bodies (1Cor6:18-20)

Let me give you some of the scriptures here, turn with me

1Cor3:16-17 “16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.”

Ok a few more pages

1Cor6:18-201Cor6:18-20 “18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

We are to walk in the Spirit, so to be led by the Spirit which will prove the fruit of the Spirit within (Gal5:16-18, 22-25)

This is great, now turn with me to

Gal5:16-18 “16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.”

We do so by setting our minds on the things of the Spirit (Rom8:5-6)

just reference this one

Rom8:5-6 “5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,”

Importance, responsibilities of having church family

To edify one another (Heb10:24-25) - just reference this, have used this many times

To bear one anothers burdens (Gal6:1-2) - just reference this, have used this many times

When we do this, we do this in love, from love for love fulfills the law of Christ.

This requires that we know one another so we can help one another, support one another in our times of need

There are many blessings in being a Christian and responsibilities as we learn and grow in having a closer walk with God. That is what this series is about, now just knowledge but about application.

We are a BLESSED people who are a RESPONSIBLE people to, are we fulfilling our RESPONSIBILITIES? This is not about beating you up, but about waking you up to have a closer walk with the Lord, a closer walk with thee!