Building a Relationship with God John 11:5
Building a Relationship with God
Sunday PM Service, 12 March 2006
Jesus wept.
John 11:5
What does that have to do with building a relationship with God?
What made Jesus weep?
The way Martha and Mary rushed out to meet him?
Michelangelo had it right – our nature is not to go after God but in our arrogance – we allow God to come after us
Ellen,
Spent time
Learning her likes and dislikes
Back rubs
Guide puppy
Ellen even learned a thing or two about me – It didn’t take long for her to learn about the fact that I like airplanes – she learned the difference between F-16’s and F-15’s – She even knows what an A-7 is.
How ever did remind me that she hates shrimp
We easily acknowledge that God know us
Yes and that God loves us: “Jesus Loves Me This I know”
Do we spend time getting to know God?
Do we know what God likes?
Do we know what God dislikes?
How do we reach out to God?
We ask – God show me your will for my life -
Matt 22:35-37 NIV
36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"
37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
Alright: We got the love part down – but what does it mean in tangible terms?
How do we love beside just by giving lip service to it?
How much time do we spend with God.
do we give him the best hours or what is left over
John 14:15 NIV
15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command.
Do we take the time to learn what his commands are?
Lets look at a few things God likes:
God wants our trust
Ps 37:5-6
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
NIV
Jer 17:7
"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
NIV
Tell my children to trust the things I tell them
Angela (who is 6 months out from giving me my first grand child) told me last summer – You know when I was growing up, you were right about so many things”
You talking to me????
Let’s look at one aspect of trust – Our finances
2 Cor 9:7 NIV
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Mal 3:10
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
Deut 6:16 Do not test the LORD your God
But do we test God in this one things he ask us to test him in?
My Mother said “How can you afford not to tithe?”
She and my Dad came to learn to depend on God to keep his promise – they gave so their funds would stretch even further.
God desire to give us all good things but we prevent him
Nathan – so much I would give him but how can I reward poor behavior?
Jesus wept. Why
Was it because Lazarus was dead? _ Jesus already knew what he was about to do. If anything he would have been joyful over what was to take place.
Luke 13:34-35
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
could Jesus be weeping because of their rejection of him?
Probably a little deeper than that
Through-out the history of Israel, they were always doing bone-headed things – rejecting God
When I do some bone headed thing, giving a back rub doesn’t help
Is it anything different with God?
Do we sometimes throw God a bone – I’ll go to church and that will make all things better -
Amos 5:21-24
21 "I hate, I despise your religious feasts;
I cannot stand your assemblies.
22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.
23 Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24 But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!
John 4:23-25
23 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
Jesus wept. Why
Where the scriptures say in verse 33 “he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled”
Many commentators said the word for trouble could easily be translated Angry or indignation.
Why would Jesus be angry?
There were professional mourners – loud wailing and weeping was the custom
Could it be the unbelief and hypocrisy?
What does God hate?
In my younger day I would party Saturday night and go to church on Sunday. I was there physically but not spiritually.
What do we do to prepare ourselves for worship?
How do we worship in spirit and in truth?
I was only going through the motions
Prov 6:16-19
16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
NIV
The punch line in English versus Hebrew -
It always comes back to the heart
John 11:35
Jesus wept. Why
John 11:24 Jesus tells Martha - "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" NIV
Before this – Mark 4:40 Jesus rebukes his disciples – Why are you be afraid – have you no faith?
Mark 6:6
6 And he was amazed at their lack of faith.
NIV
We all have heard great stories of faith.
But we have become a people of
God, what have you done for me, lately?
John 11:35
Jesus wept. Why
After all the teaching, miracles, signs, and wonders
So when he sees the people moping and wailing – could it be Jesus weeps because they just don’t get it?
Do we “get it?”
We are caught up in the trivia of our lives and we miss the forest for the trees.
Do you have heart for God?
How is your reach
Jeremiah 29:12 NIV
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
2 Peter 3:9 NIV
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Prayer
O God, Forgive us not seeking you. Forgive us for only going through the motions. Forgive us for not following your commands. Forgive us for not giving you top priority, top place in our heart.
Lord we desire a close relationship with you. We desire to give top billing in our lives. We desire to let go the concerns of the world.
Help us Lord to love you more. Help us to put you first. Help us draw closer to you for your word tells us that if we come near to You that You will come near to us.