Draw Near To Him

                                                                    

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                        1.    God Chooses to draw near to us – 
                                 up to us.
                        2.     We crave for what we eat. Devour 
                               Word

3.    determine what you eat - meditate on Word daily.    -  Prov. 4:23 …guard your heart                 (issues of life)

4      We need to want to be in God’s presence because of who He is – not what He can do.

5.            We need to have holy reverence – the fear of the Lord

·        Humility

Our text scripture has been James 4:8 – but let's look at what God says to us through James before and after this verse – the entire passage.

James 6-10   6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.  10 10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

 Let's also look at Isa 57:15  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

1.            God loves humble people

2.            hates pride

         ·        Most have a misconception of Godly humility – 

3.            as used here means to make oneself lower than the other person on purpose

           a)    Blessed are the humble (Matt 6)

           b)    He who is first will be last
           c)    Defer to others-

           d)    We are supposed to put other’s needs as a priority – help people – James calls this                  “true religion”

·        Let’s  take a look at another form of Godly humility –

4.        

            agreement with God – being in tune with Him : example 1 Sam 17:26-28      

many confuse being in agreement with God with being conceited

1.            Little Shepard boy arrives on scene bringing supplies

2.            finds mighty warriors of Israel hiding behind rocks

3.            finds all are afraid of Goliath

4.            who is this uncircumcised Philistine? – (what is going on here?)

5.            Brother’s reaction

6.            God calls David man after His own heart

David not conceited – standing up for Lord out of love for God, God did not need David’s help but used David to help His people because David:

·        David humbled himself before God (God knew his heart)

·        David stood up for god

·        David’s humbled himself to Saul (God’sking) brought supplys

other examples:

1.            Moses – Numbers 12:3

Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)

Who wrote Numbers? – Moses!

2.            Jesus – Matt 11:28-29

28 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Humbleness here consistent with the idea of

1.            obedience  - Jer. 29:11 -  links obedience and humbleness

2.            dependence on Him – 2 Cor 3:5 – 2 Cor. 12-9-10 – giving all the credit to God

3.            our view of ourselves – 1 Cor 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Humbleness and fear of The Lord the aspect of Christian life that God is looking for –

If we know nothing else, but truly Seek His Presence showing these two things: you automatically will – be obedient in truth – because of who He Is,

You will be in agreement with Him.

Proverbs 22:4-5 tells us He will then reward us with His presence:

            4 By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [are] riches, and honour, and life

5 Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.

         

(Amp says He will reward with his presence)

If you want to be in agreement with God, you must get to know Him, much easier to agree with someone when you know them.

-         Meditate on Word – Josh 1:8

·        End meeting in prayer

Equip The Saints

Saints from all over the world

·         Praise

·         Pray

Text scripture:

Eph 4:12

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

 *One  separated from the world and consecrated to God; one holy by profession and by covenant; a believer in Christ.

Rom 1:7    To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

My only point here is that the Bible calls those who believe and confess Christ as Lord and Savior are saints.

·         We can then understand better our text scripture in context Eph 4:12.  (read Eph 4:1-13)

1.    Paul reminds Ephesians who they are and what they are to be doing.

2.    Revelation given to Paul regarding building the Church (body of Christ, re-establishing The Kingdom Of God)

3.    We are to teach people, who teach people, who teach people, who teach people – etc. – Great Commission Mark 16 : 15-18

4.    If we are to be effective in “perfecting the saints, ” we must 1st realize who we are in Him, and what Christ has done for us.

·        We must realize – God’s plan to re-establish Kingdom depends on believers in Christ spreading the Church - perfecting the saints

·        We need to realize it will be done with - or without you and I.

Jesus told the disciples that the gates of Hades would not withstand The Kingdom Of God – NOTHING WILL STOP THE CHURCH!

Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Explain Gate of Hades, being a real place real place)

This is a point many Christians lose sight of in a culture of declining morality.  They think the Church will be derailed. They don’t know forget that all along, God’s plan was to re-establish His Kingdom right over the top of Pagan religions that ran rampant in those days.

·        We will do it because we love Christ – He loved us first

  1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us  -

        John 3:16, Col 2  14

·         Christ sacrificed Himself for us – to preserve us, the only way we will be preserved is if the Church is established and The Kingdom is re-established

·         Think of this – Christ entrusted the establishing of His Church on earth to 12 disciples who did not have a clue until that final 3 years of Jesus life.

·         He trusted them and now He trusts you and me

·         If we are His servants – bought and paid for with his blood we must realize a few things:

We have a mission: Great Commission -  Mark 16 - 15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

1.   After He told us what to do and He empowered us to do it:

Mark 16 (next verses) 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

What can I do to do my part in fulfilling The Great Commission?

1.   Know who you are In Christ (all in Christ scriptures are what He has done for you – sometimes said through Christ)

Romans 3:24
and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

 

Ephesians 2:13  At one time you were far away from God. But now you belong to Christ Jesus. He spilled his blood for you. That has brought you near to God.

2.    Stay in relationship – meditate on scripture, Pray daily

3.    Get in a Bible TEACHING church or atmosphere as soon as you can.

Almost all churches believe in the Bible, but not all teach the Bible.

·         This is important so you can know who you are

·         Who God is

·         Know where you are in history

·         Find your gifts

·         Find your place

·         Help you find ministry opportunities

·         Realize that you may think you are overqualified for what you are doing – be faithful, don’t complain, do all the best you can!

John 1 - 2

John 1-2

1)      Existed in the beginning 2)      Existed in close relation to God (as a separate person) 3)      Existed as God

 Jesus is God  1)      1:1 in his pre-incarnate state 2)      1:14 in his incarnate state  3)      20:28 in his resurrected state

 John 1:1

-The word means “beginning, origin, first cause.” – beginning of history (before man) / born again (spiritual)

- Two beginnings -  eternity past and beginning of man/spirit  – Gen. 1:26  God said let us make man in our image….                                                                                                                     

• Who was God talking to?
• Connect to Genesis … light / darkness (1:5)
• The Word is part of creation
• Never was a time when Jesus was not
• Jesus is God

 1: 3-5

After describing the relationship to the Father, the Word’s relationship to creation is stated. The Word is equal with God, but superior to creation. …. The Word is not part of creation.

Proverbs 8:12-9:12 is an OT description of “the Word.” John states here clearly what the OT had been alluding to in the use of “word”

John addresses the first manifestation of “The Word” communicating with man:   Creation.

• In creation God gave one of his greatest revelations of himself (Romans 1)
• Jesus was the one who created everything:      1 Cor. 8:6 ,      Col. 1:16,  Heb. 1:2, Rev. 3:14
• Life as refer to Jesus = Total 135x

1:5

“light shines” is present tense here for the first time.  The manifestation of this light into the world and into the hearts of men is a continuous action that continues even today. But, the shining of the light that occurred at creation and at the incarnation is still occurring today by that same Word. God’s manifestation of his revelation is not over and historically recorded.  It is recorded, but it is still shining in life and light today

This was not a dual between two equal powers.  Just as light is always greater than darkness, Jesus, the creator is always greater than darkness.

Nature reveals this truth.

a)      We turn on a light switch which drives away the darkness.

b)      The sun drives out the darkness in the morning.  The only reason darkness returns; the sun sets and leaves our view.

c)      We can create light with bulbs.  We cannot create dark bulbs.

d)      Darkness never drives out the light in any natural occurrence.  Darkness only occurs when light is removed or absent.

This theme will reach its highlight in the crucifixion.  This was the darkest moment. 

The darkest event completely disappears, though in the light of the resurrection.

 What John introduces in these three verses continues throughout the book.

• Jesus authority in Creation both physically and spiritually
• Parallels of light and darkness which represent:
• Revelation and salvation (light)
• Ignorance and sin (darkness)

The Seven Witnesses

In the gospel of John there are 7 witnesses

1)      The Father 5:31-32, 34, 37; 8:18

2)      Christ 8:14, 18; 3:11, 32; 8:37

3)      The Holy Spirit 15:26; 16:14

4)      Jesus’ Works 5:36; 19:25; 14:11; 15:24

5)      Scripture 5:39; 5:45-46

6)      John the Baptist 1:7; 1:8; 1:15; 1:19; 1:32; 1:34; 3:26; 5:33

7)      Human witnesses:

a.       Disciples 15:27; 19:35; 21:24

b.      Samaritan woman 4:39

c.       Multitude 12:17

The Prophet was sent by God,  Prophets had to have evidence, No evidence proves they were false

 There Must Be Evidence to Verify the Truth

• It is important to have credible witnesses to the truth.

• God and John are not going to ask you to believe something without verifying its truthfulness.

• To have faith (confidence) in something there must be some evidence or proof of facts.

• Again, faith is not blind faith.Bible teaching itself should be logical and make sense in the world we live. - secular history as well as archology