Relating Well with God and Man

We serve a relational God. He has desired to have a relationship with us for a long time and has prepared a way for us to enter into that relationship. When a person comes through faith which is in Christ Jesus and passes from spiritual death to life, a transaction takes place that has many implications. One of these is a complete and full reconciliation with God and the start of a new relationship. It is a relationship that is full, deep and rich. We were given the Holy Spirit to help us in relating with God. The core is not how much we are giving God but it is about how much we are walking with Him. Our God is not of remembrance when we are desperate for Him or a pick and go relationship. God desires a relation where we relate to Him as our Daddy and always fellowshiping with Him. Our role is to be transparent, showing our relationship with God. He has no problem blessing us as Christians, that is, representing Him in the world with excellence. Let’s us not be guided by the physical, rather let us letour hearts' desires be guided by the Holy Spirit, who aligns us to the will of God.

Why do you do what you do? Why do we love God? Why do we live a Christian life?

God started the relationship

Genesis 1:27-31

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food."Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food"; and it was so.Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

God wanted man to be like Him and to speak like Him, that’s where the relationship started. He is not mean in a way we cannot perceive who He is. He could not create us like animals, because they could not relate with Him.

Genesis 3:8

And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

He came walking to fellowship with man in the cool of the day. He came down to relate with man. His desire was that man would embrace His presenceand give man joy. Even after man disobeyed God, He stretched His hand to restore this relationship to us thorough His beloved Son, Jesus.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

That is the relation God is searching for.Knowing God is one thing but maintaining the relation with God is another thing. God does not want us to be seasonal, He wants us to be sensitive enough to know He is speaking and doing what He says, that is, connecting first with Him.

If love is not the driving force of what you do, what you do will come down crumbling; it is a matter of when it will come to happen.Let everything be founded on this divine relationship with God.

1 John 4: 17-19

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.We love Him because He first loved us.

What we need to understand:

• He did everything for love; we should do everything driven by love
  
• As He is so we are
  
• It is purely of love that we are complete, as Colossians 2:9-10 says, "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the God head bodily, and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power."
  
• We seek first the kingdom of God and all things shall be added to build up the relation we have with Him and to submit to what He has planned for our life. He deserves our praise and worship.
  
• We should not seek God for different motives and we should allow God’s will to prevail above our will. We need not serve or love God out of fear. Let our motivation/intention be driven by the love and relation of God. It’s the determination of our fruitfulness.Let us serve God for who He is.

How should I relate well with God?

1.      The beginning point is the opening of your heart and confession of Jesus Christ as Lord.

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

It is the beginning of the relationship with God.

Romans 10:10

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

2.      How do I make sure I maintain that relationship?

Learn to work out relationship with reference of God. Distrust yourself totally. Be watchfulin every step and do not take the grace of Lord for granted, since it was purchased bythe life of Jesus. My relation with God must reflect Jesus. Maintain a relationship with God so much so that everyone will desire to enter the kingdom of God. Let us cultivate our good purpose so that God may be gloried as we continue in the things which we have learned.

2 Timothy 3:14-15

But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 4:15

Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

3.      Keep the relationship with God by observing His commandments

John 14:21-23

"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world? "Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

4.      Let’s purpose to keep loving God and seeking His Kingdom.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

James 4:7

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

James 4:10

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

5.      Faith will maintain our relationship with God

Hebrew 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

6.      Learn to give thanks in all situations.

1Thessalonians 5:18

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

7.      Rejoicing in God always

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

8.      Guarding our hearts

Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Luke 6:27-36

"But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil."Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Blessings,

-- Pastor Mary Mugo.

(5/10/2014 Sunday Service Sermon, Teaching Transformation Ministry.) 

Pastor Mary is the Senior Pastor at Teaching Transformation Ministry. We are located along the Thika-Ruai Flyover Junction (at the Thika Rd./ Bypass intersection), Next to Eastgate Restaurant.