Drawing Near to God. February 15, 2017

Transcription

1 Drawing Near to God February 15, 2017

2 James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

3 From the beginning of man's existence he has wondered and even sought after a higher power

4 Whether the fear of our eventual death or the frailties of our bodies we have wondered, "Is there, life after death?"

5

6 And some like Walter Donavon, the American millionaire in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, have tried to attain eternal life

7 "I need a good insurance policy." A Gas Stationer Owner's Response After Hearing the Gospel

8 What is eternal life?

9 John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they 'know' you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

10 Eternal life is not exactly living forever...eternal life is 'knowing' God

11 If we understand what the word to 'know' means we will understand what eternal life is

12 Two Schools of Thought (Greek and Hebrew)

13 Greek thought maintains that to 'know' God means to obtain information about God

14 Acts 17:16-18 While Paul was waiting for Silas and Timothy in Athens, he was upset because he saw that the city was full of idols. In the synagogue he talked with the Jews and with the Greeks who were worshipers of the true God. He also went to the public square every day and talked with everyone who came by. Some of the Epicurean and some of the Stoic philosophers argued with him. Some of them said, This man doesn t really know what he is talking about. What is he trying to say? Paul was telling them the Good News about Jesus and the resurrection. So they said, He seems to be telling us about some other gods.

15 Acts 17:19-21 They took Paul to a meeting of the Areopagus council. They said, Please explain to us this new idea that you have been teaching. The things you are saying are new to us. We have never heard this teaching before, and we want to know what it means. The people of Athens and the foreigners who lived there spent all their time either telling or listening to all the latest ideas.

16 Hebrew thought maintains that to 'know' God means to experience the reality of who God actually is

17 Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day when I judge them, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out demons in Your name, and done many miracles in Your name? And then I will declare to them publicly, I never knew you; depart from Me you are banished from My presence, you who act wickedly disregarding My commands.

18 In Hebrew the word to know is yada meaning... To experience reality To recognize or discern To know with your five senses

19 Genesis 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and called his name Seth, for she said, God has appointed for me another offspring instead of Abel, for Cain killed him.

20 Hosea 4:6 My people are being destroyed because they don t know me. Since you priests refuse to know me, I refuse to recognize you as my priests. Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget to bless your children.

21 Habakkuk 2:14 But the time is coming when the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

22 First Assembly of God Red Hill Grace Bible Church Makaha Resort

23 How does the Lord reveal Himself to us so we are able to 'know' Him?

24 Yada Encounters Angelic messages Answered prayer/brad Falcon Burning bush Dreams Family reconciliation

25 Financial breakthroughs/hope Second City God's kindnesses/a Knock on the Door at Seminary Inner healing/four Days at Elijah House Physical healing/gerrene Yukuno Prophecy Visions & Visitations/Argentina...I reopen the well of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob...I saw the train of His robe

26 Seasons of Encounter When the Lord reveals an aspect of (Himself), His nature, that you previously did not have When God calls you (gives you a platform to stand on) When you are going through a major crisis or extended period of hardship or suffering

27 When He draws you to Himself by creating a hunger within in you to know 'more' of Him

28 Karen Hurston

29 Do you want to 'yada' (experience) more of the Lord?

30 Philippians 3:10-11 I want to 'know' Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead.

31 Draw Near?

32 James 4:8 Come close to God with a contrite heart and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your unfaithful hearts, you doubleminded people.

33 Come to the Altar

34 Ministry Time

35 John 5:2-9 Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, waiting for the moving of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted. A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He *said to him, Do you wish to get well? The sick man answered Him, Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me. Jesus *said to him, Get up, pick up your pallet and walk. Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.

36 John 5:13-15 But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you. The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.