Personal relationship with JESUS 1 Corinthians 1:9 King James Version (KJV) - 9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Each one of us has been invited and has the privilege to have fellowship with JESUS CHRIST Question What is fellowship? Noah Webster s 1828 Dictionary 1. Companionship; society; consort; mutual association of persons on equal and friendly terms; familiar intercourse. 7. Communion; intimate familiarity. As we can clearly see when you have fellowship with someone you have companionship as in you spend time with them and become familiar with who they are. Question Why does JESUS want to have fellowship with you and me? Revelation 3:20 King James Version (KJV) - 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. The reason why JESUS wants to have fellowship with you and me is because he wants to spend time with you and me and also develop a personal relationship with you and me
Question if JESUS wants to have a personal relationship with us, what is it then that separates us from having a personal relationship with JESUS? Isaiah 59 King James Version (KJV) - Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Sin is what separates us from having a personal relationship with JESUS ( lying, stealing, fornication, hypocrites, fear and not wanting to spend time with JESUS) Inspite of our state our sinful condition JESUS wants to spend time with us and help us be like him. It is in this life that we are to separate sin from us, through faith in the atoning blood of Christ. Our precious Saviour invites us to join ourselves to Him, to unite our weakness to His strength, our ignorance to His wisdom, our unworthiness to His merits. God s providence is the school in which we are to learn the meekness and lowliness of Jesus. The Lord is ever setting before us, not the way we would choose, which seems easier and pleasanter to us, but the true aims of life. It rests with us to co-operate with the agencies which Heaven employs in the work of conforming our characters to the divine model. None can neglect or defer this work but at the most fearful peril to their souls. The Great Controversy chapter 39 (GC 623.2) Hebrews 4:16 King James Version (KJV) - 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. In the beginning before sin man had communion with GOD but after man had sinned by disobeying God and there was a separation
Genesis 2:19-20 King James Version (KJV) 19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. Genesis 3:8-11 King James Version (KJV) 8 And they heard the voice 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 amongst the trees of the garden. 9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? Confrontation Chapter 5 by ellen g.white The law of God was unalterable. It could not be abolished, nor yield the smallest part of its claim, to meet man in his fallen state. Man was separated from God by transgression of His expressed command, notwithstanding He had made known to Adam the consequences of such transgression. The sin of Adam caused a deplorable state of things. Satan would now have unlimited control over the race unless a mightier being than was Satan before his fall, should take the field, conquer him, and ransom man. - Con 17.1
Christ s divine soul was exercised with infinite pity for the fallen pair. As their wretched, helpless condition came up before Him, and as He saw that by transgression of God s law they had fallen under the power and control of the prince of darkness, He proposed the only means that could be acceptable with God, that would give them another trial, and place them again on probation. Christ consented to leave His honor, His kingly authority, His glory with the Father, and humble Himself to humanity, and engage in contest with the mighty prince of darkness, in order to redeem man. Through His humiliation and poverty Christ would identify Himself with the weaknesses of the fallen race, and by firm obedience show that man might redeem Adam s disgraceful failure, and by humble obedience regain lost Eden. - Con 17.2 The great work of redemption could be carried out only by the Redeemer taking the place of fallen Adam. With the sins of the world laid upon Him, He would go over the ground where Adam stumbled. He would bear a test infinitely more severe than that which Adam failed to endure. He would overcome on man s account, and conquer the tempter, that, through His obedience, His purity of character and steadfast integrity, His righteousness might be imputed to man, that, through His name, man might overcome the foe on his own account. - Con 17.3 What love! What amazing condescension! The King of glory proposed to humble Himself to fallen humanity! He would place His feet in Adam s steps. He would take man s fallen nature, and engage to cope with the strong foe who triumphed over Adam. He would overcome Satan, and in thus doing He would open the way for the redemption from the disgrace of Adam s failure and fall, of all those who would believe on Him. - Con 18.1 The plan of redemption was designed to save us from sin by the work that JESUS is doing for us and how we can have a personal relationship with JESUS and this plan is found in the sanctuary. Psalm 77:13 King James Version (KJV) - 13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?
For further studies here are a few resources to helpout and the books are the following 1. The Cross and it s shadow by Stephen Haskell 2. Ransom and reunion by W.D Frazee 3. The Sanctuary by O.R.L Crosier 4. The Sanctuary Service by M.L Andreasen 5. CHRIST in His Sanctuary by ellen g.white Example of CHRIST Christ devotional Life 1. Prayer Mark 1:35 King James Version (KJV) - 35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. Luke 5:16 King James Version (KJV) - 16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. Matthew 26:36-39 King James Version (KJV) 36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
JESUS spent personal time with His father in prayer 2. Bible Study ( JESUS familiar with the Scriptures) Matthew 4:1-4 King James Version (KJV) 4 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. When Jesus is tempted here he is actually quoting from the Old Testament Deuteronomy 8:3 King James Version (KJV) - 3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
Luke 4:16-21King James Version (KJV) 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. JESUS knew his identity based on prophecy and he is quoting what the scriptures say in Isaiah Isaiah 61:1-2 King James Version (KJV) 61 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
In His youth the early morning and the evening twilight often found Him alone on the mountainside or among the trees of the forest, spending a quiet hour in prayer and the study of God s word. During His ministry His intimate acquaintance with the Scriptures testifies to His diligence in their study. Education Chapter 20 Ed 185.1 3. Nature Luke 5:16 King James Version (KJV) - 16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. In His youth the early morning and the evening twilight often found Him alone on the mountainside or among the trees of the forest, spending a quiet hour in prayer and the study of God s word. Education Chapter 20 Ed 185.1 Some of the practical lessons we may take from CHRIST example 1. Personal Bible Study 2. Prayer Life 3. Spending time In nature Resources to learn more 1. To learn how to study the Bible Resource The Book Education by Ellen G.White Chapter 20: Bible teaching and Study Messages to young people by Ellen G White Chapter 81 to 85 Rules of bible Interpretation by William Miller
2. Prayer Resource The Book prayer by Ellen g White 3. Spending Time in Nature Education by ellen white Chapter 10 GOD in Nature Country living By Ellen white Example of Abraham s personal communion with GOD James 2:23 King James Version (KJV) 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Isaiah 41:8 King James Version (KJV) - 8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. God called Abraham his friend and if someone is to be my friend I need to Have Communion with them Genesis 18:17-23 King James Version (KJV) 17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; 18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. 20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; 21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. 23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Genesis 18:33 King James Version (KJV) - 33 And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.