SEEKING GOD

My ultimate dream and wish for all my friends is that they will “KNOW” Jesus and cultivate a close and personal relationship with HIM.  HE is the MARK of the high calling…HE is what I continue to seek and press for.

Many of us have confused what the word Religion really means.  In the Merriam-Webster dictionary religion is defined as: 1. State of a religious: the service and worship of God or the supernatural 2. A personal set or institutionalized system (man-made organization) of religious attitudes (doctrines), beliefs (mindset), and practices (ritual).  When you ask most people the age-old question: “What religion are you”, they usually have answers such as: “Baptist”, “Catholic”, “Presbyterian”—thus they perceive it in their minds as a “DENOMINATION” which is a man made organization based on their own doctrines and mindsets which will move into a lot of traditions and rituals.  In James 1:27-Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.  It says NOTHING about your man made doctrines, traditions, rules and rituals.  THIS IS NOT RELATIONSHIP…this IS RELIGION.  My definition of religion is man reaching up to find God.

In the Merriam-Webster dictionary relationship is defined as: 1.State of being related, interrelations 2. Relation connecting or binding participants in relationship such as KINSHIP or FAMILY.  Thus, this points to we are all connected in a family or BODY of Christ and are heirs together, brothers and sisters….kinship.  My definition of relationship is God reaching down to find or pursue man.

We also confuse the word “CHURCH” with a building.  The Bible defines it in the Greek word “Ekklesia”—which means: 1.A gathering of citizens called out into an assembly.  It is by no means defined as a building, but as a group of believers, a family that gather.  We are ONE BODY and Jesus Christ is the HEAD of this BODY of believers.  Hebrews 9:11 says that Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, NOT made with hands, that is to say, NOT of this BUILDING.  Romans 12:5--So we, being many, are one BODY in Christ, and every one members one of another. 

We have a type and shadow of Religion versus Relationship at the beginning of out Bible.  It is the story of the two trees in the garden.  We still have a CHOICE as to which tree we will eat from.  The meaning of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is understood by the serpent’s promise: that we will be like GOD and once we acquire KNOWLEDGE of good and evil, we can then determine for our self what is good or bad.  Then we move into religion….thinking that if we try harder to live good enough, pray more, fast more, witness more, serve more, check off our attendance to a weekly meeting, THEN we can be like Jesus.  THIS is NOT the gospel.

The gospel says that when we eat from the tree of life…receive the Lord Jesus Christ and his finished work on the cross…this gives us access to all we need.  JESUS CHRIST is the way, the truth and THE LIFE!!!  CHRIST, NOT RELIGION…saves us!

In moving forward I really want us to move into the FREEDOM that RELATIONSHIP brings and talk about HOW we can apply some powerful actions that will help us cultivate a relationship with GOD!

When we realize that some of our mindsets and ways of thinking has come, based on even wrong definitions of not only who we are but who GOD is and what HE wants for us, and how HE sees us, then and only then will we be able to “CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK” and move into FREEDOM!

We all carry around lies the enemy has put on us not only through life’s pain, disappointments and hurts, but even by good, well meaning “religious people”.

Let us PRAY right here and NOW that the HOLY SPIRIT will help us in discovering those lies… wounds deep in our soul realm, and ask that God will go deep to heal these.  This first lie is that God is out to hurt you…this is the enemy’s agenda…steal, kill and destroy.  God is GOOD!  GOD is Merciful!  GOD IS LOVE!  GOD is NOT out to hurt you!

HOW TO CULTIVATE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD:

Step 1:  INTRODUCTION

All relationships start with an introduction to a person.  If you have not MET GOD, or know who HE is ….start there.  How do you get to know a GOD that you cannot see?  SPEND TIME with HIM.  How do you do that you say??  PRAYER!  Sitting with someone and talking to them is critical in getting to know them.  Talking to GOD is very simple and easy….JUST DO IT!  And like I always say….it is OK that whatever you are feeling right now, it is OK to feel that way.  Prayers are not plastic or holy…it is simply having a real conversation with GOD…just like talking to a friend.  BE REAL….GOD already knows your stuff anyway, and is not in Heaven waiting to throw down a big lightning bolt for all the things you think, feel, or do…HE is here to listen, and HE also speaks back.  Sometimes we will hear HIM in our inner most being, our conscience, or heart.  GOD will sometimes speak through others and even through circumstances.  Just pay attention and be attentive…take time to sit in quiet even…and hear what HE puts in your heart. 

The other way we HEAR GOD is through HIS WORD…The Holy Bible.  This is also another way that we get introduced to HIM.  In His word we read all about HIS attributes…HIS essence of who HE is.  If you are a beginner in reading His word, have someone suggest a version or translation of the Bible to you that you can easily understand.  There are many translations out there…find the one that works for you.  I started my Bible reading with an NIV version, but have many versions now that I use and reference, among them The Message, The Passion Translation, the ESV, many different translations help give us perspective—just like Bible commentaries do.  I always start off my reading with a quick prayer that the Holy Spirit will lead and guide me.  This has always worked for me.  But my suggestion is to JUST START.  There are many names of GOD in the Bible…we can learn so much from HIS word about HIM.  We know that GOD is defined as The Father, Son and Holy Spirit – a DIVINE being.  Just learn and grow in KNOWING HIM through His WORD…monumental for your spirit!

2. MOVE INTO AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

As we begin to grow closer to GOD, and seeking after HIM, HE will begin to show us MORE of Himself.  As in any relationship, once you start to go deeper and become more intimate…more of the person’s deepest essence will be revealed.

How do we have “intimacy” with our spouse in a relationship??  We can become “ONE” with them.  The thing I want to encourage people most is to seek after the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.  Matthew 3:11-I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: John the Baptist told us here that Jesus was coming after him to baptize us with the Holy Ghost.  HE in US!  Becoming one with HIM, receiving the utmost HE has for us!  When I am immersed in His Holy Spirit --- this allows me the power I need to walk in the newness of life!

3. WALKING DAILY WITH GOD

Starting our day with GOD is a very important discipline to practice.  When we begin our day in a conversation with the Lord….PRAYER…all the rest of the day will just flow better.  It doesn’t mean my day will not be filled with challenges…but as I move through my day, I know that at any time, I can have access to the Lord, and go to HIM for all I need.  I can become aware of “Practicing His Presence” everyday, and asking the Holy Spirit to lead and guide and order my steps, thoughts, words and deeds.  Then I just have to become alert and present as to how HE orchestrates my day, even in the little things.  When I start to notice HIM working in every detail and every area of my life daily, my faith and trust in my Lord continues to grow.  Walking with Him daily then becomes a necessity which I do not want to live without.  This allows me to grow closer to Him in my relationship.

4. SPENDING TIME IN HIS PRESCENCE

When we start to recognize what His presence feels like, and to sense when HE enters into the room…we will want to be in His presence more and more.  In His presence ALL things are made new.  For me…I call this place of His presence “My Sanctuary”.  HE showed me early on in my life how to ABIDE in HIM (John 15:5).  When I have been dealing with pains and hurts from even others in my life that I trusted, I know I can run into My Sanctuary and HE will bring the healing my heart so desperately needs.  How I do this and what works for me usually starts with me locating a place I can get alone with the Lord…a quiet room or park.  I then turn on some worship music, and just sit and worship, pray, even read my word at times…and just allow HIS presence and healing LOVE to wash over me.  It is almost as if I am in another realm…some may call it “Heaven on Earth”.  This place IN HIM is available for all who will SEEK HIM.  No other place I long to be than in HIS PRESENCE!

5. TRUSTING GOD

Proverbs 9:10--The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.  In this Proverb we see the word “fear”…which when this is translated means “reverential trust”.  When we experience a reverence for the magnitude and greatness of who HE IS…then we will have no problem trusting the divine GOD with our lives!  A GOD that cannot be defined by sheer finite human words! 

And our trust is developed throughout our walk with GOD by the many JAB’s HE gives us along the way.  In my life I journal I use the “JAB’s”—“Just Another Blessing”.  When HE continues to rescue us from our troubles and trials, to answer prayers when so needed, and to say no to our prayers to protects us—later we see the blessing of those no’s.  When he shows himself so faithful in so many ways….we cannot help but lean in to Him and TRUST what His plan is for us. 

6. SERVING GOD

When we have given Him our heart, received His love for us and cannot help but be SOOO grateful for all that HE has done…DYING for us, loving us when we were yet sinners, and helping us overcome all of our hurts and pain…we will want to GIVE BACK our lives to HIM in service.  We will take up our cross…die to the self, the ego, and follow Him down the path that HE directs…in serving others.  When we LOVE HIM and LOVE OTHERS…we cannot help but want to SERVE our fellow brothers and sisters IN CHRIST!  You can and will be directed not only to the places HE has for you, but also that will allow you to use the GIFTS that HE gives you…to be HIS hands and feet on the earth.

Now…go out and SEEK HIM…for those who SEEK HIM WILL find HIM!  Jeremiah 29:13(ESV)-You will seek me and find me, when you week me with ALL your heart.

Deuteronomy 4:29(ESV)-But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you WILL find HIM, IF you search after HIM with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul.  Proverbs 8:17(ESV)-I love those who love me, and those who seek me DILIGENTLY find me.