GET DEEPER WITH OUR LORD

Romans 8:1-18 KJV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

    

WE'RE DIFFERENT BUT WE ALL HAVE NEED OF JESUS.

Where is GOD in our lives today? We go about our daily lives to take care of our needs for the physical man. We work if we have a job, go to school, some stay at home. Although two individuals work at the same job doing the same activity they would do it different. What I am trying to say is that we are all different as individuals in nature, habits, preferences, likes and dislikes but what is the same in all of us is that we all need Jesus Christ in our lives. Most of us accept this, and our spirit which was dead now comes alive. Those who don’t should get it right before it’s too late. 

But then what next? What do we do from there? Do we sit with that and have contentment or do we want more? Men are always trying to achieve wealth and power in the natural life but yet when it comes to GOD we are contended to be at the same place.

WE SHOULD AIM TO GO HIGHER AND DEEPER IN GOD

Our aim, our desire should be to be more committed to GOD. We should desire to go deeper and higher with our Lord. It is not an overnight experience. We are all unique and we will have our own experience with the LORD. We need to be aware that there are many distractions that can divert our attention away from God sometimes without us even realizing it.

What is it that distracts you from moving towards a deeper relationship with God?

1. A common distraction around us today, which takes away from GOD, is our job and possessions.

We focus so much on our job that we tend to forget our GOD. Have we stopped to think that GOD can make our workload easier if only we can stop to say thank you Lord for providing this job and helping me through it.

Luke 12:15-21 KJV 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Mark 10:17-22 KJV  And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?  18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.  19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.  20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.  21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.  22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

2. Recreation and pleasure can also distract us from seeking after God.

1 John 2:15-16 KJV 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

3. Our children and family.

Matthew 10:37-38 KJV37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

4. Church and religion

Unbelievable as it may seem we can become so caught up in church and religion that we forget the purpose of it all. We become busy with meetings and more meetings and it all becomes an effort of self for self, not for God. We get the praises and accolades and God gets no glory. We end up like the Pharisees - religious but lost.

 Mark 7:6-8 KJV6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

HOW DO WE GET DEEPER WITH OUR LORD?

This is most important to our well being !

Spending time with GOD - This is what GOD wants from us. He wants fellowship with us. When we spend time with GOD his spirit envelopes us. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 KJV 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

We should always stay connected with the spirit of GOD for he lives in us, he dwells in us. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV

Staying in touch with GOD – We should keep praying and giving thanks to GOD. The devil will try to stop us from doing this all the time because he knows he is defeated when we get down to pray. Our prayers are very important to GOD. GOD listens and answers us. 1 John 5:14-15 KJV  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:  15  And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

This will strengthen us and help us to be victorious. Sometimes we pray and we focus on the things of GOD, but we do not know what to pray for. This is when the Holy Spirit that resides in us helps us. Romans 8:26-27 KJV Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Because we pray and are connected to GOD does not mean that we will not have problems or cares of this world. Daniel was a praying man. The Bible records that he prayed three times a day. The Presidents and Princes did not like this because Daniel had an excellent spirit and as a result of this he was thrown in the lions’ den. But you know what? GOD was with him in his problems. Beloved GOD is with us in our problems. GOD has not change and will not change. Daniel problem lasted one night ours may last more than a night or less, but be assured that GOD will be with us. Daniel never stopped praying. Even King Darius fasted that night. Friends and family who love us will join us in our prayers in times of trouble but it starts with us as the individual.    

Psalms 1:1-6 KJV Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.  3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.  4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.  5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.  6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Billy Graham tells a story told him by a pastor he met in Glasgow, Scotland. There was a woman in this pastor's parish who was in financial difficulty and behind in her rent. So the pastor took up a collection for this poor woman at church, and then went to her home to give her the money. He knocked and knocked at the door, but there was no answer. Finally, he went away. The next day he encountered the poor woman at the market. "Why, Mrs. Green," he said, "I stopped by your house yesterday, and I was disappointed that there was no answer." The woman's eyes widened as she said, "Oh, was that you? I thought it was the landlord and I was afraid to open the door!" The riches of God have been made available to us in Christ, yet most of us shrink back from receiving all that God eagerly wishes to place in our hands. The riches of God cannot help us until we open the door of our hearts – Ray Stedman