My wife and I have been pondering the significance of relationship with God in the Christian life. We are convinced that without relationship with God, there cannot be a Christian Life. How can you claim to be a Christian without a relationship with God through Jesus Christ? How can you be his disciple if you don't really know him personally. It isn't enough to have intellectual knowledge about him, it isn't enough to have all your doctrines about him straight, it isn't even enough to claim you believe he exists, or to believe intellectually he has died for your sins on the cross. It isn't even enough to cast out demons, work mighty miracles, and lead lost people to salvation in his Jesus name. Without a genuine, authentic relationship with him, you aren't really his disciple.
Matthew 7:22,23
22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?'
23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
I know this verse can be over-quoted to put people in fear and condemnation, but the point of it is, do you know Jesus? If we really know Jesus, we will act like him. 1 Cor. 13 comes to mind. Of course, I understand that relationship with God is something that we grow into. But, with childlike faith - I believe we can grow in our relationship with him much more quickly. Religious strongholds in our culture hinder us from enjoying the kind of relationship we were created for. He is our loving Father, our closest friend, and our bridegroom. If you are experiencing anything less, you are believing lies.
A couple Old Testament examples come to mind that beautifully illustrate the kind of relationship God desires to have with us. How much more closely can we walk with God as his sons and daughters in the New Covenant! We are only limited by our level of desire, and what we believe about him and ourselves.
1. Abraham - James 2:23 - And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend.
Why was Abraham considered a friend of God? I can see at least 3 reasons:
- He had great Faith and trust in God's character and nature. He trusted in the goodness of God. He believed God would take care of him no matter what came his way. Abraham left the comfortability and predictability of his home in Ur to set out for a promised land he knew nothing about. He blessed Lot with first choice of land, knowing God would care for him. He believed God would give him a child, even though he and Sarah were well past child-bearing age. Yes, he tried to shortcut this process at first, but he learned his lesson and his faith grew until he was convinced God would do a miracle.
- He walked in obedience because of this great trust in God, even being willing to give up his promised son if necessary.
- He communicated with God regularly (see Gen. 18:16-33). Friendship with God grows with communication. This means we will take time to not only talk to God, but listen to God.
What made David a man after God's heart?
- David, like Abraham also had great Faith and trust in God. In faith, he slew Goliath. In faith, he refused to take a shortcut to becoming King by slaying Saul. He entrusted his life to God.
- David was a worshiper - he wasn't afraid to let his emotions show about God, and he really loved God.
- David was transparent - He wasn't afraid to share his deepest, darkest thoughts about God, his struggles, and his enemies.
- David owned up to his sin and was truly repentant when he made mistakes. He realized he had not only sinned against man, but he had also grieved God's heart and sinned against him. (Ps 51)
Friend rules
My wife and I were also pondering relationship with God as it relates to a list of rules about friendship we communicated to our children last year.
1. Learn to laugh at yourself, don't take yourself so seriously.
Why not have fun in our relationship with God? Sometimes, we take ourselves way too seriously as Christians. God is full of joy and playful. He enjoys it when we embrace this aspect of his nature. See my post: The exuberance and Joy of Jesus
2. Let others go first.
How many of us let God go first when we pray, in making decisions, or in the details of life? How often do we start off with our lists and requests before first considering what is on God's heart? How much deeper could our relationship with him go if we learn to let him go first.
3. Make playtime fun for everyone. "If it's not fun for all, it's not fun at all"
How often do we ask ourselves in our times with God, or in our gatherings as the Church - "Is this fun for God"? Many of the meetings I have been in were probably NOT fun for God(as a matter of fact, they weren't fun for anyone). I'd rather gouge my eyes out than attend those kinds of meetings. You know the kind, where 75% of the people are snoring or bobbing their heads.
4. Have a pleasant/cheerful attitude.
How much do you enjoy talking with people who complain constantly? Yes, God wants to hear our honest thoughts, and there's no sense being fake with God, but we can also determine to praise him and be thankful despite the circumstances. God doesn't enjoy it when we remain locked in misery. Being mired in misery and complaining is not the inheritance of a child of God. Yes, we will be in process at times, but we must not remain in process indefinitely.
5. Don't push other's buttons.
What pushes God's buttons? Willful disobedience, pride, dishonesty, hypocrisy, rebellion, etc. Of course God has grace for us as his children, and of course he still loves us, but as a friend of God, why would we want to do things he doesn't like?
In relationship with God, it's not all about us! We must learn to take God into consideration and ask, WHAT IS GOD GETTING OUT OF THIS RELATIONSHIP? Is God really enjoying this?
An Interesting observation
Recently, I was reading H.A. Baker's autobiography Under His Wings. H.A. Baker was a missionary to Tibet, then China and is best known for his book, Visions beyond the Veil. Both books deal a death blow to the lie of Cessationism. Below is what he wrote shortly after his born again conversion experience. After his conversion, he began to feel great love for others, and things like Prayer and the Word of God began to make sense to him finally. However, he was surprised to learn that other members of his church hadn't also experienced this same thing.
When I looked over the congregation I felt sure that these churchmembers did not know what I had just found out: that God is still alive, that the Bible is for Now, that we and God and the Bible need to get mixed up together.
During those two years my personal dealings with the members of that little church confirmed my first impression after my experience in the barn that other members of the church, with perhaps a few exceptions, had never received what I received there in the barn. Now, why was that? Evidently because these church members, like myself, had never been properly taught that each should personally contact Christ by prayer. This weakness was largely due to the belief and teaching of the fundamental part of that church at that time. It taught that on the day of Pentecost, when Peter preached the first New Testament gospel sermon, he made known the Lord’s plan of salvation and the conditions of church membership when he said to the convicted multitude, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” So far all right. But that church made its great mistake in stopping the middle of that verse. The verse continues, “and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38.
Why did out church stop in the middle of that verse and not follow Peter’s instructions all the way? It was because of the theory that no one could receive the Holy Spirit since the days of the founding of the church by the apostles. This misconception, as well as failure to teach the necessity of individual prayer to make the “repent” effective, resulted in that little church’s membership being made up of people who had never really prayed and made personal contact with Christ. Through ignorance and unbelief they had missed the promise, “ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Conclusion
Without communication/communion with God, it is impossible to be a real Christian and grow in relationship with God. Granted, friendship with God is something we are all growing in, but if there are false, religious mindsets in us, it will be impossible to mature and grow in this relationship. Let's get rid of the idea that God is confined to the pages of the Bible, and we can only hear his voice when we read it. If all I have are biblical principles to live by, that makes me no better than a Mormon, Jehovah's witness, or Muslim. Let's get rid of the idea that the Bible has replaced the Holy Spirit and become the third person of the Trinity. As Steve Crosby says, that's nothing more than Bibleolatry. Hear my heart, of course the Bible is very important. However, without the activation of the Holy Spirit, the Bible in itself has no power to change us. It will become law to us, and it won't make any sense. The real power and life of God is found only in connection/relationship with him. Apart from him we can do nothing.
John 15:5 - I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
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