God & You Bible Study w/Pop Quiz-Cultivating a Relationship with God

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Many people seem to have a hard time understanding how to have a relationship with the Lord. Is just getting saved enough? Oftentimes, people get saved in the heat of the moment like after a very inspiring sermon or an emotional talk with a family member or friend and after the glow of feeling saved, loved, and cherished by God is very much like the glow of attraction in love affairs and relationships. After the glow wears off the relationship dulls and you go right back to the way you were. Is this what God expects of us? Will we still be allowed to enter His pearly gates or more likely will He say, "I never knew you".  If you want to make sure that you get to heaven it is most important to get saved and develop a daily ongoing relationship with the Lord. 

Developing a relationship with God

God wants us to love Him and to do His will not ours
A major part of developing a relationship with the Lord is obedience. It is important to do what God expects of you if you plan on going to heaven.
  • Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven Matt. 7:21

Does God know you?

In the end times, upon His return many will come to God telling Him they have done His will because they performed miracles by using His name and prophesied in His name. In order for you to have a relationship with God it takes more than just works, you must pray daily, listen for God's voice, study to show yourself approved, do his will, follow his commandments, and tell other's about him and if you do not do these things it just may be that God does not know you and if He does not know you that means you do not have a relationship with Him and He will not recognize you when He returns to judge the world so it stands to reason that developing a relationship with the Lord is extremely important.
  • Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Matt. 7:22
  • And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matt. 7:23

How to start a relationship with God

After you are saved you will need to start building your relationship with God right away and maintain that relationship on a daily basis. If you have fallen away from the Lord or feel like He is far from you or not hearing your prayer's then it is very important that you reevaluate your relationship with Him.
In order to have a solid relationship with God, one of love, faithfulness, truthfulness, mercy, grace, and obedience, and filled with His Holy Spirit we have to get to know Him and open doors we have never opened before. Could you fall in love with someone you never knew? Permit me to make a odd comparison to make my point. If you order some Handy helper books that show you how to fix things and you go out and fix the things just the way you learned them in the book. Then one day you get the opportunity to meet the author of the book and you tell him or her that you have read their book and repaired things just like they taught you with the book..does that mean the author of the book KNOWS you? No. It does not. So though the Bible may be an instruction manual for us to live by it is simply a guideline and examples that we need to follow. In order to start or renew your relationship with the Lord you will need to communicate with Him every single day, read God's word, study, believe, love, and share His word with others.

Following Christ's Example

Following Christ's Example:
The example of Christ, we are to be Christ like. Jesus prayed to God, He did everything God asked of Him, He spent His whole life teaching God's word. Even in death Jesus did God's will. Now that is a tall order,God does not expect us to be perfect but my point is-if you are not praying to him, listening for Him, studying His word to find out more about Him, keep Him as the Number 1 focus in your life, telling others about Him, then you still do not have a relationship with Him. A relationship is based on getting to know someone, communicating with them, listening when they speak, doing things for them because you know they like it. You can read your bible every day, as you should, but that does not guarantee you a place in heaven. You have to communicate with Him-talk with Him on a daily basis. Pray without ceasing..wait for His answers. Yes, He will answer but you must have faith and believe in Him, get to know Him today-just get on your knees and pray...He will let you know what He wants-if you just listen. When you let Him inside your thoughts, your heart, your mind, and your body-you will feel His awesome presence and yes you will hear His voice! He said: 
  • My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me: John 10:27
Jesus states clearly that if you don't believe His words then you are not His sheep
  • But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep as I said unto you. John 10:26
God wants proof that you love Him
Many people don't like to hear this part but if you really love the Lord and are serious about developing a true relationship with him, you will keep His commandments. 
  • If ye love me, keep my commandments John 14:15

Memory Verse

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  Matt. 7:23

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