Forgotten GodForgotten God

A Real RelationshipA Real Relationship

When we are at our wits’ end for an When we are at our wits’ end for an answer, then the Holy Spirit can answer, then the Holy Spirit can give us an answer. But how can He give us an answer. But how can He give us an answer when we are still give us an answer when we are still well supplied with all sorts of well supplied with all sorts of answers of our own?answers of our own?

Karl BarthKarl Barth

InsecurityInsecurity

• Nothing worse than living in insecurityNothing worse than living in insecurity• FearFear• UncertaintyUncertainty• Where do I stand with God?Where do I stand with God?

• Nothing better than being absolutely sure Nothing better than being absolutely sure that the most powerful Being in the that the most powerful Being in the universe adores you as His own child universe adores you as His own child

• The Holy Spirit offers us that confidenceThe Holy Spirit offers us that confidence

InsecurityInsecurity• ““Living faithfully” and “serving God” Living faithfully” and “serving God”

• ““Trying Harder”Trying Harder”• ““Doing better next time”Doing better next time”

• The Holy Spirit diverts us from this The Holy Spirit diverts us from this pathpath• Allows us to enjoy:Allows us to enjoy:

• IntimacyIntimacy• SecuritySecurity• EncouragementEncouragement

• We can then serve God as a beloved We can then serve God as a beloved child instead of a guilt-ridden slavechild instead of a guilt-ridden slave

Being KnownBeing Known

• But now that you know God—or But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over enslaved by them all over again?again? Galatians 4:9 Galatians 4:9

Known By GodKnown By God

• Imagine God saying:Imagine God saying:• I know I know (your name (your name

here)here)• Many say that they Many say that they

are children of God – are children of God – but…but…• Are they empty Are they empty

words?words?• Do you know Him?Do you know Him?• Are you known by Are you known by

Him?Him?

Holy Spirit AssuranceHoly Spirit Assurance

• Because you are his sons, God Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer slaves, but God's no longer slaves, but God's children; and since you are his children; and since you are his children, he has made you also children, he has made you also heirs.heirs. Galatians 4:6-7 Galatians 4:6-7

Holy Spirit AssuranceHoly Spirit Assurance

• He assures us of our right standing with GodHe assures us of our right standing with God• He assures us of God’s love for usHe assures us of God’s love for us• He assures believers of the gift of new life He assures believers of the gift of new life

in Christin Christ• He assures us we have nothing to fear He assures us we have nothing to fear

becausebecause• We are His childrenWe are His children• He is powerfulHe is powerful• We are accepted, fully and unconditionallyWe are accepted, fully and unconditionally

Romans 8:15-17Romans 8:15-17

• The Spirit you received does not make The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.may also share in his glory.

Well, I just don’t Well, I just don’t experience that kind of experience that kind of intimacy with God…my intimacy with God…my spirit never cries our spirit never cries our Abba, Father.Abba, Father.

Two Possible ObstaclesTwo Possible Obstacles

• ComfortComfort• Maybe Your Life is Too SafeMaybe Your Life is Too Safe

• VolumeVolume• Maybe Your Life is Too LoudMaybe Your Life is Too Loud

ComfortComfort

• Necessity promotes nearnessNecessity promotes nearness• "When you are brought before "When you are brought before

synagogues, rulers and synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, what you will say, for the Holy for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time Spirit will teach you at that time what you should saywhat you should say."." Luke Luke 12:11-1212:11-12

ComfortComfort• The Holy Spirit guides us in desperate The Holy Spirit guides us in desperate

situations situations • On trial for your beliefsOn trial for your beliefs• Asked why we believe in a God that Asked why we believe in a God that

allows allows (fill in the most recent world (fill in the most recent world tragedy)tragedy)

• Personal lossPersonal loss• He is known as the ComforterHe is known as the Comforter

• Why do we need to experience the Why do we need to experience the Comforter if our lives are comfortable?Comforter if our lives are comfortable?

Taliban extends deadline for 23 Koreans Taliban extends deadline for 23 Koreans kidnapped from Afghan bus - againkidnapped from Afghan bus - againLast updated at 16:07 23 July 2007Last updated at 16:07 23 July 2007

VolumeVolume• Multitasking has become the Multitasking has become the

normnorm• Talking on the telephoneTalking on the telephone• Checking emailsChecking emails• Playing the WiiPlaying the Wii

• Difficult to have an uninterrupted Difficult to have an uninterrupted conversationconversation

• Distractions are everywhereDistractions are everywhere• We’ve lost the art of focusingWe’ve lost the art of focusing

VolumeVolume

• Jesus saw the need for “quiet time”Jesus saw the need for “quiet time”• Mark 1:35Mark 1:35

• Very early in the morning, while Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.solitary place, where he prayed.

• Our lack of intimacy may stem from Our lack of intimacy may stem from our unwillingness to unplug and our unwillingness to unplug and shut off communication from all shut off communication from all others to be alone with Himothers to be alone with Him

VolumeVolume

• Takes discipline to “turn down Takes discipline to “turn down the volume” the volume” • Be still (Ps. 46:10)Be still (Ps. 46:10)• Listen (1 Kings 19:11-13)Listen (1 Kings 19:11-13)• Wait (Acts 1:4)Wait (Acts 1:4)

• By practicing this, we allow the By practicing this, we allow the Spirit to be intimate with us and Spirit to be intimate with us and deepen our relationship with deepen our relationship with HimHim

The Promise of the SpiritThe Promise of the Spirit

• John 14-16John 14-16• Jesus promises His followers Jesus promises His followers

will have peace and comfort will have peace and comfort when the Spirit comeswhen the Spirit comes

• The Spirit resides in usThe Spirit resides in us• We are His temple – how We are His temple – how

intimate is that?intimate is that?

The Promise of the SpiritThe Promise of the Spirit

• Galatians 3: 13-14Galatians 3: 13-14• Christ redeemed us from the curse of Christ redeemed us from the curse of

the law by becoming a curse for us, the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole." He redeemed who is hung on a pole." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, through Christ Jesus, so that by faith so that by faith we might receive the promise of the we might receive the promise of the Spirit.Spirit.

• Jesus died so that we could have Jesus died so that we could have relationship with the Spirit – should I relationship with the Spirit – should I ignore that?ignore that?

Personal BaggagePersonal Baggage

• We have been chosen, grafted, We have been chosen, grafted, adopted into the family of Godadopted into the family of God

• He has chosen to love usHe has chosen to love us• We can cry out Abba, FatherWe can cry out Abba, Father• We sohould not allow the We sohould not allow the

personal baggage of our life to personal baggage of our life to keep us from Himkeep us from Him

Personal BaggagePersonal Baggage

• Luke 15: 11-32 – The story of the Luke 15: 11-32 – The story of the ProdigalProdigal

• Despite his baggage, the Father Despite his baggage, the Father forgave and restored fellowship with forgave and restored fellowship with himhim

• The Spirit speaks truth to our heartsThe Spirit speaks truth to our hearts• No condemnation (Rom. 8:1)No condemnation (Rom. 8:1)• Nothing can separate us (Rom. 8:39)Nothing can separate us (Rom. 8:39)• Faithful to forgive (1 John 1:9)Faithful to forgive (1 John 1:9)

SeekingSeeking

• You will seek me and find me You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD…declares the LORD…JerJer. 29:13 . 29:13

• When’s the last time we sought When’s the last time we sought Him that way?Him that way?

• Ask the Spirit to help you lay Ask the Spirit to help you lay aside anything that hinders that aside anything that hinders that search.search.