God and YouGod and You

How’s your relationship with God?How’s your relationship with God?

Do you have one?

Do you have one?

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““Personal Relationship” with GodPersonal Relationship” with God

• We must be “with” Christ, We must be “with” Christ, Matt. Matt. 12:30; 11:28-3012:30; 11:28-30

• Often self-defined, not God-definedOften self-defined, not God-defined• Concept usually accompanies Concept usually accompanies

emotion-based experiences, not emotion-based experiences, not Bible-based conversionsBible-based conversions

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Welcome to The Branch! Our mission Welcome to The Branch! Our mission is quite simple - to help people live in is quite simple - to help people live in an intimate relationship with God. The an intimate relationship with God. The Branch is made up of people from Branch is made up of people from different religious, socioeconomic, different religious, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds, but all and cultural backgrounds, but all claim common ground in their claim common ground in their conviction that life to its fullest is conviction that life to its fullest is experienced through an intimate experienced through an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.relationship with Jesus Christ.

www.thebranch.orgwww.thebranch.org

4“…“…and yet you have not known me…”and yet you have not known me…”

““If you had known Me, you would have known My If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

John 14:7-11John 14:7-11

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Relationship with God thru Christ Relationship with God thru Christ Jno. 14:6; Rom. 6:3-5; Gal. 3:26-27 (4:8-9)Jno. 14:6; Rom. 6:3-5; Gal. 3:26-27 (4:8-9)

• It is It is personalpersonal, because it is , because it is youryour salvation salvation• You You knowknow God when you believe and are God when you believe and are

savedsaved by the gospel, by the gospel, 1 Cor. 1:21 (1 Jno. 1 Cor. 1:21 (1 Jno. 1:1-4)1:1-4)

• Christ died for Christ died for youyou and saves and saves youyou when when youyou trust and obey, trust and obey, Matt. 11:28-29; Matt. 11:28-29; 28:19; Mk. 16:1628:19; Mk. 16:16

CHRISTIANCHRISTIAN

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You must have contact with God in You must have contact with God in your life, your life, John 14:7-9John 14:7-9

• The Lord knows you, cf. The Lord knows you, cf. John 1:47-48John 1:47-48– The question is, The question is, do you know Goddo you know God??– Initial contact at conversion; has it Initial contact at conversion; has it

continued?continued?

• David knew God was with him, David knew God was with him, Psalm Psalm 23:423:4– Do you?Do you? Hebrews 13:5-6 Hebrews 13:5-6

CONTACTCONTACT

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You must spend time with GodYou must spend time with God

• In communication, In communication, Numbers 12:7Numbers 12:7– From GodFrom God: HIS WORD,: HIS WORD, John 14:10; John 14:10;

Hebrews 1:1-2; Psalm 1:2; Hebrews 1:1-2; Psalm 1:2; 119:14-16119:14-16

– With GodWith God: PRAYER: PRAYER (1 Ths. 5:17); (1 Ths. 5:17); Mark 1:35; Phil. 4:6-7Mark 1:35; Phil. 4:6-7

TIME TOGETHER

TIME TOGETHER

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You must spend time with GodYou must spend time with God

• Spend time worshiping God, Spend time worshiping God, Psalm 122:1 Psalm 122:1 (Phil. 4:4; Heb. 13:15) (Phil. 4:4; Heb. 13:15)– Will not know God if you do not truly Will not know God if you do not truly

worship Himworship Him

• Spend time serving others, Spend time serving others, Matthew Matthew 25:4025:40– Learning to be like Christ – to know Him in Learning to be like Christ – to know Him in

your life your life

TIME TOGETHER

TIME TOGETHER

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You must trust God, You must trust God, Jno. 14:11Jno. 14:11

• Have complete faith in Him, Have complete faith in Him, James James 2:21-232:21-23– Abraham was the friend of GodAbraham was the friend of God– Do you trust what God commands Do you trust what God commands

you?you?– Do you trust what God promises Do you trust what God promises

you?you?

TRUSTTRUST

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You must trust GodYou must trust God

• Obey Him, Obey Him, 1 John 2:3-5; John 1 John 2:3-5; John 14:20-23 14:20-23 – Allow the Lord (His revealed will) Allow the Lord (His revealed will)

to rule over every part of your to rule over every part of your lifelife

TRUSTTRUST

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You must trust GodYou must trust God

• Cast all your cares upon Him, Cast all your cares upon Him, 1 1 Peter 5:5-7 Peter 5:5-7 – Humility to trust God’s power Humility to trust God’s power (5:6)(5:6)– Completely open your heart to Completely open your heart to

God God (5:7)(5:7)

TRUSTTRUST

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You must take care of your You must take care of your relationship with Godrelationship with God

• Is God “far” from you or “near” by? Is God “far” from you or “near” by? Rev. Rev. 3:203:20– God is as God is as closeclose or as or as farfar as you decide to as you decide to

have Him!have Him!

• God is close to you when you choose to…God is close to you when you choose to…– Learn, trust & obey His word, Learn, trust & obey His word, John 14:23John 14:23– Live for His pleasure & blessings, Live for His pleasure & blessings, Eph. 5:8-10Eph. 5:8-10

NURTURENURTURE

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You will become more and more like You will become more and more like Jesus,Jesus, Eph. 4:20-24; Phil. 3:7-11Eph. 4:20-24; Phil. 3:7-11

• In your love for God & others In your love for God & others (Matt. (Matt. 22:37-39)22:37-39)

• In your trust and reliance upon God In your trust and reliance upon God (Matt. 6:33)(Matt. 6:33)

• In your obedience to God in all things In your obedience to God in all things (Heb. 5:8-9)(Heb. 5:8-9)

THE RESULTTHE RESULT

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Gospel call is to know God and to Gospel call is to know God and to be known by God,be known by God, Gal. 4:8-9, 7Gal. 4:8-9, 7

• Those who know Christ and are Those who know Christ and are know by Him know by Him “do the will of “do the will of the Father”the Father” (Matt. 7:21-23)(Matt. 7:21-23)

• Do not turn back to the bondage of Do not turn back to the bondage of sinful error and worldlinesssinful error and worldliness

THE GOSPELTHE GOSPEL