TEXT: MATTHEW 20:17-19; ROMANS 4:25
TITLE: DESIRE INTIMACY WITH GOD? JESUS MADE IT POSSIBLE
INTRODUCTION
A. God created us to be in relationship with other humans
B. God created us to be in relationship with himself
C. Jesus’ Death and Resurrection made that possible
GOD’S INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS
A. Adam and Eve – Genesis 3:8, 9 (Evening walks together)
B. Enoch – Genesis 5:22, 24 (Enoch walked with God)
C. Noah – Genesis 6:9 (Noah walked with God)
D. Abraham
1. Genesis 18:17 (“Shall hide from Abraham what I am doing?”}
2. Genesis 18:19 (“I have known him.”)
3. James 2:23 (“He was called the friend of God.”)
4. 2 Chronicles 20:7 (“Abraham, Your friend.”)
5. Isaiah 41:8 (God, “Abraham My friend)
E. Moses
1. Exodus 33:11 (the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend
2. Numbers 12:8 (God, “I speak with him [Moses] face to face”)
JESUS MADE IT POSSIBLE
A. Jesus died for my sins
B. Jesus resurrected for my justification (to be made right with God)
TO HAVE AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP
A. Walking with Jesus – John 14:16, 17, 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you
B. Intimacy with Jesus – John 14:26 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
C. Family with Jesus – Hebrews 2:11 (NLT), 11 So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters
D. Friends with Jesus – John 15:15, 15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
Work for the Week
APRIL MEMORY VERSE 17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands — O prosper the work of our hands! Psalm 90:17
APRIL MEDITATION QUOTE: You can pray until you faint, but unless you get up and try to do something, God is not going to put it in your lap. ~Fannie Lou Hamer
FOR THE YOUTH: Memorize and share the five things that God said:
- The Lord your God has given you victory
- Do not be Afraid
- Do not be Discouraged
- Be Strong
- Be Courageous
TODAY’S STUDY QUESTIONS AND MEDITATION: What is the status of my relationship with God?
