Why is spending time with God so important?

This is from a sermon at my Hope Church

In order to understand the priority of spending time with God, we must consider three important questions:

I. Does a Christian want to sin? _________

II. Does a Christian have to sin? _________

* Before you answer think about these passages:

⁶ We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin.

⁷ For when a man dies, he is freed (loosed, delivered) from [the power of] sin [among men].

Romans 6:6-7 (Amplified Bible)

¹³ For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not^[a]adjusted and ^[b]adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to ^[c]a landing place), that you may be capable and strong andpowerful to bear up under it patiently.

1 Corinthians 10:13

So the answer to the answer is "No" to the two questions above. The power of the Bible is that it is not based on how you feel. Reread this truth and reach for it in your moments of weakness.

* According to 2 Peter 1:3, we have been given EVERYTHING necessary to live a godly life!

³ For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [^[a]full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).

 2 Peter 1:3

III. If we don't want to sin and we don't have to sin, why do we sin? _______________________

*To understand the answer to this question we must read:

¹⁵ If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.

John 14:15

"Our obedience to Christ is in direct proportion to our love for Christ. 

- Clyde Cranford

The following diagram illustrates the priority of spending time with God:

SIN -> We Don't Love God (John 14:15) -> We Don't Know God (1 John 4:9) -> We Don't Spend Time with God -> We Don't See the Need -> Pride (This says to God, "I don't need you.")

⁶ But He gives us more and more grace (^[a]power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).

James 4:6

OBEDIENCE <- We Love God <- We Know God <- We Spend Time with God <- We See the Need

 <- Grace from God  (James 4:6) <-Humility (Saying to God, "I need you.")

You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free

Goals

1) Overall Goal in life - to know God

2) Daily Goal - to spend time with God

I need to remind myself of this often. I need to remind my wife of this. We need to teach this to our children.

Love Jesus Christ.

Marc

Who is Jesus To You? :The Most Important Question to Ask

 

 The are a lot of conversations that happen especially during election season. A lot of ideals, frustrations and dreams are discussed.



But is there a topic that is more important than who will be President in January?

It is more important how much of our taxes we will pay,
a job and career opportunities,
a health benefits,
my rights,
my friends needs,
my community's needs,
my country's role in the world,
and my family's needs.

Yes, the question who is Jesus is more important than the needs of my wife, Mary Lou and my two sons.

Don't get me wrong, these things above are important but that highlights how important the identity of Jesus Christ is. This question is more important than all these things because it affects every decision in your life.

  If you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior (2 Peter 2:20) and you only have two to five minutes to talk to a person that you don't know, an acquaintance, or a friend...what will you talk to them about? Will they know you favorite vacation spot, what is ailing you, the stats of your favorite football team, your frustrations with your job, or the details of new thing you just bought.

Or

Will you tell them your story (testimony). Will you tell them about the sin you struggled with or still do and how Jesus Christ being the one true living God (Isaiah 43:10-11), Lord and Savior, and a loving Father forgave you of your sins and is changing your life (Mark 2:5).

Will you lovingly share with them that Jesus, the Lord of all, will forgive them as well as long as they believe that Jesus is God, Jesus died as a payment for all of our sins, that Jesus rose from the dead and confess that truth in faith whole heartedly with their mouth (Romans 10:9-10).

If you don't know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, that is ok. I did not meet Jesus until I was 24 years old.

I struggled my entire life trying to "do it myself", "be good", "be holy", "be a good person", "get forgiveness to clear my mistakes", "be important", "be successful enough", "to be accepted" and "to be strong enough to handle any situation".  I struggled the most towards the end of college and as I started my first career. Finally, I realized my hopelessness. I realized I needed a Savior and humbled myself to finally pray and ask God to reveal himself to me.  I finally read the Bible to learn about Jesus' character instead of defending my assumptions (following a fake / made up God 2 Cor. 11:4,13)and Jesus gave me the gift of faith.

It is like being alive for the first time. Knowing Jesus and staring a relationship with Him has blessed every part of my life since 2004.
My relationship with Jesus,
my identity based on what He says about me,
my purpose,
 freedom from my struggle with sexual sin,
 I was forgiven,
my relationship with my girlfriend (now wife),
my relationship and decisions as a parent,
my relationship with my parents and extended family,
my renewed relationships with my friends,
my interaction with acquaintances,
my career decisions,
my financial decisions,
my health needs, and etc.

Every decision and concern has been impacted by the identity of Jesus.

(I love this song...sweet and simple. Jesus paid it all.)

I DID NOT EARN this GIFT of faith.  I did not EARN IT nor am I special (Eph 2:8). This blessing and life change is available for you if you are willing to humble yourself and seek Jesus Christ as your primary agenda and your top priority (Matt 6:33). Jesus is the only way to know God and go to heaven except by knowing Jesus (John 14:6) and He is UNIQUE (there will never be another like Him - check out John 3:16 and Dr. Rick Walston's comments).

Don't merely trust me. Read the Bible. The Bible is been proved to easily be the most well-attested book of antiquity. (See a video about if the Bible is relevant here or http://vimeo.com/18680110)

So, who is Jesus to you?

If you want to call me and talk more write me a comment with your email.

God bless you,

Marc

Love and Respect Series of Post: Summary

Husbands and Wives,

   This series of posts is meant as a refresher for those that have read Love and Respect and to spark interest to read more for those who have not. This book touches on so many details which are critical for God to change your marriage long term that you should not skip it and use these lists alone.

   I do not know what you are going through right now in your marriage; you might be on the verge of divorce or using this tool to strengthen your already healthy bond with your spouse. Either way, I do know that God will provide if you make Him the desire of your heart. 

    Love and Respect is just a book but the Bible verses and the truth of God's design are what make it powerful. Let me be clear, without a relationship with Christ these checklist will just be a temporary Band-Aid. Through relationship with Jesus, your life, marriage and family can be changed forever. We could not earn it...but the merciful Lord did it for us and He wants to do the same for you ( read Romans 10:9-13).

God bless your marriage and may the Lord Jesus Christ renew your soul and relationship,

Marc and Mary Lou

Wives' Love and Respect Checklist - Part 6

Adored Wives,

We are at the last step of C-H-A-I-R-S: How To Spell Respect To Your Husband

Conquest

Hierarchy

Authority

Insight

Relationship

Sexuality

This is the fifth checklist, Sexuality, for showing your husband you respect him.

Your husband will feel you appreciate his sexual intimacy when:

-you respond to him sexually more often and initiate sex periodically.

-you understand he needs sexual release just as you need emotional release.

-you let him acknowledge his sexual temptations without fearing he'll be unfaithful and without shaming him.

-you don't try to make him open up to you verbally by depriving him of sex.

A good scripture Emerson shares is "The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband" (1 Corin 7:3) 

God bless your marriage,

Marc

Eggerichs, Emerson. "Sexuality - His Desire for Sexual Intimacy." Love & respect: the love she most desires, the respect he desperately needs. Nashville, TN: Integrity Publishers ;, 2004. p 249-258. Print.

Wives' Love and Respect Checklist - Part 5

Ladies,

Remember C-H-A-I-R-S: How To Spell Respect To Your Husband

Conquest

Hierarchy

Authority

Insight

Relationship

Sexuality

This is the fifth checklist, Relationship, for showing your husband you respect him.

Your husband will feel you appreciate his shoulder-to-shoulder friend when:

-you tell him you like him and you show it (he knows you love him, but he often wonders if you really like him).

-you respond to his invitation to engage in recreational activities together or you come along to watch him (you don't have to go every time, but just now and then will energize him more than you realize).

-you enable him to open up and talk to you as you do things shoulder to shoulder.

-you encourage him to spend time alone, which energizes him to reconnect with you later.

-you don't denounce his shoulder-to-shoulder activities with his male friends to get him to spend more face-to-face time with you. Respect his friendships , and he will be more likely to want you to join him shoulder to shoulder at other times.

The shoulder-to-shoulder wife sees new meaning in "won without a word" (1 Peter 3:1)

God bless you and your family,

Marc

Eggerichs, Emerson. "Relationship - His Desire for Friendship." Love & respect: the love she most desires, the respect he desperately needs. Nashville, TN: Integrity Publishers ;, 2004. p 238-248. Print.

Wives' Love and Respect Checklist - Part 4

Brides,

Remember C-H-A-I-R-S: How To Spell Respect To Your Husband

Conquest

Hierarchy

Authority

Insight

Relationship

Sexuality

This is the fourth checklist, Insight, for showing your husband you respect him.

Your husband will feel you appreciate his insight and counsel when:

-you tell him upfront you just need his ear; don't complain to him later that he always tries to "fix" you.

-you thank him for his advice without acting insulted or like he doesn't care about you feelings.

-you recognize his problem-solving approach as his male brand of empathy.

-you realize your vulnerabilities, especially among males, and value his protection.

-you counsel him respectfully when you differ with his ideas (you can be right but wrong at the top of your voice).

-you sometimes let him "fix things" and applaud his solutions.

-you let him know that you believe God has made us male and female for a purpose and that we need each other.

-you admit that you can sin and thank him for his perception and godly counsel.

God bless your marriage,

Marc

Eggerichs, Emerson. "Insight - His Desire to Analyze and Counsel." Love & respect: the love she most desires, the respect he desperately needs. Nashville, TN: Integrity Publishers ;, 2004. p 227-237. Print.

Wives' Love and Respect Checklist - Part 3

Wives,

Remember C-H-A-I-R-S: How To Spell Respect To Your Husband

Conquest

Hierarchy

Authority

Insight

Relationship

Sexuality

This is the third checklist, Authority, for showing your husband you respect him.

Your husband will feel you appreciate his authority and and leadership when:

-you tell him you are thankful for his strength and enjoy being able to lean on him at times
-you support his self-image as a leader
-you never say, "You're responsible but we're still equal, so don't make a decision I don't agree with"
-you praise his good decisions
-you are gracious if he makes a bad decision
-you disagree with him only in private and honor his authority in front of the kids
-you give your reasons for disagreeing quietly and reasonably, but you never attack his right to lead
-you do not play "head games" with him to make him back down and be a "loving peacemaker"

As you read this list you may recall a moment when you did not respect you husband's authority... it is not too late to apologize and let him know that you asking God to help you to be more respectful. Watch his demeanor change before your eyes.

God bless your union,

Marc

this pic is just funny

Eggerichs, Emerson. "Authority - His Desire to Serve and Lead." Love & respect: the love she most desires, the respect he desperately needs. Nashville, TN: Integrity Publishers ;, 2004. p 224-2225. Print.