CHRISTMAS - INVITATION TO RELATIONSHIP

INTRODUCTION

God did not send His son to create a new religion; nor to renew and old religion. He sent His son to die to restore relationship.

A new covenant. An invitation to relationship and all that entails.

Matthew 2:2 NLT

2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

AN INVITATION TO RELATIONSHIP

Matthew 16:13–18 NLT

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

What is the foundation of the church of Jesus Christ? Man’s understanding for the revelation of the relationship of and with Himself?

Father God is above all things, relational: God did not come to a fallen creation because heaven was lacking order or holiness. He considered all of heaven and its perfection along with his own holiness secondary to restoring relationship with a messy and broken creation. Consider the following:

· We are beings created in relationship - we were created in the image of a triune God in relationship. [1]“Let us make man in our image” – we are created in the image of a relationship.

· We were created for relationship - God created us in His image to be in relationship with Himself. We are called [2]“the bride”, “children”, “sons and daughters”, “brothers and sisters”; everywhere is the paradigm of intimate relationship.

· We continue to exist by relationship - We continue to exist as a creation only as long as we are willing to pursue and cooperate in relationship.

› God has Called us to Bring His Kingdom

God hides the kingdom behind relationship:

Matthew 18:20 NLT

²⁰ For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”

By requiring relationship, he requires us to operate in that nature to walk in His kingdom.

• Humility

• Faith

• Love

• Submission

• Sacrifice

• Investment

• Service

• Honor

• Stewardship

WORSHIP - THE ENTRY POINT TO RELATIONSHIP

John 4:23–24 NLT

23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Worship outside of relationship is vain and meaningless.

Matthew 15:8–9 NLT

8 ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’”

Faith without works is dead; but so is works without faith. Services or acts performed to receive the benefits of relationship, without the relationship.

The Bible calls us “His Bride” bride for a reason.

When there is no covenant relationship in a marriage; you revert to negotiations and rules. So it is with your relationship with God.