Connection to God

H. aving a Foundation

Developing a lifestyle of Prayer

Those of us born after the mid 90’s may not remember, but I remember something called a landline. In fact there was time when landlines were common and cell phones were exceptional. So the way this worked was your home telephone lines were placed strategically in your home. You usually had a family use phone, (ours was on our bar between the dining area and kitchen) and then you had a phone for private conversation, this was usually in the bedroom. Our family phone was very similar to the one in the side, in fact almost identical. There was a time if you had a touch tone phone with an extremely long cord so that you could walk around, you were up town in communication.

(MY Spiderman telephone)

We now have access to a worldwide hub of communication at the touch of a mobile screen, almost wherever we are. Jesus spoke of a connection that we have constant access to as well.

John 4:19–24 KJV 1900

The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Our worship and connection with God is no longer predicated on location or formality, but simply that we are coming to God in sincerity and honesty, and from within. Connection with God can not just be mere religious routine, it must be our hearts tethered with His. Worship from within our spirit and with His Spirit that is given to us.

Cultivating the Connection

So how do we cultivate this connection between us and God?

Prayer is our our primary communication with God.

Matthew 6:5–13 KJV 1900

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

This is known as the Lord’s prayer but it’s actually a model of prayer.

Jesus says “When ye pray”, so we know that it’s an expected practice. He also mentions “daily bread” so we can conclude that prayer is a daily practice. I know that we probably have an understanding of a certain formality of prayer, but remember Jesus said that worship was done “in spirit and in truth.” Prayer is simply communication or conversation between us and God. It’s important for us to remember that communication is a two way street. We must talk to God and allow Him to talk to us.

We see in this model of prayer the approach of:

Our Father

Exaltation

Submission

Provision

Mercy

Guidance and Protection

Exaltation

Let me break it down into main focus:

“How great God is”

“How great our needs are” (specifics)

“How great our need of Him is”

“How great God is”

What should be our position and approach to prayer? (verses 5-7)

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2. How should we begin our time of prayer? (verses 9-10)

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3. What are some things we ask God for during our time of prayer? (verses 11-13)

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4. How can we make our prayer time more meaningful?

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Prayer wheel. Please listen to me and I believe we can revolutionize our prayer time.

Church: Talk to God; God talks to us; Talk to each other!

Spending Time in God’s Word

God communicates to us through His Word.

We should read the Bible daily with an anticipation of hearing from God.

The Bible is our pathway to spiritual and relational growth.

The logos is a well of water while the rhema is a bowl of water from that well, the logos is piano keys while the rhema is a single key playing, a logos is the entire body while the rhema is one part in operation.

Reading the Word should be part of our prayer time. The difference is our motive. Is it for telling someone else? Then it’s more for study. If it’s for telling yourself, then it’s relational.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 KJV 1900

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

James 1:21–25 KJV 1900

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

1. What are some of the purposes God intended for Scripture? (2 Timothy 3:16)

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2. How does Scripture help us as disciples of Jesus Christ? (2 Timothy 3:17)

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3. How should we receive the Word of God? (James 1:21)

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4. What is promised to doers of the Word of God? (James 1:25)

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Meditation

Joshua 1:8 KJV 1900

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Psalm 1:1–3 KJV 1900

Blessed is the man That walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; And in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

What is the main purpose and benefit of meditating on God’s Word (Joshua 1:8)

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2. In contrast to the ungodly, what does the believer delight in?

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3. Scripture compares those meditating on God’s Word to what? Why?

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4. What obstacles are there for daily meditation of God’s Word and how can we overcome them?

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The Biblical teaching of meditation is not practiced much in our fast paced society, but its benefits are significant.

Meditation is often misunderstood because for some Eastern belief systems and transcendental practices where it is used for emptying the mind. While emptying is important, we do this in repentance. While meditating on God’s Word is filling our minds and hearts to align ourselves with God’s thoughts and emotions.

Philippians 4:8–9 KJV 1900

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

A Commitment of Worship

Ephesians 4:21–24 KJV 1900

If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Ephesians 5:15–20 KJV 1900

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

If we have believed om Jesus, what should we do away with? (Ephesians 4:21-22)

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2. What should we do instead? (Ephesians 4:23-24)

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3. How can we walk wisely and understand the will of the Lord? (Ephesians 5:18)

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4. What are some practical things we can do to walk in this way? (Ephesians 5:19-20)

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Our relationship to God is characterized by devotion, or worship to Him.

The term worship has sometimes been relegated to praise music and a portion of a church service where people express their love for God.

While this is good, Scripture calls us to a much deeper, more robust meaning. It calls us to a commitment and devotion to Christ. When someone is devoted to a particular station or enjoyment in life, it’s usually easily seen perceived. We take on the image of what we worship.

Paul stressed to the Church at Ephesus the need to realign their lives with God who had radically saved them. As we discussed last week, he uses the metaphor of taking off an old garment and putting on a new one to help the Christian visualize leaving their old life behind and beginning and beginning a new one.

To help us better understand the meaning of the word worship to a Christian, I would like to add a letter to it.

WOR-D-SHIP.

-Ship is a noun suffix. When you add it to the end of a word, that word becomes a noun. It can be added to a word that is already a noun. When that happens, the noun becomes a different noun.

The noun suffix -ship can change the meaning of a word in several different ways. The three most common new meanings are below.

1. : the state or condition of being something

friendship = the state of being a friend

apprenticeship the condition of being an apprentice

relationship = the state of being related; the state between those having relations

2. : the position, status, or duties of something

professorship = the position of a professor

clerkship = the status of being a clerk

dictatorship = the office, actions, or duties of a dictator

3. : skill or ability as someone or something

horsemanship = skill as a horseman

penmanship = ability as a penman [=scribe; calligrapher]

Our worship is our condition of being, our position and our duties of living, and our skill and ability of knowing what the Word of God has called us to.

If we will initiate communication with God through prayer, let Him initiate communication by reading the Bible, meditate on these conversations, and commit to WORDSHIP, we will be successful as Christ followers and have a clear connection to God.

Let’s stay encouraged in in our devotion to these practices and incorporate a plan to keep on track. Consider having a friend to help us stay engaged in them.

Gospel T is the place to BE! Let’s BE the Word!