HOW TO GET CLOSER TO GOD
50 Days of Transformation - Part
1 (Spiritual Health)
Gary Wilcox
January 25-26, 2014
The further
away you get from God, the more your life is troubled
The closer you
get to God, the more your life is transformed.
The LOST
Son & LOVING FATHER: Luke 15:11-24
Jesus told this story: “A man
had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘Give me my share of your
estate now, instead of waiting until you die.’ So his father divided his wealth
between his sons.
A
few days later the younger son packed all his belongings and left home to live
in a distant land. (He got as far away from his Father as he could.) There he
squandered the gift he’d been given and wasted his life and money on wild
parties and reckless living. About the time all his money ran out, a severe
famine hit the land, and he began to starve because he was left with nothing.
The only job he could find was
feeding swine on a farm. He became so desperate and hungry that even the pig
slop he was feeding the swine looked good to him. But no one would give him
anything for his hunger.
When
he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘This is crazy! At my
Father’s home even the lowest paid workers eat well, while I’m far away dying
of hunger! I’m going to return home to
my Father and humbly say: Father, I have sinned against both God and you, and I
am not worthy to be a part of this family or called your son. But please just make
me one of your servants who works for you.’ With that attitude, he headed
back home to his Father.
But
while the son was still a long distance away, his father saw him coming. Filled
with love and compassion, he ran out to his son, threw his arms around him, and
kissed him! The son said ‘Father, I’ve sinned against both God and you, and I’m
no longer worthy of being called your son.’ But the father said to his
servants, ‘Quick! Bring me the finest robe in our house and put it on him. Then
get my signet ring for his finger and shoes for his feet. Then roast the calf
we have been fattening. We’re going to celebrate with a feast of eating and
drinking. For this child of mine was distant and dead but now he’s back and
alive! He was lost, but now he’s found! So the party began!’”
1. ___Get fed up with your life___________________________
“...he
wasted it all…he had nothing left…he got desperate and hungry… he finally came to his senses...” Luke 15:13-14, 17
GOD: “You’ll
find me when you get serious about finding me and want it more
than anything else.” Jeremiah 29:13 (Mes)
2. ____Own
up to your sin____________________________
“When he came to his senses,
he said...“I have sinned against God and
you...” Luke 15:17-18
“Your sins
have separated you from your God, and have hidden his face from you...”
Isaiah
59:2
“Be
merciful to me, O God, because of your constant love. Because of your great
mercy wipe away my sins! Wash away all my evil and make me clean! I recognize
my faults and I am Conscious that I’ve sinned against you.” Psalm 51:1-4 (TEV)
“The Lord says, ‘No matter how
deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as
freshly fallen snow.’” Isaiah 1:18 (NLT)
The HABIT of a Regular Spiritual Check-up:
“Test
yourself to make sure you’re solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking
everything for granted. Give yourself regular checkups. If you fail the test,
do something about it.”
2
Corinthians 13:5 (Mes)
“A man ought to examine himself before
he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.” 1
Corinthians 11:28 (NIV)
3. ___Offer up
yourself to God__________________________
The
son drifted away saying, “GIVE ME MY share...”
Luke 15:12
He
returned to the Father saying, “MAKE ME a servant” Luke 15:19
“Because God is merciful to you,
OFFER yourselves as living
sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. And
do not conform to the pattern of this world, but BE transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)
THE FATHER’S RESPONSE
“Filled with love and compassion, he ran out to his son, threw
his arms around him, and kissed him!...Bring the best...” Luke 15:20,
22
4. _____Lift up
prasies to HIm___________________________
“We’re
going to celebrate with a feast of eating and drinking...He was lost
but now he’s found! So the party begins!”
Luke 15:23-24
“Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him... his name is the Lord!” Psalm 68:4 (ESV)
“I will sing
to the Lord because he has been so good to me!” Psalm 13:6 (NLT)
“On the night he was betrayed,
the Lord Jesus took bread and spoke a prayer
of Thanksgiving. He broke the bread and said, ‘This is my body,
which is given for you. Do this to remember me.’” 1 Corinthians 11:23-24
This week in your small group:
Seven Habits For Spiritual Health
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