HOW TO KEEP THE SPARK GOING IN OUR INTIMACY WITH GOD

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CHRIST THE ROCK CONGREGATION

SUNDAY AUGUST 6TH 2023

SERMON BY PASTOR MARC SIMEON

HOW TO KEEP THE SPARK GOING IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

COMMENT CON SERVER LA FRAICHEUR DANS NOS RELATIONS AVEC DIEU

Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Psalm 84:10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

INTRODUCTION

The reason why this message is important

  • We are living in a post Christian era.
  • There was a time when the Christian faith was very influential in the culture.
  • On Sundays for instance, you could hardly find an open store or establishment.
  • The majority of schools had prayers to begin the day.
  • The television shows and movies were for the most part very decent for the whole family.
  • Christian homes used to be made of real Christians, devoted fathers and mothers raising their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
  • There used to be so many societal guardrails to help foster the Christian faith.
  • In our present days, all these guardrails have been removed while our generation is becoming increasingly more hostile toward Christians and toward the Christian faith.
  • A Christian now is like Joseph in captivity in Egypt where he had to survive by his personal faith in God.
  • Nowadays Christians are like Daniel in his companions residing in a pagan country, bundling up to preserve their common faith.
  • Unfortunately many professed Christians depend on too much support from others to remain floated in their faith.
  • Many young Christians begin to experience declines in their faith in God the day they leave home for college.
  • A new job environment can also trigger the beginning of the drought season in one’s relationship with God.
  • From time to time all Christians find themselves in need to rekindle the fire in their intimacy with God.
  • There are many who continue to serve God while the initial spark in their relationship with God is long gone.  

THE DYNAMICS OF RELATIONSHIPS

  • Relationships, partnerships, and friendships are essentials in everyone’s life.
  • The problem with most is not on how to generate relationships with others, but on how to maintain them.
  • For another category the problem is not in holding a long relationship with people, but with how to keep the spark going.
  • We watch over our relationships with our spouses and others from becoming plateau, blasé, or even toxic.
  • Once the gas is released in an opened can of soda, it becomes flat, everything changes about it, including the taste.
  • Married couples do all kinds of gymnastics to keep the flame going in their relationships.
  • They take long trips together; they go to marriage seminars and retreats just to keep the freshness in their marriages.

MANAGING AND MAINTAINING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

  • Just like we do to maintain our human relationships, the same is required with God.
  • After having walked with God for a long time, two things may either happen.
  • You either draw closer and closer to God until he decides to take you home with Him to heaven like Enoch.
  • Or, your walk with God becomes mundane, routine, plateau and confusing.
  • You can remain a religious person while your real sensation and faith in God becomes exasperated.
  • You wake up in the morning and do your morning prayer as usual.
  • You read a portion of scripture as usual
  • You go to church as usual, because it has become part of your DNA
  • You listen to sermons as usual because it is a Christian thing to do.
  • You speak favorably about God as must all Christians do.
  • You maintain a safety distance with God.
  • Not too close to be labeled a fanatic.
  • Not too far to venture in the enemy’s territory.
  • Your observation becomes your theology
  • You keep hell safe relationship with God.
  • Without noticing it, you fall into the lukewarm category.
  • No real haste for prayer
  • No haste for revival in your soul.
  • No haste to become emotional about God.
  • Sadly to say, because of seniority issues, many of those blasé saints occupy pivotal positions in the administrations of the local churches.
  • Many of them are clergy members.
  • Many of them are missionaries.
  • Many of them are children of prominent Christians who by default of association to their parents are managing the affairs of the Lord that they’ve long abandoned.
  • Growing cold with God is a pitfall for all believers.
  • The faith of some became faded after a seeming disappointment with God.

EXAMINE WHERE YOU PRESENTLY STAND WITH GOD

  • In examining your walk with God, it’s always helpful to remember the good times and the high altitudes that you’ve reached in God.
  • Compare the picturesque past experiences with God to your present walk with Him
  • If there are deficiencies in the comparison, then you need to identify them and address them.
  • You need to lament before God to rekindle of the fire you used to have in your relationship with Him.

Ps 42:4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.

 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.

  • Many of those things that you now take for granted in your intimacy with God will be targeted by the enemy.
  • The praising
  • The dancing
  • The meditating upon the Word of God.
  • The sharing of the Word with others.
  • The joy of coming to church.
  • The fellowshipping with other believers, etc. may be stolen from you by Satan the adversary if you are not watchful.

DETERMINE A COURSE OF ACTIONS TO REMEDIATE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

Re 2:5 “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place–unless you repent.

  • Date God again.
  • Repent your sins and ask God to forgive you.
  • Arriving in church on time.
  • Prepare your worship since the day before.
  • Manage your expectations from God from a mature Christian standpoint.
  • Baby Christians have fairytale expectations from God.
  • Mature Christians know that true happiness is not in this world but in heaven.
  • Mature Christians have a list of unanswered prayers, yet they are still on fire for God.
  • Learn to count your blessings and be thankful to God.
  • Identify your weaknesses and address them.
  • Enjoy the simple blessings of God.
  • Don’t expect a trouble free life but a life of intimacy with God

CONCLUSION

SAFEGUARD THE PROGRESSION OF YOUR INTIMACY WITH GOD WITH A KEY PLAN

  • Determine to never fall back again in your intimacy with God. Ask God to help you to achieve that.
  • Discipline yourself to study God’s word.
  • Set specific times for prayer
  • Plan some annual retreats you want to go to in order to stimulate your closeness with God.
  • Create time in your busy schedule just to sing praises to God.
  • Create an atmosphere in your home that is conducive to the Spirit of God.
  • Hang some printed verses on your wall.
  • Volunteer in the activities of the church.
  • Our relationship with God should reach the climax as we mature in the faith and not regressing.
  • God desires a high intimacy with each one of his children.
  • God is more than willing to make up with you and be friend again.

Isa 55:6 ¶ Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.

Jer 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your hear

  • AMEN!

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