One of the major reasons why Jesus came to the world was to bring mankind closer to God.
Coming to church when you have no Christ is an absurdity. In fact you are living in self-deception and terrible error. If you don’t have Him in your life you are in real trouble. AND YOU MUST COME OF THAT TROULE TODAY!
Gen 1 : 1-3.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Darkness was reigning in Genesis because light was not around, but the moment light came darkness bowed. Why? Light doesn’t compete with darkness, because he is superior.
When the light comes, you will run faster in 2006, your speed is increasing. When the light comes, it’s easy to avoid obstacles and not stumble.
John 11: 9–10
Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
This year, you will not stumble. But something must be done before light can come.
Read Job 22: 21 – 28
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.(v21)
Before light could come, you must acquaint yourself with Him, you must get close to Him.
- Acquaint NOW
Closeness to God is a matter of urgency. Now is the acceptable time. The end of this year is a matter of days, why won’t you get close to the Man who sees the end of that year from the beginning.
If you don’t cultivate His friendship now He may not hold your hand as He held the hand of Lot.
- Acquaint… THYSELF
It’s not “thyselves”. Walking with God is an individual business. God will not deal with us as a group but as a person.
In Revelation, He says whosoever name was not written in the book of life shall be cast into the lake of fire.
§ In the book of life, what you have are personal names not church names or group names!
§ Each man will answer for himself. (Ezekiel 18:20)
You are to get close to God on personal basis. Even then, getting close to God is in levels.
Let’s starts from the natural.
You can be close to
1. Church member. 2. Former classmates. 3. Colleagues at work.
4. Best friend 5. Wife.
These are different levels of closeness.
Jesus was close to the following in different levels.
- John
- James, Peter and John.
- 12 Disciples.
- Multitudes.
But who is it that determines your closeness?
- It’s not God. Acts 10 : 34 – 35
- It’s you. Ezekiel 33 : 17
God is constant, man is the variable.
In Ezekiel 47 : 1 – 5(Read)
This river has God in it because it gives life to anything it comes in contact with. It’s the river that the psalmist referred to in Ps. 46: God is in the midst of her!.
Our walk with God is in levels.
Ø Ankle level: In today, out of Christ tomorrow. Just saved but not yet an overcomer!. Can’t pray.
Ø Knee level.
Enjoy Him and His presence only in the place of prayer. Can communicate but no communion.
Ø Loins level
This is walking with God, but still uses his head to make decisions. Still subject to carnal ambitions.
Ø Overwhelming level
Jesus is not only His Saviour, but also His Lord.
Ezekiel 47: 5
Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.
This is the level God is taking you to in this year. You sleep, you wake, you work, it’s in God’s presence. One thing about this level is that, you must keep moving for God. “Water to swim” – not water to enjoy. When a man is swimming the day he relaxes he will begin to drown. A river that could not be passed over - You can’t outgrow this level; you can say it’s enough!
No matter how close or far you are from God, you can get closer! Moses was close to God; he saw the acts of God as he was been used to deliver the people. But he said “its not enough”! I’m going to a higher level. (Exodus 33:13) I’ve seen your wonders but I want to know your way.
The ways of God is superior to the wonders of God! When God answered him, a record went down into history!
Psalm 103:7
He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel
Moses left the level of the children and moved to a higher level.
In this year, your level of acquaintance must increase!
Let’s quickly look at the benefits of getting close to God.
1. Peace v 21.
This is of supreme importance: the kind of peace that keeps your heart out of trouble.
Ps. 46:3
Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
…He can’t be moved, even though the sea is roaring.
2. You attract good things of life in every location in life v 21.
Isaiah1:18-19 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land
He is saying come let’s be close and you will eat the good!
3. Ability to hear His voice.
You access rhema easily when you are close to Him.
4. Divine Restoration v 23.
Everything you have lost is restored. Gates of hell are taken
care of easily.
5. You will hate wickedness / iniquity and love righteousness v 23.
Even in your tabernacles, you’ll not be able to accommodate sin – abuses, curses, quarrels. etc.
6. Material possession will not take over your life v 24
“Lay Gold as dust”
You’ll treat money as a servant, not as a master.
You’ll know that a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of things he has.
7. God becomes your Defense v 25.
Moses didn’t know what Aaron and Miriam were saying but God was fighting for Him.
8. Financial Abundance v 25
There are some secrets he will tell you that will give you access to MONEY.
9. Your Delight in God become phenomenal.
- Going to fellowship or giving flimsy excuse.
- Doing spiritual exercise or discussing with friends.
- Things of God excite you more than your neighbours.
There is a strange delight in your heart.
10. Free conscience v 26b
You will be able to lift up your face to God without shame!
11. Strange / supernatural Ability to Pray v 27a
12. It will be easy to receive answer to prayers. “ He shall hear thee”
13. It is easy for you to perform your responsibility. You’ll know you can’t mock God. When you are close to Him, you’ll keep your words!
14. You’ll become an oracle.
Your decree becomes his laws; your pronouncement becomes His commandment!
1Kings 17:1 “before whom I stand”
He’s acquainted therefore he talks like God!
15. Enjoy Divine Direction and illumination v 28
16. v 29 You will be able to stand alone and speak what He said and not what you see because you see in temporal, what He said is permanent.
