Podcast

Sermon Notes

Why Spend Time With God?

1. Because God Wants You To!

1 Corinthians 1:9

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

– The word fellowship means “participation, sharing.”

God desires a relationship with you and called you into fellowship.

He is participating with you, sharing who He is through time with Him in prayer and in His word.

However, He also desires communication with Him. He wants you to participate and share with Him.

2. Because Jesus Was The Example

Mark 1:35

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

Jesus began and ended His ministry in prayer (temptation, garden). BIG DEAL

3. Because You Need It!

Matthew 4:4

But he answered, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

This is Jesus’ answer to Satan in the wilderness. Jesus is quoting Deuteronomy 8:3. That tells us several things.

First, Jesus knew the Scriptures. He knew the Old Testament.

The Word of God is vital to your life and spiritual growth. Jesus is saying that there are physical needs, and we need food to live. Yet, we are created spiritual beings and we have spiritual food we need in our lives to live. This is the Word of God!

Making It Meaningful (Good Study Bible, Some Kind of Journal)(Vision)

• Set A Time – Priority

• Set A Place

Make It Happen (Initiative)

• Acknowledge God

Psalm 46:10

“Be still and know that I AM God”

• Get In The Word

Psalm 119, 2 Timothy 3:16

Psalm 119:9-16

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 12 Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! 13 With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. 14 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. 16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

New to all this? Start with the book of John.

Questions to ask:

• Something to Obey?

•Promise to Embrace?

•Sin to Avoid?

•Lesson to Learn? – write down what God has taught you

• Pray

Prayer: “Is the primary way for the believer in Jesus Christ to communicate his/her emotions with God and to fellowship with God”

Philippians 4:6 “Pray about everything”

•Spend time praising God (read Psalms for examples)

Psalm 145

I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. 2 Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. 3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you and show you sin in your life

John 16:8 “Holy Spirit convicts of sin and righteousness”

•Confess this sin (1 John 1:9)

•Be thankful (Philippians 4:6)

•Pray for Others (Journal – Daily List)

•Pray about what you have just read

•Pray for your needs (what you are asking God to do in your life? (Seek Him First), (Physical needs, provision)

• Pray for God’s will to be done