Sermon Series: “Deeper” – 1 of 4
November 2, 2008
Pastor John Fanous
Why Is It Important to Deepen My Relationship with God?
You were _________________ for relationship with God
“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3:8
“Being with you will fill me with joy.” Ps 16:11a (NCV)
“I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long.” Ps 27:4a (The Message)
“Keep company with God, get in on the best.” Ps 37:4 (The Message)
“As a deer gets thirsty for streams of water, I truly am thirsty for you, my God. In my heart, I am thirsty for you, the living God. When will I see your face?” Ps 42:1-2 (CEV)
“O God, you are my God, and I long for you. My whole being desires you.” Ps 63:1a (GNT)
“Then Moses said, ‘If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.’ Ex 33:15 (NLT)
“Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ and to know that I belong to him.” Php 3:8-9a (CEV)
Remember…
It’s not about _________________, it’s about RELATIONSHIP.
“‘I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned
against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Lk 15:18-20
It takes ___________…
and God’s best is still ____________ of you.
How Do I Deepen My Relationship with God?
It begins with a ______________.
“As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.” Mt 9:9
“Stay joined to me, and I will stay joined to you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine, you cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to me.” Jn 15:4 (CEV)