God wants to relate to man
Preaching Outline on Genesis 3:9 – “And the LORD God called to Adam and said to him: Where are you?”
Introduction to Genesis 3:9
Dear brothers and sisters, from the very beginning, God created man to have a relationship with Him. The purpose of creation was never for human beings to live far from their Creator, but to enjoy His presence, guidance and love.
However, when Adam and Eve sinned, this relationship was broken, and since then humanity has struggled to get closer to God. But the good news is that God has never given up on us! He keeps calling: “Where are you?”
Today, we’re going to reflect on how we can develop and maintain a true relationship with God.
Development
God wants a relationship with us
We live in times when many are running away from God for different reasons:
Sin creates a wall between us and God. Sin imprisons man in such a way that it constantly distances him from God. Many people live trapped in addiction, lies and so many other bonds that they don’t realize that they are getting further and further away from God.
The rush of life makes us forget to seek His presence. Have you ever heard the expression: “My life is so busy that I don’t have time to go to church”? The world doesn’t just spin, it rolls over, so that people are too involved with work, studies, wasting time on futile things. But they don’t prioritize intimacy with God, so they are empty and aimless.
Regardless of the reason, God continues to call us, waiting for us to come back to him. It is God’s mercy acting in our lives without our deserving it. God has always sought man out to bless him and grant him his plan of Salvation, his eternity.
What does it mean to have a relationship with God?
A relationship with God is not just knowing that he exists or attending church. A relationship with God is:
Obedience – There is no relationship with God without obedience. Those who truly know Him seek to obey His Word. Listening to his voice and doing his will is natural in the life of someone who knows him.
“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23)
Daily communion – Talking to God through prayer and listening to His voice through the Bible. Reading God’s Word is fundamental for growth and communion with Him. How intensely do you read God’s Word?
Holiness – The more we seek God, the more he transforms us. Holiness is being separated from everything that does not please the Lord.
How does this relationship work?
Obeying, he draws near – Every step of obedience we take makes us more sensitive to his presence, sensitive to the voice of his Holy Spirit.
Disobeying, He turns away – Not because He rejects us, but because He is Holy and does not agree with sin, God does not commune with our sin. Sin in the life of God’s servant is an accident and not a constant, when we stop doing the Father’s will we are in disobedience
“Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16)
Being far from God is not something that happens overnight. It starts with small slips: not praying, not reading the Bible anymore, neglecting communion. Before we know it, we’re already far away!
How to reconnect with God?
The way is obedience!
If we want to be reconciled with God, we need to:
Repent – Recognize where we went wrong and ask for forgiveness.
Return to the practice of prayer and reading the Word – The more we seek, the closer he comes.
Remain firm – It’s not enough just to return, we need to remain faithful.
“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)
Evidence of a true relationship with God
How do we know that we really have a relationship with Him?
He speaks to us – through the Bible, through dreams, through preaching, through the Holy Spirit. Have you heard the voice of the Lord?
The Holy Spirit dwells in us – We feel the desire to obey and seek more of God. The Holy Spirit was left to comfort us and direct us on the path to Salvation, it is He who groans with inexpressible groans and assists us in our prayers.
We long for the return of Jesus – whoever has a relationship with God wants to be with Him forever. Maranatha!
We delight in praying and fasting – Seeking God’s presence becomes a priority.
If none of this is present in our lives, we need to reflect: Are we truly close to God?
The danger of living far from God
We often think that being far from God means living in scandalous sin, but the estrangement begins in a subtle way: simply by failing to seek him.
When we don’t seek God’s presence, he respects our choice because he gave us free will. But without God, we are vulnerable to sin and the influence of the world.
“Without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
Conclusion of Genesis 3:9
Where are we today? Are we near or far from God?
Does He still speak to us? Or have we moved so far away that we no longer hear His voice?
Where do we stand before God?
“And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak with thee.” (Ezekiel 2:1-2)
God speaks to those who are willing to listen! If we want a deep relationship with Him, we need to take a stand, repent and seek Him with all our heart. It takes time to build a relationship with God, but it only takes one careless step to lose it.
May we decide today to live close to our Creator and take hold of the Salvation project in Jesus, because God wants to have a relationship with you!
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