Friend of God
God Reaching Out to Us
Introduction:
v Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
v Mark 16:15 "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
v 1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
I. God Reaches Out to Us with a Cause (Purpose) in Mind
* To fulfill the purpose for which we were created: To ______God
“Beginning” = origin or ______of creation
v John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
v John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
v John 14:9 “. . . He who has seen Me has seen the Father”
II. God Reaches Out to Us in a Personal and ______Manner.
v Revelation 3:20 'Behold, I stand at the door and am continually knocking. . . .”
A. God loves us and can ______us.
· reprove = to ______and convict
v Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
· discipline = the ______or the correction
“He still loved these lukewarm saints, even though their love for Him had grown cold. He planned to chasten them as proof of His love (Prov. 3:11–12; Heb. 12:5–6). God permits churches to go through times of trial so that they might become what He wants them to become.” Wiersbe
v Proverbs 3:11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, 12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.
Application: We can’t ______anybody, but God can!
v Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.
“These people could not see themselves as they really were. Nor could they see their Lord as He stood outside the door of the church. Nor could they see the open doors of opportunity. They were so wrapped up in building their own kingdom that they had become lukewarm in their concern for a lost world.” Wiersbe
B. God doesn’t ______on us.
* People who love people like God does will ______reach out to them and do whatever they can to help people and give them the ______to change and grow.
III. God Reaches Out to Us Expecting Responsibility and Promising Results
v John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…”
Q: How are you going to ______to that demonstration of love?
Responsibility / Result· ______the door / “I will come in and will dine with him”
“The Lord Jesus urged them to repent and have fellowship with Him before the night of judgment fell and it was too late forever.” MacArthur
· He who ______/ “I will grant him to sit down with Me on My throne”
“Note that when we invite Him in, the supper room becomes a throne room! It is through communion with Christ that we find victory and become overcomers indeed.” Wiersbe
· He who has an ear, let him hear
Conclusion:
1. Jesus is an example of ______!
2. As God Reaches Out to You, remember this truth: “Without Me, you can do ______”
John 15:5