SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2020
"PRAYER - INTIMACY WITH GOD" sermon by Pastor Kevin Rutledge
TWO CONTRASTING PERSPECTIVES ON GOD
TRANSCENDENCE
Psalm 33:6 - By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
Psalm 147:4-5 - He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.
Romans 11:33-36 - Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
IMMINENCE
Psalm 8:3-4 - When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
John 17:2-3 - For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
GOD WANTS AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH US
THE INCARNATION—GOD BECAME HUMAN
John 1:14 - The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
JESUS THE CREATOR AS FRIEND
John 15:15 - I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
GOD LIVING IN US
John 14:23 - Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
THE FAMILY IDENTITY, RIGHTS AND CARE OF A FATHER
Romans 8:15-17a - For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs-- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.
THE GOOD NEWS
GROWING SPIRITUALLY BY PRAYER
PRAYER AS DIALOGUE
PRAYER AS DEPENDENCY AND EMPOWERMENT
PRAYER AS BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD
2 Corinthians 3:18 - 4:1 - And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.