AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FATHER John 15:1-17 Introduction: I met my wife when she was going up a stair

at the building where my office was. She was applying for a job that time. When I was sitting down by my desk I said to myself, I need to know her nameso I did and thats how it all started. After a while, I started feeling that this is the woman that Im going to marry. We have been going out for a while and I said I think I know her already enough to decide to marry her. But that was not true because our first 2 years together was a disaster and there were a lot of things we learned about each other that we never knew when we were dating. It took us a very long time to really know each otherin fact, I think I know her better now than beforeBUT IT TOOK US YEARS of fights and quarrels and reconciliation and forgiveness.years and years and years. After 11 years Im still enjoying the benefits of knowing my wife better and intimately. Were constantly learning how to connect and communicate deeply. I know her mind better nowI know her values nowI know how she makes her decisionsthe two of us share historyshare laughtershare tears and hardshipsshare childrenshare life together. IN SHORT WE KNOW EACH OTHERBUT IT TOOK US YEARS AND YEARS OF BEING TOGETHER AND STAYING TOGETHER TO DO THAT. Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate (degenerate). Believing versus Knowing Many believers nowadays think that since they read their Bibles and go to church every Sunday that they already KNOW GOD. Unfortunately, BELIEF is not the same as a PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE of God. If I ask you HOW MANY OF YOU BELIEVE IN GODeveryone here would raise their hands. ILLUSTRATION: There is a big difference between knowing FACTS and knowing a PERSON. I could learn all kinds of facts about the President without really knowing him. If you were to ask me, "Do you know the President? I would have to reply, "I know about him, but I dont know him." James 2:19 You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble A PERSON CAN'T SAY THAT HE IS A TRUE CHRISTIAN AND DOESN'T HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD! Knowing facts about God is good and important but knowing God goes beyond this Since time immemorial, God has always wanted to have a relationship with us: Genesis 3:8-9 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, WHERE ARE YOU? Isaiah 65:1-2 I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek for me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, Here I am, here I am. All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate (stubborn) people, who walks in ways not good, pursuing their own imaginations. Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life. I COULD GO ON AND ONeverywhere in the Bible you will see God trying to find a way to have a relationship with us!! Illustration: Everybody knows me as Aldousbut you would know how close a person is to me and how well they know me by how they call me. Most of those who knows me calls me by my first namebut I have classmates in high-school who calls me Irving (which is my second name)I would know that this person knows me here in Manila because they would call me Alin Cebu people call me Aldous. When people call me Bro or brother Aldous, you will know that these are church members who knows meBUT THEN I would really know if they know me closely when they call me Dot. There is also one thing that neither of you can call me which only my wife can usethat is BABES. GOD DOESNT WANT US TO JUST KNOW HIMHE WANTS US TO EXPERIENCE HIM.TO LIVE A LIFE WITH HIMTO HAVE AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM HE WANTS THAT RELATIONSHIP SO MUCH THAT HE CHOSE TO BE A FATHER TO US Gal 3:26-27; 4:6 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. EXPLAIN: Abba Father! There are a lot of ways and opportunities for you to have an intimate relationship with God: - Pray everydaytalk with Him - Read His Words and learn more about Him (His commands, His will, His mind, His purpose, His desire, etc) - Talk to others about your experience with Him (Testimony) - Attend Bible studies or devotionals (be encouraged by others stories and sharing) - ALWAYS be present in church for Sunday worship and be ready when Sunday even BEFORE Sunday arrives Christianity is not all about doctrines and commandsI guess that is what the Apostle Paul wanted to point out in GalatiansChristianity is ALL ABOUT AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD In the end, knowing God is really what eternal life is all about: John 17:3 THIS IS LIFE ETERNAL, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent Closing: Based on surveys, most married couples who get separated have teenagers. They would have problems in the past but it is only when their kids reach their teenage life that the marriage really collapses. The reason for this is this: when they got married they spent all their time together until the baby is born and they both have to work and take care of the baby at the same time, not to mention the chores they need to do at home. All attention goes to the baby until they find out that they are too far apart from each other and that they do not know each other anymore. When their child reaches teenage stage and their teenager starts to have their own set of friends and spend less time with their parents, that is when the couples realize that they are too far apart.

This is just like us and our relationship with God. We become Christians until life made us too busy that we do not have time for God anymore. We are not excited anymoreno interest anymore. TODAY, LET US RENEW OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND PROMISE HIM THAT WE WILL BUILD AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM!