Lecture Notes: Developing a Strong Relationship with God

Key Analogy: Tea Bag and Relationship with God

• Story of Two Men in a Coffee Shop:
  • One man dips his tea bag briefly, the other leaves it in for 15 minutes.
  • Moral: The strength of the tea symbolizes the strength of one's relationship with God.

Building a Strong Relationship with God

• Stay in God's Presence:
  • Don't just 'dip in and out' of the relationship.
  • Spend consistent and prolonged time in God's presence.
  • Use prayer and faith in challenging times instead of relying solely on others.
  • Example: Trusting God during difficult situations.
• Full Custody vs. Weekend Visits:
  • God desires a full-time, personal relationship with us, not just occasional interaction.

Scriptural References

• Romans 12:1-2:
  • Present your body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.
  • Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, not conformed to this world.
• Joshua 1:8:
  • Meditate on God's law day and night to be prosperous.
• Psalms 16:11:
  • God shows the way of life and grants joy in His presence.
• Hebrews 4:12:
  • God's word is alive and powerful, sharper than a double-edged sword.

The Importance of Faith

• Faith vs. Fear:
  • Faith and fear cannot coexist; inviting faith will drive out fear.
  • Acronyms:
    • Faith: Forward Action in Trusting Him.
    • Fear: Forgetting Everything and Running / Forgetting the Goodness of God.
• Faith Comes by Hearing:
  • Hearing the word of God builds faith.
  • God's word should be internalized and meditated upon.

Practical Application

• Stay in the Cup:
  • Consistently dwell in God's word and presence.
  • Embrace God's promises and let them saturate your life.
• Battle Belongs to God:
  • Trust that God fights your battles.
  • Be still and know that God is in control.
• Renewal and Transformation:
  • Continual renewal of mind through scripture leads to transformation.
• Past Sins Are Forgiven:
  • Once forgiven, do not dwell on past sins.
  • In Christ, you are a new creation.

Encouragement to Engage

• Personal Testimony:
  • The speaker shares personal experiences of trusting God.
• Action Steps:
  • Get into the presence of God daily.
  • Meditate on and study the Bible regularly.
• Community Engagement:
  • Encourage others to also engage in a relationship with God.
  • Engage with the lecture content by commenting and liking.

Conclusion

• Final Encouragement:
  • Emphasize the importance of a strong, daily relationship with God.
  • Reflect on the promises and joy found in God's presence.
  • Practical steps to deepen one's faith and relationship with God.