DOES GOD STILL DESIRE A RELATIONSHIP WITH MAN?

Message Source  : Writing and Researching For Christ Ministry, Abeokuta, Ogun State. 

"Walk before me and be ye perfect,"   Gen 17:1

From the beginning of creation, it can be deduced that God desired a relationship with man. In the book of Genesis 1: 26 ‘’And God says, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness, and let them rule over [the] fish of the sea, and over [the] bird of the heavens…. When God did that, he placed man in the Garden of Eden, he never intended any forms of struggling or sufferings for man; he wanted a people  he would relate with and build trust with, but the trust was broken. You will also  recall that when he placed Adams and eve in the Garden of Eden, the spirit of God will  hover in, just like how we mortals are known to visit our friends; old time friends. It was on one of such friendly visits that Adam went to hid himself. And, God was surprised. So, in the  beginning, it was so obvious how much God desired  a relationship with man.

Our creator desire a relationship with mankind and he is still longing to have that relationship he had proposed with man till this day. The unfortunate thing however is that , even in the time of old, till the present time,few people were recorded to have truly walked with God and few are walking with him in this present time.However, walking with God is not an activity reserved for a select few. God desires all of His children to walk with Him. To walk with God means that you and God are in agreement about your life. “Can two walk together, except they are agreed?” (Amos 3:3, KJV). Tbis means ,when you desire to walk with God, you have to do things that are in agreement with the creator. And,  walking with God also requires a close  and dedicated attention to the creator.

You cannot claim to attempt to walk with God and at the same time be  bringing along all sorts of distractions that will not make the journey worth the while for the two of you. Many people attempt to walk with God, but they bring along bad habits, sins, worldly entertainments, or unhealthy relationships. This type  of walk will be cut short midway.

Those who walked with God in the Scripture.

One of Scripture's most famous “walkers” was Enoch. Two times in Genesis, Enoch was described as one who walked with God. The Hebrew word translated “walk” is a word that indicates Enoch walked back and forth with God. It was not a one-time event but rather an ongoing pattern for his life.  The text reads that Enoch "walked with God: and he was no more; for God took him" (Gen 5:21–24), which is interpreted as Enoch's entering heaven alive in some Jewish and Christian traditions, and interpreted differently in others

Noah Walked with God.

And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repented me that I have made man." Gen 6:6-7 

But Noah Found Favour.

But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. Genesis 6:8. We all remember the story of the deluge and the generation of Noah. The deluge lasted for one year, and Noah and his household were saved. He was also described as “a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. But, for just one man and his household to be saved in the entire generations of mankind, it means a lot. That was the story of Noah, the only just man in his generation and he truly walked with God.

Abraham Walked with God

The case of Abraham was so peculiar, such that God was even vouching for him. Abraham Walked with God to the extent that God was boastful of Abraham, when  He Said: "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him." .Gen 18:19. That was a great reference. God so much love his companionship with Abraham that he declared. ‘’I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

 Genesis 12: 3. 

The relationship between God and Abraham was  so pronounced that God made Abraham a Confidant. ‘’And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? ... and Jehovah said, 'Am I concealing from Abraham that which I am doing,’’ Genesis 18:17. That encounter later led to Abraham interceding for the people of Sodom and Gommorah.

Abraham Interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah

Abraham begins asking for the city to be spared, if there are but 50 righteous who are in it. He boldly prays, “Far be it from thee to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be it from Thee! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

God was boastful of Job.

In the book of Job, it was reported that when Satan was walking up and down, God challenged him thus: Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. ” Job 1:8

Job was tested.

Satan’s temptations came upon Job; Job lost a mountain of sheep and cattle, and he lost all his property and wealth as well as his children and servants. However, Job did not send anyone to recover his stolen property, nor did he complain against God. Rather, he rent his mantle, shaved his head, and prostrated himself in worship, saying, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah has taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah” (Job 1:21). The word of God states. 

God restored the prosperity of Job

In the end, God restored all that Job had lost, and gave Job twice as much as he had before. The Lord blessed him with a long life, and with seven more sons, and three more daughters who were the most beautiful women in all the land! Satan was proved wrong, and God's righteousness had prevailed! Job 42 :7-17.

The question we should ask ourselves at this juncture is that can God boast of you and I? This is a soul searching question that we all must strive to answer. The bottom line is that men like Job, Abraham and Enoch are not angels, they are human being, created just as we  were created. Thus, we have to work on ourselves in order to improve our relationship with God. 

Does God still want a relationship with man?

That is the big question  for this teaching. The scripture reveals that the relationship God desires to have with man is that God and man become one; He wants to be one with man and make man one with God for Him to gain an organism, the Body of Christ, to express Him on earth. Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior alluded to  this fact when He said in the book of John 14:20 , thus: "when I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.". The bottom line is that , God still desire a relationship with man, but not when we are slave to sin. When you walk with God, you will encounter a lot of spiritual transformation in your journey. As much as God desired a relationship with man, he cannot stand the numerous sins of man and thus, the relationship was getting sour. : Isaiah 59:2 . Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.  But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.  For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt.

How can you benefit from the eternal relationship with God.

Work on Your Righteousness.

 In Proverbs 14:34, we read, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” In this simple verse, we see established a rule, or standard, composed of two alternatives. There is no middle ground. There are two causes, each with its own effect.  We must work on our righteousness.  

Worship Him Alone.

Indeed, the time is coming, and it is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. The Father is looking for people like that…John 4:23.There are so many things we worship today. The scripture says: The person to whom you subject yourself, you are his slave. ‘’Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, whether of sin, which leads to death, ...;; Romans 6: 16.. Do not find Rival for Him. God doesn’t like to share his glory with anything or anyone. Remain with him and he will show you His mercies. Romans 9: 15, He said, ‘’ I  will have mercy upon whom I will have mercy.  For instance, we worship money; we worship material things; some people spoilt the show by worshipping idols. Do not let any other things occupy the place of God in your life . He is a jealous  God. Exodus 34:14 ".." "For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14). He can never share his glory with anyone. So,  let us sing, I surrender all, unto Jesus, blessed savior, I surrender all. If God takes over your worries, you will get over it. I listened to Baba Adeboye’s sermon one day, where he said, when Prayer fails , try praises. We must worship him in truth and indeed. 

Pray and Fast Fervently.

 I remember this abbreviation here. PUSH, which literally mean, Pray until something happens. It also means that when we are asking for something from God, we should commune with him regularly through prayers. The best way to commune with God is through prayers. So, to cement our relationship with God, we must take prayers and fasting very serious. “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting”. Matt 17:21. Beloved, it is a great thing to FAST but you need to DO IT RIGHT and not for attention-seeking or receiving the applause of men.

Be Completely Broken  (Repent) 

God said he does not  profit from the death of sinners, except he repents ‘’Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye…’’  Ezekiel 18:23. Yes, I consider this  very important. Many of us are today coming to church as a routine.  No !, you need to let the church pass through you. Let us look at this Bible verse ‘’ Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered” (2 Nephi 2:6–7). God desire a broken heart. We can draw a lot of lesson from David on this.  He was broken. So, be broken. Let God break you. David will bury himself in Sack cloth like someone who was mourning and he will supplicate to god and ask for forgiveness. Even in the canal world, when we offend one another, when the person genuinely pleaded for clemency, he  is  bound to receive favor. The same way, he will heed to your cry, when you have truly repented. But, note you will do that with the hope of not getting back to your old ways. We all carry different grace. Please, know the limits of your grace. Do you also remembered how Jacob after all his atrocities committed alongside his mother, he remained doubtful of his place with God and his brother, and he was determined to change the narratives. Along the line, he encountered an angel of God, and he decided to take his chances, by saying if the Angel does not bless him, he will not let him go.

Be  Obedient.

 

The Scripture says. ‘ if you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. Isaiah declared to ancient Israel: “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: “But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” (Isa. 1:19–20.). I will use the life of a man of God as an example, who is regaling in God’s glory. When asked by friends and mate the secret of his ever younger look, he simply says, because he is obedient. Let us Obey God and listen to him. I don’t want to go into the benefits and consequences of Obedience and Disobedience. It is a long story.

Forgive .

In our Lord’s prayer, the scripture says,… Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. I can speak a whole day on this topic as well, because it is story that I like. When you forgive others of their trespasses, he will look into your direction and also forgive and listen to you. ‘’But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. ...And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

 ‘’Matthew 6:14-15 -

Be calm.

Many a times, God speaks to us, but we are too much in a hurry to hear him speak. Holy Spirit the Spirit of God is meek and gentle like a dove. He cannot withstand the chaos in your life. So, when you want to hear the voice of God clearly, you have to slow down and listen and pray and watch; then he will speak to you loud and clear. The Holy Spirit do sometimes speak to us through our dreams, visions and even sometimes to our ears, but do we care to listen? When you are calm and relax, you will hear him clearly.

Let's be guided. May the Lord open our hearts of understating. 

This message is coming to you via : Writing   and  Researching For Christ Ministry WRCM ....We can  be reached temporarily  on 08035004741 or send us a mail @ waheedogunjobi@gmail.com. 

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