Growing in Your relationship with Jesus Christ

With the Holy Spirit directing your life, you will experience a deeper relationship with God and you will grow in your ability to love and trust Him.

(Revelation.3:20) "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me."

Growing in your relationship with Jesus Christ will lead to Heaven:

(Revelation.3:21-22) "21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. ++ 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Growing in your relationship with Jesus means to know Him better, to love and obey Him more.

(John.17:3) "Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent."

(John.17:20-23) "20 "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. 22 I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are One: 23 I in them and You in Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me."

(Matthew.22:36-38). 36 "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' (Deut. 6:5) 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' (Lev. 19:18). 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Your growing love for God will lead you to obey His commandments.

(John.14:21) "Whoever has My commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves Me. He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love him and show Myself to him."

Just as it's natural for a child to grow in a loving relationship with a parent, it's also natural for you to grow in your love relationship with God.

(John.1:12) "Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God."

(John.15:9) "As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love."

(1 John 4:7-8) "7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Communication is vital to any relationship. There are four aspects of communication that will help you develop your relationship with Jesus:

1) Prayer (Talk to God).
2) Bible Study, Sermon,... (Hear God).
3) Fellowship (Christians, Church).
4) Evangelism (1Tim.2:4 - "God wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.")

1) PRAYER: We communicate with God through Prayer - sharing our thoughts, our needs and our desire to do His will.

(Philippians.4:6,7) "6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." .

(1.John.5:14-15) "14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

The Holy Spirit will help us to pray accordance with God's will.

(Romans.8:26-28) "26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

(Jude.1:20) "But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit."

These verses tell us we can pray about everything. When we pray according to God's will, He hears us and answers us. Thanking God is also part of praying.

(1.Thessalonians.5:17-18) "17 Pray continually; ++ 18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

+ By thanking God, we express our trust in Him.

+ What are some things you can be praying about?

2) BIBLE STUDY, SERMON,... : God communicates with us in various ways, specially through the Bible, revealing His character and His will.

(2.Timothy.3:15-17) "15 And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

(2.Peter.1:20-21) "20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

+ Which of these benefits would be most helpful to you right now through Bible study, Sermons, Christian books,... ?

3) FELLOWSHIP: We connect and communicate with Christians through the church and fellowship - encouraging and building up one another.

(Hebrews.10:23-25) "23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

(Ephesians.5:19-20). "19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

It's important to spend time with other Christians - to encourage each other to love and do good. The Greek word for fellowship, koinonia, means "sharing in common." There is a famous saying used in the early church that a person without a soul friend is like a body without a head. A soul friend is simply a support person who challenges you to grow a friend along the spiritual journey who is an equal, not a superior (Jesus is always your soul friend). We need to share our Christian experience with others who love God, and likewise allow them to share with us. God appoints the church as a place for us to meet other Christians and learn about God. Bible studies, fellowship and other meetings are also helpful.

4) EVANGELISM: We communicate with others who don't know God personally by witnessing-sharing about our relationship with Jesus in word and deed. Jesus is the only name by which we can be saved.

(John.3:16-17) 16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."

(Matthew.28:18-20) "18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

(Acts.1:8) "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

(Acts.4:12) "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

(Romans.10:9-10) "9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

(Psalms.22:27-28) "27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before Him, 28 For dominion belongs to the LORD and He rules over the nations."

(Psalms.98:2) "The LORD has made His salvation known and revealed His righteousness to the nations."

+ What would motivate you to tell another person about Jesus?

+ Who would you pray and like to tell about what Jesus has done in your life and other Christians?

Suggestions for Further Growth in Faith

Set aside a time and place for daily personal Bible study and prayer. A good book to begin with is the New Testament Book of John. As you read, underline verses you find particularly meaningful. Pray and ask God (His Holy Spirit) to show you who He is and how you can respond to Him.

+ New Christian: This is the beginning of your new life in Christ and there is much more to discover than what's covered in these four lessons. Take the initiative today to find a church, fellowship, parish, community or prayer group that is Christ-centred and has a focus on the Scriptures and make plans to attend regularly. For additional Christian materials, look in your local (internet) bookshop or Christian bookshop.

Summary:

As you rely on the Holy Spirit for power, read the Bible, pray, spend time with other believers and share Jesus with others, God will produce His character in you and you will mature spiritually.

(Psalm.23) "1 The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, 3 He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever."

Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ:
(Children of God)

-- John 1:12
Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name,
He gave the right to become children of God.

-- Romans 8:14-18
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

-- Galatians 3:26-28
26 You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus,
27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

-- 1 John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.

-- John 15:14-15 (Friend with Jesus)
14 You are My friends if you do what I command. 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.

---

Christian Living and Fellowship:

-- John 4:23-24
"23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

-- John 15:3-5
3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.

-- Ephesians 4:1-7
1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

4 There is One body and One Spirit -- just as you were called to One hope when you were called -- 5 One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism; 6 One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 But to each one of us Grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

-- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-25
16 Be joyful always;
17 Pray continually;
18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire;
20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt.
21 Test everything. Hold on to the good.
22 Avoid every kind of evil.
++ 23 May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.
25 Beloved, Pray for us."

-- 1 Timothy 2:1-6
1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 Who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

5 For there is One God and One Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all men -- the testimony given in its proper time.

-- 2 Corinthians 13:14
May the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the Love of God,
and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.



(+ How To Receive Christ -- To Become a Christian +)