16 June 2024: “Draw near to God and He will come near to you”

Bethel Baptist Church
Worship Service @ Home

16 June 2024

Welcome

“Unless we put our cup under the tap, we will not fill it with water. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. So let’s come to Jesus, get close to Him, and receive what He has for us.”

Stella

Worship

Word

“Come near to God and He will come near to you.”

James 4:8

Of all that the Lord would ask of us, this, I believe, is the most important, “Come close to me!” He desires that close, personal, intimate relationship with each one of us.

Surely, the Father didn’t give His Son to die that appalling death, for the kind of relationship that most people think is acceptable. We see in the Garden of Eden, after that first sin, Adam and Eve hiding from God. This is what the majority of people are doing on a Sunday morning rather than gathering together to Worship [literal meaning: ‘towards to kiss’] God. That is the sin we have inherited and it results in us hiding from God.

Oh, how God longed for His people to be freed from slavery in Egypt, that He told Moses to tell Pharaoh, “Israel is my firstborn son … Let my son go, so he may worship me.” God dealt very strongly with the stubborn Pharaoh to bring this about. Of all the apostles, John was the one entrusted with the vital and final message to the Church as found in the Book of Revelation. John had a very close relationship with Jesus while He was here on earth and was referred to as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Jesus loved all the disciples, but John put himself in the place of being close to the Lord. He drew close to Jesus, and Jesus drew close to him,

Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.

John 13:23

Even Peter was ‘too far away’ from Jesus to ask Him directly, so he had to motion to John to ask Jesus who was the one who would betray Him,

Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” Leaning back against Jesus, he asked Him, “Lord, who is it?”

John 13:24-25

The greatest commandment emphasises, “Love the Lord your God with all you heart ….” Henri Nouwen puts it like this: “The main obstacle to love for God is service for God.” Therefore, service must only come out of this close relationship we enjoy with Him. This is evident in the lives of Mary and Martha, Martha was stressing over doing things that weren’t at that moment in time required by Jesus. Mary was in the right place, close to Him, sitting at His feet, listening to what He said. Jesus verdict,

“Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42

Jesus, in love (Rev. 3:19), rebuked the Church at Laodicea for its lukewarmness towards Him and offers them close and intimate fellowship,

“Here I am I stand at the door and knock (cf. Song of Songs 5:2). If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person and they with me.”

Rev. 3:20

 “Jesus offers to accept and renew intimate fellowship with those who repent.”

Brian J. Tabb

Quote of the week

“To fall in love with God is the greatest romance.”

Augustine

Verse of the week

“… as for me it is good to be near God.”

Ps. 73:28

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, we praise You that You want us to have a close, personal, and intimate relationship with Yourself. By Your Spirit place a thirst and hunger in our hearts whenever we neglect You. Lord that we might daily come close to You , in Jesus Christ, Amen.