How is our relationship with God?
Every Christian wants to have a good relationship with God but it’s not going to be handed to us on a silver platter. We need to do a heart check and take it seriously. We should start out by
asking ourselves some questions and be honest with ourselves and with God.
As you read these questions remember to be honest with yourself.
Do we love God like we used to?
(1) I think one of the first questions that we should ask ourselves is: Have we left our first love?
Rev 2:4 says: Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
I believe there are christians that have left there first love and either don’t realize it or don’t
want to admit it.
(2) Do you still have the desire to spend time with God like you once had?
Jas 4:8 tells us to draw near to God and He will draw near to us.
(3) Is bible reading and studying a “chore” – just something to mark off your “to do” list?
2 Tim 2:15 says in the KJV to: Study to shew thyself approved unto God.
(4) Has prayer become a burden or duty? Have your prayers become cold and dry? Is it just something you know you should do but your heart is not in it? Do you pray the same thing over and over again and are to the point that you could write it down and just read your prayer to God? Jas 5:16 says: The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
(5) Do you have the joy and peace that you had when first got saved? Is the fire burning in your heart like it used to? Do you really love God like you once did? Mar 12:30 says: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
(6) Are you more concerned about your physical health, well-being, and comfort than you are about the well-being and condition of your soul? Mat 6:20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.
(7) Do you give more priority in doing the things you want to do instead of making the time to do the things that God wants you to do? Mat 6:33 says: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
(8) Do you display attitudes that you know are contrary to Scripture, but continue in them
anyway? Php 2:14 says: Do all things without complaining and disputing. 1Th 5:18 says:
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Have we become lukewarm?
Rev 3:16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of
My mouth.
Lukewarm definition: Lukewarm means moderately warm but it also has another definition.
American Heritage® Dictionary - Lacking conviction or enthusiasm; indifferent
Collins English Dictionary - having or expressing little enthusiasm or conviction
Webster's College Dictionary - having or showing little ardor, zeal, or enthusiasm; indifferent
Princeton University - feeling or showing little interest or enthusiasm; "a halfhearted effort";
Life Application Commentary on Rev 3:15-16 This allusion to the Laodicean water supply is a fitting metaphor for the activities of this church. Laodicea had always had a problem with its water supply. The city of Hierapolis, to the northwest, was famous for its hot mineral springs. An aqueduct had been built to bring water to the city from the hot springs. But by the time the water reached the city, it was neither hot nor refreshingly cool—only lukewarm and filled with minerals (impure), so it tasted terrible. According to Christ, these believers were neither hot nor cold; instead, they were merely lukewarm, as bland as the tepid water that came into the city.
Many have thought that this cold and hot refers to spirituality—and that Christ would rather have “cold” people (without faith at all, or without any sort of growth) than “lukewarm” believers (who believe some). They take the word “cold” to be negative and “hot” to be positive, with “lukewarm” in between. Instead, both “cold” and “hot” should be taken as positive. Christ wished that the church had cold, refreshing purity or hot, therapeutic value, but it had neither.
Here are some signs that you might be a lukewarm Christian …
1. You think more about life on this earth (and how to be comfortable here) than you do about
eternal life.
2. You give out of your leftovers rather than making it a priority.
3. You only seek God when you are in a bind.
4. You say you believe in God, but live as though he doesn’t exist and you don’t strive to know
Him.
5. You want acceptance from people more than acceptance from God.
6. You rarely (or never) share your faith.
7. You base your morality on comparing yourself with others, rather than on what God says.
8. Your life is really no different than others in the world.
9. You want to know Christ just enough to save you from hell, but not enough to change your
lifestyle.
What can we do to help our relationship with God?
1. Pray daily from the heart
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the
flesh is weak."
Luk 18:1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
Php 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Col 4:2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
1Th 5:17 pray without ceasing,
Jas 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be
healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
2. Make time to study God’s word
2Ti 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1Ti 4:13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to
everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
Rom 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we
through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Act 17:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the
word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these
things were so.
Eph 5:17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
3. Visitation and encourgment
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is];
but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching.
Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and
compel [them] to come in, that my house may be filled.
4. Stay in Church
Heb 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but
exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall
they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear
without a preacher?
Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
5. Fast
Mat 6:16 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For
they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say
to you, they have their reward.
Mat 6:17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
Mat 6:18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret
place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Mat 17:21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."
Just remember that God has given us the freedom of choice. The topics mentioned are just some of the things that we can choose to do to strengthen our relationship with God. We need to ask God to search our hearts and reveal to us anything that we need to change. If our love for God is not what it used to be then we need to remember, repent and do what we were doing when we first loved God.
Each one of us is as close to God as we choose to be.
Every Christian wants to have a good relationship with God but it’s not going to be handed to us on a silver platter. We need to do a heart check and take it seriously. We should start out by
asking ourselves some questions and be honest with ourselves and with God.
As you read these questions remember to be honest with yourself.
Do we love God like we used to?
(1) I think one of the first questions that we should ask ourselves is: Have we left our first love?
Rev 2:4 says: Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
I believe there are christians that have left there first love and either don’t realize it or don’t
want to admit it.
(2) Do you still have the desire to spend time with God like you once had?
Jas 4:8 tells us to draw near to God and He will draw near to us.
(3) Is bible reading and studying a “chore” – just something to mark off your “to do” list?
2 Tim 2:15 says in the KJV to: Study to shew thyself approved unto God.
(4) Has prayer become a burden or duty? Have your prayers become cold and dry? Is it just something you know you should do but your heart is not in it? Do you pray the same thing over and over again and are to the point that you could write it down and just read your prayer to God? Jas 5:16 says: The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
(5) Do you have the joy and peace that you had when first got saved? Is the fire burning in your heart like it used to? Do you really love God like you once did? Mar 12:30 says: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
(6) Are you more concerned about your physical health, well-being, and comfort than you are about the well-being and condition of your soul? Mat 6:20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.
(7) Do you give more priority in doing the things you want to do instead of making the time to do the things that God wants you to do? Mat 6:33 says: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
(8) Do you display attitudes that you know are contrary to Scripture, but continue in them
anyway? Php 2:14 says: Do all things without complaining and disputing. 1Th 5:18 says:
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Have we become lukewarm?
Rev 3:16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of
My mouth.
Lukewarm definition: Lukewarm means moderately warm but it also has another definition.
American Heritage® Dictionary - Lacking conviction or enthusiasm; indifferent
Collins English Dictionary - having or expressing little enthusiasm or conviction
Webster's College Dictionary - having or showing little ardor, zeal, or enthusiasm; indifferent
Princeton University - feeling or showing little interest or enthusiasm; "a halfhearted effort";
Life Application Commentary on Rev 3:15-16 This allusion to the Laodicean water supply is a fitting metaphor for the activities of this church. Laodicea had always had a problem with its water supply. The city of Hierapolis, to the northwest, was famous for its hot mineral springs. An aqueduct had been built to bring water to the city from the hot springs. But by the time the water reached the city, it was neither hot nor refreshingly cool—only lukewarm and filled with minerals (impure), so it tasted terrible. According to Christ, these believers were neither hot nor cold; instead, they were merely lukewarm, as bland as the tepid water that came into the city.
Many have thought that this cold and hot refers to spirituality—and that Christ would rather have “cold” people (without faith at all, or without any sort of growth) than “lukewarm” believers (who believe some). They take the word “cold” to be negative and “hot” to be positive, with “lukewarm” in between. Instead, both “cold” and “hot” should be taken as positive. Christ wished that the church had cold, refreshing purity or hot, therapeutic value, but it had neither.
Here are some signs that you might be a lukewarm Christian …
1. You think more about life on this earth (and how to be comfortable here) than you do about
eternal life.
2. You give out of your leftovers rather than making it a priority.
3. You only seek God when you are in a bind.
4. You say you believe in God, but live as though he doesn’t exist and you don’t strive to know
Him.
5. You want acceptance from people more than acceptance from God.
6. You rarely (or never) share your faith.
7. You base your morality on comparing yourself with others, rather than on what God says.
8. Your life is really no different than others in the world.
9. You want to know Christ just enough to save you from hell, but not enough to change your
lifestyle.
What can we do to help our relationship with God?
1. Pray daily from the heart
Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the
flesh is weak."
Luk 18:1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
Php 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Col 4:2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
1Th 5:17 pray without ceasing,
Jas 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be
healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
2. Make time to study God’s word
2Ti 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
1Ti 4:13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to
everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
Rom 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we
through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Act 17:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the
word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these
things were so.
Eph 5:17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
3. Visitation and encourgment
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is];
but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching.
Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and
compel [them] to come in, that my house may be filled.
4. Stay in Church
Heb 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but
exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall
they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear
without a preacher?
Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
5. Fast
Mat 6:16 "Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For
they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say
to you, they have their reward.
Mat 6:17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
Mat 6:18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret
place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Mat 17:21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."
Just remember that God has given us the freedom of choice. The topics mentioned are just some of the things that we can choose to do to strengthen our relationship with God. We need to ask God to search our hearts and reveal to us anything that we need to change. If our love for God is not what it used to be then we need to remember, repent and do what we were doing when we first loved God.
Each one of us is as close to God as we choose to be.
