Experienc

ing God in
Your LifeJohn Isaacs
December 6, 2009
Kingsway Community Church
James 4:8
Draw near to
God and He will
draw near to you.
3 Steps to
take, in the
pursuit of a
relationship
1
Remove
Every
Barrier
That
Creates a
2
Increase
Your
Knowledge
Of Who
The Bible
3
Pursue an
Intimate
Relationshi
p with
Jesus.
Christianity is …

Primarily a
RELATIONSH
IP
We
John 15:4
Abide in me, and I in you. As
the branch cannot bear fruit
by itself, unless it abides in
the vine, neither can you,
unless you abide in me.
To Abide
• To remain in the state
of connectedness.
• To not pull away or
pull apart from.
5
unique
abiding
1.
contemplati
ve
2. intellectual
3. active
John 12:20-26
20
Some Greeks who had come
to Jerusalem for the Passover
celebration 21 paid a visit to
Philip, who was from Bethsaida
in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we
want to meet Jesus.” Philip
22

told Andrew about it, and they

went together to ask Jesus.
John 12:20-26 (cont.)
23
Jesus replied, “Now the time
has come for the Son of Man to
enter into his glory. 24 I tell you
the truth, unless a kernel of
wheat is planted in the soil and
dies, it remains alone. But its
death will produce many new
kernels—a plentiful harvest of
John 12:20-26 (cont.)
new lives. Those who love
25

their life in this world will lose

it. Those who care nothing for
their life in this world will
keep it for eternity.
26
Anyone who wants to be my
disciple must follow me,
John 12:20-26 (cont.)
because my servants must be
where I am. And the Father
will honor anyone who serves
me.
A Disciple of
Jesus
• Is not centered on
our life in this world.
• Is centered on
following Jesus and
Self-Centered vs. Christ-
Centered
1. Focused on Self. 1. Focused on Christ.
2. Proud of self’s 2. Excited about what
accomplishments. God is doing.

3. Affirms self. 3. Denies self.

4. Is self-confident. 4. Places confidence
in Christ.
5. Depends on self 5. Depends on Christ
and self-abilities. and His grace and
provision.
Self-Centered vs. Christ-
Centered
6. Desires acceptance 6. Desires to please
from the world and God and Seeks
is attracted to it. first His kingdom
7. Reacts to 7. Chooses Christ-like
circumstances of responses to life’s
life from a human circumstances.
perspective.
8. Chooses a lifestyle 8. Chooses a
of comfort and sacrificial, holy and
convenience. godly lifestyle.
Being Christ-
Centered
• Is not pursuing my
own self-directed
purpose in life.
• It is pursuing God-
Being Christ-
Centered
• Is not asking God to
adjust to my plans.
• It is choosing to
adjust my life to fit
Being Christ-
Centered
• Is not telling God
what I want to do for
Him.
• It is asking God to
To Live A Christ-
Centered Life, We
Must Know His
Voice And Listen
To What He Is
• Knowing God’s
voice isn’t based
on a f0rmula.
• It comes from an
intimate
relationship with
How Does
God
Speak
1
God speaks
to us
through
His
Scriptures.
2
God speaks
to us
through
His People.
3
God speaks
to us
through
Holy Spirit
intuition.
4
God speaks
to us
through
dreams
and
5
God speaks
to us
through
fleeces and
miracles.
6
God speaks
to us
through
common
sense and
7
God speaks
to us
through
circumstan
ces.
How Do
We
Know It
By lining
up the
Harbor
 Scripture

 Other People

 Intuition

 Dreams &

Visions
 Fleeces &

Miracles
To Live A Christ-
Centered Life, We
Must Know His
Voice And Listen
To What He Is