How to spend time with God

1. How to spend time with God Jesus went to a lonely place to pray. If He was God, how much more do we need this? Matt 14:23, Mk 6:46, Lk 5:16

2. Time with the Lord sets our Compass • We can be with another person in the same room and not connect with them. • In the same way, we can do Christian activities and not connect with the Lord in the process. • We can sing worship songs, listen to teachings, and go to meetings and not really connect with God or encounter Him in a real way. • Setting aside time with the Lord (without distractions) is not only a great activity in and of itself, but it trains our hearts to connect with the Lord throughout the day.

3. Leave the flesh and go to the Spirit • Find a quiet place with no distractions • Lay down all of your rights • Give up all control • Let go of all of your plans • Forsake all of your opinions • If [there be] therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Phl 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind. Phl 2:3 [Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Phl 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Phl 2:5¶Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Phl 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Phl 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Phl 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

4. Become Converted • And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matt 18:3 • We are not always childlike and humble • When we are not humble, we are not abiding in Christ. • Become like a child • Needy - Hungry • Dependant - Trusting • Small - Easily led • Unknowing

5. Believe the Truth • You are clean because of the blood of Jesus - 2 Cor. 5:21 • You are a treasure to God - Matt 13:44 • No matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been, the Lord still desires to be with you and love you – Luke 15:11-32 • You are in Him and He is in you. There is no distance to travel. 1 Cor. 1:30, Col. 1:27

6. Believing is not forceful • Believing is not making something true, but it is letting go to what is already true. • You are already clean because of the blood of Jesus. • You are a child of God, whether you are aware of it or not. “We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.” 1Jo 3:19, 20

7. Learn to Receive and Enjoy Eph 3:14-21 • From a small place of humility, let go and trust the Lord. • Receive Him • Enjoy who He is • Gaze at Him • Take in His love for you • Become lost in His presence and the person of Christ.

8. From the Spirit, not the mind only Paul make a distinction between our spirit and our minds. • For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful - 1 Cr 14:14 • What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 1Cr 14:15 • With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, Eph 6:18 • You must learn to connect with God with your Spirit, not just your mind.

9. Helps and Hindrances • Stillness • Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child rests against his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me. Psalm 131 • Avoid past and future (only this moment is real) • Exodus 3:14 “I AM” • Learn to Wait on God. • My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. Psalm 62:1

10. Become Like Mary Luke 10-38-42 • Covet your time with the Lord and enjoy it. • Let it become the most important part of your day and of your life. • Realize that it is really the only thing that is necessary. • Become addicted to His life.

11. The role of scripture in time with the Lord. • The Bible is the perfect word of God. • It is God breathed and God inspired. • “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” 1 Tim 3:15,16 • The scriptures are not Christ Himself • "You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me. And you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” -John 5:39 • We should use scripture to lead us to Jesus Himself • He will also lead us to the scriptures.

12. Deepen your capacity for God. Your heart is like a container. Our hearts are often filled with things that are not God. As you empty your heart of the things that are in it (yourself, the world, lusts for other things, fear, etc.) - it becomes available for the Spirit of Jesus to fill it. Let’s deepen our capacity for knowing the Lord and having His life in us and among us.