When One is Close to God

SPEAKER 01 : 0:00

Close to thee, close to thee. Sweet words from that hymn penned by the late Fanny Crosby. Words offered in song yet should be reflected in our lives. When one is close to God, that’s our study just ahead from the International Gospel Hour.

SPEAKER 02 : 0:23

It’s time for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jay Webb, and welcome to our study today as we embrace God’s Word to help us meet the challenges of today. Let’s open our Bibles and open our heart for this time of Bible study with our speaker, Jeff Archie, of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ. Here’s Jeff.

SPEAKER 01 : 0:48

Well, thank you to our Jay Webb, and greetings to all of you. It’s good to have you with us once again for our studies. You know, 2 Timothy 3 and verse 16 says, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. When we take the Word of God, we are able to see His will for our lives. And today we want to think about that as we study together when one is close to God. Before we begin, I’ve got a little extra bonus here for you. You hear me here on the broadcast, and you can also see me on YouTube. Here is our J-Web with those details.

SPEAKER 02 : 1:36

Did you know that you can see the International Gospel Hour on YouTube now? Go to YouTube, type International Gospel Hour in the search window, and once you’re there, subscribe. It’s free. Then click on the bell and you’ll be notified each time a program is uploaded. View International Gospel Hour TV on YouTube today.

SPEAKER 01 : 2:00

And friends, I’ll see you there on our YouTube channel. Thank you and hope that you will join us very soon. But for now, let’s talk about when one is close to God. You know, Psalm 73, 28 says, But it is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all your works. In the New Testament, we find in Mark 12, beginning with verse 28, where one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that Jesus had answered them well, asked him, What is the first commandment of all? Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second like it is this, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. Oh, my friends, draw near. Place trust. Loving with heart, soul, mind, and strength. The joy and the blessing when one is close to God. You know, when one is close to God, it is because of one’s obedience. I mean, Paul even reminded the church at Corinth in 2 Corinthians 6 and verse 14 to come out and be separate. You can’t be like the world. When one simply believes in Christ, and after hearing the gospel, Romans 10 and verse 17, To embrace the message that Jesus is the Christ, John 8, 24 and John 3, 16. To repent of past sins, Acts 17, verse 30 and Luke 13, 3. To confess Christ as God’s only begotten Son, Romans 10, verse 10. And is baptized for the remission of sins, Acts 2, verse 38. One has obeyed the gospel of Christ. They’ve been added to the church that we read of in the Bible, Acts 2, 47. But yet that individual is to grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, 2 Peter 3.18. You see, when one is close to God, it is because of one’s obedience. And then, friends, when one is close to God, one is going to fight sin with everything one has. They’re going to bring with everything He provides. You see, we fight sin with all we have, but with what God provides, because we cannot make it without Him. In James 4, verses 7 and 8, Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Friends, we submit to God, and we resist the devil. And we resist him because we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2.11 And we resist him by not being overconfident, for remember in 1 Corinthians 10, 12, Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. Oh, the great joy to the child of God in 1 John 1, 7-9. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Friends, he’s writing there to the Christian, one who is close to God, who will fight sin with everything he has, but we must use everything God provides. I submit to you, when one is close to God, one will worship God. In John 4 and verse 24, the Bible says, God is spirit-loving. and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The right spirit, the right attitude coming before the Father, and in truth, God has always told man what he expects in worship. When we think about the opportunity of singing songs of praise, Colossians 3, verse 16, to join together within the church and friends without the use of a mechanical instrument, to sing praise unto our Father, to use the heart as the instrument of which we lift up our voices, to spend time in prayer together, that great force to when we see in Acts 13 when the church came together to pray the power of prayer, and how on the day of Pentecost and even thereafter they were together in prayers, to remember the Lord’s Supper, yes, every Lord’s Day, When we come together to remember His death by partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine. Oh, it does not get old hat, friends. It does not get, well, if you do it weekly, then you’ll miss something. Or it becomes, you know, it’s a reputation. It’s not the same. Oh, friends, but it reminds us and refreshes us. And we’re thankful for the death that He died. To give of our means. You know, that doesn’t get old. But to give of our means. To give financially. Right? as we’re commanded in 1 Corinthians 16, 1 and 2, and 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9. And then, friends, to hear the preaching of the gospel, the study together of the word of God, how Paul proclaimed the gospel on the first day of the week until midnight, Acts 20, verse 7, and to preach and to come together to study and to know more. the joy of worshiping God each and every Lord’s Day. Let’s build on that a little bit, because when one is close to God, then one will spend time with the people of God. Hebrews 10, 22-25, Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching. Oh, to draw near to not only worship God, but to spend time with the people of God, people who are there that help me with comfort, comfort by which we ourselves are comforted of God, 2 Corinthians 1, 3 and 4 says, and to bear one another’s burdens, Galatians 6. Dear friends, what a true joy that when one is close to God, one will spend time with the people of God to gain strength, to gain encouragement, to have that family that can touch no other. And I submit to you that when one is close to God, one will long and prepare for eternity. You know, friends, today life can end and eternity can begin. In Philippians 3, 20 and 21, Paul reminds us that our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. And friends, if He can do that, then imagine the change He will place in our lives, but while on this earth our citizenship is in heaven. What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or will a man give in exchange for his soul? The words of Jesus in Matthew 16 and verse 26. Now friends, when we put all this together, when one is close to God, it is because of one’s obedience. Fighting sin with God’s strength. Worshiping God in spirit and in truth. Spending time with the people of God and longing for eternity. That’s good living. That’s being close to God. Friends, can we help you draw closer to God? Can we help you in your study of the Word of God? To spend time daily looking at His Word, His will, His way. And studying and learning more of His will and His way for you. We’d love to share with you our free Bible study course by mail. It seems like friends on a weekly basis will send out a number of them, and we’re grateful to do so. We’d love to send you one if you’ve listened to our broadcast, but you’ve never tried the free home Bible study course. Again, it’s free, and all you can do is give it a try and see what you think. Here is our J-Web with those details of how you can receive your free Bible course by mail.

SPEAKER 02 : 10:52

Our long-time free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say Home Study. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it’s free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.

SPEAKER 01 : 11:31

Friends, when one is close to God, what a joy how to walk therein and to also know that God is for us. In Psalm 56 and verse 9, the psalmist said, When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back. This I know, for God is for me. We want God to be for you. You know, He is for all the world. He sent His Son into the world, not willing that any should perish, but all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3, 9. He wants us to live the best life, but He wants us to live the best life according to His will and His way from His Word. Thank you for joining me today, and let’s continue our studies together at another time. I’m Jeff Archie of the International Gospel Hour. I’m honored you’ve joined me. Friends, until next time, keep listening.

SPEAKER 02 : 12:23

Thank you for listening today. To God be the glory. And we hope that our study today will draw you closer to His Word to walk in His way. Feel free to listen to our other programs at our website at internationalgospelhour.com and join us next time.