1. Draw Near to God
James 4:8-10
Pastor Keone

2. Congregational Values:
Draw near and know God
Walk through life with one another
Be on mission with God

3. Acts 17: From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

4. Before man sinned, God and man were in right relationship with each other.
Man God

5. Romans 3:9-12 9 What shall we conclude then. Are we any better
Romans 3: What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;

6. When man sinned, he broke the relationship he had with God.
Man God

7. Romans 3:9-12 9 What shall we conclude then. Are we any better
Romans 3: What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."

8. Isaiah 53:6 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

9. When man sinned, he turned away from God
Man God

10. Romans 5: You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

11. When man sinned, he turned away from God.
But God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die on the cross in our place.
Sin
Man God

12. Because of Jesus death on the cross, man is now able to turn away from sin and turn toward God.
Man God
Sin

13. Is there a difference between seeking and drawing near?
Biblical equivalent, both mean:
Searching for Him
Obeying Him
Seeking Him out for wisdom and counsel
Relying on Him for help
Personally, drawing near to God has a more intimate connotation

14. How do we draw near to God?
Repent and confess our sins

15. James 4:8-10 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you
James 4: Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 1 John 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

16. How do we draw near to God?
Repent and confess our sins
Worship and Prayer

17. Luke 11: "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

18. How do we draw near to God?
Repent and confess our sins
Worship and Prayer
In our decisions

19. Hebrews 11:6 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

20. How do we draw near to God?
Repent and confess our sins
Worship and Prayer
In our decisions
Drawing near to God is not something we just do, but is something we live.
It’s a way of life