Lesson 4: Growing in Your relationship with Jesus Christ
This is part 4 to a 4 part series – Lessons for Christian Living
With the Holy Spirit directing your life, you will experience a deeper relationship with God and you will grow in your ability to trust Him.
What does it mean to grow in your relationship with Jesus?
Growing in your relationship with Jesus means to know Him better, to love and obey Him more.
“And this is the way to have eternal life-to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth” (John 17:3).
“Jesus replied: ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.’” (Matthew 22:37-38)
Your growing love for God will lead you to obey His commandments.
[Jesus speaking] “Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal myself to each one of them.” (John 14:21)
Just as it’s natural for a child to grow in a loving relationship with a parent, it is also natural for you to grow in your love relationship with God.
How can you grow in your relationship with Jesus?
Communication is vital to any relationship. Four aspects of communication will help you develop your relationship with Jesus.
- God communicates with us through the Bible, revealing His character and His will.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
- We communicate with God through prayer, sharing our thoughts, our needs and our desire to do his will.These verses tell us we can pray about everything. When we pray according to God’s will, he hears us and answers us. Thanking God is also part of praying.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
“And we can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. And if we know he is listening when we make our requests, we can be sure that he will give us what we ask for.” (1 John 5:14-15)
“No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
“And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:20)
- We communicate with Christians through fellowship, encouraging and building up one another.It is important to spend time with other Christians to encourage each other to love and do good. The Greek word for fellowship, koinonia, means “sharing in common.” We need to share our Christian experience with others who love God, and likewise allow them to share with us. God appoints the church as a place for us to meet other Christians and learn about God. Bible studies and other meetings are also helpful.
“Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
- We communicate with others who don’t know God personally by sharing about our relationship with Jesus.
“There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them.” (Acts 4:12)
Suggestions for further growth
Set aside a time and place for daily personal Bible study and prayer. A good book to begin with is the New Testament Book of John (included in the next section). As you read, underline verses you find particularly meaningful. Pray and ask God to show you who He is and how you can respond to Him.
Study other passages, such as the ones in this lesson. Also read Psalms 1, 34, 103 and 145; Matthew 7:7-11; Luke 9:23-26; John 15:1-7; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; and Colossians 1:9-12.
This is the beginning of your Christian life and there is much more to discover than what’s covered in these four lessons. Take the initiative today to find a church in your neighbourhood, and make plans to attend regularly. For additional Christian materials, check out your local Christian bookstore (try looking under “books” in the Yellow Pages).
Summary
As you rely on the Holy Spirit for power, read the Bible, pray, spend time with other believers and tell people about Jesus, God will produce His character in you and you will mature spiritually.
God bless you all Amen.
thank you for the versus as they helped me plan my sunday school lesson.
Good thing about the relationship we have with Christ is that its something you can not tell describe…besides being private and personal or anything, its beyond our human understaniding. As a teen, I say am gonna strive to develop my relationship with Him! Amen
My relationship w/ God has always been on and off, thru lifes trials He was always there for me to help me but it seems after that I forget and go back to my usual way.I am afraid and fearful and have lots of doubts, of how true Jesus is ,He was in my life a lot of the time to help my family in time of needs.I did not have a very good education about God ,but I am searching now .I thank you all for guiding me at this time.
Marylou,
Its all about choosing to follow him and his ways, I have been much the same as you for many years. You can probably ask yourself if you believe there has been a time when you truly think he’s left you. The answer will probably be no. If you have asked him into your life he NEVER leaves and you will always be aware of him in some capacity. Don’t forget HE draws US and not the other way round, we respond to his calling. So you can be assured if you are thinking about him, its because HE is putting it in your heart to do so. He is seeking a relationship with all of us. I totally understand the vicious circle that one can get stuck in. It seems like a cycle where you have a blitz on seeking Him (usually at a time of need!) and then the enthusiasm somehow fades. No opportunity is wasted by God, but the choice is to respond to Him and KEEP responding through prayer/reading the bible. This naturally goes hand in hand with repentance and the knowledge that you are out of synch with God. Even conviction of sin comes from Him. Essentially we are useless until he begins his work in us. I’ve just gone back to the church I used to go to 20+yrs ago, and because I showed a choice and move towards his calling, even though it was an internal battle to do so, I have noticed changes already in me, but i have to keep pushing on seeking a deeper relationship with him.
hope this gives you a little encouragement
Dave
I Love God deeply. Truly do. What I have realized is that because He knows I love him deeply he has manifested himself in awesome ways. For example I know when he is around me when my hands begin to feel electric-like feelings. I will feel this cool breeze in the dead center,middle of my hands and feet. Sometimes my mouth will get heavy or numb when I praise his name aloud or worship him. Sometimes I feel his love soo much that I become filled with tears of love for him. I also will get so weak during prayer that i have to lay down while I worship him. One time I felt so great electric like feelings in my body and hands that I felt my hands move without my effort. I was so shocked and amazed that this Jesus Christ is soo real. So So So real that it makes me afraid sometimes and comforted to know I have such great power that loves me. The secret to having this closeness with God is actually replacing the occasional stupid every day thoughts and worldly attention with silent worship in your head. Thats what I did. Anyone can do this. Probably if we all tried we would see some pretty neat stuff that blows our minds always like how he did it to me!. Yes I am a Christian and I have never been happier in my life! Nothing no longer troubles or worries me because I tell God to handle it and I keep repeating Jesus will handle it over and over until the worry thought goes away.Boy No man, husband, father, wife, girlfriend or any human being can love like Jesus, trust me about that! That man is sooooo awesome no words can describe him!!!! I So Love HIM!!!! Tooo Much!!!
My life has been moving in circles eversince i got married.Things seem to have been better before i tied the knot than they are now.My husband and i have become merely housemates and i have been very worried also because i am jobless and jobss eems to be stuck on the air.I made a decision today that i am not going to worry about what is happening but i am going to rededicate my life to Christ and seek His Kingdom once again and develop a very close relationship with God.I want too to love God tooo much like Niki says.I am hoping that things will change and life will become worth living for me once again.I qoute for myself,
? “from today onwards i declare that my life will never be the same again,i have decide to rededicate my life to Christ, to start again seeking THe KIngdom of God and see what is in store for me.It is about God not about me.’
Thats wonderful to do all those things but What if those are steps to know about jesus rather than know jesus. Jesus said come to me and you will never be hungry or thirst. So I belive what your step program says is religon. its still good but not satisfying to my soul
Thank you all for your wonderful testimonies, May God richly bless all of you and your families, friends, co-workers, and your spritual authorities!!!!!!!
Every year when people are making ther resolutions I pray that I will get closer everyday with my Lord.I get closer to Him by prayer, reading and serving inwhat he wants me to do. Some place do not have His Word, but I do and can enjoy my time with Him.. i also do a soaking in prayer either myself or with another friend and let the Holy spirit fill me to over flowing of His goodness.
thank you shelley i pray for that every year too and try to stay close to God too throughout the year
Hi there,
I surrendered my life to Jesus 2011 Jan and my life was transformed just like Nicki when I praise and worship the lord i fell intense heaviness and electricity in my arm yes the Lord manifests himself to his children he is real the bible is real what does it take to get close to him when you spend time reading praying and thinking how you can further his kingdom I don’t watch secular TV waist of time and most of the the time inappropriate visuals for a christian you must love God with all your mind and soul and when you put his desires before yours he is there it is a wonderful feeling as Nicki said he is there with you and feel him in your body just to give you an encouraging example one night i was coming home late in a train station and I heard these groans i looked to my side and saw a homeless beggar on his knees with his head down and arms up holding a hat to collect money I walked to him gave him money and talked about Jesus and how he loves him and wants to heal him and take him out of this situation but he needs to take that first step he said thank you for reminding me yes I am a sinner and i need to repent when I walked away i felt this intense tightness and heaviness go down my arm the same feeling when I pray worship and praise him to be intimate with Jesus he expects commitment I walk with such peace and hope and I hope this helps people to draw close to Jesus.
Thank you, Suzanna, for a beautiful testimony of your faith walk with Jesus. It is wonderful to hear how you are not only experiencing our Lord in your personal walk every moment, but also how you are powerfully sharing His love with others you meet. I pray the Lord Jesus continues to shine brightly through you as He has so obviously been doing, and that you continue to be filled with powerful manifestations of His Love and Power to sustain you and to share as a testimony of God’s glory with all people, and especially those who are still in darkness. I ask these things in Christ’s holy name. Amen.
hey uh, i dont want to type to much because im abit lazy aha, but i just want to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU,and i really appreciate this, you have no idea thow much significance this is to me. Thank you heaps :DD
thank you guys, bringing me so close to Jesus.. evryday I used to worry about negative things, negativity had fully engrossed me.. but I have Realized that Jesus Love me lot and he is cares for me lot and protecting me always. he has shown me the righteous path.. hence forth i will never think negative and hurt my husband… hence forth m filled with positive powers because my Lord Jesus is with me and he is caring and loving me lot lot more than i could ever think.. Thank you so much Lord Jesus .. Love You lot.. Praise the Lord :)
good article thank you, i think after prayer from friends i get closer to God i love him more and more
Jesus is awesome
That He is Onias….so very awesome! Have you tried completing any of our online Bible Studies? We have a variety of them that you might enjoy completing. An online study coach will then respond to your and pray for you once you submit them as well. To find a list of some that are available, just go to http://powertochange.com/discover/ll_list/
This is a good website. I learned my way to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Dear Morgan, So glad to hear that this website has helped you and that your relationship with Christ is growing. Hope you take time to read the other wonderful articles, devotionals, and bible studies found throughout the site.
Have you personally accepted and invited Christ into your heart and life? If not here is a simple prayer that you can use.
Father God,
You loved the world so much, You gave Your only begotten Son, Jesus, to die for our sins so that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. Your Word says we are saved by grace through faith as a gift from You. There is nothing we can do to earn salvation.
I believe and confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is Your Son, the Savior of the world. I believe He died on the cross for me and bore all my sins, paying the price for them. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead. I ask You to forgive my sins. I confess Jesus as my Lord. According to Your Word, I am saved and will spend eternity with you! Thank You, Father.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen
Please let us know if you have any questions. We are here to encourage you in your understanding and growing relationship with the Lord. God Bless
Wow how great is our God… All I dire for this year is to know Jesus more and more !!!.
Lord Jesus, it is wonderful to know You. It is also wonderful to know that You know us – You see right into our hearts, know our pain, brokenness and frailty. Thank You for Your patience in enduring with us, for bringing us through every day that we face, and for being our solid rock and refuge!
I LOVE THIS ARTICLE ITS JUST SO POWERFUL AND I LOVE GOD. I AM A JESUS FREAK AND I HOPE OTHER PEOPLE WOULD BE RADICALLY SAVED TOO
thank you for the study material which can be taught to others also. May God bless you.