Human beings are uniquely created in the image of God. When God created the earth, son, moon, stars, and all the animals He said it was “good.” However, when it came to humans, the tone changed. He said that the creation of humans was “very good.” Human beings are an extra-special creation for at least three reasons.
First, it is clear that humans have an identity that is rooted in God.
Genesis 1:26-27 (HCSB)26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”27 So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female.
Second, humans are special because they were created for a unique purpose. No two humans are the same.
There is no other person who is exactly like you! You are an original! No two people have the same fingerprint and no two people have identical DNA
It doesn't end there. We are told that one's DNA is strikingly different as well. No two people have the same identical DNA.
It doesn't end there. We are told that one's DNA is strikingly different as well. No two people have the same identical DNA.
Psalms 139:14 HCSB Other aspects of creation serve general functions, but only humans have a unique, individual purpose.
Third, humans are designed to have a one-on-one relationship with God through Jesus.
Romans 8:33-39 (HCSB)33 Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the One who justifies.34 Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.35 Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or anguish or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?36 As it is written: Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.37 No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us.38 For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, ⌊hostile⌋ powers,39 height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Relating to God as friend is a tough concept for most of us. It may even seem irreverent or arrogant. After all how can we be friends with the King of kings, Creator of the universe, a holy and sinless God? But we are invited to be and are called God’s friends though our faith in and relationship with Jesus. He even calls us brothers.
Hebrews 2:11-12 (HCSB)11 For the One who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers,12 saying: I will proclaim Your name to My brothers; I will sing hymns to You in the congregation.
Let’s not get it twisted our friendship with God is not a friendship of equals. He will always remain in His rightful place of honor and authority. We are still the work of His hands, His people over whom He has final say. That never changes, no matter how close or intimate we become with Him. A proper respect of God is part of being His friend.
Friendship is just one of the ways God relates with us. God is many things to us at the same time, including Father, Shepherd, Lord, Redeemer, Teacher, and Friend. No one aspect of who He is cancels out the rest. The better we know Him - in all of His various aspects - the more accurately we’ll be able to relate to Him, talk with Him, and enjoy Him.
The Risk of Being Real - Stop Faking It
Our friendship with God deepens when we risk being open and honest as we talk with Him.
No more faking feeling fine.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Christians like to quote this scripture when things get a little tough but if we’re honest, when they don’t turn around right away it seems that God’s plans were not prospering you at all; in fact, it feels like they’re hurting you. What is He trying to do? Make you tough? Make you stronger? How were these plans bringing you hope? Where is all this peace and prosperity He promised?
When we become convinced that God is really our friend, which is what we talked about last week we really know how He feels about us and the we can talk to Him about anything.
Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
One of the things that keeps us from being bold is the common misconception that believers should be perfect. We fake it pretending to have our lives in order, smiling and saying all the right things. At times we’re ashamed to admit our shortcomings. Salvation through Jesus, however, doesn’t change the fact that sin is present in our life. When we’re born again, God forgives us and sees us as righteous. In our very first session, of this study, we learned that God hears the prayers of the righteous.
Striving for perfection actually can be a trap that pulls us away from living a godly life. The world sees successful individuals as powerful and self-sufficient, but Jesus didn’t care about these qualities. Instead, He wants people to be aware of their own brokenness.
Be careful not to cover up your emotions in order to look like a “good Christian.” Without becoming open we are unable to rely fully on God. When we realize this we can passionately seek Him, obey in His strength, and confess with repentance when we miss the mark.
I’m sure that each of us has been hesitant to say what you really thought, felt, needed, or longed for. One of mine was to really open up when Ruth was sick. Another was when I laid off in an elimination of the Marketing Group which I headed in a company that I really was integral in building. I was PO’d but I never really opened up and said that to anybody, including God, for a long time. People would say things like you’ll find something better, or you’re very talented, don’t worry. So I didn’t talk to anybody about it because if I really opened up I would have made myself vulnerable. I needed to open up but it’s hard to do that unless you are in close relationship and in order to become close you have to be vulnerable. So if we want our prayer life to go beyond where we are now we are going to have to risk opening up to our friend, God.
It’s one thing to tell a friend, like in my case about the layoff, I was shocked by the layoff and I’m going to need to find a job quickly, that’s easy. But what you really need to be able to do with a friend is say; I spent 10 years helping this company for 9 employees, to over a hundred and from annual sales of $100,000 to contracts valued over $100,000,000 and they do this! I’m pissed and I feel that I was used.
Well we can look to Jesus as our example of being open with our friends. He permitted Himself to express a full range of emotions, positive ones like joy, love, and compassion and some we would consider negative like, anger, indignation, and impatience.
Matthew 26:36-46 (NKJV)36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray over there."37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.38 Then He said to them, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me."39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."40 Then He came to the disciples and found them asleep, and said to Peter, "What? Could you not watch with Me one hour?41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done."43 And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy.44 So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.45 Then He came to His disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.46 Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand."
What emotions does He display? - sorrow, frustration, impatience, fear, maybe anger
Mark 10:13-16 (NKJV)13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."16 And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.
What emotions does He display? - he was displeased, angry,
Mark 10:17-22 (NKJV)17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"18 So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.19 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' "20 And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth."21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
What emotions does He display? - love, compassion
Luke 7:11-15 (NKJV)11 Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd.12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her.13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.
What emotions does He display?- compassion
Luke 10:17-24 (NKJV)17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing1 shall by any means hurt you.20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.22 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."23 Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see;24 for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."
What emotions does He display? - joy
Luke 19:41-44 (NKJV)41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it,42 saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side,44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation."
What emotions does He display? - sorrow
John 2:12-17 (NKJV)12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days.13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business.15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables.16 And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!"17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."
What emotions does He display? - anger
John 11:32-44 (NKJV)32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, "Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died."33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.34 And He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to Him, "Lord, come and see."35 Jesus wept.36 Then the Jews said, "See how He loved him!"37 And some of them said, "Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?"38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days."40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me."
43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!"
44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go."
What emotions does He display? - anger, sorrow, joy
If you had been in the Garden and you saw these emotions from Jesus, your leader, how would you respond?
Jesus didn’t ignore His emotions or keep them hidden, He shared Himself openly. We should also think about Him wanting us to be open with Him.
That’s not alway easy though. It’s easy to talk about joy, but in real life we struggle with sin, injustice, pain, and temptation. These thing arouse feelings that aren’t comfortable. It seems riskier to be honest to when we feel isolated, guilty, irritated, intimidated, ashamed, angry, inadequate, rejected, or worthless.
We may be hesitate to open up because, in the pastm when we have we’ve gotten negative responses. One of the typical ones is, “this too shall pass” (which isn’t in the bible by the way, read my post on that). Once you open up and get either that kind of answer you are not likely to open up again. Remember when we did our study on “Winning the War Over Worry” we talked about this being why people don’t open up to other Christians or our church leaders. So they put on an act and even stop coming to church.
Jesus came to earth as a man so that He could experience everything that we do and still not sin. He was open, didn’t hide his emotions, including the negative ones so how do you think He feels toward you when you are experiencing painful or uncomfortable emotions.
The fact that Jesus knows us completely offers rich benefits for our honest conversations with Him.
Hebrews 2:17-18 (NKJV)17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
Hebrews 4:14-16 (NKJV)14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
What are some of those benefits of an open honest conversation with Jesus?
He experienced everything that we experience, took it all, and never wavered, He never gave in, and no matter what I go through I have Him as my example and because He went through everything that I go through I can tell Him exactly how I feel about everything.
I’m using the book “Prayer Begins With Relationship” for this study and there is a story the author tells about herself. She lost all the files on her computer. There were years of work on those files and the technicians that consulted told her they could not be recovered. She was heartbroken and knew that it would take a very long time to recreate them and that some of them would never be recreated. about computer failure and prayer to somehow recover the files. The story says that the Cynthia Hyle Bezek, the author, while distraught over the loss of her files didn’t pray about it because she felt stupid since she didn’t backup her work as she know she should because she didn’t know how. Because she felt stupid then she deserved what happened to her. Through a series of things with others with computer problems with her church friends who asked for prayer about their computer issues she finally decided to say to God “Okay then, will You please help? She sensed Him asking her “How do you feel about your lost files?” Her response was “What does it matter how I feel?” She felt that God asked again “How do you feel about your lost files?” That’s when she realized that she didn’t want to talk to God about her computer problems because she felt stupid. God already knew that she didn’t feel that she deserved His help because she was so stupid. She felt that He said “I do not treat you like that” I long to redeem your mistakes. I want to help those who cannot help themselves. I am full of mercy and compassion, and I want t rescue you. Will you let Me?”
Less than a day later a friend asked her if she wanted him to take a look at her computer and see if God would help him find her files and he was able to do it. The point was that God was trustworthy to hear her, just like a good friend, when she risked opening up about what was really going on. God wasn’t content in meeting just the practical need of the lost files but also her need to talk about how she really felt. Why was that important.
God is waiting caused her to repent of her shortcoming, He wanted her to realize that she has responsibility for somethings herself and when she blew it to admit it and ask for help.
This is the prayer of a man who is not afraid to let his friend know what he is feeling.
Psalms 5:1-12 HCSB Listen to my words, Lord ; consider my sighing. Pay attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for I pray to You. At daybreak, Lord , You hear my voice; at daybreak I plead my case to You and watch expectantly. For You are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil cannot dwell with You. The boastful cannot stand in Your presence; You hate all evildoers. You destroy those who tell lies; the Lord abhors a man of bloodshed and treachery. But I enter Your house by the abundance of Your faithful love; I bow down toward Your holy temple in reverential awe of You. Lord , lead me in Your righteousness because of my adversaries; make Your way straight before me. For there is nothing reliable in what they say; destruction is within them; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongues. Punish them, God; let them fall by their own schemes. Drive them out because of their many crimes, for they rebel against You. But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them shout for joy forever. May You shelter them, and may those who love Your name boast about You. For You, Lord , bless the righteous one; You surround him with favor like a shield.
How would your prayer life change if you risked sharing honest feelings with God? How would your relationship change?
If you’re not emotional
If you feel that you are just not emotional you may want to try talking to Jesus about it. You may want to ask why it’s so important to acknowledge and express emotions. Then wait to see if He answers with why.
Or you could ask if I’m missing anything by ignoring my emotional side. Again wait for a response.
Or ask how your relationship with Him and others would be different if you were more open emotionally.
As He speaks to yoiur spirit His response me come with a thought, word, scripture, a memory, or even a feeling. But remember also ask Him to confirm what you heard.
Here’s something else you can try. Just be honest.
In this aid in stregneting our relationship with regard to prayer were are not asking for an answer or solution. We are working on being more open with God as to how we really feel about things that concern us. You can start by saying something like “Jesus, I really don’t want to tell You this, but I guess You already know it; I feel pretty inadequate when it comes to whatever it is, so I’ve been avoiding talking about it. Or you could try saying “Jesus I don’t think I’ve ever told you this before because I’ve been afraid of what you’d say, but I really want to, then just say it. If you need help in identifying most negative emotions here’s a list;
- Anxiety
- Worry
- Fear
- Insecurity
- Shame
- Embarrassment
- Inadequacy
- Emptiness
- Rejecton
- Unworthy
- Anger
- Guilt
- Jealousy
- Inferiority
- Grief
- Hopelessness
- Condemnation
Sometimes we are hesitant because we’re worried about how He will respond and we may not be ready for that. Well talk to Him about that too and wait for His answer to that.
Next week we are going to talk about Upgrading Your View of God.
A skewed view of God shuts down the way we pray so we to to relate to God as He really is. When we do that we become free and confident in prayer.
Bible Study Audio
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