How close do we want to be to God?

Eph 3:17-19 "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Deuteronomy 5:29 "O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!

1. How humble do we want to be?

I Peter 5:5 "Likewise ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Ye, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:"

Isaiah 57:15

Isaiah 58:9

I Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves...

****When is the last time you humbled yourself before God?****

2. How contrite do we want to be?

Isaiah 57:15

Isaiah 58:6a

Isaiah 58:9

Isaiah 59:1-3

3. How much righteousness do we have?

Job 2:1-3

Gal 5:24-25 "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

I John 2:4 "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (There are a lot of people who claim to be Christians who God calls liars)

Mathew 5:6 "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."

Luke 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Ephesians 4:28 "Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth."

I Corithians 16:15 "...and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)"

Mathew 25:16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

(How do I invest the talents of money I have been given?)

Mathew 25:38-40 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

5. How much love do we show?

God is love. (I John)

Mathew 10:37 He that loveth Father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not up his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Mathew 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. (motivation should be love!)

6. How much faith do we exercise in God?

Do we tithe?

Do we look to God in our problems?

Do we lack faith because we are not righteous? (Deut 32:20)

We forget to trust God after we provoke God to jealosy!

Mark 10: 50-51a And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?...

Mark 11: 22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.