CLOSING THE GAPS BETWEEN MAN AND GOD

Pixbay

Greetings to all parishioners of Steemchurch and thanks to all our beloved steemians for great work you are contributing to this community.

This evening, our sermon is titled: "Closing the Gaps between Man and God."

Scripture Reading:
ACTS 5:4

"Whiles it remained, was it not thine own?and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up to ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things."

For most of us leave a vast gap between us and God for Satan to get chance and operate. What is your gap this evening as Mankind, Christ follower or Parishioner? Is it gossiping being your gap?...or stealing?...or adultery?..or drinking alcohol?

In the book of Acts we read about Ananias and Sapphira, who did have a gap between what they wanted to be known for and who they really were(Acts 5:1-4). Satan filled their hearts with a deceiptive plan. They sold a piece of land and brought just a portion of the money to the apostles, while pretending they were giving all the proceeds. They wanted to be recognized as a generous couple, but they were nit what they appear to be. This gap caused them to lie to the Holy Spirit and to the faith community. They paid the that price of gap of allowing themselves for Satan to use them-death. Their example stands as a stark warning to us all.

Adam and Eve sinned against God by eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden that The LORD GOD warned them not to eat. But they allowed themselves for the serpent to deceive them. This created a gap between man and God, so man has to drive out from the Garden of Eden.

GENESIS 3:24 KJV

"So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life."

On similar instance, Cain, the son of Adam and Eve widened the gap between him and God. By killing his brother, Abel. Since, the offering of Abel was accepted by God, but Cain's own was rejected by God. Through this, Cain became angry and killed his brother Abel.

GENESIS 4:11 KJV

"And no art thou cursed from the Earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand."

The bond, the relationship or friendship which is a gap between us and God can be closed if we do the will of God. By character, man should stay righteous or holy, for this is what pleases with God since God hates sins. The above instances cited are all characters that widen the gaps between us and God.

PSALMS 34:17-19 KJV

"The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all."

Pixbay

Let us not to live on this Earth with our own understanding and knowledge. By all means we were brought on this Earth by God. We are here for temporal living and a time will come that we shall leave for our permanent place of abode, which is heaven. For Jesus is the true vine and we are the branches of this vine, far as the branches cannot bear fruit alone, except it is attached to the vine. So as man cannot live alone with Jesus Christ(JOHN 15:1-7). Mankind is dependent on Jesus Christ.

PROVERBS 3:5-6 KJV

"Trust in the LORD with thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

What sins have we permitted in our lives? We must confess them and close the gaps. May we live in such integrity that when we alter a word no one will doubt. Amen!
@oppongk from sc-g.