Sisters 2025: Draw Near

Drawing Near to God

Scripture References

Primary text

• Genesis 3
• John 3:16
• James 4

Other references

• John 17
• Hebrews 3:13
• Hebrews 12
• Hebrews 11
• Matthew 6:21
• Matthew 15
• Philippians 3
• Revelation 3

Overview

Eternal life is not an occasional encounter but an ongoing, intimate knowledge of God. We were created for close fellowship with Him, yet—like Adam and Eve—we drift when pleasure, problems, or productivity pull our eyes away. The message calls us to recognize that drift, repent of tolerated sin, and “draw near to God” with undivided hearts, confident that He eagerly draws near to us.

Context

Amy shared the joy of 34 years of marriage to Pastor Craig—an intimacy she treasures—yet declared that even that depth of knowing pales beside 35 years of walking with Jesus. Her personal story set the tone: God invites every believer into a far richer relationship than any human bond.

Main Points

1. Knowing God is the essence of eternal life (John 17)

• Jesus defined eternal life as personally knowing—ginosko—God and the Son He sent.
• This knowledge is experiential, like the Hebrew idea of yada: first-hand, relational, daily.

• Illustration: Amy’s marriage began after 13 months of “getting to know” Craig; decades later the relationship is deeper, but still inferior to knowing Christ.

2. How drift begins: the Genesis 3 pattern

• Adam and Eve lived in perfect provision yet listened to an attractive lie.
• The serpent questioned God’s word, offered “something better,” and appealed to sight, desire, and pride.
• Result: shame, fear, and hiding from God instead of running to Him.
• Definition of deception quoted: “an intentional leading astray that blinds our heart to the truth.”
• Modern drift follows the same path through
  • Pleasures (not always sinful, just distracting)
  • Problems (burdens that overfill our view)
  • Productivity (self-reliance)

3. Guarding one another and our own hearts

• Hebrews 3:13 commands daily encouragement so no one is “hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
• Daily Scripture intake tunes us to God’s voice.
• Question to ponder: “What am I calling acceptable that God calls sin?”

4. Throwing off what hinders (Hebrews 12)

• Like James flinging his phone to give full attention to his wife, believers must “throw off” hindrances.
• The cloud of witnesses urges perseverance, fixing eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.

• Story: Amy sensed she was “coasting” spiritually; the Spirit whispered, “Wake up, there is more.”

5. Radical nearness: the bridal posture

• The Church is Christ’s bride; brides prepare with single-minded focus and eager anticipation.
• No apathy, no divided affection belongs in that moment—neither should it in our walk with Jesus.
• Spiritual unfaithfulness = adultery of the heart (Matthew 15, Revelation 3).

6. Repentance and renewal (James 4)

• Friendship with the world is hostility toward God.
• Command sequence: submit to God, resist the devil, draw near, cleanse hands, purify hearts, mourn over sin, humble yourself; God will lift you up.
• Humility means God-reliance, not self-reliance.

7. What drawing near can look like

• Everyday gratitude and surrender at sunrise.
• Worship in pain—hearing the Spirit say, “Be still, I will fight for you.”
• Unscheduled stillness that ushers in a tangible sense of God’s presence.
• Historical examples:
  • Moses, after 40 days on Sinai, still pleaded, “Show me Your glory.”
  • Paul counted everything “rubbish” beside the surpassing worth of knowing Christ (Philippians 3).

Key Truths

• Eternal life equals personally knowing God through Christ.
• Attractive lies always invite us to trade God’s truth for lesser gain.
• Drift most often begins with small distractions, not obvious rebellion.
• God initiates restoration—“Where are you?”—but waits for our response.
• Humble, repentant hearts encounter abundant grace and deeper intimacy.

Response

• Examine your heart for any pleasure, problem, or pursuit that eclipses Jesus; name it.
• Throw off that hindrance decisively—delete, pause, set boundaries, confess.
• Draw near daily: open Scripture, pray, worship, and listen with full attention.
• Encourage another believer today so neither of you is “hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
• Live as a prepared bride: cultivate eager anticipation of meeting Christ.

Closing

Amy urged every listener to refuse lukewarm, cultural Christianity and press into wholehearted devotion. God is already moving toward us; our part is to humble ourselves, repent where needed, and live in radical closeness.

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.”

Prayer

Amy led two prayers. First, believers confessed drift, asked the Spirit to expose lies, and committed to draw near, throwing off every hindrance. Second, those seeking salvation acknowledged their sin, believed Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection, invited the Holy Spirit to make them new, and surrendered their lives to Jesus.