JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE
A Bible Study for Women using the authorized King James Bible, the only inerrant Word of God
By Patricia Dowers
Introduction
God created us as beings craving relationship that can only be satisfied in Him. All other relationships, as godly as they may be, can only mirror our ultimate relationship with the Lord. Must we wait until we get to Heaven to experience this close, heart to heart relationship with our Lord Jesus? The answer is emphatically no, and He does not want us to wait.
Please note: In this study, as in all others, it is important to read all Scripture references for yourself that you may know what God has to say.
Session 1
Dear Friends, one of the things that we, as women, desire most is a close relationship with those we love. Please join me in this journey to discover a deeper relationship with the One who loves us most. Let us begin by defining the word, relationship.
The Collins English Dictionary defines relationship as, “the mutual dealings, connections, or feelings that exist between two parties.” This implies sharing, trust and closeness. In order to have a relationship both parties must participate.
The Bible tells us that God created us and saved us for His honor and glory. (Isa 43:7, Eph. 1:5-6) He could have demanded that without a close relationship with us. We could have worshipped Him from afar for who He is, the Supreme God and Creator and Ruler of the Universe. But we read in Genesis that God created us in His image (Gen 1:27), uniquely suited to respond to him in a close relational way. We read in Genesis 3:8 that the Lord presented Himself in the garden to walk and talk with Adam and Eve. We can easily imagine this to be a loving, sharing time between the Lord and His children until that fateful moment when sin changed that relationship for Adam and Eve and all mankind. (Rom 5:12)
The scope of this lost relationship rings down through the centuries. Mankind increasingly moves away from God while God is moving toward mending this relationship in the only way that satisfies His holiness, the shed blood and sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, for the redemption of our sin. (John 14:6, Heb 9:28)
At this point in our study let us go back to a time not long after the fall when God shows us He was still seeking and rewarding people who sought Him in obedience and worship. Remember, these are not people who possessed a continual and permanent indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit as believers do today. They were people who recognized and sought to worship God as the only God and Creator who must be obeyed. They recognized the difference between good and evil and chose to resist sin and seek out and worship God. (Gen 15:6)
We begin with Enoch. We can read his story in just a few verses. Please read Genesis 5: 21-24.
We only know two things about Enoch:
Enoch _______ with God,
Enoch was not, for God ________ him.
How important is relationship to God? Enoch and God had such a personal relationship that God drew Enoch to himself without requiring him to go through the physical death process. Also, God included Enoch’s story, as small as it is, (Really, is there anything more about him we need to know?) in Scripture as our example, forever.
Please read the New Testament reference to Enoch in Hebrews 11:5 and Jude 14,15. What was Enoch’s testimony?
Now we move a little more through time to Noah. We find his story beginning in Genesis 6. Please read Genesis 6:6-7:1.
What are the few things we learn about him?
Verse 8:
Noah found _________ in the eyes of the Lord.
Verse 9:
Noah was a _________ man and _________ in his generations.
Noah _________ with God.
As we read the account we see that God was grieved in his heart with the sin permeating all of His creation and only Noah among all the people who had multiplied over the whole earth sought a relationship with Him. How important was this relationship to God? In the awesome fury of God’s righteous anger, He saved Noah and his family to repopulate the earth. Let us take a moment to imagine the scene. The sounds alone would have been horrific; days of thundering skies, rushing walls of water, people and animals screaming, and then the awful silence. Where was Noah? He was safe in the ark communing with His Lord. I think that we never feel safer and more grateful than when we fully understand what we have been saved from.
Are we beginning to see a pattern that we can apply to our own lives? God saves us by His grace but relationship is participatory. Both Enoch and Noah walked with God.
As we read the Bible we see numerous references to walking with God, or before the Lord, or after the Lord, or in the Lord, etc. In general, these terms imply obedience to God’s law, loving what God loves, and being in agreement with God’s will. That is God’s directive to us and if we love Him we do it willingly. For the purposes of this study we will focus on the term “walking with God”. (Micah 6:8)
Please write this verse in the space below.
As I read that one little word, with, I see something that sets this walk apart from others. This is a side-by-side walk, a conversational walk, where the shared walk is as important as the destination.
God, in His wisdom, chose to give me a curious mind, which always needs to dig deeper. Sometimes it has gotten me into trouble but thankfully, not this time. I needed to probe more deeply into the Word to discover the riches of this side-by-side walk.
As Christians in the body of Christ we often look at each other and say he or she walks with the Lord. We say this because we are looking at their outward presentation. Only God sees the heart. But whom did God identify as someone who had a true walking relationship with Him?
In our next session we will look at one more Old Testament example and then we will move into the New Testament to examine what it means to walk with Jesus as a believer indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
Session 2
David
A man after God’s own heart
(Acts 13:22)
Who was David? I’m sure we are all familiar with David’s story. You will find it in the books of I and II Sam. and I Chron.. Certainly, he was not a perfect man. Did he always make godly decisions? -By no means. Did he tend to follow his passions into trouble? -More than once. Did he let his guard down at critical moments? -Yes, to the loss of family and friends. Did he sometimes fall out of fellowship with God? –Perhaps, his greatest devastation. (Can we identify with this man?) Then why would God call him a man after His own heart? Why would God devote such a large portion of Scripture to David’s life and writings. Why would He include him in the lineage of God’s own Son and honor David’s throne through history?
We begin David’s story as God chose the shepherd boy to succeed King Saul as ruler over Israel. King Saul was an arrogant, willful man who could not be used by God
(I Sam. 15:23). David was a youth who had already learned to rely on God and not his own strength (I Sam. 17:37). Do you see an analogy here? Who can God use in leadership roles today? Who can God honor to lead and guide their families to walk in the Light? People and situations do not change over the centuries. The Bible is always relevant.
Being God’s anointed did not make for an easy life. God continually kept David close to the edge to demonstrate His great power of deliverance. In God’s wisdom and goodness David’s difficulties became an example for us to trust God in every situation, and an example of the consequences of not trusting Him.
Please take some time and jot down in the space below three other Biblical figures that God used in such a way. There are many. Discuss these examples in your group.
1.
2.
3.
David suffered many hardships before he took the throne, and after, he struggled with all the difficult decisions and temptations of being a sovereign ruler.
Can you identify some of these challenges in your group discussion?
Again, what was it about David that touched the heart of God?
In the following exercise identify within the Scripture reference how David:
Recognized God’s sovereignty (Psa 113)
Recognized his personal creator (Psa 139:13-16)
Recognized the sustainer of his life (Psa 30:2,3)
Recognized God’s holiness (Psa 145:17)
Recognized the longing in his heart could only be filled by God (Psa 42:1,2)
Recognized his dependence on God’s mercy and salvation from sin (Psa 51:1-4)
Please discuss your answers with the group.
If we had to sum this up we could say that every facet of David’s life was directly tied to God, not just in a general sense, as we know that God is in control of all things, but in a personal sense because David knew it in the core of his being. God blessed David with a heart and mind for beautiful poetry and song to express his relationship with his God. The Psalms are brimming with David’s worship, thirst, love, and awe of God. I believe it is no accident that the book of Psalms is located in the center of the Bible so that when I let it fall open, there I am, participating in David’s walk with his Lord. I am reminded that no matter what the situation or what I am searching for, this is a good place to start, walking side by side with my Lord.
Below you will find David’s 23rd Psalm. Many years ago in Vacation Bible School I memorized this Psalm. It has served me well on many occasions. This is where I go when I am at a loss, when I need restoration and direction, when I need to be reminded of my walking relationship with the Lord. Because it is committed to memory I can go there any time, any place, even if my Bible is not with me. I am sure you are familiar with this Psalm as it is considered the most recognizable Psalm even among non-Christians. I would like to encourage you to try the following exercise.
Read each phrase slowly. I do not say “verse” because there is more than one truth included in each verse. As you read, try to visualize yourself with the Lord in that situation. Picture each one before you move on. The more you do it the easier it will come to you. It is amazingly grounding and reaffirming.
Psalm 23
King James Version (KJV)
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
In the space below please jot down some of your impressions to share with the group.
In our next session we will discover a beautiful place to meet with the Lord.
Session 3
In the Garden
Gardens are beautiful places, made for our enjoyment. There is really no other reason for a garden except for human enjoyment. But, good things don’t always happen in gardens. Adam and Eve succumbed to Satan’s wiles in the garden. Queen Jezebel murdered Naboth to make his vineyard a garden. King Zedekiah abandoned Jerusalem to the King of Babylon by fleeing through the palace garden.
Now we come to a New Testament garden. Jesus had been walking with His chosen disciples for three years prior to the cross. They had listened to His words, witnessed His miracles and partaken in meals. All of their needs had been met and they had been safe in spite of the danger and hostility of the time. Yet, one night in a dark garden when all He asked of them was their company, they failed Him. Jesus, in His humanity was facing the most horrific situation imaginable: His impending separation from God while He bore the sin of the world in unspeakable torture and death. Jesus knew there was nothing they could do. He just wanted their company. This was not a stellar moment for the disciples. There was no side-by-side walking, only sleeping on the job. Sadly, this is also familiar to us. (Matt. 13:25)
I believe there is something more here than what we see on the surface. The Lord knew the hearts of these men. He knew their strengths and weaknesses. He knew at this time, they did not fully comprehend all that He taught them. Still, He desired their company. Relationship does not have to be equal. Indeed, with God, it cannot be equal. It just has to be willing, and in the present. Not put on a shelf until it is more convenient or assumed it will thrive without care and attention. Anyone who has been disappointed in an earthly relationship understands this.
There is a walk that you and I can discover is not about meeting our own needs, not about intercession for others, although these things are important. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing (I Thes. 5:17) and some of you are dedicated prayer warriors (Phil.4:6). That is your gift. Rather, this is a walk where you can use your imagination somewhat like you did in the Psalm 23 exercise. This is just being with your Lord and dwelling on Who He is. It is quiet and worshipful. You are there because you just want to be in His presence. The more you are aware of the Lord’s presence, the more time you want to spend with Him and the more you want to put aside anything that interferes with that. There will be more about this in the next session but let me encourage you to find a special place to meet the Lord that is quiet and where you will not be distracted by the things around you. If you do not have such a place then create your garden in your mind.
Discuss with your group some helpful strategies for creating your quiet garden to meet with the Lord.
Below is a hymn written approximately 1910 that has been included in many church hymnals down through the years. I do not know the heart or inspiration of the writer but I do know how it speaks to me. This is a walk through the garden of the heart that David and many others experienced by faith.
I Come To The Garden Alone
By C. Austin Miles
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the bird’s hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.
Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
I'd stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.
Refrain:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.
Jot down some notes in the space below on the benefits and different ways you can be restored from this shared experience to move forward in your Christian walk and to do the work that is set before you. Share it with your group.
In the next session we will look further at what the Bible says about the importance of consciously walking with the Lord on a daily basis. Again, I encourage you to read each scripture reference.
Session 4
Where can we find this garden to walk with our Lord? The answer is first of all, in Scripture. The Lord has revealed himself on every page of the Bible. This is the only way we can know Who He is. We need to be familiar with the heart and attributes of God to know what He requires of us in a relationship. When you think about it, isn’t that a requirement of a true relationship with anyone? When you met the person you were to marry were you satisfied with just hearing about him from other people, or assuming you knew about him without even asking? No, you wanted to know even the smallest detail and you wanted to know it directly from him, partly because you loved him and partly because you wanted to complete your part of the relationship. Now remember, the loving earthly relationship is a type of our relationship with Jesus. So why wouldn’t we want to know even more about our Lord? Professing that we walk with the Lord without allowing Him to speak to us through His Word on a daily basis is not a shared relationship. Also, we limit the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives when we are not familiar with the heart of Jesus. If we don’t know Who He is how do we recognize His voice? (John 10:4,5)
Learning to walk with Jesus can expand from Scripture to our prayer life. Prayer is another proof that God wants a relationship with us. Otherwise, He would not have opened that all-important line of communication. Let us look for a moment at the different components of prayer. First, there is worship, which includes praise and thanksgiving. Second, there are personal requests that may include seeking God’s direction, confession of sin and deliverance from temptation.
Take a moment to read through the Lord’s example of prayer in Matthew 6:9-13.
A third component of prayer is intercessory prayer. The best example is the Lord’s prayer to His Father for His disciples and us.
Please read through John chapter 17 and discuss with the group how this prayer relates to the way that you pray for others.
The importance of prayer for others is demonstrated throughout the Old and New Testaments. It is not possible to pray too much for others. God wants us to do this. I sometimes wonder why God, Who knows the future and has a perfect will for all of us and will accomplish that will, makes such a point of directing us to pray without ceasing for others. Could one reason be that He is allowing us to participate in the process of carrying out His will, reinforcing the walking, talking relationship He desires to have with us? Imagine Holy and all-knowing God desiring our input!
There is one more component of prayer that, when overlooked can be a missed blessing. That is to just quietly wait on the Lord. In Psalm 46:10 God tells us “to be still and know that I am God”. If you take a few moments and just meditate on that truth each day it will truly have an effect on your prayer life and your relationship with the Lord.
Examples of worship, personal requests, intercession, and being still or waiting on the Lord are all found in the prayers of Godly men and women in Scripture. See if you can find one or two examples of prayers that contain two or more of these components in your Bible. You may find your concordance helpful. Jot down your notes and Scripture reference to share with the group.
If you truly believe that Jesus hears our prayers, delights in our prayers and answers them according to His will (Jam. 1:5), then ask Him to reveal more of Himself to you. Ask Him to allow the Holy Spirit to guide you more deeply into the Word to reveal more of His nature than you have seen before. You can ask this on a daily basis because you cannot exhaust the limitless knowledge of the Word of God. God will honor your request.
At this point I need to add a fact that I have learned from Scripture as well as personal experience. God does not impart knowledge just to make us smart. He expects us to use it for His glory. (Col. 1:9-10) Please do not let this scare you away. The Lord promises to give sufficient strength for any task He expects of us. After all, that is the reason each of us is still here on earth and not with Him in Glory; because there is still work to do to carry out His will. The immediate blessing, however is that there is great joy when the Lord reveals more of Himself in response to our desire to know Him.
As believers we are familiar with the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives. Sometimes His direction or voice is very strong and unmistakable. Sometimes we are unsure of His direction. A critical point to remember is that the Holy Spirit of God cannot and will not contradict the Word of God. If you feel lead or directed to do or say anything other than what you know to be from God through His Word as revealed by the Holy Spirit (I John 5:7 Three in One always agree) then STOP. Tell the Lord you are confused and ask and wait for more direction. It will come. It is not the Lord’s desire to confuse us. Satan cannot touch our soul but he can diminish the effectiveness of our work for the Lord and he has many tricks. Ask the Lord to help you stay on guard. (Eph. 6:10-17)
Conclusion
Let me end this study with the best garden of all. This garden hosted the event that restored for all eternity our lost relationship with God. This garden contained a borrowed tomb, Roman guards and a huge stone. Within this garden the Son of God arose a Conqueror from the dead to save us for all eternity and to gather us to Himself in glory. Why? So we could honor and glorify Him, not as mere mortals, but in our glorified bodies with a complete understanding of Who He is, and to take our place as the bride of Christ in the true and perfect relationship that completes us in Him.
May we ever enjoy a closer walk with Thee.