Relationship with God

You can still be very active in the church and in evangelism, but you are no longer as effective channel of blessing to others if you don't have the kind of relationship with God. Even worse, you will end up as a nominal church goer and then a backslider.

a. 1 Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

A dry devotional life will make you a powerless Christian and will be a prey for Satan. If our Quiet Time is motivated only be a sense of guilt chasing you (like the lion chasing a deer), then we are tempted to go through motion with reluctance.

b. Acts 1:14
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Peter motivated by the prayer lead a group of 120 and preached the greatest sermon.

c. Acts 3:1
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer--at three in the afternoon.

Peter prays at 3pm at the temple court.

d. Acts 10:9
About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray.

Peter went up on the roof to pray may be around 1 pm. Eventhough we have lots of free time our instructured day affects our habit of a daily Quiet Times. Peter made time to pray.

1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.

e. 1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Grace is available when there is a great relationship with God and not just by works. We should havae an attitude of "God cares more about my relationship with Him than my service for Him". Peter had seen the attitude of Mary sitting at Jesus' feet and anointing him and how Jesus commended her.

Luke 10:38-42
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.
39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.
40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,
42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

John 12:1-8
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,
5 "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages."
6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7 "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.
8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

f. 1 Peter 5:10
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

God usually asks for an effort on our part whether it is problem solving, seeking guidance, transforming Quiet Times - after will restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast - will experience fastest and deepest work of God. It may mean having a Quiet Time even before we feel motivated and even when it doesn't make sense at first.

Conclusion

As we go out evangelizing or when we discile our disciples we should speak as one speaking the very words of God. We need special inspiration.

1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Horizontal relationships are right when our vertical relationship is right.