5:20
Three Barriers Between You and God – Dr. Charles Stanley
In Touch Ministries
Overview
This video identifies three primary barriers that hinder individuals from developing an intimate relationship with God: pride, rebellion, and being in a hurry. Dr. Stanley explains that pride prevents people from seeking God's help, rebellion creates a disconnect due to unconfessed sin, and a hurried lifestyle leaves no time for spiritual growth. The message emphasizes that God desires a deep, personal connection with everyone and encourages listeners to overcome these obstacles to experience this intimacy.
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Chapters
- Pride is a significant barrier that prevents people from praying and seeking God's assistance.
- It manifests as a belief that one can handle life's challenges independently, rather than relying on God.
- This self-sufficiency, rooted in pride, keeps individuals from humbling themselves before God, even in prayer.
Recognizing pride as a barrier is crucial because it directly impedes our ability to connect with God by fostering self-reliance over divine dependence.
The speaker implies that the reluctance to kneel in prayer, even when physically able, stems from pride, suggesting a refusal to acknowledge God's sovereignty over one's life.
- Rebellion, characterized by unconfessed sin, creates a fundamental disconnect from God, preventing intimacy.
- When prayers seem unanswered, the issue often lies with the individual's sin, not with God's willingness to respond.
- Intimate relationships, whether with a spouse, children, or God, cannot thrive in an atmosphere of rebellion.
Understanding that rebellion and sin sever the connection with God is vital for spiritual growth, as it highlights the necessity of confession and repentance for restored fellowship.
Just as a spouse or child in rebellion cannot have an intimate relationship with you, a person living in rebellion against God cannot experience intimacy with Him.
- A hurried pace of life is a barrier because developing an intimate relationship with God requires dedicated time.
- This time is needed for reading scripture, meditating on its meaning, and engaging in meaningful conversation with God (prayer and listening).
- As one spends more time listening to God, their desire to hear more grows, leading to increased excitement and further engagement.
This highlights that spiritual intimacy is not passive but requires active, intentional time investment, similar to nurturing any deep relationship.
The analogy is made that just as one enjoys listening to someone they are in love with, spending time listening to God deepens that love and desire for connection.
- God desires an intimate relationship with humanity, a purpose for which He gave His Son.
- This intimacy allows God's power to work through individuals, impacting others.
- We should not be content with less than this deep, personal connection with God.
This chapter clarifies the ultimate purpose of faith and encourages believers to strive for the profound connection God intends, rather than settling for a superficial one.
The speaker prays for a 'holy dissatisfaction' with one's current spiritual state, coupled with a hunger to know God more deeply, reflecting the desired outcome of overcoming the barriers.
Key takeaways
- Pride prevents us from acknowledging our need for God and seeking His help.
- Unconfessed sin and rebellion create a spiritual distance that blocks intimacy with God.
- Building a close relationship with God requires dedicating intentional time for prayer, reading, and listening.
- The more we engage with God, the more we desire to hear from Him and experience His presence.
- God's ultimate desire is for a deep, personal, and intimate relationship with each individual.
- We should actively pursue this intimacy rather than settling for a superficial connection.
- Overcoming barriers like pride, rebellion, and haste is essential for experiencing God's presence fully.
Key terms
Intimacy with GodPrideRebellionSinPrayerMeditationListening to GodSpiritual ConnectionSelf-relianceRepentance
Test your understanding
- What are the three main barriers discussed that hinder intimacy with God?
- How does pride specifically prevent individuals from connecting with God?
- Why is rebellion considered a direct obstacle to having an intimate relationship with God?
- How does a hurried lifestyle impact one's ability to develop a deeper connection with God?
- What is the ultimate goal of overcoming these barriers in one's relationship with God?