I Can Prevail

"I am weary, God, but I can prevail.” Proverbs 30:1b

This is a beautiful declaration. It is honest: I’ve been in this battle for a while now and I’m getting worn out. It is addressed to the right person: God. It is true: I can do this!

Agur, the writer of this proverb, was able to declare in the midst of whatever it was that was making him weary, that he knew he would prevail. He must have known that God gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:29) and that God says, “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”(Jeremiah 31:25) He must have taken these truths to heart, and because of that, he saw victory while he was yet in the battle. He must have been familiar with Yahweh Nissi (the Lord is my Banner). Before Paul ever collected his thoughts to say that we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us (Romans 8:37), Agur was living it.

We are blessed to have a record of the God-inspired words of Believers that have gone before us. Their words serve to inspire and encourage and can remind us that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This same God who strengthened and encouraged Agur in the midst of his ordeal, and who assured him of victory, is right by our side today – strengthening and encouraging and assuring us that we will prevail. Amen!

Because It's Really Love...or is it?

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. Proverbs 27:5&6

“It is good for us to be reproved, and told of our faults, by our friends. If true love in the heart has but zeal and courage enough to show itself in dealing plainly with our friends, and reproving them for what they say and do amiss, this is really better, not only than secret hatred (as Leviticus 19:17), but than secret love, that love to our neighbours which does not show itself in this good fruit, which compliments them in their sins, to the prejudice of their souls. Faithful are the reproofs of a friend, though for the present they are painful as wounds. It is a sign that our friends are faithful indeed if, in love to our souls, they will not suffer sin upon us, nor let us alone in it. The physician’s care is to cure the patient’s disease, not to please his palate. It is dangerous to be caressed and flattered by an enemy, whose kisses are deceitful. We can take no pleasure in them because we can put no confidence in them (Joab’s kiss and Judas’ were deceitful), and therefore we have need to stand upon our guard, that we be not deluded by them; they are to be deprecated. Some read it: The Lord deliver us from an enemy’s kisses, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.” - Matthew Henry

Are you willing to receive rebuke from a friend or do you want to hear only the good?  This scripture points out that love that has nothing to show for itself is useless!  Love that acts, even in rebuke, is much better to receive. So again I ask are you willing to receive truth that may hurt? This truth spoken in love, that can hurt, also helps. It grows us. It refines us. It helps to sharpen our perspective. It develops our character…if we’ll allow it and do not resist. The writer of this proverb goes on to say “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17) Praise God for those faithful friends who love us enough to be a source of sharpening; to wound for our benefit.

Pray Without Ceasing

Do we bother God with our prayers? How does He feel about us approaching Him more than once regarding a matter? Does that show a lack of faith on our part? Here are a few scriptures that address these concerns:

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” Jesus did not answer a word. So His disciples came to Him and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before Him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. (Matt 15:21-28)

Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Then He returned to his disciples and found them sleeping…He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done.” When He came back, He again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So He left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. (Matt 26:39-44)

Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:5-10)

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  (2 Corinthians 12:7b-9a)

          From these scriptures, it’s easy to see God’s heart on the matter of prayer. Come to Him…and He will answer. He will not chastise us for approaching Him multiple times. Jesus prayed three times to be relieved from what He was facing!  It’s ok to ask our Father for what we desire…even if it’s more than once.  

          We are invited to come boldly before Him (Hebrews 4:16), we are assured that He hears us and that we can be confident that He will answer (1 John 5:14-15). Further, we read that whatever we ask for that is in line with His will, we will receive (John 14:13-14)! God invites our persistent prayers. When we continue to go to God, it is recognition that He is the One who has the power to answer – He is the One who can make it happen. So please, approach your heavenly Father on a regular basis. Share your heart with Him…your needs…your desires. In Luke 18, it is recorded that Jesus told a parable about a persistent widow who was seeking justice from a judge. The judge ignored her for a length of time but finally gave in saying, “Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!” In telling this parable, Jesus was illustrating for His disciples that they should always pray and not give up. The widow’s persistence invoked a response from the judge. And when the judge responded, justice came about. AMEN!

So here are a couple of things to know about our prayers…

          First, we must be children of God in order for the scriptures noted above to apply to us. When we have put our trust in Christ, as our Savior, and made Him Lord of our lives, we can read the scriptures and understand that the principles found within are applicable to our lives. Many scriptures say that whatsoever we ask IN HIS NAME, we shall receive. Well, without relationship with Him, we do not have the authority to ask for anything in His name. The word tells us that no one can come to the Father except through Christ (John 14:6). And without being His children, we won’t recognize when He speaks to us (John 10:27). One more thing, when you ask, believe! He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6)!

          Second, Jesus is not our “Cosmic Concierge”. We cannot just call Him up, give Him our wish list, hang up, and then check those items off of our list – considering it done. Although it is His good pleasure to meet our needs and He will do so for His children, when we are praying and asking, we should only expect a “yes” to our prayers when it is in God’s will. He desires the best for us. He has great plans for our lives.  He does not simply give us anything and everything we ask for. (Praise God for that!) J Seek God’s will when you pray.

          The third consideration is God’s timing. This is where the persistent prayer comes in. It’s been said that God has three answers to our prayers: “yes”, “no”, or “wait”. For me, the “yes” and the “no” are manageable. When I receive a “yes”, great! When I receive a “no” I may be disappointed but I know the Lord has something better suited for me. But the “wait” gets me every time. Am I the only one who struggles with the “wait”?!?!?! The “wait” is the season before we hear clearly from God – before the door is opened and we know we can move forward or before the door is shut and it’s clear that we need to go in a different direction. He may have some circumstances He’d like to walk us through before He gives us a “yes” or “no”. And once He gives it, we are to accept it and respond accordingly.

          God’s timing is perfect. God’s will for us is perfect. God’s love is perfect. Be persistent in prayer until you hear clearly from God. Have faith in Him. He will answer. And, by the way, He loves to hear from you!

Nic at Night

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.  (John 3:1-6)

Nic approached Jesus with a preamble – the beginning of a speech he’d no doubt rehearsed many times in anticipation of this opportunity to speak with Jesus. And he didn’t even get to say all he’d rehearsed! Jesus was ready to talk directly to the heart of this man.  Jesus, in the 3rd verse, responds to what was on Nicodemus’ heart; the reason why he was there. Apparently this “teacher of Israel” did not have a complete grasp on the concept of salvation and he secretly sought Jesus to explain it to him. Jesus not only educated him but Nicodemus’ heart was changed. Although Nic came to Jesus under the cover of night (a sign of shame), we read subsequently that he became a devoted, public follower of Christ and even had the privilege of caring for His body after crucifixion.

Nicodemus came to Jesus and said some things but Jesus responded, by the Spirit, to what was in his heart. Isn’t that what He does!?!? He responded to the Pharisees’ hardened hearts, He responded to the heart of the woman caught in adultery, He responded too those seeking healing for loved ones, He responded to the woman at the well, He responded to the disciples, He responded… And today, Jesus is still responding. He knows the cry of our heart. He knows what resides within us. Therefore, we can come to Jesus in whatever state we are in (trusting, ashamed, unsure, or hopeful), and He will respond to our heart.  And if we are like Nic, with a desire to truly learn from the Master, His word will change our lives.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)

As We Look Toward Halloween...

Halloween: Oppression or Opportunity? (excerpts)
by Hank Hanegraaff

A myriad of questions have been raised about Halloween. Should Christians participate in Halloween? What should our attitude be towards Halloween? Should we simply ignore it? Should we vigorously attack it? Or should we, as Christians, find ways in which to accommodate it?

Before offering some suggestions on how we as Christians might best relate to Halloween, I think it would be appropriate to first consider the pagan origin of Halloween.

The celebration of Halloween, also known as the witches' new year, is rooted in the ancient pagan calendar, which divided the year into Summer and Winter, by two fire festivals. Before the birth of Christ, the day we know as Halloween was part of the Celtic Feast of Samhain (sah-ween). This feast was a celebration of Druid priests from Britain and France and commemorated the beginning of Winter.

It was a night on which the veil between the present world and the world beyond was pierced. The festivals were marked by animal sacrifices, offerings to the dead, and bonfires in recognition of departed souls. It was believed that on this night demons, witches, hobgoblins, and elves were released en masse to harass and to oppress the living. For self-preservation many Druids would dress up as witches, devils, and ghouls, and would even involve themselves in demonic activities and thus make themselves immune from attack.

In direct response to this pagan tradition, the early Christian church moved a festive celebration called All Saints' Day from May to November 1 and renamed it All Hallows' Eve, from which we get the word Halloween. This was an overt attempt on the part of believers to infiltrate pagan tradition with the truth of the gospel.

It was a bold evangelistic move designed to demonstrate that only the power of the resurrected Christ could protect men and women from the destructive ploys of Satan and his minions. This was a time in which they boldly proclaimed the marvelous fact of the resurrection and the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Believers in post-Christian America today should do no less. Halloween can be for us, like the early Christian church, an open door for evangelism. The deception of Halloween, with its witches, demons, skeletons, and allusions to death, can become a powerful springboard to demonstrate the dramatic power of Christ to redeem us from death, to fill us with His Spirit, and to give our lives meaning, purpose, and direction.

There are three specific things which I would suggest that you and your family plan for Halloween: First of all, I would use Halloween as an opportunity to communicate to your children, your family members, and your friends that although death and the grave are very real, we are more than conquerors over the powers of darkness through Jesus Christ.

Second, this is an appropriate time to consider the saints who have gone on before us — those loved ones who make the thought of heaven sweet. This is also a great opportunity to share with my children the life of a saintly grandmother who prayed earnestly for me night after night while I was engulfed in a life of sin. Although she is no longer with us, the answers to her prayers live on.

Finally, let me suggest that this would be a time to share some of the great classics of the Christian faith with your children. Perhaps you could curl up on the floor with them before a roaring fire and read to them from Pilgrim's Progress, or from C. S. Lewis's masterful work The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.

Yes, this is not a time to curse the darkness, but a time to light a candle. If we are indeed serious about making an impact on a lost and dying world, Halloween represents not just satanic oppression but a strategic opportunity.

 

Find the full article at: http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/bible-answer-man/read/articles/halloween-oppression-or-opportunity-8977.html

Just a Sunday Tidbit

“You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and His way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that ‘He’s a fiercely jealous lover.’ And what He gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find. It’s common knowledge that ‘God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.’”(James 4:4-6 MSG)

This affair you have with the world.... It’s time to break that thang off.  It's just not worth it!

-Rev. Thomas L. Thomas

Intimacy With God and Man - part XI

Let’s Wrap it Up!
The opposite of intimacy is isolation.  I used to believe that the opposite of intimacy was being private or just not “going deep” with others. I no longer believe that. The definition of the verb “isolate” is to put or keep (someone or something) in a place or situation that is separate from others. There is no separation in intimacy. There is no intimacy in isolation. Intimacy does not develop just by being in the presence of other people - intimacy is an active pursuit. When we do not pursue intimacy, we are isolated. We are separated from the rich spirit and heart connections that the Lord desires with us and for us.

Charles Stanley identifies three barriers to developing intimacy: pride, rebellion, and hurriedness. “I’ve got it all together. I don’t need anyone!” “I don’t care what God says, I don’t need that type of relationship.” and “I’m too busy. I don’t have time to build intimate relationships.” But the results of intimacy are: stability, security, serenity, sensitivity, and spiritual understanding. We all need those things!

The abundant life that God promised happens because He makes it so (John 10:10). Christ’s death on the cross secured our salvation and abundant life once we get to heaven. But there’s more! Because the Holy Spirit lives in us, we can live an abundant, God-led, full, effective, joyful life right here on earth. And part of the way we fully experience this abundance is in the midst of intimate relationship with God and our fellow man. I encourage you to pray for and pursue intimate relationship both with God and your fellow man. It’s life-giving.

How do we pursue intimacy with man?

Spend Time Together

Hebrews 10:24&25 reads: And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Matthew Henry explains: “The communion of saints is a great help and privilege, and a means of steadfastness and perseverance.” When we spend time together, we grow together. We see how our friend responds under various circumstances, and that gives us further insight into them. When we stand by our friend through the birth of children, the death of a parent, job loss, promotions, and other life circumstances, these events draw us closer. We are given opportunity not only to observe but to participate in our friend’s life.

“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Ephesians 6:2) We are to take upon ourselves the burdens of one another. This is modeling Christ! We may not be able to literally take a burden from a friend but the idea is that, in humility and empathy, we are fully invested and concerned about the burdens of our friends. Have you even had a good friend come to you and say, “I was thinking about what you told me and…” or “I went and did some research on what we were talking about the other day and…” That investment...that camaraderie…that level of “buy-in” is what this scripture speaks to.

I have been blessed with women who have done that exact thing over and over again in my life.  There is something very special about knowing that a concern on your heart is also a concern on the heart of your friend. Not that you want them to be burdened! No, it is that you know you have someone special by your side. This strengthens us, allows us to be more steadfast in trials, and encourages perseverance. How precious it is to have a friend who is with you – physically or by heart connection – by your side, sharing in your life, growing in care, strengthening one another, enjoying life’s triumphs together, and comforting in hurts.

We’ll conclude with this reminder:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12a

Intimacy With God and Man - part IX

How do we pursue intimacy with man?

Learn About Them

Remember the game 20 Questions? It’s the game where one player has a person, place, or thing in mind, and then the other game players have to guess what the person is thinking by asking questions. The goal is to figure it out in 20 questions or less. Well, one of the ways that we grow in intimacy with a friend is to ask and answer questions. We may ask about history, family dynamics, travels, likes and dislikes, beliefs, and a whole host of other things. And, ideally, as we learn more about one another, we grow to value, honor, and respect one another’s “story”. “Much of the vitality in a friendship lies in the honoring of differences, not simply in the enjoyment of similarities.” (Unknown) Your friend likes to run and you like mountain biking? You are an avid swimmer and your friend is scared of the water? You can respect these differences and support one another in them.

As I said in part 5, regarding studying God: In the pursuit of intimacy, knowledge of who that person is is essential. There is no intimacy without truly knowing someone. Revealing the self can be scary. Allowing yourself to be known can be uncomfortable. The revealing of sin can be terrifying! But it can also be restorative and intriguing and bring about a sense of security in the relationship as you respond to one another with grace and camaraderie. In your friendship, ask questions, and be interested in the answers - the things that make this friend unique, allow yourself to be known, risk being transparent, value one another, and have fun!

Thank You!

I just wanted to say thanks for reading this blog.  You may not be subscribed, but I see that you are reading and that is a blessing.  If you are being blessed, tell a friend.  If there is something you'd like to see discussed here, email me.

Blessings!

Intimacy With God and Man - part VIII

How do we pursue intimacy with Man?

Conversation
Proverbs 20:5 says: “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out”. Matthew Henry explains, “Though many capable of giving wise counsel are silent, yet something may be drawn from them, which will reward those who obtain it.” There is great joy in pursuing intimate relationship because each person gains the benefit of the knowledge and the wisdom of the other.  In the pursuit of intimacy, we continue in relationship so that trust and mutual respect can grow and so that we may “draw out” what lies in those deep waters. With each encounter, we reveal a little more of ourselves and respectfully receive from the person we are in relationship with.  We are accepting and loving. When our friend confesses a sin to us, we respond with the love of Christ and with compassion. We can be a restorative influence in our friend’s life as we walk through the circumstances that led them to the decision/action and we may talk about ways to avoid that pattern in the future. We are careful to remind one another that our God is a forgiving God when we come to Him in humility. Proverbs 6:24 says, “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” In intimate relationship, we speak life-giving words to one another. We are interested in one another. We are invested in one another’s lives. We welcome accountability. We offer wise counsel. We keep each other’s confidences.

Yes, there is risk in being transparent. There is the possibility of getting hurt, but this is par for the course in any relationship that we engage in, isn’t it? The benefits of taking the risk, however, are well outweighed when the Lord is at the center of a rich and intimate relationship. This level of relationship will not happen with every friend. As a matter of fact, the Lord may lead you to connect with someone you are not currently close with. I was not already in a friendship with the two ladies that the Lord initially brought into my life for this purpose. If you are not already in this type of intimate relationship, I would encourage you to pray and ask the Lord to reveal to you the person(s) that would be good for you to pursue this kind of closeness with because the word tells us that “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17) We all need this type of friend in our lives.

One final word. This type of relationship differs from what I would term as a mentor relationship, where the balance of give/receive is different – or from an accountability partner relationship which may not be set up for mutual accountability. Those relationships serve a different purpose and may not have a friendship component to them. In a spiritually intimate friendship, as we share with Christ, each person gives and receives as fully as they are able.

Intimacy With God and Man - part VII

How do we pursue intimacy with man?

With this concept of spiritual intimacy, we are not talking about how to win friends and influence people – Dale Carnegie covered that topic thoroughly. We are talking about developing transparent, honest, open, fully-invested relationships. Myra Boone says, “Friendship is actually no mystery; it just takes a willingness to work at being close. I’ve found the essential elements of a strong relationship to be making time to be together, risking being honest as you share and listen to one another, and valuing, honoring, and respecting one another’s preferences.” I agree Myra!

Please allow me to share a story: A woman who had been living a pretty full life (by her estimation) shares that she was sitting in Bible study one evening when the Lord tapped her on the shoulder and started speaking to her spirit. He directed her to the passage James 5:16, which reads: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” He began to speak to her heart and share that this passage does not just speak to the idea of healing from sickness or being delivered from sin and receiving forgiveness, but also being delivered from the weight of burdens that we bear. So she was just listening and taking in what she believed she was hearing from the Lord. He told her that He wanted her to have that type of intimate relationship in her life. He went on to tell her who He’d like her to approach and ask if they could develop a transparent, accountable friendship. She thought she’d pray about it and maybe call the woman on the next day.  He clearly said, “No, talk to her tonight.” So after Bible study, she did.  And the woman she approached with uncertainty, welcomed her with open arms and abundant enthusiasm!

This person, you may have already guessed, was me.  I was not the one being approached; I was doing the approaching. This was new for me. This idea of transparency like I was sensing God was trying to show me, was foreign. But my dear friend and I continue, to this day, to share one another’s joys and pains and day-to-day experiences with a transparency that I’d not known prior - and which was fairly uncomfortable at first.  The Lord quickly brought a second woman into my life and we have intentionally developed a very precious, transparent, and spiritually intimate relationship. I’ve found that as I’ve learned to be more open and less guarded, the Lord allows me to connect deeply with these and other wonderful women of God who speak into my life and give wise counsel…and we have a lot of fun too! There is freedom and a “lightness of spirit” that comes with being transparent with these women. Yes, to confess sin [side note: that kind of openness can be scary but redemptive] but also to share things I’m concerned about or worries or just to seek their wisdom through various life circumstances. To be known…to really be known...is a joy. And to have the privilege of knowing these ladies and participating in their wonderful lives is one of the best things I’ve ever experienced.

We all fall somewhere on the intimacy continuum between “Get away from me!” on one end and “I have so much to tell you!” on the other. While I love and enjoy people deeply, I didn’t know what it meant to haev an “able to be seen through: easy to notice or understand: honest and open: not secretive: free from pretense or deceit” type of relationship.  But as I’ve studied and prayed and practiced it, both with human beings and with God, I’ve grown so much, and I love it! As I’ve shared, I have no doubt that it is the Lord’s will for us to be in intimate relationship with one another. So for the next couple of days, we'll look at how to do that…

Jesus

A couple of weeks ago, my pastor mentioned that he felt that society, and even the Christian community, has “gotten away from” using the name of Jesus. Some people may say “the Man upstairs”, “big guy”, “higher power”, or have some other way of referencing Him.  He encouraged us not to follow that pattern but to proudly proclaim the name of Jesus any time we had opportunity. The word tells us…

“Salvation is found in no one else [but Jesus], for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” Acts 4:12

“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:8-11

“So He became as much superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is superior to theirs.” Hebrews 1:4

Jesus is Lord!  There is no more powerful name than His. Let us proclaim His name, intentionally and shamelessly, whenever we can.

Intimacy With God and Man - part VI

How do we pursue intimacy with God?

Spend Time Together

How does a person spend time with someone who is not physically present?

With God, we can spend time in prayer and meditation. God says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.” (Rev 3:20). How precious is the vulnerability of our God in this scripture!?! He opens Himself up to be invited in! This is a scripture that can be understood by the unsaved person as an invitation to salvation, but also applies to the one who is currently in relationship with God. He is saying that He desires to spend time with us – to be in our life. He is not forceful and demanding. But if we desire time with Him, He is eager to have that time with us. 

We can also spend time in worship because God is present when His people praise Him. “Yet, you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3GWT). When we praise, God is present. “Christian praise and worship can be one of the most powerful ways to help you build your relationship with God. There is nothing better than feeling the love, peace, and acceptance of God's presence all around you.” – Karen Wolf

Most importantly, we can also spend time with God as we go about our daily routines: aware of His presence and talking with Him as we encounter the events of our day. God is always with us (John 14:16&17a) so we can be aware that He is spending time with us throughout the day and “tune in” to His presence. In the book The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence is quoted as saying, “He does not ask much of us, merely a thought of Him from time to time, a little act of adoration, sometimes to ask for His grace, sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, at other times to thank Him for the graces, past and present, He has bestowed on you, in the midst of your troubles to take solace in Him as often as you can. Lift up your heart to Him during your meals and in company; the least little remembrance will always be the most pleasing to Him. One need not cry out very loudly; He is nearer to us than we think.”

 

Amen

Intimacy With God and Man - part V

How do we pursue intimacy with God?

Study Him

The more we familiarize ourselves with God’s word, the more He is able to reveal Himself to us. And who better to tell us about God than Himself?!?!?

We just completed a study on the names/attributes of God. This is a great place to start if you want to get to know God. From studying His different names (their meanings and applications) the picture of who God is is opened up to us - not only who God is, but also how God is and how He relates to us. We learn of His personality through His word.

Joining a Bible study and attending a solid, Bible-teaching church will afford more opportunity to study Him. One of the great benefits of attending church services and Bible studies is that the word of God is being explained, questions are being asked, spiritual conversation is taking place, and you are able to be encouraged and strengthened by being around like-minded people who are on a similar journey to yours.

A third way to study God is by having a dedicated personal time of studying a pre-written devotional book or Bible study. There are hundreds of them at your local Christian bookstore or other book retailer.

Studying God is like asking a friend questions about themselves. You get to learn what they like, what they don’t like, how they’ve arrived at the conclusions they have, what makes them unique, etc. Studying God does not have to be viewed as a chore or a duty that one marks off their to-do list, or even a religious duty born out of legalistic requirements. Rather, it is a chance to get to know God personally; to actively pursue friendship with Him. (Proverbs 17:17, Proverbs 18:24, John 15:15)

In the pursuit of intimacy, knowledge of who that person is is essential. There is no intimacy without truly knowing someone. Remember the description of intimacy: knowing and being known. As we study Him, we get to know Him. As we talk to Him, we allow ourselves to be known by Him. So pursue knowledge of God. In that pursuit, there is great reward.   

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8a

Intimacy With God and Man - part IV

How do we pursue intimacy with God?

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)  The foundation for our relationship with God is Jesus. One must accept Jesus as Savior. In doing so, we have the privilege of entering into relationship with not only Jesus, but also the Holy Spirit and God.  From here, there are three broad ways in which we can pursue intimacy with God. The first way is through conversation.  

Talk to and Listen to Him

TALK! We can talk to God in many ways: through prayer, singing, meditating, etc. We each will develop our own unique ways in which we communicate with God. Speaking to Him can be as formal as it would be with respected leaders or as relaxed as it would be with a trusted friend. Here are some things to remember when talking with God:

-        Be honest. There is nothing that the Lord does not already know about us (see Psalm 119, Matthew 10, & Luke 12) but intimacy increases when we are willing to let God know us. Emphasis here is on our willingness. Yes, God knows. But are you willing to pursue relationship with Him enough to risk putting it all out there with Him? Are you willing to share out loud (either literally or figuratively) those deep, dark secrets? To own all of who you are? Remember we talked about exposing our good, bad, and ugly? This is what we are talking about with being honest. Can we permit ourselves a level of honesty WITH OURSELVES that allows us to be fully honest with God, and “let” Him know us?

-        Be open. Share anything and everything with God.  God is always with us and He is never too busy to listen to us.  He is your Father and He cares. He loves when His children open up to Him and invite Him into their lives.

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” Psalm 37:23

-          Be humble. When approaching the sovereign God of the universe, remember that He is Holy. Humble yourself and seek to know Him.

And they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.’” Isaiah 6:3

“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way” Psalm 25:9

Because you have relationship with His Son Jesus, you may approach God boldly (Hebrews 4:16), honestly, and with confidence, knowing that He hears and cares. “In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” Ephesians 3:12

LISTEN! God speaks to us. A few ways in which He does this are through His word (the Bible), through His Spirit living in us, through other people, in nature, and through our circumstances.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27

Some ways that we can fine tune our hearing include studying the Bible, meditating on His words, listening for His “still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:11-13), and listening for Him to respond to our prayers as we pray. God, by His Spirit, can direct us gently and respond to us as we speak to Him.

 
“Honest sharing and listening” (Boone) is a critical piece of the puzzle for building intimacy with God. The same way that you would spend time talking with a friend, talk with Him. I promise, He will respond.

Intimacy With God and Man - part III

Throughout scripture, we see God modeling the concept of intimate spiritual relationship.

The Trinity

God, the Spirit, and Christ are all one: 3 distinct persons, yet all God.  This is a mystery. Some have described it as the similarity between water, ice, and steam. Others liken it to a man who is a son, a father, and a husband all at the same time. Every possible explanation falls short. In our humanity, we are unable to fully grasp this concept. But what we can understand is that there is no more intimate relationship than what is exemplified by the triune God. Father, Spirit, and Son – all One. All God. One God.

"For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form." Colossians 2:9

“I and the Father are one.” John 10:30

"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word [Christ], and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." 1 John 5:7 KJV

 

The Holy Spirit Came to Live in Us

“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” John 16:7

“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b

God has made promise not only to be here for the believer but to also live within the believer by His Spirit!

God Walked With Adam and Eve in the Cool of the Evening

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day,..” Genesis 3:8a
Commentaries suggest that this visiting in the cool of the day likely was a regular occurrence with God.

God Created Eve for Adam.  Man and woman, together, represent the fullness of God.

“The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” Genesis 2:18

“But though he [Adam] was lord of the creatures, yet nothing in this world was a help meet [companion and helper] for man. From God are all our helpers. If we rest in God, He will work all for good. God caused deep sleep to fall on Adam; while he knows no sin, God will take care that he shall feel no pain. God, as her Father, brought the woman to the man, as His second self, and a help meet for him. That wife, who is of God's making by special grace, and of God's bringing by special providence, is likely to prove a help meet for a man.”

- Matthew Henry

Jesus Sent Out the Disciples Two-by-Two
“Calling the Twelve to him, He [Jesus] began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.” Mark 6:7

Remember Ecclesiastes 4:9&10: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”

Jesus Called Twelve Men to Learn From Him Directly

“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.  When morning came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated apostles:” Luke 6:12&13

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you” John 15:16

These men were selected to be in close relationship with the Lord and to be the foundation of His church.

Jesus Selected Peter, James, and John for Closest Relationship

Edward Smith notes: Jesus selected these three for special elevation. On three very special occasions, He took them apart from the others….
Among the Twelve, Jesus poured His life into an inner circle that had a key role in establishing the church. Peter, James and John were privileged to be with Jesus when He healed Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37), at the Transfiguration of Christ (Mark 9:2), and during His time of agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:37).  The important thing about these three instances is that they portray an increasing sequence of Jesus’ attempt to bring the three disciples to a higher level of spiritual consciousness. 

 

God models the priority of spiritually intimate relationship in the Godhead. Scripture records His presence many times with the Old Testament patriarchs. Christ came and walked among man and related intimately with us, and then sent His Holy Spirit to forever reside with us. Clearly God prioritizes intimate spiritual relationships. Anything the Lord prioritizes, we must also prioritize.

Over the next several days, we will look at ways in which we can pursue intimate relationship with God and man.

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Intimacy With God and Man - part II

Continuing where we left off...

2. Second, let’s look at how God wants us relate to one another.

James 5:16&17 (MSG) reads: “Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.” From this, we see an example of what God desires for our human-to-human intimacy: transparency and the loving response of prayer…which, in turn, can deliver from sickness and restore wholeness and health. Furthermore, there is a freedom and liberty that accompanies transparency.  Keeping secrets and burdens bottled up inside of us is a source of stress. When we are forthcoming with who we are, we allow others to lovingly bear burdens along with us. Here’s more of what the Word says:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) “Where two are closely joined in holy love and fellowship, Christ will by his Spirit come to them; then there is a threefold cord.” – Matthew Henry

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2) Bearing one another's burdens not only lightens each one's load, but also serves to engender empathy and humility.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17) We are to help one another grow in wisdom.

Yesterday we saw very clearly in scripture that the Lord desires intimate relationship with us and that we are designed to desire the same with Him. Today we see that we are designed to live this life in community – in loving, transparent relationship with one another.  Tomorrow we’ll explore the concept of intimate relationship further and see how it is exemplified in scripture and among the Godhead.

Intimacy With God and Man

God designed us for intimacy both with Him and with others. Intimacy and love are inextricably tied together. In order to foster true intimacy in a relationship, we must love. Without love, any attempt at intimacy will be unsuccessful, at best - painful and harmful, at worst. This is because of what intimacy requires.

Merriam-Webster defines being intimate as “having a very close relationship: very warm and friendly”. For me, and for the Christian community at-large, this definition falls WAY short (forgive my poor grammar Merriam-Webster) of what an intimate, godly relationship looks like. When talking about the intimacy that Christians can share with God and with one another, I prefer the Merriam-Webster definition of transparent: able to be seen through: easy to notice or understand: honest and open: not secretive: free from pretense or deceit. NOW THAT’S RICH!

Myra Boone, author of Touching the Hem of His Garment: A Guide to Encountering God, describes intimacy as the invitation of “In-to-me-see”.  I love that! This is a wonderful phrase to capture what intimacy is because it speaks to the transparency that intimacy requires.

I describe intimacy simply as “knowing and being known”. When we are in an intimate relationship, we seek to fully know the one with whom we have relationship and we intentionally allow ourselves to be fully known by them. This transparency means that we are willing to share our good, bad, and ugly with the person that the Lord has brought into our life for that purpose. It means that as we share, this person receives what we share – including the more difficult parts of our life - without expressing condemnation and without withdrawing their love from us. Instead, this person will welcome honest and open communication with love and warmth and will, in-turn share in the same manner. This person may offer wise counsel and even a word of correction when appropriate, and still, all this with love. This is exactly how the Lord relates to us and it is my assertion that He is able to bring people into our lives that can operate in that same manner. One caveat: we need not offer a word of counsel or correction to the Holy God – that would be an exercise in futility.  Further, He has no bad or ugly to disclose yet still accepts us in ours.

It is not the Father’s intention that we should go about this life in isolation but that we should exist in community with one another. In his devotion titled Meditation XVII, cleric John Donne wrote “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” 17^th century words that are filled with God-inspired truth. We are designed to exist in community, and ideally, in loving, affirming, transparent, god-inspired relationships. So let’s explore this intimacy idea in two parts.

First, let’s look at God’s pursuit of relationship with man.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”
John 15:16

“I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people.” Leviticus 26:12

“Come near to God and He will come near to you.” James 4:8a

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
John 15:15

“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

“I have loved you with an everlasting love” Jeremiah 31:3

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20

God wants to be known by us. We are designed to desire relationship with Him.

“So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” Exodus 33:11

“Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!” 1 Chronicles 16:11

“...if My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

“For the Lord is righteous, He loves justice; the upright will see His face.” Psalm 11:7

“And I—in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.” Psalm 17:15

“When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” Psalm 27:8

“Surely the righteous will praise your name, and the upright will live in your presence.”
Psalm 140:13

Over and over God talks about seeing or seeking His face.  Both the Old Testament and New Testament make reference to the face of God. Revealing the face is an indication of revealing oneself – allowing one’s self to be known. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says: “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” This means that when we are open to God (veil of ignorance removed by His word) we get to be in a position of intimacy with Him which changes us absolutely. As we grow in relationship with Him, we begin to reflect Him! This is the most wonderful and precious benefit to being in intimate relationship with our creator.

Ok, let’s pause here and tomorrow we will take a look at how God desires for us to relate to one another.




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Boone, M. (1999). Touching the Hem of His Garment: A Guide for Encountering God.