I Can Be Intimate With God!
Show Me!
The Conditions For Relationship!
The Condition for relationship: God is love …1 John 4:8 (NASB) The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:16 (NASB) 16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
Because God’s character and being is love He always acts, thinks and moves from, and out of, this defining characteristic. God is love!
The condition for relationship is predicated in God’s love!
The Condition for relationship: Born-againers are God’s children …
Galatians 3:26 (NASB) 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 4:4-7 (NASB) 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (NASB) 14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God , and they shall be my people. 17 "Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord. "And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. 18 "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.
John 1:12-13 (NASB) 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Romans 8:12-17 (NASB) 12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
Galatians 4:7 (NASB) 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.
1 John 3:1 (NASB) 1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
Matthew 6:9 (NASB) 9 "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Over and over again the scriptures tells us of the new relationship we have in the New Covenant in the blood of our savior and lord Jesus! The relationship is father and his children!
The condition for relationship is created in our adoption.
The Condition for relationship: Non-Born-againers are children of the devil …
John 8:41-47 (NASB) 41 "You are doing the deeds of your father." They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God." 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. 43 "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. 44 "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 "But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 "Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 "He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God."
Matthew 13:37-43 (NASB) 37 And He said, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 38 and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the tares are the sons of the evil one; 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. 40 "So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. 41 "The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 "Then The righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. Good seed is the sons of the Father and tares are the sons of the devil. Interesting fact about tares. They grow along side the wheat crop and look just like the wheat but when it comes time for the harvest they don’t have any fruit. Tares are clouds without rain. They are false disciples, teachers and preachers who appear to be the real deal but they are planted there to consume the nutrients from the ground and drink the rain water and steal these precious resources from the true wheat! If you will not receive the instruction of the word of God and you will not receive instruction from the men and women of God then you are probably not of God.
God’s love is unconditional …
Romans 5:8 (NASB) 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. It’s unconditional because God gave to us first! John 3:16 (NASB) 16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. It’s unconditional because God gave the most to those who were oblivious to the magnitude of the gift given.
Galatians 2:20 (NASB) 20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. It's unconditional because He gave himself before I gave myself.
Ephesians 2:4-7 (NASB) 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. It is unconditional and packed full of benefits! Raised us up, seated us with Him, pours out grace into us, and lavishes kindness upon us.
Romans 8:37-39 (NASB) 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
It is unconditional love and can not be taken from us!
God desires time with His kids …
John 14:2-3 (NASB) 2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. In the house, In God’s house, where God dwells, Jesus goes to prepare a place for us in the Father’s house. A place for us to dwell, a place for us to reside in the presence of God. Mi casa es tu casa. Un dia? No! Toda la eternidad.
John 12:26 (NASB) 26 "If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. Servants are in the house, on the road, at the market, or wherever the master goes.
Knowing God is eternal life …
John 17:3 (NASB) 3 "This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. Knowing God produces a quality of life, eternal life. Knowing God started when you were born again. Hopefully you know God better today than when you were first born again. You have more eternal life as you know more of God.
Hosea 6:6 (NASB) 6 For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. Loyalty, fidelity, obedience, singleness, commitment, are all the characteristic traits of a person who is into the relationship.
Psalms 25:4 (NASB) 4 Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. Since God already knows us, all about us, what we think and what we feel it is us who seek out God. God’s position or location has not changed.
The Ambitions For Relationship.
Romans 1:20 (NASB) 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
Psalms 19:1 (NASB) 1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
There are many examples of God placing proofs and markers in and around us to draw us to Him. Creation is one of those markers which sings to the glory of the creator. God has a desire for us to know Him!
Desire for a reveal …Man’s.
Psalms 25:14-15 (NASB) 14 The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant. 15 My eyes are continually toward the Lord, For He will pluck my feet out of the net.
Again there are many passages in the Bible which speak to us concerning man wanting to know God and how we go about accomplishing that. Fearing God, seeking God, praying, meditating in scripture are the fruit of a soul committed intentionally to find God!
Desire for a reveal …The Holy Spirit’s.
2 Peter 1:20-21 (NASB) 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
It is essential we humbly offer opinion upon God’s word.
When we begin commentary statements on a passage with "I think" or "I feel" or referencing our own interpretation we could be skating on thin ice. We should always be cautious to offer opinion about scripture.
It is better to just offer scripture and then allow the Holy Spirit to provide a measured response to the receivers soul.
Desire for a reveal …The Son’s.
Hebrews 1:1-3 (NASB) 1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
We have the four gospels testifying of the desire of our Lord to impart revelation knowledge to us. He teaches and preaches from town to town.
Then when He is about to ascend to heaven He promises the Holy Spirit to us who will teach us in all things.
Desire for an experience …
1 John 3:23-24 (NASB) 23 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
Psalms 34:8 (NASB) 8 O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
John 4:42 (NASB) 42 and they were saying to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world."
1 Peter 2:1-3 (NASB) 1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, 3 if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.
Romans 8:15-16 (NASB) 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,
All of the passages we have just read are indicators that God wants us to experience Him. Abiding, tasting, hearing, experiencing, testifying, are all things we do in the flesh that indicates an experience. We are drawn to experience God.
Desire for a place …
Proverbs 8:17 (NASB) 17 "I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.
Psalms 91:1 (NASB) 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
John 15:4-6 (NASB) 4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.
Proverbs 18:10 (NASB) 10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.
Psalms 61:3 (NKJV) 3 For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy.
Psalms 32:7 (NASB) 7 You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.
Jeremiah 29:13 (NASB) 13 'You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
Isaiah 55:6 (NASB) 6 Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near.
Jesus said He is going to prepare a place for us. This place is not located on a map with longitude and latitude. It is a location which is where the Lord resides and we are called to reside there.
You know the way.
The Positions For Relationship.
Close Proximity Facilitates Closeness …
Proverbs 18:24 (NASB) 24 A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Hebrews 4:15-16 (NASB) 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
James 4:8 (NASB) 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Hebrews 10:19-22 (NASB) 19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 7:18-19 (NASB) 18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. We are to draw near to God. We are to seek out His face. We are to look for Him. We are to pursue Him. We are the ones that must desire the closeness. When you do this God can be found.
Synchronized Directional Movement …
John 14:6 (NASB) 6 Jesus said* to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
Proverbs 4:18-19 (NASB) 18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. 19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.
Psalms 119:1-3 (NASB) 1 How blessed are those whose way is blameless, Who walk in the law of the Lord. 2 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart. 3 They also do no unrighteousness; They walk in His ways.
Jeremiah 7:23 (NASB) 23 "But this is what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.'
Zechariah 3:7 (NASB) 7 "Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'If you will walk in My ways and if you will perform My service, then you will also govern My house and also have charge of My courts, and I will grant you free access among these who are standing here.
Synchronize your direction to the direction our Lord is leading.
Walk His way!
Jesus said follow me … Mt. 4:19, 8:22, 9:9, 10:38, 16:24, 19:21, Mk. 2:14, Mk. 8:34, Lk. 5:27, 9:61, John 1:43,
John 10:26-27 (NASB) 26 "But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. 27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; John 12:26 (NASB) 26 "If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.
John 21:18-19 (NASB) 18 "Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go." 19 Now this He said, signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said* to him, "Follow Me!"
John 21:20-22 (NASB) 20 Peter, turning around, saw* the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?" 21 So Peter seeing him said* to Jesus, "Lord, and what about this man?" 22 Jesus said* to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!"
