INTIMACY WITH GOD and Its Benefits
At its heart, Christianity is about reconciliation with the Creator and therefore relationship with God. The word ‘intimacy’ is usually associated with sex, but what about intimacy with the LORD?
Intimacy just means closeness or warm familiarity and there are different kinds of closeness. For instance, when a man hires a prostitute, they obviously have physical intimacy, but not mental/spiritual intimacy. Job spoke of his friendship with God that he enjoyed in his abode (Job 29:4); he was talking about the intimate communion they had (under an inferior covenant to ours), which explains why the LORD literally boasted of Job in Heaven (Job 1:8 & 2:3). Moses likewise had a close friendship with God (Exodus 33:11 & Numbers 12:8).
How do you get close to any person? Spend time with them and honestly communicate, right? As you make a priority of coming near to that person, that person will naturally draw near to you (assuming your intentions are noble). It’s the same thing with the LORD (James 4:8). So, prayer (communion) is key, including praying in the spirit (Ephesians 6:18), but so is soaking yourself with God’s Word and meditation, aka chewing on the Word and the corresponding reflection. The Almighty will speak to you through the Holy Scriptures as you grow in the Word.
Getting quiet with your Creator will enable you to “hear” the Spirit’s “still, small voice,” aka “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:11-12). Of course God can speak to us in other ways as well, like through a person or dreams.
The fact that we get close to the LORD through 1. cultivating a personal relationship and 2. growing in God’s Word reveals the distinction of…
- The person of God
- The principles of God’s Kingdom
I encourage developing in both areas equally, as elucidated in this video:
Interestingly, “to know someone” in the Bible is an idiom for having sexual intercourse with him/her (Genesis 4:1). Spiritually speaking, believers are the “bride” of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:22–33 & Revelation 21:2), which bespeaks of a loving relationship with an element of passion, even romance.
In the Old Testament, when the Hebrews foolishly turned to idols, the LORD accused them of adultery, even prostituting themselves to other “gods” (e.g. Jeremiah 2:20 & Hosea 2:2). This lover’s kind of passion can also be seen in the New Testament:
4Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
James 4:4-5 (NKJV)
Lastly, consider this:
Seclusion is necessary for intimacy;
intimacy is necessary for conception;
conception is necessary for increase;
increase is necessary for
pleasure.
By “conception” I’m referring to the birth of an idea or mission/purpose in any area of your life. You conceive as a result of spending time alone with your Creator (Matthew 6:6). Christ regularly practiced this when he was on Earth (Mark 1:35, Luke 6:12-13, Matthew 14:23 & Luke 22:39-41).
Meanwhile increase only manifests when you put your corresponding plan into motion. It means not being lazy; it means getting off your butt. This takes discipline. Remember, God is your “helper,” not your do-everything-for-you-so-you-don’t-have-to-do-anything-at-all-er (Hebrews 13:6 & Psalm 121:2).
As you progress in your assignment you will experience the “increase” thereof, which naturally produces pleasure. This can be observed in the Lord’s statement:
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”
Christ’s “food” — his sustenance that gave him energy and fed motivation — was to carry forth the assignments the LORD gave him and complete those works. Getting tight with God, discerning God’s will and then carrying out the corresponding assignments is awesome! It creates exciting momentum. This video provides scriptural details on how to do this.
Take Joshua, Moses’ aide: Joshua would often venture into the Tent of Meeting with Moses to experience the presence of the Most High. When Moses departed, Joshua would stay in God’s presence (Exodus 33:11). It’s important sometimes to just be still and know that the LORD is God (Psalm 46:10), which cultivates a “peace that transcends understanding” (Philippians 4:6-7).
What was Joshua’s “conception” and “increase” as a result of this intimacy with the LORD? None other than leading the Hebrews into the Promised Land of Israel to conquer it (Numbers 27:23 & Joshua 1). While this was a challenging undertaking, it was also his “pleasure” to fulfill it. And that’s why we’re here talking about Joshua almost 3500 years later!
Related Topics:
Is Christianity a “Relationship with God”?
Praise & Worship—What’s the Difference? Why are they Important?
Spiritual Growth is Like Climbing a Mountain
Spiritual Growth — The Four Stages
Hermeneutics—Proper Bible Interpretation
Altars & Altar Calls and how they’re Relevant
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