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Spiritual Intimacy:
Into-Me-You-See
Sermon #1
Intimacy with the Shepard
·
Lesson
Text: Hebrews
8:10 For this is the covenant that
I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will
put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be
to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11 And they shall not teach
every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord:
for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
·
John
10:1-5
Webster
defines intimacy and intimate as a confidential friendship, a
situation where people are well acquainted and complete. Webster's definition
of 1941, when we consider the intimate relationship Christians should have with
God, appears dismally incomplete.
When the human
mind begins to contemplate the concept of intimacy, visualizations of
closeness, comfort, safety, freedom of speech, protection, security, and
confidence jumps to the forefront.
Based upon
the behavior, sacrifice, and mandates of God, He expects for His children to
have an intimate relationship with Him. As I stated before, a college professor
defined intimacy as Into-Me-You-See. God maintains intimate relationship
with His terrestrial child, looking
deeply into to his or her heart, mind, and soul.
·
Hebrews
4:12 For the word of God is quick, and
powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of
the thoughts and intents of the heart.
·
Romans
8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth
our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the
Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be
uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the
hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession
for the saints according to the will of God.
·
1
Corinthians 2:10 But God hath revealed
them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep
things of God.
God drills
deep into the souls of Christians and even those contemplating becoming His
children. He is a God of reciprocity, and expects His children to look deeply,
and believe deeply in Him.
When a
person is involved in an intimate relationship, there are several things that separates
them from a non-intimate couple, family, union, or friendship:
If a person
has an intimate relationship with another, they speak to each other about many
things. Their conversations are everlasting. They eat together, go places
together, and for God's truly intimate people (Married folk) they even sleep
together. Those in intimate friendships reveal their secrets to each other,
confess their faults to each other, and even ask for forgiveness. Inside the
intimate relationship the two people, family or friends, express their love for
each other. because the intimate relationship is founded upon sustained and
tried trust, when advice is given, the other intimate party accepts and lives
out the advice.
·
Ephesians
3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding
abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh
in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the
church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
For the
child of God to have a more abundant life and seek His Kingdom and
righteousness above all else, he/she must first have intimacy with God. In
other words, He or she must not simply know of God, he she must KNOW Him.
·
Hebrews
8:10 For this is the covenant that I
will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put
my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them
a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11
And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his
brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the
greatest.
In this
passage the Hebrew writer helps us understand , form a Greek perspective, the
different levels of intimacy with God. The two Greek terms for know are Ginosko
and Eido. Eido represents intuitive/superficial knowledge of God
while Ginosko represents knowledge of God through experience.
One level is
superficial, while the other is deep and experiential. Those who have an
intimate relationship with the Creator have one because they have experienced
His love, grace, power, forgiveness, and mercy. The person who has only heard
and believed these things has
superficial intimacy, if any at all. But those who have heard, believed, and
obeyed have true intimacy with God, if they have been keeping His covenant
laws. Those who keep the commands and mandates of God, have experienced His
divine power. It is on this level that we can have intimacy with the Shepard:
1.
Letting
Him know you
2.
Knowing
& Responding to His voice
3.
Knowing
He is with you
4.
Knowing
He loves you
Lesson Text:
John 10:1-5
Letting
Him Know You:
When you
have an intimate relationship with the Shepard, your life is an open book and
you let Him know who you are (Romans 7:14).
Knowing
& Responding to His Voice:
The
Christian sheep must have an intimate relationship with Christ the Shepard. In
this process we respond to His voice. When the Shepard corals His sheep they
come because they know His voice. Jesus said, if you love me keep “My”
commandments (John 14:15). The strangers do not respond to Christ
because they do not know His voice. But the intimately involved with Christ, as
His bride, know, listen, and obey His voice. Christ is going to separate the
deeply intimate from the superficially intimate at the day of judgment (Matthew
25:31-33).
Knowing
He is with You:
Those
intimate with Christ hear His voice and because of that maintain strong
confidence in Him. Those who have intimate relationships know that even when
they are physically alone, their friend, family, husband, wife, is still with
them in trust and support. The obedient child of God, the one who is constantly
revealing Himself to the Father, has confidence, knowing God will never forsake
or leave him.
Knowing
He Loves You:
Even in
tough times the sheep knows his Shepard loves him. Even when the sheep has to
face the rod and staff of the Shepard, he knows his master loves him (Revelation
3:19-20).
Do you have
an intimate relationship with God? Are
you as close to Him as you are with your friends, family, husband, or wife? Do
you know God? Do you know he is with you always? Do you act like He is with you
always? Do you listen to His mandates and wisdom? Are you intimate with the
Shepard? He broke down and exposed Himself for you so you could know all about
Him. Will you let Him know you?
God Bless!