TEXT: James 4:8- Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you..,Ref: 1 Kings 19:11-13
The greatest desire and longing of any genuine child of God should be to be as close to God as possible. Intimacy means to be closely acquainted with someone; to be familiar- to know someone well as a result of long or close association. We know this has invaluable benefits. Jesus was very intimate with the father. He even challenged the Jews saying in John 8:55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Jesus was so intimate with the father that HE never left him alone. He said: John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. Paul was always longing to get more intimate-Phil.3:10- ‘’That I may know him’’, he said. Also in Phil 3:12 he said ‘’Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect:’’
Unfortunately, for many getting intimate with God has continued to be a mere dream; but it is possible!
Firstly, you must know that a Christian is torn in between two realms- the earthly and the heavenly-the physical and the spiritual! Jesus said in John 17:14-16 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. The World wants you to live according to its dictates, values and norms. To focus on earthly things like wealth, material possessions, earthly achievement and goals, position and fame. Heaven also wants you to live according to its dictates, values and norms. To focus on spiritual things like things about God and his kingdom, serving God at whatever capacity, doing God’s will and having spiritual goals. Hear the Bible- Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
However, worldly things are temporal while heavenly... TEXT: James 4:8- Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you..,Ref: 1 Kings 19:11-13
The greatest desire and longing of any genuine child of God should be to be as close to God as possible. Intimacy means to be closely acquainted with someone; to be familiar- to know someone well as a result of long or close association. We know this has invaluable benefits. Jesus was very intimate with the father. He even challenged the Jews saying in John 8:55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. Jesus was so intimate with the father that HE never left him alone. He said: John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. Paul was always longing to get more intimate-Phil.3:10- ‘’That I may know him’’, he said. Also in Phil 3:12 he said ‘’Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect:’’
Unfortunately, for many getting intimate with God has continued to be a mere dream; but it is possible!
Firstly, you must know that a Christian is torn in between two realms- the earthly and the heavenly-the physical and the spiritual! Jesus said in John 17:14-16 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. The World wants you to live according to its dictates, values and norms. To focus on earthly things like wealth, material possessions, earthly achievement and goals, position and fame. Heaven also wants you to live according to its dictates, values and norms. To focus on spiritual things like things about God and his kingdom, serving God at whatever capacity, doing God’s will and having spiritual goals. Hear the Bible- Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
However, worldly things are temporal while heavenly things are eternal. In other words, earthly things like wealth, material possessions, earthly achievement and goals, position and fame are all for the earth and therefore short lived. One day, they shall all cease. On the other hand, spiritual things like things about God and his kingdom, serving God at whatever capacity, doing God’s will and spiritual goals are heaven-bound and have eternal consequence. The average believer is torn between focusing on the physical and the spiritual. Where is your focus today? This is the major determinant. Hear the Bible- “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18.
So how do we get intimate with our God?
STEP ONE: Colossians 3:2 -Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Affection means love or liking. While hating the the type of life associated with the World ( your old pattern of life) you MUST love the type of life associated with heaven (the new life) Ephesians 3: 1-17 carefully enumerated the TWO PATTERNS as quoted below, read it carefully many times- ‘’ Colossians 3:1-17 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your.... Continue Reading