#16 “Intimacy and Relationship with God”

“And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect).

This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment.”

Matthew 22:37-38

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Intimacy and relationship, for most this is something we as human beings struggle with between ourselves, let alone with God. How does anyone have an intimate relationship with God, the creator of heaven and earth, master of the universe? I remember when I was nineteen years old I gave my life to the Lord and He in return gave me new life.” At the same time I was born again my neighbor up the street from me had also given her life to the Lord. Foe me this was great, to have somebody born again too; because; she and I were just a year or two apart in age.

One Sunday after church she and I were talking and she said, “last night I made Love to the Lord, it was so good!” My eyes widen and I immediately thought to myself, okay she’s a nut case!” For me this was sacrilege to say something so disrespectful about God; subconsciously, I began stepping back just in case lighting fail from heaven and stroke her. She went on and on about this romance session. I couldn’t believe my ears; she was talking about GOD as though He were her lover? Needless to say, I put some distance between she and I; because, God forbid that I should say anything like that.

However I could not notice that her relationship with God was different but I just didn’t know why. Her worship was different, her praise was different and it made me want to know God the way she seem to know Him. It wasn’t until many years later that I came to know this level of worship and intimacy with the Lord. Then I finally understood what she meant, when she said she made love to the Lord? You see our carnal minds can’t phantom intimacy with the Lord GOD; how is something possible or even right? The truth of the matter is God longs for intimacy with us, after all this is why He created man in the first place. He wanted relationship, intimate relationship, communion and deep fellowship with man. This is why Adam walked and talked with God in the cool of the evening.

There are numerous accounts in the word of God, of men who knew God intimately, there’s of course Adam and there was Enoch, who was so close to God that it is said he never tasted death, “"And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him." Genesis 5:24. Then there’s my personal favourite King David, who wrote Psalms 23—“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want,” I’m sure you are familiar with that passage, which was birth out of intimacy with God. This is why it was said of David, “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.” Does that mean that David was perfect? No it just means he had spent personal, intimate time with the Lord and know His heart’s desire. Oh to know God’s heart’s desire, what could be more wonderful? Oh to know him, to look upon his face, to behold the beauty of His amazing grace. Men will find cause for intimacy with any and everything, except God the Father, the true lover of his soul.

King David teaches us what it means to be close to God, but then Abraham taught us what it meant to be a friend of God. (James 2:23) Moses taught us what it meant to talk face to face with Him. David was a man after His own heart, Abraham was His friend; but Moses talked with Gods, face to face! There were only two other men who could make such boast of the Lord, Adam the origin of mankind and Enoch who walked so closely that God took him to be with Him. (Genesis 5:24) Yet here was Moses, talking face to face with God and oh how it changed him. I am convinced that no mortal man can come in close contact with the Almighty God and not be changed forever. We each should desire a relationship of such intimacy with Father God. He longs for close personal intimate relationship with each of us; let us longingly desire the same thing. “And He replied to him, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind (intellect). Matthew 22:37

My Prayer: Father God, this morning we come seeking your face, not your hand but your face. We want to know you! We want to behold your beauty teach us how to have an intimate relationship with you. We want to know you like never before. We want to feel your presence, to hear your voice and to experience your love completely. Father just as you walked with Adam, walk with us instructing us. Just as you walked with Enoch, walk with us teach us how to follow closely after you. Just as you talked face to face with Moses, father we want a face to face encounter with you that will transform our lives forever! Draw us close to you and never ever let us go! In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!

Have a Blessed Day…go in God’s Peace!

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