Intimacy with God #2

Finding true intimacy with God is a relationship that too few enjoy. While many go through the motions, only a handful (and I say that reservedly) can categorically state that they're experientially intimate with God.

It begs the question therefore, why is this so? the answer is two-fold.

1. there is perhaps a lack of understanding of the nature and character of God.
2. those who theologically "know" Him are not pursuing a course of complete obedience to Him.

What God desires above all else is for us to pursue a life intimacy with him. The choice is ours (James 4:8). God is not in the business of forcing himself upon us. Therefore our level of intimacy is entirely dependent upon our level of commitment. We must make the first step!

In Jeremiah 33:1-3, the Lord (His covenant name) extends an invitation for us to "call" on Him.
It is said that the average person speaks some 34,000 words per day, but how many of those uttered unto God? To call means to lift up your voice. Is. 40:1; Ps 116:1, Ps. 50:15; and Ro. 8:15 indicates that something powerful happens when we with passionate intensity call out to God.

"I will answer you", He says in Titus 1:2. This is an assurance and God cannot lie! He is able to keep the promises He makes for He says, "surely I will do it (Is 46:11)."

God wants us to seek His face. It is only when we have found His feet that we will find His face. Once we have found his face (favor) then no longer are we satisfied just merely dwelling in His omnipresence but His manifest presence becomes the treasure we seek after daily.

Driving out the Nations

As the nation of Israel prepared to possess the promise land, they received numerous
instructions from God. One of the most profound was His order to totally annihilate the seven nations, which comprised Canaan. But the Israelites did not comply. According to Judges Chapter one, Judah was unable to drive out the people of the plains; the Benjamites failed to dislodge the Jebusites; Manesseh; Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan also failed in this mission, opting instead to dwell right alongside the people whom God had commanded them to destroy. During this time in their history, Israel “did as they saw fit.” As a result, God sold them to their enemies whom they were no longer able to resist. Interestingly, just as there were seven nations to conquer, there are also seven things that are abominable to God.
They are: haughty eyes; lying tongue; hands that shed innocent blood; a heart that devises wicked schemes; feet that rush into evil; a false witness; and one who stirs up dissension (Pro.6). If, like the Israelites, we choose to allow any of these abominations to dwell among us, then we run the risk of walking outside of God’s assured protection. Though the names of the nations may not immediately correlate
with these seven sins, there is a lesson to be learnt from their failure to drive out the nations. God specifically said: “…make no treaty with them and show them no
mercy.” Let us therefore, heed His word! Our victories are hinged upon
them.

Intimacy With God

Judging from the signs of the times, I have every reason to believe with every fiber of my being that we are on the brink of a spiritual awakening. This has awakened a desperation in me for a sovereign move of God, which I believe will result in an unprecedented apostolic revival in a magnitude we have never experienced before.

I am excited about the future. God is calling his people to come up higher to forge a stronger bond of intimacy with him. With God there are several levels of intimacy. As a point of reference let us look at several key characters of the tribe of Israel.

Before Moses received the law at Mount Sinai, God called the children of Israel to congregate before him. Some including the priests were commanded to remain at the foot of the hill being careful not to touch the border of it (Ex 19:12). then Aaron accompanied by Moses was called up to another level (Ex. 19:24). But the ultimate level was accessible only to Moses (Ex. 19:20).

In order to move from the position at the base of the mountain, which the masses occupied, to the top, requires certain characteristics expressed by Moses. These are: obedience, faith, persistence, intimate communion with God, total submission and isolation. the level of intimacy with God therefore lies with the individual.

The Mountain or The Valley?

It is said that if one climbs over 26,000 ft then it becomes impossible for the body acclimate. Your digestive system begins to shut down, blood oxygen dwindles, and your brain cells starve. According to one professional climber, "at altitude, you stay pretty busy trying not to die."

I happened upon this bit of information in an article entitled "Left to die on Mt. Everest," in the August 2006 4edition of Men's Health magazine, while I was experiencing what many of us like to term "a valley situation". while I am not able to divulge all the details of this experience, suffice it to say that my spirit was immediately lifted because the essence of the paragraph answered my questions to God regarding the disquietedness of the soul, which is: Human beings are not meant to live at a certain altitude, so learn to accept and deal with spending a majority of my time in the lowlands or valleys of life as my character is developed.

I also observed that the primary reason many people get involved in extreme sporting activities such as cresting mountains like Everest, is to seek after their own glory. While they are at altitude they spend every waking moment trusting their own abilities on how to stay alive because of the triumph, fame and praise associated with the ultimate achievement.

Like these extreme sports enthusiasts, Christians today spend a great deal of their time trying to accomplish their own agenda, while the Master's business is left undone. But the times indicate that we change our focus.

Unlike the end result of one's behavior having made it to the top of the mountain, in the valley you want to get out so badly that you are forced to dig your heels in and shift your focus looking to the One who alone has the power to restore and deliver you. In a time like this we cannot be seeking after our won glory for after all, "Its all about Jesus".