Intimacy with the Father

This is a message I shared today at the Women’s Intimacy Fellowship luncheon at Freedom Worship Center.

Intimacy is word that isn’t actually in the Bible, like the Trinity it is described but it isn’t actually found in the written word.  Song on Solomon  also known as the Song of Songs is a complete book that describes Solomon’s love for one of his wives, intimacy described in the playful pursuit, the romantic and physical intimacy between the king and His beloved.  Mariam Webster defines intimacy as the state of being in a very personal or private relationship. Intimacy is about being seen, being known, being safe, being cared for and loved in a personal relationship between two people.  Intimacy is not a singular act but a lifelong pursuit in a relationship.

The apostle John is a wonderful example of this intimate pursuit.  Called by Jesus to be a disciple with his brother James, Mark 1:19-20 says they left their father Zebedee and immediately followed Jesus.  John was an eye witness to Jesus’s life, death, resurrection, ascension, and was given the revelation of Jesus and what will occur around the last of the last days.  John saw Jesus, He walked with Him, He knew Jesus.  He called Himself Jesus’ beloved and the one Jesus loved.  John was very well acquainted with Him and safe in His relationship with Jesus.

  And Jesus saw and knew John.  John describes how he leaned upon Jesus at the last Passover meal.  Jesus asked John to care for His own mother upon His death.  It was a close and personal relationship.  John continued to serve Jesus and spread the gospel despite his own persecution.  He cared for Jesus’ mother until her death.  History says John was boiled alive in oil, came out unscathed and was later exiled to the isle of Patmos and died in his late 90s of natural causes in Ephesus still faithful to Jesus.

Intimacy requires a two-way relationship.  It is easy to quote the Scriptures. 

1. God knows me – “O Lord, You have searched me and known me.”Psalm 139:1

2. God sees me- “Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, ‘Have I also here seen Him who sees me?’”  Genesis 16:13

3. God loves me – “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.’” Jeremiah 31:3

4. God cares about me – “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

5. I am safe in His hands – “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.”  John 10:28

He does His part, but do we do our part of maintaining that intimacy?

1. “Know God – “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” – Psalm 46:10

2. See God – “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

3. Love God – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”  Matthew 22:37

4. Care about God – “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” –  John 14:23

5. Make your heart a dwelling place where His presence is welcomed and secure.- “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love…” Ephesians 3:17

So how can we stay in intimate relationship with the Father? 

We can know Him by loving others. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8

We can be intentional to see Him daily acknowledging all the things He does for us in our daily lives.  We can take time to see Him throughout the day. “I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.”  Psalms 9:1-2

We can love Him by obeying His Word  “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.”  John 14:23-24

We can care for God by caring for others.  “for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Matthew 25:35-40

We can be safe by guarding our heart, mind and deeds by staying in His Word.  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23  

“I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” John 17:15-17

Intimacy occurs in a relationship when both parties work to truly see each other, know each other, care for each other, love each other and there is safety between the two of them.  God will always do His part, but we also have to be intentional in our part.