Many people hear that word, intimacy, and think the subject is about sex. The truth is that the two words are not synonymous though intimacy can lead to a sexual encounter. But for our purposes today we will address only the basic dynamics of intimacy.
In the past few weeks we have identified our purpose which is to glorify God by listening and obeying. That demonstrates our “love” for Him. By examining the statement that Jesus made when He said, “If you see me you have seen the Father” we were able to understand just how the fruit of love is manifested. Then it was explained that for us to be able to say what Jesus did the formula “C=M+E” was presented.
We learned about the enemies of love whose purpose is to hinder our love walk with God. When we fall prey to these enemies the doors of sickness and disease are opened up to destroy many other functions of our lives. When we understand and embrace love’s purpose we will be better equipped to recognize and conquer this deceptive enemy.
Love’s purpose is intimacy. In other words an intimate relationship with God will help us come to trust Him when in any situation.
The questions is, “What does this intimacy look like”? I have heard it said that intimacy is: “In-To-Me-See” meaning to look inside of me to know what I like, what I dislike, what makes me happy or what makes me sad. Look to see why I do what I do or say what I say. Look into my heart (M+E). Don’t just hear the words (C) but know and trust the motives that are behind them (C=M+E).
When looking into another’s heart you will see (come to know) their nature.
The longer you look the deeper you will know them.
In the scriptures we will look at a few relationships to see what intimacy looks like. Look at David, Johnathan, and Goliath then revisit the life of Saul.
Looking at David:
- David knew God’s heart (17:26, 34-37, and 45-47)
- God knew David’s heart (I Samuel 16:7-13 and 24:2-13)
The Bible illustrates so much more about David’s life but we have sufficient evidence of the fact that he experienced intimacy with God.
Not only did he know that God would defend him in battle, but he knew what battles God wanted him to fight.
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Look at Jonathan:
- Jonathan knew God. (14:6-10)
It is easy to see that Jonathan had an intimate relationship with God. He trusted Him to know which battles to fight and knew that God would deliver the enemy.
- Jonathan knew David. (18:1-2, 4; 20:32)
Because Jonathan knew God he knew that David was the chosen one for carrying the mantle. The humility expressed when he gave up of such a position demonstrated a tremendous submission of his will. And to understand just how genuine that act was we can see that he continuously put forth an effort to protect David from Saul.
The intimate relationship he had with God demonstrates a trust that would cause him to lay down his natural way of thinking. In the natural men hold tight to their entitlements and privileges. They are typically loyal to their own flesh and blood rather than to somebody who shows up and presents a threat to the family status.
We see that Jonathan not only laid down what was rightfully his but he also tried to persuade his own flesh and blood to do right. It takes a rock solid trust in one’s relationship with God to be able to step out and rock the boat in your own household relationships.
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Look at Goliath.
- Goliath defied the armies of the living God. (17:8-10)
- Goliath cursed David by his gods. (17:43)
The scriptures bears no evidence that Goliath ever looked into the heart of God. Not only did he never learn to trust in Him he actually defied the armies that represented God. This Philistine’s trust was in his own size, strength, experience and his gods: evil and fear. (Proverbs 15: 14 “The heart of the one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.”) These things of the flesh proved to be powerless, however, when he came up against David. Though he was actually much smaller, weaker and had a lot less experience, in the natural, he had an intimate, trusting relationship with God.
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Revisiting Saul:
- God knew Saul. (I Samuel 8:7-18)
- God gave Saul another heart. (10:9)
- God sent David to keep Saul’s heart right. (16:23)
- Saul did not know God.
- He failed to obey and gave excuses. (13:11-14)
- He failed to obey, lied and blamed others. (15:17-21)
- Saul was motivated by fear. (15:24)
- An evil spirit from the Lord troubled Saul. (16: 14 and 18:10-11)
Obviously Saul was given the chance to know God in an intimate way. God chose him and told him things that he could do that would have made him great. The problem lays with Saul, however, who did not choose to know or trust God.
- Saul knew Samuel. (15: 25-31)
The facts demonstrates evidence that what he did do was to stay attached to the man of God. Saul pleaded with Samuel to pardon him and maintain a close relationship. (Proverbs 15:33, “Reverence of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom: and humility is before honor.”) Hanging out with those who know God is not the same as hanging out with God.
- Saul did not know David. (18:12, 25 and 19:1)
Saul’s jealously put him on a mission to destroy David. Because of his intimate relationship with God David was empowered for victory regardless of the battle he engaged in. Jealousy is an enemy of love that always divides and destroys the divine plan.
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Look at you:
- Is there evidence that you have an intimate relationship with God?
- Are you victorious in each battle you fight?
- Are you fighting battles of your own or those that He has assigned you to?
- Have you repented if you have touched God’s anointed?
- Have you protected God’s anointed from others who would set out to harm them in any way?
- Do you trust in your own intellect or position to give you the win in battle?
- Do you take a short cut and merely put your trust in another who has an intimate relationship with God?
God can and will work in and through all who will draw near to Him and come to know Him intimately. Every form of compromise will always hinder God’s intended results. Though He is faithful to always forgive us, there will always be consequences for the choices we make.
God is able to do mighty things in you and through you. He is love and He purposes to love this great big world through you. Learn to conquer the enemies of love through a personal, intimate relationship with the One who will never disappoint, never let you down.
Many blessings,
Dr. Terry