Invitation to Intimacy
Do you know God? Gaining knowledge has never been so easy. Could it be that because it’s become so easy to gain knowledge about God that many of us stop there? What if we pressed in to take on the challenge of really knowing Him as He desires? When it comes to knowing Him, He has extended an invitation to intimacy. Will you accept that invitation to know Him intimately?
Invitation to Intimacy
Message Notes
Do I know God? How well do I know God?
Yada (Hebrew)/Ginosko (Greek) - Knowledge that comes from experiencing something/someone in an intimate or personal way
Psalm 139:1-6, 23-24 (NLT)
O LORD, you have examined my heart and know (yada) everything about me. 2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. 4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. 5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Job 42:1-6 (MSG)
Job answered GOD: “I’m convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans. You asked, ‘Who is this muddying the water, ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?’ I admit it. I was the one…I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears! I’m sorry—forgive me. I’ll never do that again, I promise! I’ll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor.”
Don’t let yourself substitute rumors for reality.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NLT)
This is what the LORD says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. 24 But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know (yada) me and understand that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!
Don’t let yourself substitute the gifts for the Giver.
These are timeless, universal truths – but they take on extra power for us when we see that this invitation from God to know Him intimately, and reap the blessings of covenant faithfulness, was made to a people who called themselves by God’s name but refused to surrender their pride and bow before Him. It’s amazing that what we tend to brag about: educational achievements, financial successes, physical prowess, and the list goes on. But God says here, “If you’re going to brag, if you want something to shout about, brag that you know me. If you can’t talk about that, you don’t have much to boast about.” To know God (not merely know about Him) in intimate fellowship is the most meaningful pursuit in life.
– Tony Evans (Evans Commentary – Jeremiah 9:23-24)
Philippians 3:7-9 (NLT)
7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.
Don’t let yourself substitute credentials for closeness.
Philippians 3:10-11 (NLT)
10 I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!
Don’t let yourself substitute resolution for revelation.
Don’t let yourself substitute information for intimacy.
Proverbs 2:1-5 (NLT)
My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. 2 Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. 3 Cry out for insight and ask for understanding. 4 Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. 5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God.
The great news is that God has taken the first steps. He’s provided His Word, His Son, and His Spirit.
God comes to you and begins to talk to you thru the words and truths of Holy Scripture. You come to realize that God is actually opening his heart to you, making friends with you and enlisting you as a colleague…
- J.I. Packer (Knowing God)
1 Corinthians 2:10-12 (NLT)
10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.
Steps to take:
• Pray (like Moses) • Spend time with others • Spend time with Him • Prioritize • Be still • Suffering
Jeremiah 29:13 (NLT) –
13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.