One thing I ask…
Intimacy with God
4/28/02
By Brad Dyrness
If we really sing what we live, our hymn titles we sing would read something like this:
Instead of showers…"THERE SHALL BE SPRINKLES OF BLESSING"
Instead of telling… "I LOVE TO MUMBLE THE STORY"
Not soldiers but "ONWARD CHRISTIAN RESERVES"
Solid rock might sound like this: "MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING MUCH"
Our knowing is more like… "I’M FAIRLY CERTAIN MY REDEEMER LIVES"
Or what about… "SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD, FALL SOMEWHERE NEAR ME"
Where is it… "MY FAITH LOOKS AROUND FOR THEE"
"BLEST BE THE TIE THAT DOESN’T CRAMP MY STYLE"
"WHAT AN ACQUAINTANCE WE HAVE IN JESUS!"
I know him but do I know him?
God does not have a secret society of intimate friends. We are as intimate with God as we choose to be.
Marlene LeFever
100 Ways To Take The Yawn Out Of Your Relationship With God… here are 10 of them the rest can be found on the web site www.jcnaz.org
Teach a preschooler to sing a motion song that says something special about Jesus.
Write a letter to God praising Him for how you are made
Read a biography of a faithful missionary or preacher.
Get to church ten minutes early. Spend time praying that God’s presence will be felt throughout the service.
Sing a hymn to God; pay close attention to the words.
Memorize a chapter in the Bible.
Take notes during the sermon. On Sunday afternoon go over them and ask yourself, “What did God want me to hear this morning? How does He want me to respond?”
Pray daily for someone you don’t like.
Start a neighborhood Bible study or open your home for a study.
Write a love letter to God.
Read Ps 27…
David begins by confirming who he is and who God is to him.
Hope Salvation and Protection. I have everything that a guy would need! Not by my own hand but a gift from my God.
Therefore!
David said his one request was first of all to dwell in the house of the Lord. Vs. 4, David is saying I like what I got and I want more of it! I want it until I die! I have made a lifetime choice here!
In Discipleship Journal this month there was a short article about marriage – describing what they called “Starter Marriages.” Those you get into when your young, have no kids and no real intention of staying in for life. Like a starter house – it’s all you can come up with for now but you have different plans for the future.
Lets me tell you clearly that is a marriage that will have not true intimacy. Why? Intimacy requires a feeling of safety. Without out security you will not open up!
David declares that this s not a short time trial run, or a I dwell with God as long as I feel good about it. He says I want to dwell… all the days of my life!
John 14:23—“If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
Better worded “at home” with him.
Have you ever visited at someone home and felt out of place. Didn’t want to make too much noise, lived differently than you would if you were at home.
The word dwell means linger, hang out implies that you want to stay there! You feel welcome there! How they live is okay with you!
You don’t change them you are okay with who they are.
It’s always safe to entrust yourself to the Lord. Sometimes we think if we’re too agreeable someone will take advantage of us, but Jesus doesn’t. His dwelling is a place of acceptance.
Why? He will not let me down! Knowing that helps us open up to His plan and direction for us.
Why do I want to dwell?
I can build intimacy with God by:
1. Learning from God – vs. 4 David said his desire also was to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek Him in his temple.
Or as The Message states it: I’ll contemplate his beauty; I’ll study at his feet.
David knew that hanging out wasn’t enough. He needed to be a learner. To continue to expand his understanding of who God was and to know His ways.
2. Worshipping God vs. 6 I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
Again The Message: I’m headed for his place to offer anthems
that will raise the roof! Already I’m singing God-songs;
I’m making music to GOD.
Of all the Bible characters David shows us what worship us all about. Music, Sacrifice, Dance, Lifting your hands, Laying on the floor. All of life was an act of worship to King David.
Paul would agree Romans 12:1 1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Worship and learning draw us to intimacy with God!
3. Praying to God – vs. 7 …when I call, O LORD… Your face, LORD, I will seek.
David saw prayer as face time. Being with God and having a conversation. Far more then just rattling off a list of requests but a time of conversation. We’ll talk more about that next week
4. Obeying God – vs. 11 David’s last commitment to intimacy in this passage was to say: Teach me your way, O LORD;
lead me in a straight path
When I know what to do I will begin the journey! Keep me on track.
C. H. Spurgeon said our visits to God’s house should be “inquirers’ meetings” in which we “inquire as to the will of God and how we may do it.” It seems that we often ask for his will, but we don’t ask how we should do it. More likely, we ask what his will is and then we ask people how we should do it.
One of the most succinct verses on intimacy with God is John 14:21: “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
If I desire to share in “the secrets of his promise,” then I will choose to pursue a lifestyle of purity. This decision to be intimate with God will affect what books I read, what movies I see, what music I listen to, what programs I watch on television. Abiding in His presence will alter my thought life, my activities, my relationships. My speech and actions will want to honor and reverence His Holy Name.
If we want “Showers of Blessings or Confidence that our Redeemer lives or No Fear of the Spirit falling on us,” that only comes as we:
Learn – Worship – Pray to - Obey Our Lord.
110 ways to be close to God… Do it! Just do it! You hold the key to keeping your relationship with Christ alive and growing. Prayer, Bible study, putting Christ in action: 10,000 ideas won’t work unless you are willing to commit the time. Do it! Pick one.
What were the results?
Vs. 13-14 I will see the Goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living! I will be strong and have courage!
