Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

Psalm 25:14
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear Him; and He will shew them
His covenant.

God has been dealing with me a lot lately on developing intimacy with Him.  This
includes: what it is, what God's will is about it, how to develop it, etc.
I'd like to create some discussion on what others have learned so that we may
all grow closer to Jesus Christ.  One basic thing I've learned thus far,
especially in talking with great men and women of God who are intimate with Him,
is that I have much to learn about developing intimacy with God.

I look through the CHRISTIAN archives and there wasn't much there on it.  A
recent version had a topic on it, but the discussion was focused on
manifestations of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit has used me in the past on
several occasions by manifesting Himself per I Corinthians 12, but I still lack
the intimacy that I desire.  

God has also revealed in His Word that, although He is no respector of persons,
He does have an inner circle.  Psalm 25:14 refers to this.  God doesn't have
favorites, but He has intimates!  Look at Christ's relationship with His
disciples for further proof.  He loved them all, but His inner circle consisted
of John, James, and Peter.  They saw things that the other disciples didn't.
Christ revealed things to them about Himself that He didn't reveal to the
others.  The same holds for several in the Old Testament such as Abraham, Moses,
Isaiah, Daniel, etc.  They had developed intimacy with God!  A supreme
fellowship!

I've gathered some basic information here that I think will help explain more of
what I'm talking about.  A couple books which also came highly recommended (I'm
reading them now) are "Disciplines of a Godly Man" by R. Kent Hughes on Crossway
Books; and "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life" by Donald S. Whitney
on NavPress (Navigators).  Lots of Christians talk about intimacy with God.
Lots of Christians also express interest in developing intimacy with God.
However, practical guidance on developing intimacy with God isn't very common.
I hope you find this information practical.

Pray for the desire
-------------------
Pray for the closest intimacy possible between yourself and God.  Jeremiah 24:7
says:

 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they
 shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me
 with their whole heart.

The verb "to know" in the Hebrew here is "yada" (yaw-dah).  This same verb is
used for sexual intimacy by the Holy Spirit when He declared that Adam "knew"
Eve and she conceived.  The Holy Spirit revealed in God's Word a parallel
between intimacy with God and the closest intimacy that a husband and wife can
experience.  An intimacy so close that you know each other's thoughts, feelings,
wills without asking.  King David made this intimacy with God his prayer in
Psalm 63.  The Holy Spirit further declares God's desire for intimacy with
Christians in Hosea 2:14-20:

2:14 Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness,
 and speak comfortably unto her.

In verse 14 above, the word for "allure" means to "romance" or "to win the
attention of."  This is bridegroom talk!  He is bringing His love to the
wilderness because it is there you have no distractions or competitions.  I'm
sure you can relate this to your own relationship with your spouse before you
were married.

2:15  And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor
 for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and
 as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.

Achor means "trouble."  The valley of trouble is our door of hope.  The hardest
times is where we grow the most.  We should not fear tribulation.

2:16  And it shall be at that day, saith the LORD, that thou shalt call me
 Ishi; and shalt call me no more Baali.

"Ishi" was a term of endearment meaning "husband" or "honey."  "Baali" means
"Master."

2:17  For I will take away the names of Baalim out of her mouth, and they shall
 no more be remembered by their name.

2:18  And in that day will I make a covenant for them with the beasts of the
 field and with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the
 ground: and I will break the bow and the sword and the battle out of the
 earth, and will make them to lie down safely.

2:19  And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto
 me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.

2:20  I will even betroth thee unto me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the
 LORD.

Verses 19-20 are God's proposal to His Bride - Us.  These two verses are also in
the Jewish Wedding Ceremony.  Jewish men say this to their brides each morning.
They also recite this to God as they wrap the tephillin (more on this later
if you are interested) around their left arm, hand, and ring finger.  Notice the
passage has the word "betroth" 3 times: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.  Notice that
verse 20 again uses the Hebrew verb "know" or "yada" - intimacy!  God wants
intimacy with us, pray for the desire to be with Him as well.

Make Time to Be with God
------------------------
Set aside a regular time for devotions and private worship with God.  Also, when
you hear God calling you for private time of worship and prayer, respond to
His call.  Psalm 119:1-2 says:

119:1  Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
119:2  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the
 whole heart.

See also Psalm 27:8

27:8  When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face,
 LORD, will I seek.

Open God's Word Expecting
-------------------------
We should always expect to hear from God as we read His Word.  God's Word has
much to say about what we should expect as we have private devotions.

- Purity: Psalm 119:9
  Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto
  according to thy word.

- Peace: Psalm 85:8
  I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto
  his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.

- Delight/Joy: Jeremiah 15:16
  Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy
  and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

- Salvation: II Timothy 3:14-15
  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been
  assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able
  to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

- Growth: I Peter 2:2
  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow
  thereby:

- Special Intimate Love: John 14:21
  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me:
  and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and
  will manifest myself to him.

- Nearness of God: James 4:8
  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye
  sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.


Expect Distractions
-------------------
Our adversary doesn't want you to gain intimacy with God.  You'll notice during
devotional times how things keep cropping up that you forgot to do, or things
you have to do.  Keep a notepad nearby and when the adversary tries to distract
you, jot the task down and thank him for reminding you ;-).  Also, try to find
an isolated area for your private time with God.  When you spend time with your
spouse, you do the same.  It should be no different with God.

Meditation
----------
Unlike other religions, Christian meditation is *filling* your mind with the
things of the Lord.  We are to meditate on God's Word.  His Word tells us not to
empty our minds as the pagans do, but to meditate on His Word and His Ways.  The
Hebrew word used for meditating in the Old Testament gives the image of a cow
chewing on its cud.  A cow has several stomachs (2-4 depending on who you ask
;-)), and it will continually regurgitate its cud to chew some more.  This is
a somewhat graphic illustration, but it shows how the Holy Spirit wants us to
continually meditate on God's Word.

Psalm 138:2
 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy
 lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all
 thy name.

Only 1 man (the High Priest) in all of ancient Israel, was allowed to speak
God's Holy Name (YHWH), only 1 time a year (Yom Kippur).  Yet God declares that
He exalts His Word above His Holy Name!  How much more should we treasure God's
Word?!

Psalm 40:7
 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

This is a Messianic prophecy of Jesus Christ in the Torah and Tanakh.  This
particular verse has also become a foundation for those doing research on the
Torah codes!  The more we have of God's Word, the more we have of Christ.  As
Christ said in John 6:63, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth
nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."
Christ fulfilled Psalm 40:7 throughout His earthly ministry and confirmed it for
us:

Luke 24:44
 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while
 I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in
 the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

Proverbs 6:20-23
 My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy
 mother:
 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep
 thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of
 instruction are the way of life:

This is a promise that God's Word will guide us as we meditate on it.  One of
the best ways to end the day is H.W.L.W. = His Word, the Last Word.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9
 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all
 thy soul, and with all thy might.
 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of
 them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and
 when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as
 frontlets between thine eyes.
 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

The above passage starts off with the infamous Sh'ma of Israel and continues
with excellent guidance on how we are to treat God's Word and instill it within
the hearts of our family.  Even Christians have found it helpful to place a
Mezzuzah on the doorposts of their home to constantly remind them of God and
their intimate relationship with Him.

Psalm 103:7
 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

Moses was intimate with God; he knew God's ways.

Psalm 95:6
 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

The Hebrew word here for "worship" means to prostrate yourself before the Lord.
The Hebrew word for "kneel" means to bend your knee and neck with your head
touching the ground.  When was the last time you privately worshiped God with
your body, prostrate before Him?  It's an awesome experience!  

Journaling
----------
If you go back in church history and research every great and powerful servant
of God, the most respected people, you will find that they all journaled.
Billy Graham, Charles Spurgeon, John Wesley, A.W. Tozer, Jonathan Edwards,
Martin Luther, on and on and on right down the line.  This is not the same as a
diary!  Start a notebook of all the spiritual thoughts that God speaks to you
through His Word.

Worship Privately
-----------------
There are many things that could be said here, but private times between myself
and God are just as private as between my wife and I.  However, I will share
what I feel has the least shock value ;-).  Some things might surprise you, but
be confident that I'm not getting weird on you.  All of these things are
Biblical.  Remember, the Father is seeking those who will worship Him in Spirit
and in Truth (John 4:24).

Both the Hebrew and Greek words for "worship" portray the meaning to "kiss
the face of" the subject.  Worship is a large part of developing intimacy with
God and the Holy Spirit uses very descriptive words on how we are to worship
God in His Word.  Psalm 45 has long been known to be a Messianic Psalm of the
King/Bridegroom and His Bride.  Notice especially in verses 10-11 how the Bride
gains intimacy with God.

Psalm 45:10-15
 Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also
 thine own people, and thy father's house;
 So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and
 worship thou him.
 And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among
 the people shall intreat thy favour.
 The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought
 gold.
 She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins
 her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
 With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into
 the king's palace.

1. Listening - verse 10.  Developing intimacy with God requires you listening to
   Him and His Word.
2. Attention given - watch and understand.
3. Incline your ear - Do what He says and what His Word says.

4. Bow Down to Him and Worship Him.  Bowing down to God requires several
   important factors:
   a.) Find a private place to meet.  David often met God in the Temple.  Moses
       likewise in the Tabernacle.
   b.) Meditate on God's Word
   c.) Worship God physically and expressively.  The priests in the Temple were
       required to be barefoot because it was Holy Ground.  Moses covered his
       face.  David lifted his hands.  Make your private meeting place your
       Temple.  Remove your "sandals," lift your hands, and/or prostrate
       yourself before God.
   d.) Sing unto the Lord with praise music.  When I say praise music, I don't
       mean Petra.  It could be choir music, it could be Praise Strings, it
       could be Messianic - whatever your preference, make it praise music.
       My personal favorite is Marty Goetz mainly because he sings Scripture
       (see Ephesians 5:19).
   e.) Have I mentioned that you need to try bowing before God in worship,
       head down, prostrate, or kneeling? ;-)
   f.) Having Communion daily is a special observance to add to your private
       worship time.  Some have purchased their own elements.  It doesn't
       take much investment to purchase matzoh crackers and grape juice and the
       blessing is more than worth it.
   g.) Light a lamp or candle as you study God's Word - Psalm 119.
   h.) Use a head covering as you study God's Word.  David often wrote in Psalms
       of how he sheltered himself within the wings of God.  The Temple priests
       were also required to use a head covering.  At times I will also use a
       tallit (Jewish prayer shawl) and kipa (Jewish head covering).
   i.) Wear a symbol of your intimate relationship with God over your heart
       (Song of Solomon).  For instance, some wear a cross necklace.

Make Your Home a Sanctuary
--------------------------
Several times in my life I have walked into someone's house and sense the Holy
Spirit telling me that these people are Christians.  I sense this in my spirit
when I'm at the home of some of my church friends.  Some have expressed to me
the same sensation when they walk into my home.  When I walked into my church
for the first time 5 years ago, I still remember the Holy Spirit telling me that
I have come home.  I could sense the love of God in the atmosphere that I never
experienced in any other church I've entered.  Christians need to make their
homes a sanctuary just like this.  Deuteronomy 6:4-9 tells us that our homes
should be this way.  I'm not just talking about wall decor, although they are
nice too and a testimony of your position in Christ to guests.

Your home should be a:

1. Place of love providing refuge and safety.
   Proverbs 14:1
   Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down
   with her hands.

   Your home should be full of love.  It should be a place that your spouse
   and children long to come home to and feel safe in.

2. Place of intercession.
   Job 1:1,5
   There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was
   perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
   And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job
   sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt
   offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that
   sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

   God considered Job a perfect and upright man.  Job also made offerings for
   on behalf of his family to God.  How much more should we be in intercession
   for our children?  Family altar times are special, but think of the type of
   parent that goes into their children's bedrooms, lay hands on their children,
   and intercede for them while they sleep.  I know a parent that does this and
   I have the utmost respect for them!

3. Place of Integrity.
   Psalm 101:1-2
   I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.
   I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto
   me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

4. Place of Praise.
   Ephesians 5:15-24
   See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
   Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
   Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
   And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
   Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing
   and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
   Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name
   of our Lord Jesus Christ;
   Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
   Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
   For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of
   the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
   Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to
   their own husbands in every thing.

So much could be said about this passage.  Verses 19-24 are key here in
developing a home of praise.  Some things to consider here are:

- If you enjoy music during meals, chores, or any time, play the same praise
  music from your private time so that all your family can be blessed.
- Your marriage relationship is a testimony and example to your children.  Love
  each other!  Don't be afraid to hug or kiss your mate in front of the
  children.  A solid marriage is a praise to your household and provides
  security to your children.
- Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church -> Remember Jesus Christ
  died for the church because He loved her so much.
- Pray for each other.  Bless each other.  Give thanks to God together.  Study
  His Word together.

  Colossians 3:16
  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and
  admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with
  grace in your hearts to the Lord.

5. Place with no Idols.
You could meet all the above in striving for intimacy with God and still be
hindered if you have something in your life or home that is idolatry.  Remember,
God's Word says idolatry is spiritual immorality.  Sometimes these things get
leftover from our past and we just aren't aware of what we have to renounce
after becoming born again in Christ.

God's Word has plenty of warnings about idols for good reason.  There is a local
Christian School that was having strange behavioral problems with some
Native American children a couple years ago.  These children weren't saved at
the time.  One day, some students and faculty were praying for this one child
who was having some severe problems.  While praying, a demonic voice manifested
itself from the child and declared it didn't have to leave because of what was
in the trophy case.  It turns out that the demon was drawing strength from a
Kachina doll in the trophy case!  They burned the doll, the demon fled in the
name of Jesus Christ, and the child accepted Christ as Lord and Savior!

Objects like this can hinder our walk with God and our desire for closer
intimacy with Him.  I know Christians who have had all sorts of recurring
problems (nightmares, immoral habits, unhealthy habits, emotional problems,
depressions, etc.) from their past until they got rid of figurines picked up
in foreign countries while on vacation or in the military, as well as cultic
objects from other religions and cults.

Let's look at what God's Word says about idolatry.

I John 5:21
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Deuteronomy 7:25-26
The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not
desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be
snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.
Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a
cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly
abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.

Ephesians 5:11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
reprove them.

Joshua 7:13-26
This passage speaks of how Israel was hindered by idols taken by Achan and his
family from their battles.  Israel was not victorious until the idols were
destroyed.  Verse 13 states:

 Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow:
 for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst
 of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take
 away the accursed thing from among you.

Nahum 3:1-4
 Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey
 departeth not;
 The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of
 the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots.
 The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear:
 and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there
 is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses:
 Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the
 mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and
 families through her witchcrafts.

Nineveh was destroyed as prophecied by God through Nahum because of her
idolatry.

The following are some forbidden occultic objects and practices to get out of
your home.

acupuncture	    vampirism		         crystals
astrology	    Ouija boards		 Egyptian Cartouches
dream catchers	    pornography			 New Age meditation
drub abuse	    swastika			 visualization & imagery
elves		    peace symbol		 out of body experiences
fortune telling	    neo-nazi paraphernalia       cults including:
free masonry	    mediums			   Jehovah's Witnesses
ghosts		    tatoos (Leviticus 19:28)	   Religious Science
Halloween	    trolls			   Christian Science
hypnotism	    use of the rod &		   Mormonism
iris diagnosis	       pendulum			   Seventh Day Adventists
levitation					   Scientology
amulets             lucky charms		 figures of gods
Indian jewelry      Occultic video games         mythology
UFO's		    Occultic movies/TV		 Emptying your mind

Whether you call it New Age, neo-Paganism, Wicca, Spiritualism, Satanism, or
Occultism, these practices are all forbidden by God's Word.  Renounce your
past in the name of Jesus Christ, ask for forgiveness, and enjoy the blessings
He will pour out upon you as you seek closer intimacy with Him.