Intimacy With God

Open with prayer

Review Bible memorization verses:

Struggles from this past week, and/or areas of expected upcoming struggle.

Review: What are some things you’ve learned in your Bible reading this week?

Intimacy with God - the Foundation is Prayer.

When you think about your relationship with God, how do you consider it? As a friendship? As a job? As a position before His throne?

It’s a Friendship

· Isaiah 41:8 (NIV) But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham my friend,

· Exodus 33:11 (Good News Translation) The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

· James 4:4 (ESV) You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

It’s a Job

· Colossians 3:23 (LSB) Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,

· Ephesians 6:7 (NASB1995) With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men,

· 1 Corinthians 3:9 (LSB) For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

· Proverbs 16:3 (NASB1995) Commit your works to the Lord And your plans will be established.

· John 9:4 (LSB) We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.

It’s a Position

· Nehemiah 9:6 (LSB) You alone are Yahweh. You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down to You.

· Luke 2:13-14 (LSB) And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

· Revelation 4:1-6 (LSB) After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.

The phrase "before His throne" in the Bible refers to the position of worship and service that the faithful have in the presence of God. The Bible describes scenes of heavenly beings and elders falling down and laying their crowns before the throne of God, who sits on the throne and lives forever and ever. One example of this is in Revelation 7:15, where the great multitude of the redeemed are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple.

· Revelation 7:15 (LSB) For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His sanctuary; and He who sits on the throne will dwell over them.

Regardless of which of these (all) you regard correctly when considering your relationship with God - the Foundation is Prayer. You cannot have a friendship with someone you do not know. You cannot work for or serve a master whose standards you are unfamiliar with. You cannot worship a God that is unworthy of praise, Who will not command awe should you forget the reason for your very existence. All of these relationship requirements are filled in the same way – time spent with God. He desires an intimate relationship with you. Otherwise, He would not have removed the barrier by sending His Son Jesus.

· Romans 5:1-2 (LSB) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we boast in hope of the glory of God.

· Ephesians 3:11b-12 (LSB) “in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.”

· Hebrews 4:16 (LSB) Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Therefore, we should also be confident of these things as we continually seek to know God and find intimacy with Him:

When we pray to God, we know He hears us.

· Psalm 116:1 (CSB) I love the LORD because He has heard my appeal for mercy.

When we call on the name of God, He saves us.

· Romans 10:13 (NKJV) For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

We can hear from God when we pray.

· 1 Samuel 3:9 (NIV) So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

We find God in His word, and in it is great reward.

· John 15:7 (LSB) If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.

God draws close to us when we pray.

· James 4:8 (HCSB) Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people!

It is God’s desire for us to pray, rejoice, and give thanks.

· 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (CSB) 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray constantly, 18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

(*Bonus: Commit 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 to memory)

New Bible memory verse for the week:

Proverbs 21:3 To do righteousness and justice is chosen by Yahweh over sacrifice.

Close with prayer