Past the cross - His nearness is our good

Opening

Last week we talked about the breath of God.

It is how you know that something is alive

It was the breath of God that made Adam alive

It was the breath of God that raised the dry bones in Ezekiel to life.

Scripture is literally the breath of God

There are two parts to breathing, the exhale which is what God does and the inhale which is our responsibility.

We saw in Luke 20 where Jesus shows up to the disciples and breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

We see in Acts 2 where the wind of heaven filled the upper room which is also the breath of God.

We talked last week how intimate a breath is. And this week I want to touch on our relationship with God.

Opening

Intimacy is not based on proximity. You can be very close to someone and not be close to them. Or you can be far away from someone but still feel close to them

I want to break down a few things of what an intimate relationship with God isn’t and what it is.

1 Corinthians 8:3 ESV

3 But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.

Psalm 73:28 ESV

28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

Knowledge is not intimacy

John 5:39–40 ESV

39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

There are alot of people that know about God or claim to know about him but don’t know him personally

There are people that know scripture and can quote it but their hearts are cold.

When Jesus walked the earth he met a few of these folks.

Matthew 23:27–28 ESV

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

When you look at others that may not be living their life according to the word what is your response? Do you want to correct them?

Anchor church and Pastor Kyles Message on correction

Knowledge without intimacy leads to pride.

1 Corinthians 8:1 ESV

1 Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.

We often think because we know more that we are better than everyone else.

Romans 12:3 ESV

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Let’s not throw knowledge out.

Proverbs 1:7 ESV

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Hosea 4:6 ESV

6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

Intimacy requires trust

Any strong intimate relationship is built on trust. The stronger the relationship the more trust is needed.

Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Unfortunately in our earthly relationships trust is broken and therefore the relationship is broken. Often times we feel like trust is broken with God and feel distanced from God.

If you feel distanced from God maybe you have trust issues.

Have worship team come up

Intimacy requires time

God isn’t your genie in a bottle.

What holds you back from spending time with Him?

How do you connect with God?

Do more of that. Our lives are so busy and filled with noise. Any time that is spent with God is never wasted time.

Closing - Let your life be hidden in Christ

Colossians 3:3 ESV

3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.