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INTRO
INTRO
Good morning.
Good morning.
My name is Josh Baker, I am the music pastor here.
My name is Josh Baker, I am the music pastor here.
I am honored and feel privileged to be here with you all this morning.
I am honored and feel privileged to be here with you all this morning.
I want to say thank you to our worship and arts team for leading us gospel centered worship this morning.
I want to say thank you to our worship and arts team for leading us in gospel centered worship this morning.
You guys did a great job, thank you.
You guys did a great job, thank you.
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SERIES INTRO
SERIES INTRO
Well, this is our 4th week in our series called,
Well, this is our 4th week in our series called,
GRASP Your Next Steps.
GRASP Your Next Steps.
GRASP is the acronym we use for our 5 core values at Lifepoint Church.
GRASP is the acronym we use for our 5 core values at Lifepoint Church.
Gospel Identity Reaching Priority Authentic Community Spiritual Intimacy Personal Ministry.
Gospel Identity Reaching Priority Authentic Community Spiritual Intimacy Personal Ministry.
If you are a guest with us or have missed a Sunday or two recently,
If you are a guest with us or have missed a Sunday or two recently,
I highly encourage you to check out our app
or go to our website or subscribe to our podcast to get caught up in this series.
I highly encourage you to check out our app
or go to our website or subscribe to our podcast to get caught up in this series.
This morning we are on the S of our GRASP acronym
This morning we are on the S of our GRASP acronym
Which is Spiritual Intimacy.
Which is Spiritual Intimacy.
And this message has been a very difficult one for me to work through.
And this message has been a very difficult one for me to work through.
I have had moments of incredible awe as God showed me things about His love and grace for me and for you. And I have had moments of frustration in realizing that this idea of Spiritual Intimacy can’t fully be explained
I have had moments of incredible awe as God showed me things about His love and grace for me and for you. And I have had moments of frustration in realizing that this idea of Spiritual Intimacy can’t fully be explained
in a 35-40 min message.
in a 35-40 min message.
And as a result of that, there is not one central text for us to look at this morning, but rather a series of texts that creates a thread for us through the topic of Intimacy with God.
And as a result of that, there is not one central text for us to look at this morning, but rather a series of texts that creates a thread for us through the topic of Intimacy with God.
And because we have several texts to look at, I encourage you to download our Lifepoint App which contains all of the passages from todays message in the Notes section.
Before we dive into todays message would you pray with me?
Simply go to you app store and type in Lifepoint (all one word) Ohio. Lifepoint ohio.
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PRAYER
On the info page you can choose the Mt. Vernon campus. And in the notes tab, you will find our outline for today.
Heavenly Father,
But Before we dive into todays message would you pray with me?
as we approach this most beautiful and weighty of topics,
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would you help us to hear from you and be lead by Your Spirit.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, as we approach this most beautiful and weighty of topics, would you help us to hear from you and be lead by Your Spirit.
We ask that these words this morning would not be mine, but yours. May your great love and grace for us stir our affections and fuel our faith in You.
It’s in Jesus name.
We ask that these words this morning would not be mind, but yours. May your great love and grace for us stir our affections and fuel our faith in You.
It’s in Jesus name.
Amen
Amen
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INTIMACY
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Before we talk about Spiritual Intimacy,
INTIMACY
lets define what Intimacy is.
Before we talk about Spiritual Intimacy,
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lets define what Intimacy is.
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Intimacy is the experience of knowing and be known by another person
Intimacy is the experience of knowing and be known by another person
As human beings we desire to have intimacy with others people.
We desire to have close friendships
As human beings we desire to have intimacy with others people.
and romantic relationships where we are known
We desire to have close friendships
and know someone else.
and romantic relationships where we are known
and know someone else.
We don’t just know about them.
We really know them.
We don’t just know about them.
We know of them.
And they don’t just know about us,
And they don’t just know about us,
they really know us.
We don’t just desire intimacy,
they know of us.
it is a deep biological need.
Knowing about someone means that you simply know facts about them.
Infants will literally fail to thrive if they don’t experience physical and emotional closeness from another human being.
I know about Charles Spureon because I read a biography on him
But knowing of someone means you know them on a deeper more personal level.
That need for connection,
I know of my wife because I have spent years of my life with her, talking to her, learning about her, hearing her heart,
that need for intimacy,
the need to know and be known by someone…
and seeing her at her best and worst
(but my wife doesn’t have a worst side, right babe.
- never goes away.
Intimacy isn’t just about having information about someone and knowing facts about them. And it isn’t just sexual (like the union of a married couple)
or a just physical encounter with someone (like the embrace of a friend), And it isn’t just a good warm feeling that we have about or towards someone.
She is perfect)
Knowing of someone is a result of spending time and effort in developing and growing in a relationship.
It is all of those things.
We don’t just desire intimacy,
Genuine intimacy is physical, emotional, and intellectual.
If it were not all of those things it would not be a
it is a deep biological need.
relationship in which we know of them and they know of us.
We long for these relationships.
Infants will literally fail to thrive if they don’t experience physical and emotional closeness from another human being.
That need for connection,
To experience being full known and accepted for who we are.
We need to have intimate relationships with other people,
that need for intimacy,
but those relationships were never meant to completely satisfy us.
the need to know and be known by someone…
Those relationships were meant to be an extension
- never goes away.
Intimacy isn’t just about having information about someone and knowing facts about them, though intimacy does require knowledge,
and an overflow of the greatest intimate relationship that we were created to for.
And it isn’t just sexual (like the union of a married couple)
or a just physical encounter with someone (like to embrace a friend who is mourning the loss of a loved one),
We were created for intimacy with God.
and it isn’t just a good warm feeling that we have about or towards someone.
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It is all of those things.
SPIRITUAL INTIMACY
Genuine intimacy is physical, emotional, and intellectual.
If it were not all of those things it would not be a
If intimacy is to know and be known by another person, then it stands to reason that we could say, that
relationship in which we know of them and they know of us.
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Spiritual Intimacy is the experience of
Intimacy with someone is a two way street.
I can not say that I have an intimate friendship with someone,
knowing God and being known by God.
if they don’t desire to be known by me.
Knowing God is what we were made for.
I may want to know them, but that isn’t up to me.
We were designed to have an intimate,
It’s up to them.
personal relationship with Him.
And we see through out scripture that God desires for us to know Him.
And someone can’t know of my, if Im not willing to be known.
His very gift of eternal life is rooted in us knowing Him.
We long for these relationships.
To experience being full known and accepted for who we are.
Look at
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We need to have intimate relationships with other people,
but those relationships were never meant to completely satisfy us.
(ESV)
Those relationships were meant to be an extension
And this is eternal life, that they know you,
and an overflow of the greatest intimate relationship that we were created to for.
the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
We were created for intimacy with God.
Knowing God brings us more joy and contentment than knowing anything or anyone. ()
Having an intimate relationship with God is different than having a relationship with another human. Human intimacy is mutual.
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SPIRITUAL INTIMACY
I need to be known and you need to be known.
If intimacy is to know and be known by another person, then it stands to reason that we could say, that
So our mutual intimacy satisfies our personal needs.
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To an extent.
Spiritual Intimacy is the experience of
But God does not need intimacy from us.
knowing God and being known by God.
Look at
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Knowing God is what we were made for.
24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,
25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything
We were designed to have an intimate,
personal relationship with Him.
God is not dependent on anything or anyone.
He suffers no lack,
And we see through out scripture that God desires for us to know Him.
knows no limitation,
His very gift of eternal life is rooted in us knowing Him.
and experiences no deficiency.
Look at
While we need intimacy with God,
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(ESV)
He does not need intimacy with us.
But He does desire it.
And this is eternal life, that they know you,
the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
There is a big difference between needing something and desiring it.
Knowing God brings us more joy and contentment than knowing anything else.
And God is not our equal.
He is infinitely superior to us in every way.
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(Pause) (SAY IT AGAIN)
Just look at .
23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,
24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me,…
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Having an intimate relationship with God is different than having a relationship with another human. Human intimacy is mutual.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
I need to be known and you need to be known.
So our mutual intimacy satisfies our personal needs.
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
To an extent.
Being aware that God does not need to be known by us
But God does not need intimacy from us.
Look at
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and that He is infinitely greater than we are in every way,
should not make our relationship with Him feel any less significant,
In fact, it should cause us to feel absolutely privileged
24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,
25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
and filled with humility and awe.
God is not dependent on anything or anyone.
He suffers no lack,
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knows no limitation,
CHARLIE HALL
A few years ago I went to a worship conference in Austin Texas.
and experiences no deficiency.
And Charlie Hall was one of the keynote speakers for the event.
While we need intimacy with God,
He does not need intimacy with us.
Now, I really look up to this guy and have admired him and been influenced by him since I was in High school.
If you don’t know who Charlie Hall is, thats ok.
But He does desire it.
He is a famous worship leader with several albums out.
There is a big difference between needing something and desiring it.
He was one of the original members of the Passion movement with Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman and David Crowder.
And God is not our equal.
He is infinitely superior to us in every way.
He wrote songs like,
Marvelous Light
(Pause) (SAY IT AGAIN)
And
Just look at .
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Give Us Clean Hands
“Give us clean hands, give us pure hearts, let us not lift our souls to another.”
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
He also has an epic, epic beard.
So thats Charlie Hall.
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So Charlie Hall walks out on stage and gives a great message
so are my ways higher than your ways
on God moving us from the rebel feast of sin to the communion table of grace.
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
It moved me. It stirred me.
So after it was over I thought, “I have to to meet him.”
Being aware that God does not need to be known by us
So I make my way to the front and he is coming down off the stage
and that He is infinitely greater than we are in every way,
and right as I get up to him he looks at me and I look at him. And right as I’m about to say something,
should not make our relationship with Him feel any less significant,
I get this strong wiff of his beard oil. And it smelled great. It smelled like… woodsy man-ness
In fact, it should cause us to feel absolutely privileged
and filled with humility and awe.
But it was potent!
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And what I wanted to say to him,
was something like,
“Thank you so much for your message tonight and how you have influenced me since I was kid.”
CHARLIE HALL
Which that would have been great…
A few years ago I went to a worship conference in Austin Texas.
But what came out of my mouth was,
And Charlie Hall was one of the keynote speakers for the event.
Now, I really look up to this guy and have admired him and been influenced by him since I was in High school.
“….You smell good…”
And it was awkward. We were both a little uncomfortable at that point.
If you don’t know who Charlie Hall is, thats ok.
But I made it worse because I still asked to get a picture with Him.
He is a famous worship leader with several albums out.
And here it is
He was one of the original members of the Passion movement with Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman and David Crowder.
He wrote songs like,
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(Pic of Charlie and Josh)
Marvelous Light
“Into marvelous light Im running, out of darkness out of shame
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INVITATION TO KNOW HIM
You are truth, you are the life, you are the way.”
And he wrote
Now What if you could meet someone you greatly admire and look up to.
Maybe this person is above you in intellect,
or skill,
Give Us Clean Hands
or talent,
“Give us clean hands, give us pure hearts, let us not lift our souls to another.”
or status.
He also has an epic, epic beard.
So thats Charlie Hall.
You are greatly influenced by their work or their craft.
Maybe they are an accomplished author,
or a talented artist,
So Charlie Hall walks out on stage and gives a great message
on God moving us from the rebel feast of sin to the communion table of grace.
or a successful business person,
It moved me. It stirred me.
or even a Pastor
(I’ll be over here after service, if anyone wants to tell me how good I smell)
So after it was over I thought, “I have to to meet him.”
Who is someone you would give anything to meet,
So I make my way to the front and he is coming down off the stage
someone that if you met, you would fan-girl hard. (like I did)
And lets say you get the opportunity to meet them and spend a moment with them.
and right as I get up to him he looks at me and I look at him. And right as I’m about to say something,
I get this strong wiff of his beard oil. And it smelled great. It smelled like… woodsy man-ness
But they don’t just make small talk with you,
they begin to open up their heart to you and share their thoughts and ideas with you.
But it was potent!
And what I wanted to say to him,
They invite you to come and work for them
and learn from them.
was something like,
“Thank you so much for your message tonight and how you have influenced me since I was kid.”
To partner with them. They want to disciple you.
Which that would have been great…
That would change your life, wouldn’t it??
But what came out of my mouth was,
“….You smell good…”
I mean, who would say no to that??
How would you feel in that moment?
And it was awkward. We were both a little uncomfortable at that point.
But I made it worse because I still asked to get a picture with Him.
If we desire intimate relationships with imperfect people,
how much more should we desire to know and be known by the creator of all things?
And here it is
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The amazing thing is,
(Pic of Charlie and Josh)
Is that God does invites us to know Him,
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to partner with Him
INVITATION TO KNOW HIM
and to become like Him.
Now What if you could meet someone you greatly admire and look up to.
HOW RIDICULOUS IS THAT!!!
Maybe this person is above you in intellect,
or skill,
The infinite God of the universe.
or talent,
The one spoke all things into existence and formed us
with His hands and breathed His breath in us,
or status.
The one who holds all things together by the word of His power.
You are greatly influenced by their work or their craft.
The almighty, completely holy King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Maybe they are an accomplished author,
or a talented artist,
The Alpha and the Omega
or a successful business person,
The Beginning and the End
or even a Pastor
(I’ll be over here after service, if anyone wants to tell me how good I smell)
Desires that we know Him!
Who is someone you would give anything to meet,
Desires that we have a relationship with Him.
someone that if you met, you would fan-girl hard. (like I did)
And lets say you get the opportunity to meet them and spend a moment with them.
And it is the only relationship that will truly satisfy us and not leave us empty and broken.
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But they don’t just make small talk with you,
JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH
they begin to open up their heart to you and share their thoughts and ideas with you.
They invite you to come and work for them
Literally nothing else in this world can even compare to knowing Christ.
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and learn from them.
To partner with them. They want to disciple you.
(ESV)
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
That would change your life, wouldn’t it??
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
I mean, who would say no to that??
How would you feel in that moment?
For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him,
If we desire intimate relationships with imperfect people,
how much more should we desire to know and be known by the creator of all things?
not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
Paul says Everything is considered Loss and rubbish.
The amazing thing is,
Everything… compared to knowing Christ.
Is that God does invites us to know Him,
to partner with Him
Knowing Christ is the goal and aim of our lives!
Not just having knowledge about Him,
and to become like Him.
but having intimate knowledge of Him.
HOW RIDICULOUS IS THAT!!!
The infinite God of the universe.
It’s not enough for Paul to say that everything else is meaningless,
he calls everything else rubbish…
The one spoke all things into existence and formed us
with His hands and breathed His breath in us,
That word in the greek, is Skybalon (SKEW-VA-LON)
The one who holds all things together by the word of His power.
and it literally means, dung, excrement or manure.
And our English translations have really cleaned up what Paul was originally intending to say, if you get what I mean.
The almighty, completely holy King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
The Alpha and the Omega
Paul is saying that everything this world has to offer,
in comparison to knowing Christ, is more than worthless.
The Beginning and the End
He is saying that he desires to know Christ more than knowing anything and anyone else.
Desires that we know Him!
Nothing else is even worth thinking about.
Desires that we have a relationship with Him.
And it is the only relationship that will truly satisfy us and not leave us empty and broken.
It should be the most important relationship to us.
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And our relationship with God is only possible because we have been justified through faith in Christ.
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JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH
This is the doctrine of Justification by Faith Alone
Literally nothing else in this world can even compare to knowing Christ.
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When we put our faith in Christ, when we trust in Him,
when we believe in Him, we are clothed in Christ’s perfect righteousness
(ESV)
instead of our own imperfect works.
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
Thats why Paul says in verse 9
“not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,
For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
but that which comes through faith in Christ,”
9 and be found in him,
not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
Our sins were put on Christ
Paul says Everything is considered Loss and rubbish.
and He paid the full penalty for them in His death.
Everything… compared to knowing Christ.
Now Christ’s own righteousness is given to us and we receive the full merit of it.
Without this exchange, we could not have a relationship with a Holy God.
Knowing Christ is the goal and aim of our lives!
A relationship where His Spirit, The Holy Spirit of God, dwells in us. ( and )
Not just having knowledge about Him,
Through faith in Christ we are spiritually united as one with God.
but having intimate knowledge of Him.
It’s not enough for Paul to say that everything else is meaningless,
Like a husband and wife on their wedding night.
he calls everything else rubbish…
This is why Paul, so often uses the phrase, in Christ, when describing other believers.
It is through faith that we are able to enter into the
That word in the greek, is Skybalon (SKEW-VA-LON)
perfected… intimate… fellowship of the Trinity.
and it literally means, dung, excrement or manure.
And our English translations have really cleaned up what Paul was originally intending to say, if you get what I mean.
The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.
We have communion with God,
Paul is saying that everything this world has to offer,
in comparison to knowing Christ, is more than worthless.
by the Spirit, through the Son, to the Father.
And it is this faith that enables us to love Him,
He is saying that he desires to know Christ more than knowing anything and anyone else.
Even though we haven’t seen Him,
Nothing else is even worth thinking about.
It should be the most important relationship to us.
we love Him and believe in Him!
And our relationship with God is only possible because we have been justified through faith in Christ.
And it is our faith in Christ that leads us to rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory! ()
Faith in Christ, brings us to a relationship with Him that
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fulfills and satisfies our truest of desires
and gives us joy beyond comprehension.
This is the doctrine of Justification by Faith Alone
It is through faith in Christ and the indwelling of His Spirit,
When we put our faith in Christ, when we trust in Him,
that we are able to have access to God.
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when we believe in Him, we are clothed in Christ’s perfect righteousness
instead of our own imperfect works.
SPEND TIME KNOWING HIM
Thats why Paul says in verse 9
This is truly a personal…. intimate…. relationship.
He invites us to draw near to Him
“not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,
AND in return He promise to draw near to us. ()
but that which comes through faith in Christ,”
And as we draw near through faith,
He speaks to us by His Spirit, through His Word.
Our sins were put on Christ
and He paid the full penalty for them in His death.
And the more He speaks to us the more we want to draw deeper into Him.
Now Christ’s own righteousness is given to us and we receive the full merit of it.
And we are able to respond back to Him in prayer
Without this exchange, we could not have a relationship with a Holy God.
and worship
A relationship where His Spirit, The Holy Spirit of God, dwells in us. ( and )
by the Spirit, through the Son, Jesus.
…
Through faith in Christ we are spiritually united as one with God.
Like any intimate relationship that we want to develop we must spend time with Him and get to know Him more and more.
Like a husband and wife on their wedding night.
I would be a horrible husband if I said I loved my wife but
This is why Paul, so often uses the phrase, in Christ, when describing other believers.
It is through faith that we are able to enter into the
Never really spent time with her.
I never took her out on dates,
perfected… intimate… fellowship of the Trinity.
Or invested time in getting to know her,
The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.
We have communion with God,
And giving her time where she has my undivided attention.
by the Spirit, through the Son, to the Father.
No phones, no emails, no double dating, just her and I.
If I want to have an intimate relationship with my wife
And it is this faith that enables us to love Him.
then I must continue to purse knowing her,
and that pursuit never stops.
There will never be a day where I have learned all I can about her.
Look at
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If I don’t take the time to know of her, then I don’t have a genuine intimate relationship with her.
She is merely a glorified roommate.
Though you have not seen him, you love him.
It is the same thing with God.
If we claim to have a personal relationship with Him,
but in reality we treat Him like an acquaintance,
Though you do not now see him, you believe in him
and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible
we don’t really know Him.
and filled with glory,
We might know things about Him, but thats not intimacy. Thats not what He commands of us.
Even though we haven’t seen Him,
we love Him and believe in Him!
If we want to grow in our relationship with God then we press into know Him through
And it is our faith in Christ that leads us to rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory!
His word and through prayer
Faith in Christ, brings us to a relationship with Him that
and worshipful obedience to Him.
fulfills and satisfies our truest of desires
and gives us joy beyond comprehension.
It is that simple.
It is through faith in Christ and the indwelling of His Spirit,
Its not rocket science.
If we want to know God then we must spend time with Him!
that we are able to have access to God.
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(Pause and breathe deep)
SPEND TIME KNOWING HIM
And yet we manage to take this simple process of reading our bibles and talking to God
and complicating it and deprioritizing it.
This is truly a personal…. intimate…. relationship.
I can’t begin to tell you how many conversations I have had with people where they are struggling in their walk with God.
He invites us to draw near to Him
AND in return He promise to draw near to us. ()
They tell me how they feel distant from God,
or they are struggling with a sin issue and they don’t know why they can’t over come it,
And as we draw near through faith,
He speaks to us by His Spirit, through His Word.
Or why God isn’t giving them an answer they want in regards to a decision they have to make.
And the more He speaks to us the more we want to draw deeper into Him.
On and on the list goes.
And we are able to respond back to Him in prayer
and worship
I ask all of them the same question…
“How’s your quite time going?
by the Spirit, through the Son, Jesus.
How’s your time in the word and in prayer going?”
…
It amazes me how many of people tell me they aren’t really spending regular time with God.
Like any intimate relationship that we want to develop we must spend time with Him and get to know Him more and more.
They aren’t really reading their bible,
I would be a horrible husband if I said I loved my wife but
they might pray, but its more request driven,
Never really spent time with her.
I never took her out on dates,
like “God help me with this or please give me that”,
Or invested time in getting to know her,
rather than being still before Him and truly pouring out their hearts to Him and hearing back through His Spirit.
Do you see how crazy that is?
And giving her time where she has my undivided attention.
Why would anyone expect to feel close and connected with someone they don’t seek to know and be known by?
No phones, no emails, no double dating, just her and I.
That’s like if I said,
If I want to have an intimate relationship with my wife
“I don’t feel close to Charlie Hall because I met him that one time and I can’t understand why we aren’t better friends!”
then I must continue to purse knowing her,
and that pursuit never stops.
There will never be a day where I have learned all I can about her.
Why do we take the simplest thing that will give us the most joy and satisfaction and fulfill the purpose of our lives and dismiss it and excuse it for any reason what-so-ever.
If I don’t take the time to know of her, then I don’t have a genuine intimate relationship with her.
Count everything as loss and rubbish.
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She is merely a glorified roommate.
READING YOUR BIBLE
It is the same thing with God.
If we claim to have a personal relationship with Him,
but in reality we treat Him like an acquaintance,
If you want to know Him, Spend time reading your bible
We are constantly reminded in various ways through out the pages of scripture that we should know, desire, and delight in Gods word.
we don’t really know Him.
The Apostle Peter tells us that we should long for it like newborns who long for milk. ()
We might know things about Him, but thats not intimacy. Thats not what He commands of us.
Do you long for it?
If we want to grow in our relationship with God then we press into know Him through
His word and through prayer
Do you desire it more than anything?
and worshipful obedience to Him.
Jesus tells us in the gospel of John that if we abide in Him than His word abides in us. ()
It is that simple.
If we are In Christ, if we are one with Him, then his word is in us.
Its not rocket science.
There is no intimacy with God,
there is no relationship with God,
If we want to know God then we must spend time with Him!
(Pause and breathe deep)
apart from knowing Him through His word.
And yet we manage to take this simple process of reading our bibles and talking to God
And as we press into His word, we begin to hear from Him.
and complicating it and deprioritizing it.
And as tells us, His word comes alive and He speaks to us through it.
I can’t begin to tell you how many conversations I have had with people where they are struggling in their walk with God.
It speaks to the deepest recesses of our heart - of our very being.
They tell me how they feel distant from God,
As He reveals and speaks to us through His word about His character and His work on our behalf - we are awakened and stirred in our affections for Him.
His word, the Bible, has been breathed out by Him to us. To give us everything we need to know Him and love Him.
or they are struggling with a sin issue and they don’t know why they can’t over come it,
Or why God isn’t giving them an answer they want in regards to a decision they have to make.
🖥
On and on the list goes.
I ask all of them the same question…
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching,
“How’s your quite time going?
for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
How’s your time in the word and in prayer going?”
When we press into Gods word, through the Holy Spirit,
It amazes me how many of people tell me they aren’t really spending regular time with God.
They aren’t really reading their bible,
He meets us there and speaks to us.
they might pray, but its more request driven,
He wrecks us in our sinfulness and strengthens us in His righteousness. He teaches us how to live a life that is worshipful and honoring to Him. He lovingly and uncompromisingly reveals places in our life that are sinful and calls us to repentance. He guides us in the paths of righteousness and empowers us, through His Spirit, to walk in obedience.
Do you spend time in His word? Is it a priority in Your life?
like “God help me with this or please give me that”,
rather than being still before Him and truly pouring out their hearts to Him and hearing back through His Spirit.
If you claim to love Him and know Him then you should be spending time in His word.
Do you see how crazy that is?
5-10 min a day is a great place to start.
There is an app that even reads to you.
Why would anyone expect to feel close and connected with someone they don’t seek to know and be known by?
__________________________________________________________
That’s like if I said,
PRAYER
“I don’t feel close to Charlie Hall because I met him that one time and I can’t understand why we aren’t better friends!”
We long to hear from Him and grumble that we don’t feel close to Him,
What about your prayer life?
But He has spoken to us through His word and by His Spirit, yet spending time in our bibles and praying doesn’t seem a top priority to us!
How’s that going?
Why do we take the simplest thing that will give us the most joy and satisfaction and fulfill the purpose of our lives and dismiss it and excuse it for any reason what-so-ever.
Are you spending time in prayer?
Count everything as loss and rubbish.
Jesus gives us a great picture of what intimacy looks like
in Prayer in .
__________________________________________________________
It says
READING YOUR BIBLE
🖥
If you want to know Him, Spend time reading your bible
Look at . In talking about God’s law, His word, it says
But when you pray,
🖥
[NOTICE IT DOESN'T SAY, IF YOU PRAY, IT SAYS WHEN YOU PRAY]
When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Jesus teaches us that if we want to seek intimacy with God, we must spend time in private prayer.
sweeter also than honey
Jesus even modeled this for us in when he went out to a desolate place, early in the morning, and prayed.
and drippings of the honeycomb.
God’s word is better than any riches and it is more delightful than any flavors.
If Jesus, the Son of God, found it important for Him to steal away and spend quality alone time with God, how much more should we?
🖥
We are constantly reminded in various ways through out the pages of scripture that we should know, desire, and delight in Gods word.
The true christian seeking intimacy with God will pray most often and most fervently in private.
The Apostle Peter tells us that we should long for it like newborns who long for milk. ()
Why?
Do you long for it?
Do you desire it more than anything?
Because prayer is where the worshiper is most intimate with God and God is intimate with him.
It’s where we pour out or hearts to Him in
Jesus tells us in the gospel of John that if we abide in Him than His word abides in us. ()
If we are In Christ, if we are one with Him, then his word is in us.
praise, repentance, thanksgiving, adoration, supplication, and intercession.
It’s where we share our hearts with God, our most intimate thoughts, fears, desires and expressions of love to Him.
There is no intimacy with God,
It’s where our affections, that were awakened from spending time in His word, can be liberally expressed.
there is no relationship with God,
It’s also where we can beat against His chest when we are frustrated and don’t understand why something difficult has happened.
apart from knowing Him through His word.
And as we press into His word, we begin to hear from Him.
And He is more than big enough and gracious enough to take it.
Prayer is a grace and a privilege.
His word comes alive and He speaks to us through it.
I think if we truly knew the privilege that we have when it comes to prayer we would surly spend more time there, pouring ourselves out to Him.
We see this in
🖥
By the Spirit, Through the Son - we have unfettered access to throne of the King of kings.
(ESV)
🖥
For the word of God is living and active,
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing to the division of soul and of spirit,
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
of joints and of marrow,
Because of the our Justification by Faith in Christ, we can draw near to God’s throne of grace… not in fear and hesitation, but in confidence as adopted sons and daughters of God.
and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
This is all grace!!!!! All because He loves us!
How’s your private prayer life going?
His word comes alive and it speaks to the deepest recesses of our heart - of our very being.
Are you spending time daily connecting with God in isolated prayer?
As He reveals and speaks to us through His word about His character and His work on our behalf - we are awakened and stirred in our affections for Him.
This stuff, Reading our bibles and praying, it doesn’t require hours and hours and hours of time.
His word, the Bible, has been breathed out by Him to us. To give us everything we need to know Him and love Him.
🖥
__________________________________________________________
SCATTERED AND GATHERED
🖥
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching,
for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
The Christian life happens in two main contexts:
Scattered and Gathered.
17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Scattered,
When we press into Gods word, through the Holy Spirit,
we live our lives in the intimacy and communion of God.
He meets us there and speaks to us.
He wrecks us in our sinfulness and strengthens us in His righteousness. He teaches us how to live a life that is worshipful and honoring to Him. He lovingly and uncompromisingly reveals places in our life that are sinful and calls us to repentance. He guides us in the paths of righteousness and empowers us, through His Spirit, to walk in obedience.
We spend time consuming His word and engaging in prayer. We grow in our faith and relationship with God.
We find our fill of God in our daily living for and with Him.
We do this in our homes, our jobs, and our communities, and wherever we find our selves.
Do you spend time in His word? Is it a priority in Your life?
If you claim to love Him and know Him then you should be spending time in His word.
Our relationship is one that is constant and we don’t ever stop being in community with God.
5-10 min a day is a great place to start.
“Christ in you - you in Christ.”
But we also see several places in the NT that call us to meet together and worship together.
There is an app that even reads to you.
Like,
__________________________________________________________
PRAYER
, which tells us to not neglect meeting together as is the habit of some.
What about your prayer life?
Here as the Gathered church we are called to participate in the gospel together.
To hear the word preached together, to pray the word together, to sing the word together and to one another, to read the word together.
How’s that going?
We experience or see the gospel together
Are you spending time in prayer?
Jesus gives us a great picture of what intimacy looks like
That God is Holy We are Sinners Jesus Saves Jesus sends
This is why we structure our services the way we do
in Prayer in .
It says
with a spoken call to worship,
we sing songs that are rooted in the gospel,
🖥
we confess our sins and rejoice in our salvation,
we hear the gospel proclaimed,
But when you pray,
and we are sent out to be his ambassadors to the world.
Sundays and Lifegroups are not merely for us to consume.
[NOTICE IT DOESN'T SAY, IF YOU PRAY, IT SAYS WHEN YOU PRAY]
When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.
We are to participate in the gospel, with each other
and minister to each other
And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
and serve each other,
Jesus teaches us that if we want to seek intimacy with God, we must spend time in private prayer.
Jesus even modeled this for us.
and encourage and bear with one another.
This is about us coming together to worship God,
🖥
to love God, and to Love one another.
(ESV)
Sunday morning is not our weekly fuel up station for God,
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
If Jesus, the Son of God, found it important for Him to steal away and spend quality alone time with God, how much more should we?
but rather
it’s our overflow of what He has been pouring into us
🖥
as we have been pursing Him through out our week.
The true christian seeking intimacy with God will pray most often and most fervently in private.
Why?
Though, we hope and pray that you always leave church feeling closer and more full of the Lord than when you came in.
Because prayer is where the worshiper is most intimate with God and God is intimate with him.
That you are stirred in your affections for Him,
It’s where we pour out or hearts to Him in
and you feel closer to those around you.
praise, repentance, thanksgiving, adoration, supplication, and intercession.
But no right environment or song or personal church preference can create intimacy with God.
A candlelit dinner with romantic music will not cultivate or create a genuine intimate relationship with a stranger.
It’s where we share our hearts with God, our most intimate thoughts, fears, desires and expressions of love to Him.
It’s where our affections, that were awakened from spending time in His word, can be liberally expressed.
Everything that happens in a church service or in a Lifegroup
It’s also where we can beat against His chest when we are frustrated and don’t understand why something difficult has happened.
isn’t enough, on its own, for you to have a genuine relationship with Christ.
All of this stuff means nothing if you are not pursing a relationship with God through His word
And He is more than big enough and gracious enough to take it.
and through His Spirit, outside of here.
Prayer is a grace and a privilege.
It is when we are pursuing Him in our daily lives that those aesthetics and experiences can fuel our intimacy with God, but they will never create it.
I think if we truly knew the privilege that we have when it comes to prayer we would surly spend more time there, pouring ourselves out to Him.
By the Spirit, Through the Son - we have unfettered access to throne of the King of kings.
If we want intimacy with God we must pursue knowing Him and spending time with Him out side of this place, in our daily lives.
🖥
And it all starts with small steps of obedience.
__________________________________________________________
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
OBEDIENCE
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Like a monogamous marriage, there are rules in our relationship with God. And those unwavering and unchanging boundaries are defined in His word.
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
But before we can walk in obedience
We are first loved by God,
Because of the our Justification by Faith in Christ, we can draw near to God’s throne of grace… not in fear and hesitation, but in confidence as adopted sons and daughters of God.
This is all grace!!!!! All because He loves us!
then we love Him and seek to know Him,
How’s your private prayer life going?
and through the sanctifying work of the Spirit,
we become like Him.
Are you spending time daily connecting with God in isolated prayer?
Which is why we say at Lifepoint
This stuff, Reading our bibles and praying, it doesn’t require hours and hours and hours of time.
🖥
__________________________________________________________
SCATTERED AND GATHERED
Spiritual Intimacy means Relationship comes before Rules.
Our obedience flows from our relationship with Him.
🖥
The Christian life happens in two main contexts:
First we know God and have a relationship with Him.
Scattered and Gathered.
And as we continue to press into knowing Him and through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, we begin to become more and more Like Jesus.
Scattered,
Our pursuit of obedience and good deeds is nothing more than meaningless works, if we don’t know God and are not found in Christ.
God doesn’t want our ritualistic religious works.
He isn’t impressed with our good willed intentions.
He wants our love and faith.
He delights in our knowing of Him.
we live our lives in the intimacy and communion of God.
We spend time consuming His word and engaging in prayer. We grow in our faith and relationship with God.
Not about Him, but really knowing Him.
We find our fill of God in our daily living for and with Him.
We do this in our homes, our jobs, and our communities, and wherever we find our selves.
🖥
Our relationship is one that is constant and we don’t ever stop being in community with God.
(NRSV)
For the love of God is this,
“Christ in you - you in Christ.”
But we also see several places in the NT that call us to meet together and worship together.
that we obey his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome.
Like,
, which tells us to not neglect meeting together as is the habit of some.
No one can rightly claim to have intimacy with God if their lives are marked by disobedience to His word.
Our sinful disobedience is spiritual adultery and it creates a distance between us and God.
Here as the Gathered church we are called to participate in the gospel together.
To hear the word preached together, to pray the word together, to sing the word together and to one another, to read the word together.
But praise be to the Lord, for in Christ we have received grace upon grace upon grace.
Even in our sinful adultery and faithlessness, God is faithful and keeps His covenant with us and His justice is satisfied by the blood of Jesus. So we confess our sins to Him we are forgiven and restored in our relationship. ()
We experience or see the gospel together
And after God picks us up off the ground when we have fallen.
That God is Holy We are Sinners Jesus Saves Jesus sends
He invites to continue to draw near.
This is why we structure our services the way we do
It’s through Gods love for us and our relationship with Him that will lead us to joyful obedience and conformity to Christ.
with a spoken call to worship,
we sing songs that are rooted in the gospel,
_______________________________________________________
BEING KNOWN BY GOD
we confess our sins and rejoice in our salvation,
we hear the gospel proclaimed,
and we are sent out to be his ambassadors to the world.
And lastly
We know what it means for us to know God,
Sundays and Lifegroups are not merely for us to consume.
But what does it mean for us to be known by God.
We are to participate in the gospel, with each other
and minister to each other
Our relationship with God is a matter of grace.
We don’t get to make friends with God.
and serve each other,
He makes friends with us.
and encourage and bear with one another.
He brings us to know Him by making His love known to us.
This is about us coming together to worship God,
to love God, and to Love one another.
We love Him because He has first loved us.
Sunday morning is not our weekly fuel up station for God,
We see this in
🖥
but rather
it’s our overflow of what He has been pouring into us
(have them say it)
as we have been pursing Him through out our week.
But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
Though, we hope and pray that you always leave church feeling closer and more full of the Lord than when you came in.
This is what matters most!
That you are stirred in your affections for Him,
Not that we know God, but that He knows us!!!
Now God is omniscient. Meaning He knows everything.
and you feel closer to those around you.
, says
But no right environment or song or personal church preference can create intimacy with God.
Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
A candlelit dinner with romantic music will not cultivate or create a genuine intimate relationship with a stranger.
Everything that happens in a church service or in a Lifegroup
His understanding is infinite.
God knows literally everything and everything is dependent upon His supremacy.
isn’t enough, on its own, for you to have a genuine relationship with Christ.
All of this stuff means nothing if you are not pursing a relationship with God through His word
He see’s and knows the past, present, and future with equal understanding and knowledge.
and through His Spirit, outside of here.
There is not one molecule out of place or spec of dust that He is not aware of.
It is when we are pursuing Him in our daily lives that those aesthetics and experiences can fuel our intimacy with God, but they will never create it.
He is fully aware of every fact that ever was, is and will be.
So we know that God is all knowing and, in that,
If we want intimacy with God we must pursue knowing Him and spending time with Him out side of this place, in our daily lives.
And it all starts with small steps of obedience.
He knows everyone.
__________________________________________________________
But there are places through out scripture where God uses the word “Knowing" in a different way.
OBEDIENCE
He uses it in a more personal and intimate way.
He uses it in a way that conveys His sovereign choosing, His action of redeeming, His calling and preserving those whom he has chosen. Those, who are His own possession.
Like a monogamous marriage, there are boundaries in our relationship with God. And those unwavering and unchanging boundaries are defined in His word.
His people.
But first we are loved by God,
then we love Him and seek to know Him,
We see this in many places through out scripture.
Like in where it says.
and through the sanctifying work of the Spirit,
we become like Him.
“For I have chosen (Literally, to know) [Abraham],”
Which is why we say at Lifepoint
Or in where He is telling Moses that He Knows him by name.
🖥
Or in where He tells the prophet that Hew knew Him and consecrated him before He was even born
Spiritual Intimacy means Relationship comes before Rules.
🖥
Or in
Our obedience flows from our relationship with Him.
But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal:
First we know God and have a relationship with Him.
“The Lord knows those who are his,”
And as we continue to press into knowing Him and through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, we begin to become more and more Like Jesus.
and,
Our pursuit of obedience and good deeds is nothing more than meaningless works, if we don’t know God and are not found in Christ.
🖥
“Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
To be known by God means that God has known you before the foundations of the world were laid. His eyes were on you and He has called You and has chosen You to be His.
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
To be in Christ means that you are FULLY known by God
Your very knowledge of God is fully dependent on God’s initiative of knowing you.
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
To be known by God, mean’s to be fully known,
God doesn’t want your ritualistic religious works.
He isn’t impressed with your good willed intentions.
He wants your love and faith.
He delights in your knowing of Him.
because He is fully aware of every thought and desire you have,
Not about Him, but of Him.
🖥
He knows your past, present, and future completely,
(NRSV)
If you want to know how intimately God knows you…
For the love of God is this,
Check out .
that we obey his commandments.
He knows you at your best and He most certainly knows you at your worst.
Yet He loves you still and went to amazing lengths to redeem you and bring you to a place where you can get to know Him.
And his commandments are not burdensome.
So we see that there is a huge difference between God knowing us as our omniscient creator and Him knowing us as His chosen possession, His people.
No one can rightly claim to have intimacy with God if their lives are marked by disobedience to His word.
He is calling us to experience the purpose for which we were made and the fullness of Joy in knowing Him and being known by Him.
Our sinful disobedience is spiritual adultery and it creates a distance between us and God.
But praise be to the Lord, for in Christ we have received grace upon grace upon grace.
This intimate relationship is only possible because God has initiated it, He has orchestrated it in His goodness and grace!
Look at the good news in
Before we were born He knew us and choose us as His own,
Despite our sinfulness, He sent His son to die for us and gave us His righteousness, justified us through faith,
🖥
And put His Spirit in us.
Let us not waste this gift.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
God desires to speak to you.
Even in our sinful adultery and faithlessness, God is faithful and keeps His covenant with us and His justice is satisfied by the blood of Jesus. So we confess our sins to Him we are forgiven and restored in our relationship.
All you have to do is open your Bible and listen.
And after God picks us up off the ground when we have fallen.
He invites to continue to draw near.
_______________________________________________________
QUESTIONS
It’s through Gods love for us and our relationship with Him that will lead us to joyful obedience and conformity to Christ.
So, What are your next steps?
_______________________________________________________
BEING KNOWN BY GOD
What do you need to do to develop and cultivate intimacy with God?
Do you need to discipline yourself to spend more time in His word?
And lastly
Do you need to be still and spend time in prayer?
We know what it means for us to know God,
Is there a sin issue in your life that is creating a distance between you and God?
But what does it mean for us to be known by God.
Our relationship with God is a matter of grace.
Do you need to just spend some time rejoicing in the love and grace that he has for you?
We don’t get to make friends with God.
I invite you to take a few minutes to reflect on what God is saying to you and what your next steps are?
If you are not hearing anything from God, then I encourage you spend this time praying and asking God to come and meet with you right now.
He makes friends with us.
He brings us to know Him by making His love known to us.
__________________________________________________________
CLOSING AND BENEDICTION
We love Him because He has first loved us.
Thank you for coming this morning.
We see this in
I hope that your affections hope that your affections for Christ have been greatly stirred this morning.
🖥
Real quick,
If you're a guest,
…You have come to know God, or rather to be known by God…
We invite you to fill out a guest card thats found in your listening guide.
And also in
You can drop into one of the two black boxes or take it to guest central in the lobby
🖥
(point to it).
(have them say it)
For every card we receive,
But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.
This is what matters most!
we give $5 to an organization called WARM.
Which Stands for
Not that we know God, but that He knows us!!!
Westerville Area Resource Ministry.
Now God is omniscient. Meaning He knows everything.
We see this evident in scriptures like
We are giving to this organzation in light of our Westerville Campus that just launched at the beginning of this year.
🖥
So please make sure to fill those out and drop them off. If you’d like to know more about WARM you can grab one of these cards at guest central on your way out.
that says
For those who are interested we are having our Connecting Point following the (second service.)
…he knows everything.
Connecting Point is a causal lunch that gives you the opportunity to meet some of the Lifepoint staff team and other people who are newer to Lifepoint.
You can get more information on Connecting Point and it’s location from at Guest Central or by talking to one of the Staff Members.
And
Regular attenders and members,
you can give your tithes and offerings in the black boxes
Great is our Lord and abundant in strength;
His understanding is infinite.
or the various ways listed on the screen behind me.
God knows literally everything and everything is dependent upon His supremacy.
Now, may our go in the grace and knowledge of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
He see’s and knows the past, present, and future with equal understanding and knowledge.
There is not one molecule out of place or spec of dust that He is not aware of.
To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.
Amen.
He is fully aware of every fact that ever was, is and will be.
-
So we know that God is all knowing and, in that,
He knows everyone.
But there are places through out scripture where God uses the word “Knowing" in a different way.
He uses it in a more personal and intimate way.
He uses it in a way that conveys His sovereign choosing, His action of redeeming, His calling and preserving those whom he has chosen. Those, who are His own possession.
His people.
We see this in many places through out scripture.
Like in where He is talking about Abraham and He says,
🖥
For I have chosen (Literally, to know) [Abraham], that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord…
Or in where He is telling Moses that He Knows him by name.
Or in where He tells the prophet that Hew knew Him and consecrated him before He was even born
🖥
Or in
But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal:
“The Lord knows those who are his,”
and,
“Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
🖥
Last one,
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.
I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.
I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and I am God.
To be known by God means that God has known you before the foundations of the world were laid. His eyes were on you and He has called You and has chosen You to be His.
To be in Christ means that you are FULLY known by God
J.I. Packer, in his book, Knowing God.
Says this about being known by God.
🖥
"What matters supremely, therefore, is not,
in the last analysis,
the fact that I know God,
but the larger fact which underlies it-
the fact that he knows me.
I am graven on the palms of his hands. I am never out of his mind. All my knowledge of him depends on his sustained initiative in knowing me. I know him because he first knew me, and continues to know me.
He knows me as a friend,
one who loves me;
and there is no moment when his eye is off me,
or his attention distracted from me,
and no moment, therefore, when his care falters.”
Your very knowledge of God is fully dependent on God’s initiative of knowing you.
To be known by God, mean’s to be fully known,
because He is fully aware of every thought and desire you have,
He knows your past, present, and future completely,
He knows you more intimately than you even know yourself.
🖥
Just look at
1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.
13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
God knows you fully! He knows you more intimately than you know yourself.
He knows you at your best and He most certainly knows you at your worst.
Yet He loves you still and went to amazing lengths to redeem you and bring you to a place where you can get to know Him.
So we see that there is a huge difference between God knowing us as our omniscient creator and Him knowing us as His chosen possession, His people.
He is calling us to experience the fullness of joy and purpose in knowing Him and being known by Him.
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QUESTIONS
So, What are your next steps?
What do you need to do to develop and cultivate intimacy with God?
Do you need to discipline yourself to spend more time in His word?
Do you need to be still and spend time in prayer?
Is there a sin issue in your life that is creating a distance between you and God?
Do you need to just spend some time rejoicing in the love and grace that he has for you?
I invite you to take a few minutes to reflect on what God is saying to you and what your next steps are?
If you are not hearing anything from God, then I encourage you spend this time praying and asking God to come and meet with you right now.
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CLOSING AND BENEDICTION
Thank you for coming this morning.
I hope that your affections hope that your affections for Christ have been greatly stirred this morning.
Real quick,
If you're a guest,
We invite you to fill out a guest card thats found in your listening guide.
You can drop into one of the two black boxes or take it to guest central in the lobby
(point to it).
For every card we receive,
we give $5 to an organization called WARM.
Which Stands for
Westerville Area Resource Ministry.
We are giving to this organzation in light of our Westerville Campus that just launched at the beginning of this year.
So please make sure to fill those out and drop them off. If you’d like to know more about WARM you can grab one of these cards at guest central on your way out.
For those who are interested we are having our Connecting Point following the (second service.)
Connecting Point is a causal lunch that gives you the opportunity to meet some of the Lifepoint staff team and other people who are newer to Lifepoint.
You can get more information on Connecting Point and it’s location from at Guest Central or by talking to one of the Staff Members.
Regular attenders and members,
you can give your tithes and offerings in the black boxes
or the various ways listed on the screen behind me.
Now, may our go in the grace and knowledge of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.
Amen. -