Knowing the Heart of God

Intro

A California Airbnb host placed 3 hidden cameras in the bedroom and bathroom of a guest suite he rented to an unsuspecting couple last year.

The couple noticed the cameras hidden in the ceilings after spending two nights at the property in the San Diego area.

The victims believe the spying devices recorded them in the shower, on the toilet, and in the bedroom.

Two cameras were hidden behind small holes in the bathroom. One camera had a full view of the shower. One camera pointed at the mirror which gave the camera a full view of the toilet. One camera was hidden in the smoke detector above the bed in the bedroom.

The 14 page lawsuit claims the the couple who rented the Airbnb felt humiliated by the intrusion.

“The couple will spend every day of the rest of their lives wondering if video of them in their most intimate moments will appear online” stated the their lawyer David Beavans. “This is a clear violation of privacy.”

The most intimate things require a certain level of privacy.

Think of how you would feel if you were in that situation.

Intimacy is defined as closeness, familiarity, friendship. A sharing of affection.

The most intimate things require a certain level of privacy.

This is true in our spiritual lives as well.

Intimacy at it’s very core is knowing someone deeply.

The more intimate the relationship, the more you know the person.

I don’t have to google facts about my wife.

We see further evidence of this in the bible.

Genesis 4:1 NKJV

1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.”

Certain versions may say made love or sexual relations.

The Hebrew verb is the verb “ya-da” which means to know, or to become known.

This most intimate act of love is all about knowing the other person better.

Many of us today are looking for ways to know God better.

3 Intimate Ways to Connect with God

1) Giving to those in need.

Matthew 6:1–4 NLT

1 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. 2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. 3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Matthew 25:35–40 NLT

35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

2) Prayer

Matthew 6:5–13 NLT

5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. 7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today the food we need, 12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.

John 15:5–9 NLT

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. 9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.

3) Fasting

Matthew 6:16–18 NLT

16 “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. 18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Matthew 4:1–2 NLT

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

Matthew 4:10–11 NLT

10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” 11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

Challenge

For the next 30 days

Fast one meal a week. Spend your fasting time in prayer for our church, our community, our nation, and people that do not have a relationship with Jesus.

Spend the first 5 minutes and the last 5 minutes of your day in silent prayer and reflection carefully listening and giving attention to what God is placing on your heart.

Preform one random act of kindness per day. It does not always have to involve money. It could be as simple as helping someone carry something. Making a phone call to someone that you have not talked to in awhile, taking someone else’s cart back to the cart coral for them. The key is taking your focus off of yourself and placing it on someone else.

These intimate practices will help you connect with God on a deeper level because they are intimate things that help us know Him more.

The most intimate things require a certain level of privacy.