Intimacy Is Key For The Man Of God:

In Dr. Brian Bailey’s book, The Apostle, he lists 13 character qualities of an apostle. The first and foremost he places at the top of his list is: 

• “Intimacy with God- A deep personal loving relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit…”¹

However, I would like to expand on that theme to include all the ministry gifts listed in Ephesians chapter 4. Personally speaking this should involve all the designated equipping offices: apostle, prophet, teacher, pastor, and evangelist. Every man and woman of God must have an intimate relationship with the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. It is through intimacy the secret things of the Lord are revealed to us.

The disciples asked Jesus why did He speak to the people in parables. (Matthew 13:10 ff)

“He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” 

Jesus is telling them, “Because you are close to me I can reveal to you my secrets, my hidden truths.” The word “know”² indicates close, intimate, personal knowledge. Every Truth of scripture should lead us to an encounter with Jesus. Knowing “about” is in the head, intimate “knowing” is in the heart! 

The “secrets” of God belong to those who are close to Him, and are in continuous pursuit to get even closer. Everything we need to know, and then some, lies in our proximity to Jesus. How close are we? Though Peter was a part of the inner circle with James and his brother John, he indicated to John, who was even closer, to ask Jesus regarding His betrayer. (John 13:23-24) When you are intimate with the Master, not only can you “ask” the question, you will get an answer to your question. 

Who Do You Know? 

I’ve heard it said many times regarding advancing in the material world that it’s “all in who you know.” It is no accident that the same truth is applicable in the spiritual world as well. It is ALL in Whom you know! There are levels of intimacy with rewards, or benefits at each level. Hebrews 11:6 declares, “He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Understand the greater the pursuit of intimacy with Jesus, the greater the benefits we receive. He rewards us with Himself! The Lord told Abraham in a vision, “I am your shield, exceedingly great reward.”³ 

Jesus continued to speak to His disciples in Matthew chapter 13, telling them how they are blessed to be close to Him: 

"But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.” ⁴ 

In other words, He is saying to His disciples they are in a better position to hear His secrets, and whatever He has is available to them and us. The apostle Peter understood this and later wrote: 

 “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature,” 2 Peter 1:2-4

What does he say? But, through our personal and experiential knowledge of God, we experience everything we need regarding our natural and spiritual life. We become co-laborers with Jesus and partakers of His divine nature. Win-win!

To Prophet – Or, Profit? 

When we seek Jesus first, then out of His presence comes all of our provision. Too many ministers are too busy seeking a way to make provision, even if it means, “merchandising the anointing.” That is using the gifts God gave them for personal profit. (Ever heard of the prophet Balaam? Prophet Balaam became Profit Balaam) I believe the judgment of God will be more severe to those men and women of God who use their positions in an attempt to manipulate good men and women to give to them financially for the purpose of their own selfish pleasure rather than the Kingdom of God. We will give more detail to that in a moment. 

Miracles, signs and wonders simply flow out of the intimate relationship we develop with Jesus. Let me repeat this: the provision of everything you will ever need, as well as, meeting the needs of others, comes from the overflow of being constantly and habitually in His presence. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit want us to “know” as a husband “knows” his wife. That, pure and simple, is the intimacy that is required for you and I to be world changers, and Kingdom shakers. 

The deep things of God are available to those with ears to hear the whispers of the Holy Spirit. To hear someone whisper, it is of a necessity to be near him or her. God shouts His truths, but whispers His secrets. 

“All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: "I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.” Matthew 13:34-35

 Could Jesus have possibly been referring to those who only seek after power, fame, and fortune above developing intimacy in relationship with Him in Matthew 7:21-23?

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” 

“I NEVER KNEW YOU” - No, not at any time, did we ever have an intimate relationship, as a man knows his wife. 

Men and women of God let us press in as the apostle Paul, and declare with our lives and not just our mouths:  

“Lord, above every other relationship we have, may we know you, as You know us.”

 My love and embrace,

Eddie 

End Notes:

1.     The Apostle – Dr. Brian J. Bailey – pg. 122

2.     Greek – ginosko: In the NT ginosko frequently indicates a relation between the person "knowing" and the object known; in this respect, what is "known" is of value or importance to the one who knows, and hence the establishment of the relationship. The verb is also used to convey the thought of connection or union, as between man and woman. Vine’s Expository Dictionary.

3.     Genesis 15:1

4.     Matthew 13:16-17