The title alone should in no way imply an end to spiritual hunger. Simply the closing of a five month article. Our hunger for the things of God should never come to a close, rather only intensify.

We have only touched some of the current problems and reasons as to why so many people, even those in ministry, have little or no intimacy with their Savior. Before we can even look at how to develop greater intimacy, there is yet a problem for most of the western church that must be dealt with on a personal level before any achievement can be accomplished.

Time Keeps On Ticking...Ticking...Ticking

For those looking for a “quick fix” you’ve already lost the battle. It’s not going to happen in a one hour church service once a week or once a month. It’s not going to happen in a 10 minute Bible story before bed time. The number one enemy to developing intimacy with God is...time.

It takes time to develop a relationship that is intimate. Let’s face it, you will make time to do the things that are priority in your life. Whatever is important to you, you will rearrange your schedule to see that it will fit somewhere. That in itself is a very grievous thing to the Holy Spirit, time for everyone and everything but Him. Again, without time, any suggestions and revelations you may get beyond this point is in vain without serious application.

“Knock, Knock”... “Who’s There?”

There have been times in our lives when the Presence of God has just felt so overpoweringly near. You bow your head to give thanks for the food you’re about to eat and you almost “fall out” from the Presence. You think about His goodness and start crying driving down the road. Every thing you touch, hear, or see has a spiritual impact as though Jesus Himself was standing right beside you.

Revelation 3:20 says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” NKJV

The Greek word translated “dine” or, “sup” in the King James version, means to share the principle meal of the day. It was a time at the close of the day when family would gather together and share not only the meal, but share their day as well. It was a time of intimacy, of listening, and speaking. It was a time of communion and fellowship. Those are the times when the door of your heart is open and constant spiritual union is taking place.

That’s great. But what about the times when His Presence seems so far away? Is there anything we can do on our end to change things? Why would He be so close one day and so far away the next?

Father Knows Best.

The best way to illustrate that would be to consider a toddler learning to walk. Their steps are quite precarious and awkward. The problem isn’t a step, it’s getting the steps consistent. One after the other. A father will hold out his arms to get that child to come to him. As the child takes a step toward the father, the father takes a step back. Why? To get the child to continue his pursuit and develop their strength and skills. Finally, there is the “reward” of being caught!

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door...

Luke 11: 5 And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7 and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs. 9 "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Just as the father knows what is best for his child, so our Heavenly Father knows what is best for our personal spiritual development. If we are going to pursue spiritual intimacy there will be of necessity times when we will have to do the knocking. That is part of the pursuit. The reward is, He opens the door!

The man who went to his friend at midnight didn’t get his request because of their friendship. He responded because of his persistence. He refused to be denied. That kind of faith requires something more than, “I’ll try and work You in.”

We’ve all been dealt a “measure of faith”. (Romans 12:3) When you humble yourself before God you are preparing your heart for a visitation from Heaven. Humility is faith recognizing your absolute dependence upon Him for everything. Including those intimate times.

Isa 57:15 -For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Don’t Kiss and Tell.

We have probably all quoted Matthew 7:6 at some point regarding do not “cast your pearls before swine.” Sometimes intimacy requires that we keep those pearls, swine or no swine. There is an intimacy between a husband and a wife that should remain between them only. Equally so, the Father desires intimacy with us, and to impart revelation to us, that remains with us.

Paul said it this way, “But I do know that I was caught up into paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be told.” 2 Corinthians 12:4 New Living Translation. He is declaring, “there is an intimacy I wish I could tell you about, but I can’t, it’s too personal.” Can you imagine having times of spiritual intimacy that are so awesome you just can’t tell anyone about it?

It’s there waiting for each of us. God isn’t a respecter of persons. He desires intimacy on that same personal level with each individual. This isn’t about having an encounter with God so you can sell more books, tapes and get more preaching appointments. This is about desire. It’s about living, loving, and adoring the Lover of my soul.

Worship Him Before Working For Him.

Martha was busy working for Jesus, but Mary found the “good part”, sitting at his feet. Our busyness for Jesus is only as good as our time sitting at His feet in adoration and praise. Effective ministry for Him is a direct result of ministering to Him.

Acts 13:2 “One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said...”

God speaks to us in times of worship. Worship takes place in the heart, not in a sanctuary. Note that Jesus said the Father is seeking those who worship Him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23) Worship is just another aspect of intimacy whereby we are embraced by the One we desire communion with. According to that verse, when we engage in true worship either alone or corporately, the Father comes looking for us!

“But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way.” New Living Translation

RSVP Required

An invitation for intimacy has been issued. The Eternal God, Savior, Creator of the universe desires time with you. When it seems He isn’t standing at the door knocking, He has provided ways for us to seek Him out.

Humble yourself.

2Ch 7:14 - “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land”

Persistence.

Luke 11:9-10 - “Keep on asking for something to be given, and it shall be given you. Keep on seeking and you shall find. Keep on reverently knocking, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking for something to be given, keeps on receiving, and he that keeps on seeking, keeps on finding, and to the one who keeps on reverently knocking, it shall be opened.” Kenneth S Wuest Expanded Translation.

Worship.

“You see, the Father too is actively seeking such people to worship him.” New Century Version John 4:23

Who Do You Know?

What we do for the Kingdom and the impact it will have in eternity all comes down to one thing, intimacy. Daniel prophetically spoke about a people that would know Him intimately.

“but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” Daniel 11:32 NKJV

Hebrew grammar scholar and professor, Gesenius, speaks of the phrase “who know their God” as meaning: "to perceive, to come to the knowledge of, by seeing, by hearing, and by experience." Knowing God intimately is a matter of desire and choice.

In the business world it is often said it all comes down to who you know.

So it is in the Kingdom.