CAC Living Water Devotional: “Levels of Intimacy With God”

DATE: Monday, August 5, 2024

TOPIC: LEVELS OF INTIMACY WITH GOD (I)

Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved (John 13:23).

READ: Exodus 24:15-18

[15]. Then Moses went up into the mountain, and a cloud covered the mountain.

[16]. Now the glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day, He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

[17]. The sight of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel.

[18]. So Moses went into the midst of the cloud and went up into the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Some believers experience a much closer intimacy with God than others. The Scripture and experience teach that it is we, not God, who determines the degree of intimacy with Him that we enjoy. There are four levels of intimacy you can find yourself in as an individual with God. There are examples of these levels of intimacy in both the Old and New Testaments. Moses and the nation of Israel had this experience with their God during their times, while Apostle John and other disciples had the same experience with their Master in the NT.

The first level of intimacy belongs to those who are in the CORE level in the circle of relationship with God. The level was reached solely by Moses, with whom God spoke face-to-face as one speaks to his friend (Exo. 33:11; Num. 12:7-8; Deut. 34:10). Moses knew God in a way the rest of the people didn’t (Exo. 33:13–23). There is always more of God you can encounter if you are ready to pay the price of intimacy.

Not all the disciples had equal access to Jesus. Each of the disciples was as close to Jesus as He chose to be; the Master had no favourite among them. He loved them all, but John alone had the title “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” John, the apostle of love, loved Jesus more and Jesus, too, loved him more. He leaned on his bosom. Intimacy will give you an advantage over others. You cannot enjoy a close relationship with God beyond the level of intimacy you develop with Him.

1. Father, grant me the enablement to move closer to You more than ever before.

2. I snatch myself from the spirit that moves me backwards in the realm of the Spirit, in Jesus’ name.

3. Let us pray for our spiritual leaders to maintain their intimacy with God in all things.

CAC GHB: 809

1. When we walk with the Lord

In the light of his word

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will,

He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way.

To be happy in Jesus,

But to trust and obey

2. Not a shadow can rise,

Not a cloud in the skies,

But his smile quickly drives it away.

Not a doubt nor a fear

Not a sigh nor a tear,

We can abide while we trust and obey.

3. Not a burden we bear,

Not a sorrow we share

But our toil he doth richly repay;

Not a grief nor a loss,

Not a frown nor a cross,

But it is best if we trust and obey.

4. But we never can prove

The delights of His love

Until all on the alter we lay;

For the favour He shows,

And the joy he bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

5. Then in fellowship sweet

We will sit at His feet,

Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.

What He says we will do

Where He sends, we will go.

Never fear; only trust and obey.

Amen.

Isaiah 18, 19, 20