Intimacy With Jesus

Exo 33:7  And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. 
Exo 33:8  And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle. 
Exo 33:9  And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. 
Exo 33:10  And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door. 
Exo 33:11  And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. 

 

INTIMACY WITH JESUS…

This new month, my heart has been crying out for more – for more of God.

I started the month of June with God asking me to ask for more of His Spirit and then this month He is asking me to sit at His feet and dig into:

1: A better prayer life

2: Intimacy with Him

 

I won’t go into how my heart has been crying out for so many externals but then Jesus tells me that imbedded inside Him are those externals and He is showing me a door that few men walk through – men like Moses.

I read the above verses in Exodus chapter 33 about two days ago and since then I have been stuck on it; meditating and trying to dig into what exactly God is saying with that chapter.

I told my sisters in the women at the well online group that I will share this Bible study on it since our prayers for today revolved around us asking for grace to love sitting at Jesus feet and spending time with Him.

So here goes:

There are a few things in Exodus chapter 33 that every person who desires to go deeper in God should know.

 

1: Intimacy with Jesus is done outside the camp; outside the crowd:

 And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. 

You see this pull into deeper intimacy with Jesus isn’t for everyone, not because it is not accessible by everyone but because not everyone s willing to go outside the camp to seek the Lord.

 

2: Intimacy with Jesus is a place where you meet with God:

The NLT version calls the tabernacle Moses set up outside the camp as a “Tent of meeting”.

Basically a meeting place with the Lord. To dig deeper into intimacy with God would take a person who is ready to meet God and keep the appointments/dates He/she has with God.

There were spectators during Moses’ time too – people who would stand at their doors at watch as Moses went to His meeting place with God but it wasn’t supposed to be so. Our Bible chapter tells us that the tent of meeting was for everyone WHO SOUGHT THE LORD.

Why weren’t these people seeking God?

And think about yourself; have you been a spectator or have you been one who goes outside the camp to meet with God?

Are you the one who watches as your sister goes into the secret place to meet with God or are you that sister or brother who goes to kiss heaven each day?

 

3: There are no holds barred in this place of intimacy with God:

Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.

This place of intimacy is a place where we can EASILY ACCESS and interact with God as our friend, Father, lover and one who speaks to us and loves us tenderly.

At this place of intimacy with God, we grow to where our lives please Him and of a surety we know for a fact that He knows us by name and is delighted in us.

This intimacy isn’t gotten with works; it is gotten and accessed by RELATIONSHIP. RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.

 

Exo 33:12 ONE DAY Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But you haven’t told me whom you will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.’
Exo 33:13 If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.”
Exo 33:14 The LORD replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest–everything will be fine for you.”
Exo 33:15 Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.
Exo 33:16 How will anyone know that you look favorably on me–on me and on your people–if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth.”
Exo 33:17 The LORD replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.”
Exo 33:18 Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.”

In this place of intimacy and relationship you can make seemingly outrageous requests:

Lord show me your glory..

Lord place your Spirit in a double portion on me..

Lord let me see you as you are, no holds barred…

 

Moses did ask this kind of outrageous request ONE DAY after so many days of CONSISTENTLY meeting with God and God was only too glad to oblige Him.

Lord I want to carry your presence. I want to carry you. 

Such requests are for those who are in RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

Let’s end this by asking some of the questions the Lord asked me and I also asked myself as I sat before Him today:

 

Is the Lord pleased with me?

Does He know me by name?

In reality what does this mean for me? Do I know His ways arising from intimacy with Him?

Can I ask Him to show me His glory and shower His glory on me and He will do so because He trusts me? Because i have been consistent with Him and His heart is now poured out into mine?

IT IS A RELATIONSHIP. This is it. RELATIONSHIP.

Am I in relationship with Jesus?

Are you in a relationship with Jesus?

ARE YOU STILL IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR LORD AND SAVIOUR?

 

PRAYER:

Lord take me back. Call me back Lord, Call me back. I want to know you. I want to seek your face. I want to be the generation that seeks you.

 

“This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob.”-KJV

“This is the generation that seeks him. Those who seek your face are the true seed of Jacob. -ISV

-Psalm 24:6

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This July, we are actually running on a fast for “a better prayer life and intimacy with Jesus”

We post daily prayers on the online group of the women at the well and also on my Instagram page HERE

For this month of July we will also be praying every Sunday at my Church here in VI, Lagos. This is for ladies only though. If you want to join us, please email me at okorofrances@gmail.com

 

The theme of #OnlineBibleStudy on here for this month will also be on pursuing God.. shared each week as God leads.

 

What are we thirsty for?

GOD.

I hope you are too.

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If you need a bit of revival, please watch the prayer video from the last the women at the well meet where God led us all to again cry out for Him as our one thing. Watch it HERE

Yours in Christ,

Frances

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