STEPS IN GETTING TO KNOW GOD INTIMATELY

Title: STEPS IN GETTING TO KNOW GOD INTIMATELY

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: James 4:8
Supporting Texts: Jeremiah 29:13, John 17:3, Psalm 63:1-2

INTRODUCTION:
To know God intimately is the desire of every believer. It involves a personal and deep relationship that goes beyond surface-level knowledge. This kind of relationship requires effort, dedication, and commitment. In this study, we will explore the steps necessary to grow in an intimate relationship with God.

1. SEEK GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART

a) Develop a Desire for God:
Intimacy with God begins with a deep hunger and thirst for His presence (Psalm 42:1-2).

b) Spend Time in Prayer:
Prayer is the means by which we communicate with God. Through consistent and heartfelt prayer, we grow closer to Him (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

c) Pursue God’s Will Above Your Own:
Surrendering our will and desires to God is essential to knowing Him intimately (Luke 22:42).

d) Study His Word Daily:
God reveals Himself through His Word. Regular Bible study helps us understand His nature and character (Joshua 1:8).

Biblical Example:
David sought God earnestly in prayer and worship, and God called him a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22).

2. OBEY GOD’S COMMANDMENTS

a) Demonstrate Love through Obedience:
Jesus taught that love for God is shown through obedience to His commandments (John 14:21).

b) Live a Life of Holiness:
Intimacy with God requires living a holy and blameless life, set apart from sin (1 Peter 1:15-16).

c) Be Attentive to God’s Voice:
Listening and responding to God’s voice strengthens our relationship with Him (John 10:27).

d) Reject Worldly Influences:
Intimacy with God requires separation from the world and its values (Romans 12:2).

Biblical Example:
Abraham’s obedience to God, even when asked to sacrifice Isaac, deepened his relationship with God (Genesis 22:1-18).

3. WORSHIP GOD IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH

a) Have a Heart of Worship:
Worship brings us into the presence of God and allows us to experience His glory (John 4:23-24).

b) Be Sincere in Worship:
True intimacy requires genuine worship, not mere lip service (Isaiah 29:13).

c) Live a Life of Worship:
Worship is not just a church activity; it is a lifestyle where every aspect of our lives honours God (Romans 12:1).

d) Praise God Regardless of Circumstances:
Intimacy with God is built when we praise Him, even in difficult times (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

Biblical Example:
Paul and Silas worshipped God in prison, and their intimacy with Him resulted in a miraculous deliverance (Acts 16:25-26).

4. TRUST IN GOD COMPLETELY

a) Rely on God’s Promises:
Trusting God means believing in His promises and knowing that He is faithful (Numbers 23:19).

b) Surrender Your Fears and Worries:
Cast all your anxieties on God, knowing He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).

c) Have Faith in God’s Timing:
Trusting God’s perfect timing is essential for intimacy with Him (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

d) Believe in God’s Goodness:
Intimacy grows when we trust in God’s goodness and His plans for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11).

Biblical Example:
Job, despite his trials, trusted in God’s sovereignty and was restored in his relationship with God (Job 42:1-6).

5. WALK IN HUMILITY AND REPENTANCE

a) Recognise Your Dependence on God:
Intimacy with God begins when we acknowledge that we are nothing without Him (John 15:5).

b) Confess and Turn from Sin:
Repentance cleanses our hearts and restores intimacy with God (1 John 1:9).

c) Be Quick to Forgive Others:
Just as God forgives us, we must forgive others to maintain closeness with Him (Matthew 6:14-15).

d) Remain Teachable and Submissive:
A humble heart that is willing to learn and obey draws near to God (James 4:6).

Biblical Example:
The prodigal son, upon repentance and return, experienced renewed intimacy with his father (Luke 15:11-24).

CONCLUSION:
Growing in intimacy with God requires intentional steps of seeking Him with all our hearts, obeying His Word, worshipping in spirit and truth, trusting in Him completely, and walking in humility and repentance. As we take these steps, we will experience deeper fellowship and knowledge of God, which will transform every aspect of our lives.

PRAYER POINTS:
1. Lord, give me a heart that seeks after You earnestly.

2. Father, help me to obey Your commandments in every area of my life.

3. Lord, fill my heart with genuine worship and praise for You.

4. Father, help me to trust in Your promises and timing.

5. Lord, keep me humble and repentant before You always.

6. Father, draw me closer to You each day as I seek to know You more.

7. Lord, give me the grace to separate myself from worldly distractions.

8. Father, help me to live a life of holiness and righteousness before You.

9. Lord, remove any pride or self-sufficiency that hinders my relationship with You.

10. Father, fill me with a deep hunger and thirst for Your presence.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS:
1. I declare that I will know God intimately as I seek Him with all my heart.

2. I decree that nothing will hinder my obedience to God’s Word.

3. I declare that my worship will rise to God in spirit and in truth.

4. I speak that I will trust God completely and rest in His promises.

5. I declare that humility and repentance will mark my walk with God.

6. I decree that I will experience deeper levels of intimacy with God daily.

7. I declare that distractions will not pull me away from my pursuit of God.

8. I decree that I will live a life that pleases and honours God in all things.

9. I declare that my relationship with God will transform every aspect of my life.

10. I speak that my heart will burn with passion to know God more and more.