The Keys to Grow Closer to God and Have Intimacy With God
What are the keys to grow closer to God and have intimacy with God ? What do you need to do in order to have the close and intimate fellowship with God that He desires for you ?
We will look into God’s word the Bible in order to find the keys to grow closer to God and have intimacy with God.
The Keys To Grow Closer To God
The Bible Uses Marriage As A Symbol Of Our Relationship With God
There are many similarities between having a good marriage relationship with your spouse and having a good personal relationship and intimacy with God. In the Bible, there is a lot of language that refers to marriage in describing a personal relationship with God. Those who receive and profess Jesus as their Lord and Savior are referred to as the “bride of Christ”.
In Jeremiah 2:2 God says “I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert”
Jeremiah 3:14 – God speaks to His people after they had left Him: “Return, faithless people, declares the Lord, for I am your husband”
Jeremiah 3:20: “But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you have been unfaithful to Me.”
We are God’s first love… He loves us more than anything else He created. Now God wants to be our Frist Love so we will love Him more than anything or anyone else. God wants to have an intimate personal relationship with us.
1 Corinthians 1:9 tells us “God who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord is faithful.”
“Koinania” fellowship: “the closest possible fellowship and intimacy with God, and being one with God or in complete unity with Him, and also a partnership with God in His kingdom work and mission.”
Here are the keys to grow closer to God and have intimacy with God
The Keys To Grow Closer To God
1st of the Keys to Grow Closer to God – Commitment (Be Faithful to God)
Deuteronomy 5:7-9 “You shall have no other gods before Me. ‘You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.”
Revelation 2:2-5 “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.”
Psalm 100:5 ” For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.”
1 Chronicles 28:9 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.”
Fully Devoted to God
Acts 2:42 “they devoted themselves…”
(the Greek word for devoted means to “latch on and refuse to let go”. It is the strongest word in the Greek language for Commitment. The early church “latched on” to Jesus and fully committed themselves to Him)
God is fully devoted & committed to us, and His love is an unfailing, forever loyal love. He wants us to be fully devoted and committed to Him, and to love Him as He loves us. Would a marriage be very good if only 1 of the 2 people were totally committed to the other ? Our relationship with God will not be very good if we are not as committed to God as He is to us
2nd of the Keys to Grow Closer to God – Love (“Agape” Love)
Deuteronomy 6:5 “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
1 John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.”
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 “For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”
Psalm 91:14-16 “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.”
Luke 9:23 “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.”
“Agape” Love For God
The Greek word “agape” for Love means “unconditional & sacrificial love”, which Jesus demonstrated when He suffered and died on the cross to pay for the sins of the ones He loved. God wants us to love Him and others in the same way He loves us.
3rd of the Keys to Grow Closer to God – Respect, Honor (Reverence)
Psalm 25:12-14 “Who is the man who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way he should choose. His soul will abide in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land. The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant.”
Luke 11:1-2 “It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” And He said to them, “ When you pray, say: ‘ Father, hallowed be Your name.”
Acts 2:43 “Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.”
1 Samuel 2:30 “…for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed.”
God is worthy of our reverence, and the more we know Him the more we will reverence Him and be in awe of Him. The word Praise means to “place great value on someone”, so when we praise God we are communicating how much we care for Him and value Him
4th of the Keys to Grow Closer to God – Trust, Faith
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him (“submit to Him”), And He will make your paths straight.”
Psalm 91:1-2 “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Psalm 22:4-5 “In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame.”
Faith Is Vital For Intimacy With God
Hebrews 11:1,6 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen… And 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 seek Him.”
Psalm 62:5-8 ” For my hope is from Him. My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
You simply cannot have a good intimate relationship with God or with your spouse if you cannot trust. We will not have close fellowship with God and intimacy with God if we do not learn to fully trust Him and have complete faith in God. We will never follow Jesus the way He wants us to unless we completely trust Him and have faith in Him.
5th of the Keys to Grow Closer to God – Communication (2 way)
Listen (God Speaks)
John 10:4,10-11,27-28 “When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice… The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep… My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.”
1 Kings 19:11-12 ” So He said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing (“a still small voice”).
Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
Have A Humble Heart Attitude To Hear God’s Voice
1 Samuel 3:10 “Then the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
Ecclesiastes 5:1 ” Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil.”
Luke 10:38-42 “Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part (“what is better”), which shall not be taken away from her.”
Luke 11:28 “But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”
We Speak (Prayer)
Acts 1:14, 2:42 ” These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers… They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
1 John 5:14-15 “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”
Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.”
A Lifestyle Of Prayer & Talking With God
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Matthew 7:7 “Ask (“keep on asking”), and it will be given to you; seek (“keep on seeking”), and you will find; knock (“keep on knocking”), and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
God wants us to talk to Him about and involve Him in all aspects of our life, and have a lifestyle of prayer & talking to Him. Hearing God’s voice is the most important part of our prayer time with Him. Good communication and learning to hear God’s “still small voice” is essential to knowing God and His attributes, His ways, His will, and His plans. Hearing God’s voice one of the vital keys to grow closer to God and have intimacy with God.
6th of the Keys to Grow Closer to God – Time, Effort To Know God
John 17:3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
Hebrews 11:6 “And 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 seek Him.”
Luke 10:38, 41-42 “She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word… But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part (“what is better”), which shall not be taken away from her.”
Exodus 33:13, 18-19 “Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight… Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!” And He said, “ I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you
Matthew 11:25-27 ” At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
When You Highly Value God You Will Want To Spend Time With Him
Philippians 3:8-9 “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.”
When you love someone you want to know them more & more. It takes time and effort and desire and determination in order to get to know God… it is a lifelong process and a heart attitude… make knowing God your main desire and pursuit – nothing will please Him more. The more you know Jesus the more you will love Him, and trust Him, and delight in Him, and follow & obey Him.
7th of the Keys to Grow Closer to God – Honesty
Psalm 62:8 “Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.”
Psalm 13:1-2 ” How long, O L ord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me ? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day ?”
Psalm 22:1-2 “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest.”
1 Samuel 1:10-11 ” In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
Be Transparent With God About Sin
Psalm 51:2-4 “Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. And cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned. And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak.”
Psalm 51:10-12 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence. And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation. And sustain me with a willing spirit.”
God wants you to “pour out your heart to Him” (Psalm 62:8) , whatever it is you are feeling and going through, because He deeply cares for you. Note how David would be completely honest with God in some of the Psalms (Psalm 13, 22,…). God is always truthful with us, and He wants us to be truthful with Him
Pursuing Intimacy With God
Pursuing Intimacy With God is committed to helping you with the most important thing in your life… your intimacy with God , your fellowship with Him, and your partnership with God in His Kingdom work & mission.
There are hundreds of Bible verses and great truths & promises in the Pursuing Intimacy With God studies book
** New Expanded Edition of Pursuing Intimacy With God Bible Studies Book – 40% more material
Ebook version of Pursuing Intimacy With God
Pursuing Intimacy With God ebook Kindle version
Other Links
Salvation: The Requirements for True Salvation
Preview the Pursuing Intimacy With God Studies Book
Jesus Christ Is The Source of Abundant Life
Can You Personally Know God – Part 2
Hearing God’s Voice – Vital for Intimacy With God
Hinderances To Hearing God’s Voice
You Can Learn to Hear God’s Voice
What Is Prayer ? God’s Purpose For Prayer
The Desires of God’s Heart – Part 2
The Greatest Desire of God’s Heart
True Salvation: What Is Salvation ?
The Requirements for True Salvation
