God Has A Need For Intimacy Series

Pastor Dan Turpin

West Coast Church

John 4:3-7

Introduction: Years ago I preached a message from John. 4:3-7 which says, v3 Jesus left Judea and returned to Galilee and … came to the Samaritan village of Sychar … v6 Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. v7 Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” From that encounter I saw three things: 1) God Has Needs 2) You have the ability to minister to the needs of God. 3) You were created to meet God’s Needs. Commandments reflect God’s needs, what He needs from us and the potential we have in Him.

John. 14:13-18, v13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. v14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. v15 If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray to the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever. v17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. v18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. John 15:14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. Commandments are a reflection of God’s nature, a window into His soul. They reveal His needs and what is required of those who desire to have relationship with Him.

#1. God's need for Intimacy (Ex. 20:8 remember the Sabbath)

A. Pastor Dan: In order for God to develop a relationship with you He needs time with you. It is just as impossible for God to develop a relationship with you without you spending time with Him as it is for me to develop a relationship with you without spending time with you. Sabbath is a time you and I set aside in our live where we show God that there is nothing more important to us than Him.

1. Nothing more Important (Ps. 27:4 One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the

LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple.)

a. Rob Parsons: How we spend our time shows what we value. There are many demands on our time that we can’t do

much about, but so often the biggest time pressure is the unnecessary business that is created by us. Some of us work

long hours irrespective of any real need to do so and many of us pursue unnecessary goals (perhaps most obviously

greater wealth and a higher standard of living). Probably all of us spend time on things that are neither urgent nor

important, so called busy work. We can’t do everything. We have to choose.

b. Is. 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.

c. David Bevan: There is a Filipino description of westerners as “people with gods on the wrists.” Spending time with God

is important—indeed it’s of crucial importance to the way we live—but it never seems urgent. As a result we find it easy

to postpone, delaying indefinitely until it never happens

d. Matt. 6:33 Seek first the Kingdom of God and ….

e. William Booth: The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.

f. David Bevan: Given how incredibly wonderful God is, it is somewhat astonishing how little time many of us spend time

on deepening our relationship with Him. When a young man and woman are dating, only things over which they have no

control will keep them apart. If we let God captivate our heart with His love, then we too will desire to be with Him above

anything else.

g. Ps. 34:1; 42:1-4 I will bless the LORD at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth. As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. 2

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? v3 My tears have been my food

day and night, while they continually say to me, “Where is your God? v4 When I remember these things, I pour out my

soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, With the voice of joy and

praise, with a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.

2. Draw Near (James 4:7 submit yourself to God)