Steps To Intimacy Part 4 Series

The SPIRIT-led Lifestyle

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.

Romans 8:14

Part 4: Steps To Intimacy

John 17: 20-26

“In an effort to get the work of the Lord done we often lose contact with the Lord of the work.” A. W. Tozer

Intimacy means connection from the innermost areas.

Five Tests of Intimacy:

I know I am intimate with the Lord when.....

* I fearlessly worship Him.

Worship = a lack of self-awareness in God’s presence

1)expressed love 2) sacrifice

3)confession 4)surrender

* I instinctively understand His heart.

Because I spend time in the Word

Because I spend time in prayer

* I honestly communicate with Him.

About my sins

About my needs

About my doubts

* I selflessly pursue His priorities.

1)Worship 2)Evangelism 3)Fellowship

4)Discipleship 5)Service

* I constantly experience His ....

Presence “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:20

Peace “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace.” John 16:33

Power “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” Acts 1:8

The Steps To Intimacy–John 17:20-26

1. Begin with Jesus v. 20

“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12

2. Commitment brings Connection v. 21

Baptism–1st step of obedience in following the Lord

Membership–connect to the Lord’s people

Ministry–give to others what you’ve been given

3. Involvement in the Big Picture v. 23

Two goals: maturity

outreach

4. Allow God to love you v. 26

Spirituality is not about competency; it is about intimacy. Spirituality is not about perfection; it is about connection. The way of the spiritual life begins where we are now in the mess of our lives. Accepting the reality of our broken, flawed lives is the beginning of spirituality, not because the spiritual life will remove our flaws, but because we let go of seeking perfection and instead seek God, the one who is present in the tangledness of our lives. Spirituality is not about being fixed; it is about God’s being present in the mess of our unfixedness.–Mike Yaconelli