LESSON NOTES: 3/6/11
PREREQUISITES FOR INTIMACY WITH GOD
1. OBEDIENCE
Matthew 7:21-23 – God doesn’t learn who we are by our doing of great things. Christlikeness isn’t, primarily, in the doing of things. Verse 23, in the Greek. literally says, “I never was even introduced to you.” These folks looked good, did great good things, yet Christ did not know them at all.
Who does Christ know? Verse 24, Those that hear what he says and who put it into practice. We must first do the little things, the known, revealed word of God before we can do the great things we may be called to do. People often say, “I wish I knew what God wanted me to do.” I often reply, “You do. He tells you in the Bible.” Do those things and you will often find your direction in life.
Verse 28 states that the people said that Jesus taught “as one who had authority.” We must obey that authority and allow him to have authority over our life. We must in a very real way “Fear God.” (Unfortunately I cannot upload the DVD by Francis Chan due to copyright restraints and Facebook policy. It is available to take home to view – just let me know.)
Obedience teaches us to trust God so that we will be able to yield ourselves to him and to surrender control of our life to him.
2. BAPTISM
Baptism is something we must do in order to become a disciple (one who has and practices discipline). – Acts 2:38
Baptism is how we become known to God. Romans 6, our identification with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection is through baptism. We die to self, are buried in the water and rise out of the water to a new life – a spiritual life (2 Corinthians 5:17).
In baptism we become clothed with Christ. In Matthew 22:1-14, we read of the giving of a wedding feast. The custom was that the host provided, specially selected wedding clothes for each of the guests. We find that one guest was without the proper clothing and, thus, was cast out. Galatians 3:27 teaches that, through baptism, we, literally in the Greek, put on Christ like a garment. Hence, our host chosen garment for the feast of God. When God looks at us, he doesn’t see us, he sees Christ. He can fellowship and be intimate with Christ. Therefore, he can have intimacy with us.
There is an interesting passage in Exodus 24:5-11. There we find that the 70 elders of Israel went up on the mountain and saw God and had lunch with him. One would think that such an encounter would promote obedience. However, less than 40 days later we find them leading the nation in the creation of an idol to worship rather than God. It is not in the meeting with God. It is in the meeting with God with a humble, contrite and obedient heart.
Philippians 2 relates how Christ humbled himself. We, as his followers, can do no less. To be intimate with God we must have a heart of obedience and be identified with Christ in baptism being clothed in his likeness.
We closed with the following Puritan prayer:
When thou wouldst guide me I control myself. When thou wouldst be sovereign I rule myself. When thou wouldst take care of me I suffice myself. When I should depend on thy providings I supply myself. When I should submit to thy providence I follow my will. When I should study love, honour, trust thee, I serve myself. I fault and correct thy laws to suit myself. Instead of thee I look to man’s approbation, and am by nature an idolater.
Lord, it is my chief design to bring my heart back to thee. Convince me that I cannot be my own god, or make myself happy, nor my own Christ to restore my joy, nor my own Spirit to teach, guide, rule me.
Help me to see that grace does this by providential affliction, for when my credit is god thou doest cast me lower, when riches are my idol that dost wing them away, when pleasure is my all thou dost turn it into bitterness. Take away by roving eye, curious ear, greedy appetite, lustful heart. Show me that none of these things can heal a wounded conscience, or support a tottering frame, or uphold a departing spirit.
Then take me to the cross and leave me there.
