1. Grace Fellowship Church Pastor/Teacher Jim Rickard www.GraceDoctrine.org Sunday, January 13, 2013

2. The Book of Proverbs Chapter 3 Prov 3:32-35 God’s Intimacy with the Righteous!

3. “Intimate” – SOD, “Council, counsel, or assembly.”

4. “Intimate” – SOD, “Council, counsel, or assembly.” The intimate knowledge you have of someone, i.e. their secrets; private and intimate communication.

5. The assembly of God’s righteous worshipers are denoted as “SOD.” Psa 111:1; Ezek 13:9; Jer 23:18, 22; Amos 3:7

6. Psa 111:1, “Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart, in the company of the upright and in the assembly.”

7. Jer 23:18, “But if they had stood in My council then they would have announced My words to My people, and would have turned them back from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds.”

8. Amos 3:7, “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing unless He reveals His secret counsel to His servants the prophets.”

9. From God’s council comes His wisdom. Job 15:8a, “Do you hear the secret counsel of God.”

10. The intimate fellowship and blessings of the Lord’s most private council, we have through His Word made understandable by His Spirit. 2 Sam 23:2; Zech 4:6; 1 Thes 1:5

11. 2 Sam 23:2, “The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue.”

12. Zech 4:6, “Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, (RUACH),’ says the LORD of hosts.”

13. 1 Thes 1:5, “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.”

14. The blessings of God’s intimate fellowship are implied in Job 29:4, “As I was in the prime of my days, when the friendship of God was over my tent”

15. Abraham is our example of this friendship intimacy. Gen 18:17; James 2:23

16. James 2:23, “And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.”

17. Gen 18:17, “The LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do.”

18. When you have a right- standing relationship with God, you have a life of freedom, liberty, and delight, because you are God’s will. Luke 22:42

19. This friendship is accomplished by the Lord sharing His secrets. (Mystery Doctrine) Prov 7:4; Rom 16:5; 1 Cor 2:7; Eph 1:9; 3:3-9; Col 1:26-27; 1 Tim 3:15-16

20. Prov 7:4, “Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your intimate friend.”

21. 1 Cor 2:7, “But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory.”

22. The devious person does not know God’s Word and have another friendship, friendship with the world. Cf. Prov 15:9; John 15:15; James 4:4

23. Prov 15:9, “The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but He loves one who pursues righteousness.”

24. James 4:4, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

25. In John 15:15, Jesus called the disciples friends because He opened to them His mind; made known His plans; and acquainted them with the plan of God the Father.

26. As He did with Moses, Ex 33:11, “Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.”

27. 2 Cor 4:7, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.”

28. True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit.

29. Yet God has designed the whole experience of life to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ.

30. If you want to maintain personal intimacy with Christ, it means refusing to do or even think certain things; things that are acceptable for others will become unacceptable for you.

31. And in intimate personal belief you commit yourself spiritually to Jesus Christ and make a determination to be dominated by Him alone.

32. Grace Offering 1 Tim 5:18, “You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing, and the laborer is worthy of his wages.”

33. Grace Fellowship Church Sunday, January 13, 2013 Tape # 13-004 Proverbs Chapter 3 God’s Intimacy with the Righteous! Prov 3:32-35; 7:4; 15:9; Jer 23:18; Amos 3:7; John 15:15; James 2:23 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2012