The Balance of “Being” and “Doing” in The Believer’s Life

III. Understanding A Heart of Intimacy (Being) with God

What is intimacy? It is knowing and being known Loving and being loved Closeness Connecting and bonding Confidence and assurance in the relationship Mutual care Fellowship Friendship

Five believers in the Bible who teach us by their lives the meaning of intimacy (being) with God…

A. Enoch Enoch on a walk – Gen. 5:22 Enoch live for 365 years One day he took a walk with God and the fellowship was so great that God took him into heaven Heb. 11:5 is a commentary on Genesis 5:22

What does “walked with God” mean? “Walk” is the biblical expression for fellowship and obedience that results in divine favor The Bible Knowledge Commentary Piety The phrase “walked with God,” which is only applied to Enoch and Noah (Gen. 6:9), denotes the most confidential intercourse, the closest communion with the personal God, a walking as it were by the side of God, who still continued His visible intercourse with men. Keil, C. F., & Delitzsch

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE G OD TOOK HIM UP ; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. Hebrews 11:5 Intimacy with God pleases God Do you want to put a smile on the face of your Lord and God? Spend time with Him getting to know Him

B. Moses Moses in the tent of the meeting – Exodus 33:7-11 Moses had a “tent of the meeting” (not the tabernacle) outside the camp of Israel God’s shekinah glory would hover over the tent In the tent Moses, unlike any before or after him, would commune with the Lord. Face to face in the deepest expression of friendship. Note: “Face to face” is a figurative expression. What Moses saw was God’s glory.

C. John the Apostle John at the breast of Jesus – John 13:21-30 John, who is writing this account of when Jesus reveals a trader in the camp, signifies that he at the last supper had his head against Jesus’ chest. This act shows intimacy, acceptance, and love. Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” table scene is inaccurate. The custom of the day was a low table where one reclined and supported himself with his left arm. Hence it was a more natural scene.

John also penned John 1:18. Indicating that the Son Jesus has eternally resided in the bosom (breast) of the Father. This indicated unfathomable intimacy in the Godhead. John perhaps was indicating that he and all believers can share in this intimacy. John also identifies himself for the first time as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Four more times in John 19:26; 20:2; 21:7,20. John uses this unique way of describing himself to show his deepened fellowship with his Creator Lord. This incident was not just a comment in passing for John repeats it in John 21:20

D. Mary, Martha’s Sister Mary at the feet – Luke 10:38-42 Three times you find Mary at Jesus’ feet: 1.Listening to Jesus – Luke 10:39 2.When Lazarus her brother died – John 11:32 3.Anointing Jesus feet and wiped them with her hair – John 12:3 Martha, the older sister of Mary, was a person of large arms. That is, serving and doing was in her nature. Jesus makes it clear to Martha that intimacy with the Lord supersedes everything else.

E. Mary Magdalene Mary Magdalene in the garden – John 20:1, Facts about Mary Magdalene: Jesus had cast out seven demons from her– Mark 16:9 She contributed to the Lord’s ministry – Luke 8:1-3 She was the first to see the risen Lord – John 20:16 Jesus called her by name, “Mary.” The Song, “In The Garden” This hymn was written in 1913 by C. Austin Miles, and it is based on the text from John 20:11-18, where Mary Magdalene encounters the resurrected Christ. The beautiful words indicate the believer’s intimacy with the Lord.

I Come To The Garden Alone I come to the garden alone While the dew is still on the roses And the voice I hear falling on my ear The Son of God discloses. Refrain And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known. He speaks, and the sound of His voice, Is so sweet the birds hush their singing, And the melody that He gave to me Within my heart is ringing. Refrain I’d stay in the garden with Him Though the night around me be falling, But He bids me go; through the voice of woe His voice to me is calling. Refrain

Where we find God… Enoch on a walk Moses in the tent John at Jesus chest Mary at Jesus feet Mary M. in the Garden

How they grew in intimacy with the Lord… 1.Much alone time with God 2.Communication and prayer with the Father 3.Took their crisis, struggle, and pain to God 4.Poured out their hearts to God 5.Broken, surrendered, and humble before the Lord 6.Learn the ways (Bible truth) of God

In Summary… We learn something different from all five of those who developed an intimate spiritual life with God 1.Enoch was pleasing to God – Hebrews 11:5 2.Moses – Known Moses by name Found Favor in His sight – Exodus 33:12 3.John was “disciple whom Jesus loved” – John 19:26; 20:2; 21:7,20 4.Mary, Martha’s Sister had chosen the good part that would have eternal value - Luke 10:42 5.Mary M. in the garden was recognized by Jesus and called by name – John 20:16

IV. A Closer look at Mary’s Intimacy (Being) with God

The three times Mary is found at the feet of Jesus… 1.What does it mean to fall at the feet of another: A. Submissiveness B. Surrender C. Obedience D. Worship 2.A good place for us to get to know God is at the feet of Jesus.

A. Growing in the words of Christ - Luke 10:39 Mary would rather sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His words than anything else A twofer. It was not just the hearing the word of God, it was also being with the Lord.

B. Finding comfort in crisis at the feet of Jesus - John 11:32 Jesus calls for Mary – vs: 28 Mary’s friends were attempting to console her but only One could do that – vs: 31 After falling at His feet, Mary speaks honestly to the Lord about her feelings – vs: 32 Mary weeped – vs: 33 Jesus weeped – vs: 35

C. Worshipping at the feet of Jesus - John 12:3 Matthew and Mark informs us that the location is the home of Simon the ex-leper (Matt. 26:6, Mark 14:3) Pure nard: An expensive fragrant perfume from the roots and stems of an aromatic herb of northern India Motivation: Gratitude for her brother Lazarus being raised from the dead This act Jesus said would go down in the history books and it did

“Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her.” Matthew 26:13

An observation… In two out of the three times Mary was at the feet of Jesus she was harshly criticized, once by her sister Martha (believer) and once by Judas (unbeliever). What does this teach us about the nature of true worship?

Question: Can we still experience the intimacy Mary found at the feet of Jesus even though Jesus is not physically here? This only makes sense, we are somewhat bound by our five senses and they need to be satisfied Well, we have some evidence in Scripture that we can.

and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. I Peter 1:8-9 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” John 20:29

But Jesus promised that Someone would fill His place after He left… “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 14:26

“But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ “But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. John 16:5-7 Helper is the Greek word “Paracletos,” one called alongside to help; or Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor

The Holy Spirit teaches us… As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. 1 John 2:27

The Holy Spirit comforts us… and I will ask the Father, and another Comforter He will give to you, that he may remain with you—to the age; John 14:16 Young's literal translation

We worship in the Holy Spirit… for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, Philippians 3:3