1/13/2019 Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer Intimacy with God - PDF document

1/13/2019 Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer Intimacy with God through Prayer Saturday, January 12th 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM Come near to God and he will come near to you. Speaker Name (James 4:8) 1 4 Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer Commitment defined: 1) The act or an instance of committing. Rev. Dr. Wilson Lattimore Senior Pastor, Chestnut Grove Baptist Church 2) A pledge to do. Past Chair, ACMin Board of Trustees 3) The state of being bound emotionally or intellectually to someone or something. American Heritage College Dictionary 2 5 Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer Questions to ponder? Do the following scenarios constitute intimacy?  Spouses who commit to never separating or getting a divorce • Are you committed in prayer? What does it mean to you to be committed in prayer?  A man and his grandson (not saved) who regularly takes turns • Are you intimate in prayer? What makes your prayers intimate? “praying” over their meal. • Can you be committed without intimacy? Why or why not? Psalm 55:17 (KJV) David said Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and • Can you be intimate without commitment? he shall hear my voice. 3 6

1/13/2019 Commitment and Intimacy in Prayer Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer Intimate defined: Certainty of the Close Relationship 1) Marked by closed acquaintance, association, or familiarity. • Must be certain of salvation and relationship with the Godhead (1 John 5:13) 2) Relating to or indicative of one’s deepest nature. • Must confess all known sins (1 John 1:9; Psalm 66:18-19) 3) Essential; innermost. • Awareness of the Holy Spirit’s presence 4) Marked by informality and privacy. (1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 6:18) 5) Very personal; private American Heritage College Dictionary 7 10 Commitment and Intimacy in Prayer Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer Very personal; private The previous definitions give several characteristics of intimacy • Spend time alone with the Lord (Matthew 6:6) applicable to prayer 8 11 Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer Then, what is Intimacy? Four things you can do as you spend time with the Lord to increase intimacy: Intimacy defined: 1. Review the Past: 1) The condition of being intimate. • Make a list of blessings that God has bestowed in your life, 2) An instance of being intimate. then spend time each day for the next week giving Him thanks. American Heritage College Dictionary 9 12

1/13/2019 Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer 2. Reflect upon God 4. Make requests of the Lord regarding your spiritual growth. • List several attributes of God 13 16 Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer God’s Attributes Listen… Eternal Loving Merciful Psalm 46:10 KJV Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Good Faithful Gracious All-Powerful (omnipotent) All-Wise (Omniscient) Ever-Present (Omnipresent) Immutable Holy Righteous Just Jealous Long-suffering Sovereign 14 17 Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer 3. Remember God’s Promises Isaiah 46:9-11 (NIV) Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, • God has made numerous promises throughout His Word Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times regarding your provision, protection, and potential to receive the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, His blessings. and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the • Can you recall such promises that often kindle your faith? east, the man that executeth my counsel. 15 18

1/13/2019 Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer Examples of being alone with God: What you believe about God will determine the amount of time that you spend with Him, and the attitude that you have toward • David God when you are in His presence. 2 Samuel 7:18 (KJV) Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? Read Psalm 119:97-104, list the rewards of mediating on God’s Word listed in these verses 19 22 Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer Examples of being alone with God: Application: • Jesus • Be certain of your relationship with God (saved and cleansed before Him) Luke 5:16 (KJV) And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed • Commit to pray in and by the Holy Spirit Luke 9:18 (KJV) And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his • Find a place to be alone, unhindered with God. disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? 20 23 Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer Commitment & Intimacy in Prayer Wrap-Up Why people don’t spend time with God • Establish your “place” for intimacy. • Aren’t sure of their relationship (afraid of God) • Reflect on past blessings, victories, reflect on who God is, recall His promises, and express your needs for growth. • Misperceptions of God, seeing Him as: • Be still before Him and listen. demanding distant intolerant • Repeat, repeat, repeat …………….. angry insensitive stingy inconsistent Closing Prayer 21 24

1/13/2019 How Does God Speak? How Does God Speak? 1. Creation. 2. Word. Rev. Dr. David Holt a. Written Word. Senior Pastor, Living Hope Church ACMin Faculty b. Jesus. Hebrews 1:2 In these last days He has spoken to us by His Son. 25 28 How Does God Speak? How Does God Speak? 1. Creation. 1. Creation. 2. Word. Psalms 19:1-2 The heavens declare the glory of God … Day after 3. People. day they pour forth speech Acts 10:22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 26 29 How Does God Speak? How Does God Speak? 1. Creation. 1. Creation. 2. Word. 2. Word. a. Written Word. 3. People. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper 4. Circumstances. than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing Colossians 4:3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and for our message. attitudes of the heart. 27 30

1/13/2019 How Does God Speak? How Does God Speak? 1. Creation. 6. Prophetic Words. 2. Word. 7. Dreams and visions. 3. People. 8. Pain. 4. Circumstances. Psalm 119:71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Thy statutes. 5. Still, Small Voice. 1 Kings 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 31 34 The Holy Spirit - God’s Agent of Intimacy How Does God Speak? 1 Corinthians 2:10-13 The Spirit searches all things, even the deep 6. Prophetic Words. things of God….No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit 1 Corinthians 14:1-3 eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the of God.What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the gift of prophecy….everyone who prophesies speaks to men for Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. freely given us…not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit- taught words. 32 35 Holy Spirit, Speak! How Does God Speak? John 16: 13-15 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will 6. Prophetic Words. guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will 7. Dreams and visions. speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive Acts 2:17 I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will old men will dream dreams. make known to you. 33 36

1/13/2019 How Do We Discern God’s Voice? Application Exercise 1. Bible Ask God the following question: 2. Holy Spirit Lord, what is one thing you need to say to me right now about my relationship with you? 3. People 4. Fruit Write down what you “sense” Him saying to you: 37 40 How Does God Speak? Wrap-up Testimony: Hearing God’s Voice Be open and receptive to God’s many Mr. Lucius Malcom ways of speaking to you! Living Hope Church Past Treasurer, ACMin Board of Trustees 38 41 How Does God Speak to YOU? God’s Five Love Languages Mrs. Dee Pesaresi 1. Creation ACMin Faculty 2. Word 3. People Words of Affirmation 4. Circumstances Quality Time 5. Still, Small Voice 6. Prophetic Words Gifts 7. Dreams and Visions Acts of Service 8. Pain Physical Touch 39 42