PREACHING OF 16 FEBRUARY 2025:

Pastor Antonio Russo

GROWING IN INTIMACY WITH GOD Part 2

Last week, we discussed intimacy with God and how to grow in it. Today, we want to go even deeper into this topic to enrich and transform our intimacy with Him. We desire a deeper intimacy with the Lord one that completely satisfies us because nothing can fill our lives like a direct knowledge of God, not just on a mental level but through a living experience. In the morning, when we wake up, our body awaits instructions, and guided by our mind, we must speak words of blessing over our health so that every organ receives the command to be well and walk in victory. The Bible teaches us that in Christ, we are more than conquerors because we have not only won, but we have overwhelmingly triumphed, leaving the enemy light-years behind, thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus. We need to know the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit through experience in our lives.

Ephesians 3:19; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

The Greek word for "know" is "gnosis", which implies knowledge through experience, because it is not enough to mentally know that God loves us we must experience it. When we experience His love, anxiety and fear disappear because we are filled with His fullness and know that we are deeply loved, even as we go through trials and difficult moments that allow us to know His faithfulness through experience. The Hebrew word for "know" is "yada", which signifies an intimate and personal knowledge. Today, mental knowledge is often valued more than experiential knowledge, but true intimacy with God is born from personal experience. Our hearts long for intimacy with the Father because we were created for it, and nothing can fill the void that only His presence can satisfy. This is why we must take time to "unplug" and set ourselves apart with the Father a time of presence that is far more glorious than anything else, not just a simple break. Intimacy is the deepest place of communion, where Jesus gave His life so that we could enter the Most Holy Place His presence. Knowing God is a practical and personal experience in which both we and God find satisfaction in our emotional, spiritual, and physical needs. There are three signs that indicate our level of experiential knowledge of God. The first sign is that we obey His commandments not out of duty but out of joy, because obedience is born from an intimate relationship with God, not from sacrifice. The second sign is that we do not live a lifestyle of sin. We are in a process of sanctification, so we may sin at times, but it will not be a habit. When we sin, our inner discomfort comes from the disruption of our relationship with God, and in those moments, we must turn to the blood of Jesus to restore perfect communion. We must be careful not to live in a state of sin, even though it is a negative experience from which we will quickly rise again. The third sign is that we walk in love toward God and others. If we say we love God but cannot stand our brothers and sisters, we are liars, because when we truly know God intimately, we find the strength to love even our enemies. Jesus said, "Pray for your enemies, bless and do not curse those who persecute you," and this is only possible through intimacy with God. When we know God in an intimate relationship, nothing comes from effort everything flows from pleasure and joy, because intimacy with Him allows us to live fully satisfied and fulfilled. For us, it is a privilege, and we must feel honored to have such a deep and intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. Now, we enter the second part of this topic, deepening our understanding of intimacy with God and its profound meaning. The Bible shows us that the men and women powerfully used by God were so because of their intimacy with the Father everything that happened in their lives was born from this deep relationship with Him. You see, it is not God who chooses whom to be intimate with it is we who decide whether we want to be intimate with Him. The choice to live in an intimate relationship with God is ours, but the invitation to pray and seek Him comes from Him, because it is His desire for us to live in intimacy with Him. If we desire to be used by Him, we should not fear others or feel inadequate, because everything flows from our intimacy with God. The deeper our intimacy with God grows, the more He can work through us, allowing us to discern His voice and follow His guidance so that we become like "God’s parrots," repeating His words. The key is to know God so deeply that we follow Him without hesitation this is the heart of intimacy, the secret that allows Him to use us for His purposes. Now, we will focus on some men of God, but this applies to women as well, because we can all live an intimate relationship with the Father an intimacy that is the place where we know God face to face, heart to heart.

Deuteronomy 34:10; 10 And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,

This shows us that Moses had a unique relationship with God, which began when he had a supernatural encounter with Him. After forty years as the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter and another forty years as a shepherd in the desert, Moses had this encounter at the age of eighty. He saw a bush that was burning but was not consumed a phenomenon that could happen in the desert, but this particular bush contained the presence of God, who spoke to him. Moses approached and directly experienced the presence of God, hearing His voice audibly and receiving it in his heart. This marked the beginning of his face to face encounter with God and his intimacy with Him. Despite his excuses, Moses felt incapable of delivering Israel, but God dismantled every objection, assuring him that he would be able to do it with His help. When Moses tried to back out by saying that God should choose someone else, the Lord responded that he was the one who had been chosen. This face to face encounter radically changed his life. Today, we need a new generation that desires to know God in the same way face to face. Intimacy is the place where God opens His heart to those who are close to Him and vice versa, creating a deep connection. Moreover, intimacy removes every mystery in a person’s life because when we know someone intimately, there are no doubts or questions about their intentions everything becomes clear, and the same applies to our relationship with God. If we question His intentions or His will, it means we do not yet know Him intimately, but as we grow in intimacy with Him, every mystery is removed. Unfortunately, there are many people in the Church who do not live in this intimacy, and they surprise us with hidden sides of themselves precisely because they lack true communion with God. Going to church does not make us consecrated Christians, just as walking into a chicken coop does not make us chickens or standing in a garage does not make us cars; only intimacy with God brings true transformation. We are called to live in this intimacy, to know God face to face and heart to heart, because only then can we make a real difference. We want to respond to this call and live an authentic relationship with God, because it is in intimacy that we find our true identity and purpose. In interpersonal relationships, we are often surprised by the actions or words of those around us, because only God truly knows what is in people’s hearts, and only He can reveal it. This is why it is essential to understand with whom we should open up. In our lives, there are three levels of relationships, which we can imagine as concentric circles. The first, the widest, is the "courtyard," similar to the church parking lot, where we meet people, greet them, and exchange a few words, but the bond remains superficial. The second level is the "Holy Place," similar to the inside of the church, where interaction is a little deeper but still on a relatively superficial level. The third level is the "Most Holy Place," the most intimate level, which represents our heart. Here, we must carefully select whom to allow in because not everyone has good intentions. In the Most Holy Place, it is crucial to protect our hearts and wisely choose whom to let in, because allowing just anyone access risks leading to disappointment and betrayal. We must not think that just because we meet someone in church, we can open up completely to them. The Bible warns us about the dangers of wrong relationships, as Proverbs 6:16-19 teaches us, listing the things that God hates, including "haughty eyes," "a lying tongue," "hands that shed innocent blood," "a heart that devises wicked plans," "feet that are quick to rush into evil," "a false witness who speaks lies," and "one who sows discord among brothers." Sowing discord among brothers is an abomination to God. If someone speaks badly about another person to us, we must flee, avoiding opening our hearts and our homes to those who spread strife. Our homes should be places of worship, not of murmuring, and gossip and lies should have no place among us. The Church is not perfect because it is made up of imperfect people, but the Bible exhorts us to act differently. We should not expose the sins of our brothers to everyone, nor be part of those who sow discord, because often gossip is based on fantasies rather than facts. We must stay away from such people and not be deceived, because not all relationships are intimate, and not all friendships are authentic. We can be friendly with everyone, but true friendships can be counted on the fingers of one hand if not fewer. Intimacy is a face to face, heart to heart relationship where there is transparency and total openness without secrets. Unfortunately, many people have been wounded by opening their hearts to the wrong individuals, leading them to shut themselves off and become defensive. However, the Holy Spirit wants to heal us and teach us not to give up on intimacy despite past disappointments. Intimacy is essential in authentic friendships and, above all, in our relationship with God. If we do not know Him intimately, we risk blaming Him for every failure or problem we face. When we truly know God, we are protected from the lies that others might tell us about Him. If someone tells us that God is good but there are wars in the world, we will know how to answer that the blame lies with the prince of this world, Satan, and not with God, our Father. We must guard our intimacy with God, protect our hearts, and make wise choices in our relationships. Only in this way can we live authentically and know God face to face, heart to heart. When we know God, we can bring revelations to people; but when we do not know Him, we tend to blame Him for our disasters, sicknesses, and poverty. However, God does not send diseases or infirmities; in fact, it is written: "I am the Lord who heals you" and "By His stripes we are healed" (Exodus 15:26; 1 Peter 2:24). Moreover, God does not make us miserable but blesses us in every possible way. Knowing His heart, we understand that He is good, merciful, and loves us. Under the New Covenant, we have already been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). God delivers us from our disasters, and even in times of crisis, we will give Him glory, because while the world speaks badly of Him without knowing Him, we who know Him can testify to His faithfulness.

Psalm 100:5; 5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

You know, the crowds always seek bread and fish, but those who seek God come because they want to know Him. We approached Him with a need, but we encountered the Almighty God who can restore and heal our lives. This is the greatest blessing we can receive: knowing Him. Intimacy with God is possible for every believer, and today we can enter His presence like never before, thanks to the sacrifice of Jesus. In the past, only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place once a year (Leviticus 16:2), but now, thanks to the blood of Jesus, we can access His wonderful presence every day (Hebrews 10:19). The revelation of God is reserved for those who are intimate with Him, because in intimacy, nothing is hidden: in this space, we strip ourselves before Him, and He reveals Himself to us, unveiling His heart. In the Old Testament, Adam and Eve were naked and felt no shame because they lived in intimacy with God, without sin (Genesis 2:25). Today, nudity is an issue because of sin, but in the context of intimacy, it symbolizes transparency and a deep relationship with God. Abraham is an example of intimacy with God because intercessors have a deep level of relationship with Him that makes them His friends. The book of Genesis reveals that when the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was about to happen, God said that He could not hide from His friend Abraham what He was about to do due to the sin and corruption of those cities.

Genesis 18:17; 17 And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

This shows us the kind of relationship God had with Abraham, His friend a relationship of intimacy that He also desires to have with us, revealing what is to come without hiding it. Intimacy with God leads to transparency, and when we are intimate with Him, we can be certain that He will hear our cry and respond to our needs.

Psalm 34:16; 16 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

When we know God, we understand that He will fight our battles, and we are fully convinced, certain that nothing can separate us from His love.

Romans 8:38-39; 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In the New Testament, Jesus confirms His intimacy with the Father through the revelation of being the Son of God. When Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, Jesus replied, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). Jesus had intimacy with the Father, and this allowed Him to do extraordinary works, because the Father showed Him everything He did (John 5:20). Intimacy is the place of truth and transparency, and many do not seek intimacy with God because they do not want to be transparent, but every human being has a need for a deep relationship. David, another example of intimacy with God, did not seek God’s presence in public worship moments, but in moments of solitude, while tending the sheep and playing the harp, worshipping the Father. David was found to be a worshiper, and God said, "I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart" (Acts 13:22). God seeks worshipers who will worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23), and like David, we too can be found worshipers if we desire intimacy with Him. When David played the harp, the evil spirit that tormented Saul left, showing that intimacy with God leads to positive changes in life. Worship is the key to entering intimacy with God: we start with words and music, but when the Spirit moves, it becomes spiritual and leads us into His presence. Worship is an act of submission that brings us into intimate communion with God, and raising our hands can express both victory and surrender, a sign of total abandonment to Him. In intimacy with God, every veil falls because we give ourselves to Him without reservation, and He reveals Himself to us, allowing us to know His heart and deepest essence. This is the authentic bond He desires to have with us.