[b]DEEP INTIMACY with GOD[/b]-by Andrew Strom.With all this talk about the error of the sensual "Jesus as Lover"teaching, I don't want to give the impression that I am againsthaving a deep intimacy with God. The fact is - my whole ministryis devoted to bringing people into a closer and closer walk withHim - a walk of deep communion and intimacy. But there is onevery important difference. -And it is all to do with the 'CHARACTER'of God, and how we approach Him.Since I was 17 years old - when I first went through a true"Revival" experience in my life - I have found myself in deepcommunion with God in prayer. Many times I have found myself(as it were) in the very 'throneroom' presence of God, where allI could do was behold His glory and majesty in awe - often withtears streaming down my face. "HOLY HOLY HOLY". SometimesI have been unable to speak or utter any word for hours at a time -because what words are sufficent for such things? -This is theGod that I came to deeply love. -A 'HOLY' God. For many yearsnow I have had these experiences - and I believe they are totally"normal" for all believers. In fact, this is what I spoke about at ourrecent 'Gathering'. -How to become 'Revived' and come into astate of deep communion with God. I am totally committed to thefact that this is God's will for every Christian. -Nothing 'unusual'.But there are "foundations" that must be laid to come into this.And one of the most important of these foundations is a rightunderstanding of God as a 'HOLY' God. -I mean deeply andutterly "Holy". -Holy beyond words and almost beyondcomprehension. The more we get a grasp of God's HOLINESS, themore we ourselves desire holiness, and the closer and closer toHim we become. I have seen this and I know it is true.We all know the Scripture- "The FEAR of the LORD is the beginningof wisdom." But what a lot of us don't realize is that it is throughthis reverent 'Fear' of the Lord that we ultimately come into a deep'LOVE' relationship with Him. In other words, as this foundation ofGod's majesty and glory and holiness is laid in our hearts - ourwhole approach to Him changes. We start to see Him as He reallyis - in all His GLORY - and we start to LOVE Him more and more.And as His holiness works its way more and more into our lives,we come closer and closer to Him - until we have a 'LOVE'relationship and a holy intimacy that is beyond words. -This isthe secret of the truly 'Revived' life. It is all about apprehending the'HOLY' character and nature of God. -That is where it starts.Which is why I have such a problem with the "Jesus as Lover"teaching. -Because it brings God down to "our level" - a sensual,'earthy' level rather than a 'throneroom' one. It is an awful distortion.I know from Scripture and all Revival history that it is the God ofGLORY and HOLINESS - the "throneroom" God - that we mustget to know if we are to come into the deepest heart communionand intimacy with Him. I know it from all my studies of Revival andI know it by personal experience. -It really is possible to come intothe deepest kind of heart-communion with a 'HOLY' God. -And thatis the key: A 'HOLY' God.Through the free gift of the cleansing blood of Jesus - a FREE GIFT -we can truly and deeply become the 'FRIEND' of the King of Kings.-Now, how precious is that?? How many billions of dollars couldyou pay for that?? -We can actually become the 'FRIEND' of theGod of all glory - Creator of the Universe. This is the God thatwe can come to intimately know and love. And a major key tothis is first apprehending Him as "HOLY". (-ie. The 'Fear' of the Lord).If you come to our Friday night online Prayer Meetings then youwill see how often we simply tell God how much we love Him. -SoI am all for LOVING God!! -But to have any real depth, this "love"must come from a place of apprehending His holiness and glory -ie. The TRUE GOD.Real love certainly does not come from apprehending Him assome sensual "lover"! I am not Jesus's girlfriend - and I will neverapproach Him in that way. If we cannot approach God as 'HOLY'then we will never truly see Him at all. 'HOLINESS' is whereit is all at. -And everything develops from there. That is how wecome to deeply 'LOVE' Him.By the way, it is important to clarify that the prayer center inKansas City does NOT teach "sexual encounters" with Jesus. Butthey do major on "Jesus as bridegroom/ Lover" - which causesthese problems down the line. It is totally predictable that as theseteachings go out wider and wider - then "sexual" experiences willresult. -Which is exactly what has been happening - even if theynever intended it to. Their teachings totally lay the groundwork forsuch encounters. But I just needed to clarify that point.So in summary, what I have found (-and all Scripture and Revivalhistory back this up) is that an approach to a "HOLY" God iswhat is necessary if we are to develop a true love and intimacywith Him. And He is calling every one of us to come into this deeperwalk. Tell me, friend, will you heed His call?
_________________SI Moderator - Greg Gordon