Deepening Our Relationship: Knowing Jesus Intimately

Devotional

Day 1: Longing for God's Presence

The human heart is wired with a deep-seated yearning to be in the presence of the Divine. This longing is not merely for the rituals of worship but for an authentic encounter that satisfies the soul's deepest desires. True worship is an expression of this longing, where one seeks to dwell in the beauty of God's presence, not just on Sundays but as a continuous rhythm of life. It is in this sacred space that joy and fulfillment are found, and where transformation begins. Worship, therefore, must be approached with a genuine heart, open to being reshaped by God's love.

"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water." - Psalm 63:1

Reflection: How can you cultivate a daily practice that reflects your heart's longing to dwell in God's presence?

Day 2: The Sacrifice Remembered

Communion is a profound act of worship that brings believers into a time of reflection on the sacrifice of Jesus. It is a moment to remember the suffering servant, who bore our sorrows and was pierced for our transgressions. This sacred tradition is not to be taken lightly but embraced as a deep and personal reflection on the cost of salvation and the magnitude of Jesus' love. As one partakes in the bread and the cup, it is an opportunity to let the reality of this sacrifice pierce the heart and renew one's commitment to living a life that honors this ultimate act of love. [17:09]

"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." - Isaiah 53:5

Reflection: In what ways can you make the act of communion more meaningful in your life, allowing it to impact your daily actions and decisions?

Day 3: Beyond Intellectual Knowledge

Knowing Jesus is an intimate journey that transcends intellectual understanding. It is about forming a relationship that is as personal and profound as that between close friends or a husband and wife. This relational knowledge involves experiencing His grace, forgiveness, mercy, and kindness firsthand. It is through this experiential knowledge that one's life is transformed, becoming a reflection of the love and character of Jesus. This transformation is evident in how one lives and relates to others, showcasing the power of a life touched by the Savior. [41:15]

"And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." - John 17:3

Reflection: What are some practical ways you can move from knowing about Jesus to truly knowing Him and experiencing His presence in your daily life?

Day 4: The Danger of Familiarity

Familiarity with the story of Jesus does not equate to a genuine relationship with Him. It is possible to know the events of His life, His miracles, and teachings, yet miss out on truly encountering Him. The challenge lies in moving from an intellectual knowledge to an experiential one, where Jesus' presence is a reality in everyday life. This shift is crucial for faith to be alive and transformative, avoiding the sobering truth that one can be close to the story of Jesus but far from knowing Him personally. [48:35]

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" - 2 Corinthians 13:5

Reflection: How can you guard against the complacency of familiarity with Jesus' story and actively seek a deeper, more personal relationship with Him?

Day 5: A Lifelong Pursuit

Following Jesus is not a one-time decision but a lifelong pursuit of growing in connectedness with Him. It is a journey that requires continual effort to deepen one's understanding and relationship with the Savior. This pursuit is vital for a vibrant and enduring faith, where one is constantly seeking to know Jesus more intimately and to be known by Him. The call is to a faith that is not superficial or fair-weather but one that is deeply rooted and personal, marked by a relentless desire to grow in love and knowledge of the Lord. [58:16]

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." - 2 Peter 3:18

Reflection: What are some specific steps you can take this week to actively pursue a deeper relationship with Jesus and ensure that your faith continues to grow?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound longing of the human heart to be in the presence of God, as expressed in Psalm 84. We began by acknowledging the beauty of God's dwelling place and our deep desire to enter His courts with every fiber of our being. As we worshiped, we were reminded of the grace that draws us to God, breaks the chains of sin and death, and promises us His eternal presence.

We then transitioned to a time of communion, reflecting on the sacrifice of Jesus. We considered the words of Isaiah 53, which describe the suffering servant who bore our weaknesses and sorrows, was pierced for our transgressions, and by whose wounds we are healed. This time of communion served as a poignant reminder of the cost of our redemption and the depth of Jesus' love for us.

The heart of today's message centered on the theme of truly knowing Jesus, as opposed to merely knowing about Him. Drawing from John 10, we delved into the metaphor of Jesus as the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep intimately, and whose sheep know His voice and follow Him. This relationship is not one of distant admiration but of close, personal knowledge akin to that between a husband and wife.

We were challenged to consider whether our knowledge of Jesus is merely intellectual or if it has transformed into a personal, experiential knowledge that changes how we live. The danger of equating familiarity with Jesus' story with a genuine relationship with Him was underscored by the sobering reminder of Matthew 7, where Jesus declares to some, "I never knew you."

The call to follow Jesus is a call to a lifelong pursuit of growing in connectedness with Him. It is not a superficial or fair-weather faith but a deep, personal journey of knowing and being known by Jesus. We were encouraged to consider whether we are growing in our relationship with Jesus and to seek a deeper, more intimate knowledge of Him.

Key Takeaways

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Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to Psalm 84, what is the psalmist's attitude towards God's dwelling place? How does this reflect our own longing for God's presence? [07:09]
In Isaiah 53, what are the specific sufferings and actions of the "suffering servant"? How do these actions relate to our understanding of Jesus' sacrifice? [19:01]
In John 10, how does Jesus describe His relationship with His sheep? What does it mean for the sheep to know His voice and follow Him? [41:01]

Interpretation Questions

How does the psalmist's longing for God's courts in Psalm 84 compare to our own desire to be in God's presence? What does this say about the nature of true worship? [07:09]
Reflecting on Isaiah 53, what does the passage reveal about the cost of our redemption and the depth of Jesus' love for us? How should this impact our approach to communion? [19:01]
In John 10, Jesus emphasizes knowing His sheep and being known by them. How does this intimate knowledge differ from merely knowing about Jesus? What implications does this have for our daily walk with Him? [41:01]

Application Questions

Personal Worship: Psalm 84 speaks of a deep longing to be in God's presence. How can you cultivate a similar longing in your daily life? What specific steps can you take to make your worship more heartfelt and genuine? [07:09]
Communion Reflection: During communion, we remember Jesus' sacrifice as described in Isaiah 53. How can you make your next communion experience more meaningful? What specific thoughts or prayers can you focus on to internalize the significance of Jesus' sacrifice? [19:01]
Knowing Jesus Intimately: Jesus calls us to know Him intimately, as a shepherd knows his sheep. What are some practical ways you can deepen your relationship with Jesus this week? Consider setting aside specific times for prayer, Bible study, or quiet reflection. [41:01]
Intellectual vs. Experiential Knowledge: The sermon highlighted the danger of mistaking familiarity with Jesus' story for a genuine relationship with Him. How can you move from an intellectual knowledge of Jesus to an experiential one? What changes in your daily routine might help facilitate this shift? [49:33]
Lifelong Pursuit: Following Jesus is described as a lifelong pursuit of growing in connectedness with Him. What are some long-term goals you can set to ensure continuous growth in your faith? How can you hold yourself accountable to these goals? [58:16]
Community Engagement: Engaging with a community of faith can help us experience Jesus more fully. How can you become more involved in your church or small group? What specific actions can you take to build deeper relationships with fellow believers? [56:25]
Transformation through Worship: True worship should transform us from the inside out. Reflect on your current worship practices. Are there any areas where you feel stagnant? What changes can you make to ensure your worship leads to genuine transformation? [07:09]

Sermon Clips

- "Following Jesus is a call to know him to take him in to see him to observe him to learn from him to know who he is." [44:24] ( | | )

- "We can easily mistake knowing about Jesus for knowing him. We must move from an intellectual knowledge of Jesus to an experiential knowledge where we encounter His presence in our daily lives." [48:45] ( | | )

- "Following Jesus is not about hearing of Jesus and then moving on with our lives. It is a call to become a disciple, to be transformed by his life and his words and his message." [44:16] ( | | )

- "We can come to a knowledge of who he is as we experience his grace, his forgiveness, his mercy, his kindness that draws us to repentance as we experience his life and his spirit." [54:44] ( | | )

- "Following Jesus is a lifelong pursuit of growing and connectedness with Jesus. It is not a fair-weather faith but a deep, personal journey of knowing and being known by Jesus." [58:21] ( | | )

- "The danger of equating familiarity with Jesus' story with a genuine relationship with Him was underscored by the sobering reminder of Matthew 7, where Jesus declares to some, 'I never knew you.'" [50:57] ( | | )

- "As we experience God's presence as we engage with his word, we begin to build relational knowledge of him which means we can know Jesus through personal relational knowledge." [57:03] ( | | )

- "The call to follow Jesus is a call to a lifelong pursuit of growing in connectedness with Him. It is not a superficial or fair-weather faith but a deep, personal journey of knowing and being known by Jesus." [58:16] ( | | )

- "It is this knowledge of Jesus that he is talking about in John chapter 10 that the sheep would know Jesus. But they would have this understanding they would come to learn to know who he is and come to know how he is and what he does." [46:05] ( | | )

- "Jesus is saying in John chapter 10 that the sheep hear his voice that the sheep knows the good shepherd that the good shepherd knows the sheep. That Jesus the Messiah God in human flesh knows the incredible intimacies and intricacies of his creation." [46:56] ( | | )

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