Embracing Intimacy: A Journey to God's Light
Summary
In the opening words of John's letter, we are reminded of the profound intimacy he shared with Jesus. John, the apostle of fellowship, invites us to experience this same closeness with God. He speaks from a place of deep personal connection, having leaned on Jesus' chest and shared many intimate moments with Him. This intimacy is not just for John; it is an invitation for all of us to enter into a deeper relationship with God.
God desires our purity and righteousness, and this is achieved through an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. While we may never become completely sinless, this closeness with God helps us to sin less. John warns against loving the world, as it can lead us away from the love of the Father. A self-centered life, where we seek only to receive from God without allowing His love to flow through us, is not the life of a loving Christian. Instead, we are called to live in a way that reflects our relationship with God, allowing His light to reveal and cleanse any darkness within us.
By following John's instructions to pursue intimate fellowship with God, we open ourselves to experiencing the reality of God's work in our lives. This involves recognizing God as the Light and confessing anything that the Light reveals as wrong. In doing so, we deepen our experience of God's presence and power, allowing His love to transform us and flow through us to others.
Key Takeaways:
1. Intimacy with God: John invites us to experience the same intimacy with God that he had with Jesus. This closeness is not just for a select few but is available to all who seek it. By leaning into this relationship, we can experience the fullness of joy and the reality of God's presence in our lives. [00:43]
2. Pursuing Purity and Righteousness: God desires our purity and righteousness, which are achieved through an intimate relationship with Jesus. While we may never be completely sinless, this relationship helps us to sin less, aligning our lives more closely with God's will. [01:15]
3. Avoiding Worldly Love: John warns against loving the world, as it can lead us away from the love of the Father. A self-centered life, focused only on receiving from God, is not reflective of a true Christian life. Instead, we are called to let God's love flow through us to others. [01:15]
4. Confession and Cleansing: By recognizing God as the Light and confessing anything that the Light reveals as wrong, we open ourselves to God's cleansing power. This process deepens our experience of God's reality and work in our lives, transforming us from the inside out. [01:44]
5. Living in God's Reality: Pursuing intimate fellowship with God allows us to experience His reality at work in our lives. This involves a continual process of recognizing, confessing, and aligning ourselves with God's will, leading to a life that reflects His love and light. [01:44]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:43] - The Apostle of Fellowship
[01:15] - Intimacy with God
[01:44] - Pursuing Purity and Righteousness
[02:10] - Avoiding Worldly Love
[02:35] - Confession and Cleansing
[03:00] - Living in God's Reality
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 John 1:1-4
2. 1 John 2:15-17
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Observation Questions:
1. What does John mean when he refers to "what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands" in 1 John 1:1? How does this relate to his personal experience with Jesus? [00:43]
2. According to the sermon, how does John describe the relationship between intimacy with God and our purity and righteousness? [01:15]
3. What warning does John give about loving the world, and how does this affect our relationship with the Father? [01:15]
4. How does John suggest we deepen our experience of God's reality in our lives? What role does confession play in this process? [01:44]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In 1 John 1:1-4, John emphasizes the physical and tangible experiences he had with Jesus. Why might this be important for understanding the nature of our relationship with God? [00:43]
2. How does the concept of "sinning less" rather than being "sinless" impact a believer's understanding of righteousness and purity? [01:15]
3. What does it mean to let God's love flow through us to others, and how does this contrast with a self-centered life? [01:15]
4. How can recognizing God as the Light and confessing our wrongs transform our lives and align us more closely with God's will? [01:44]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current relationship with God. What steps can you take to experience the same intimacy with God that John describes? [00:43]
2. Consider areas in your life where you might be loving the world more than the Father. What practical changes can you make to shift your focus back to God? [01:15]
3. Think about a time when you were self-centered in your faith. How can you actively allow God's love to flow through you to others this week? [01:15]
4. Identify something in your life that the Light of God might be revealing as wrong. What steps will you take to confess and seek cleansing from God? [01:44]
5. How can you create a habit of recognizing and confessing wrongs in your life to deepen your experience of God's reality? [01:44]
6. What specific actions can you take to align your life more closely with God's will and reflect His love and light to those around you? [01:44]
7. How can you encourage others in your small group to pursue a deeper relationship with God and support each other in this journey? [01:44]
Devotional
Day 1: Experiencing Divine Intimacy
John invites us to experience the same intimacy with God that he had with Jesus. This closeness is not just for a select few but is available to all who seek it. By leaning into this relationship, we can experience the fullness of joy and the reality of God's presence in our lives. This intimacy is a profound connection that transforms our understanding of God from a distant figure to a close companion. It is through this relationship that we find true fulfillment and joy, as we are drawn into the heart of God's love and purpose for us. [00:43]
1 John 1:3-4 (ESV): "That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete."
Reflection: How can you intentionally create space in your daily routine to deepen your intimacy with God today?
Day 2: The Path to Purity
God desires our purity and righteousness, which are achieved through an intimate relationship with Jesus. While we may never be completely sinless, this relationship helps us to sin less, aligning our lives more closely with God's will. This pursuit of purity is not about perfection but about progress, as we allow God's love to transform our hearts and minds. By seeking closeness with Jesus, we are empowered to live lives that reflect His righteousness and purity, becoming more like Him each day. [01:15]
1 Peter 1:14-16 (ESV): "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"
Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you can invite Jesus to help you pursue greater purity and righteousness today?
Day 3: Embracing God's Love Over Worldly Desires
John warns against loving the world, as it can lead us away from the love of the Father. A self-centered life, focused only on receiving from God, is not reflective of a true Christian life. Instead, we are called to let God's love flow through us to others. This involves a conscious decision to prioritize God's love over worldly desires, allowing His love to shape our actions and relationships. By doing so, we become conduits of His love, impacting the world around us in meaningful ways. [01:15]
1 John 2:15-17 (ESV): "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."
Reflection: Identify one worldly desire that competes with your love for God. How can you choose to prioritize God's love in that area today?
Day 4: The Power of Confession and Cleansing
By recognizing God as the Light and confessing anything that the Light reveals as wrong, we open ourselves to God's cleansing power. This process deepens our experience of God's reality and work in our lives, transforming us from the inside out. Confession is not merely an admission of wrongdoing but an invitation for God to cleanse and renew us. As we bring our darkness into His light, we experience His forgiveness and healing, allowing us to walk in greater freedom and wholeness. [01:44]
James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to confess and seek God's cleansing today? How can you take a step towards healing and freedom?
Day 5: Living in the Reality of God's Presence
Pursuing intimate fellowship with God allows us to experience His reality at work in our lives. This involves a continual process of recognizing, confessing, and aligning ourselves with God's will, leading to a life that reflects His love and light. As we live in this reality, we become more attuned to His presence and guidance, experiencing the transformative power of His love in every aspect of our lives. This journey is one of ongoing growth and discovery, as we learn to live fully in the light of His truth. [01:44]
Colossians 3:1-3 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
Reflection: How can you intentionally align your thoughts and actions with God's will today, allowing His presence to guide and transform you?
Quotes
"John is the apostle of fellowship. John is the one who leaned his head on Jesus' chest and shared many intimate moments with Him, so he knows about intimacy. In fact, he knows so much about intimacy, he wants us to piggyback on his experience and make it our own. God is interested in our purity. He is interested in our righteousness. When Jesus Christ and His people, His children, are in intimate relationship, then, while we never become sinless, we wind up sinning less. You can be in the world, but he says, 'You can't love it,' because if you do, you lose the love of the Father. If you are self-centered, self-oriented, if you just want God to flow to you but not flow through you, then you're not a loving Christian and you're pretending like you're an only child. If you will follow the instructions of the Apostle John to pursue intimate fellowship with God by recognizing He's the Light, confessing anything that the Light reveals that's wrong, you have set yourself up for deepening your experience of God's reality at work in your life." [00:43:34]
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