I really LOVE today's "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers! This is exactly what the Church needs to seek and develop for these last days!
Intimate With Jesus
Have I been so long with you, and yet hast thou not known Me? — John 14:9
These words are not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus is leading Philip on. The last One with whom we get intimate is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One Who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come — “I have called you friends.” Friendship is rare on earth. It means identity in thought and heart and spirit. The whole discipline of life is to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His word, but do we know Him?
Jesus said — “It is expedient for you that I go away” — in that relationship, so that He might lead them on. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to step more intimately with Him. Fruit bearing is always mentioned as the manifestation of an intimate union with Jesus Christ (John 15:1-4).
When once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely, we never need sympathy, we can pour out all the time without being pathetic. The saint who is intimate with Jesus will never leave impressions of himself, but only the impression that Jesus is having unhindered way, because the last abyss of his nature has been satisfied by Jesus. The only impression left by such a life is that of the strong calm sanity that Our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.
So many born again believers have tried to alter their lifestyle through determination and will power, only to get discouraged, depressed and down on themselves because it CANNOT be done! THAT is why Jesus had His disciples wait in the Upper Room until they were "endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49)! Holy Spirit was given for just that purpose! HE will continue working His "good work" (Philippians 1:6) IN us when WE make it our determined purpose to know Him intimately! Philippians 3:10 AMP tells us that when we get to know HIM intimately, we will, in that same way, get to know the POWER! We will be able to have faith and confidence in Philippians 4:13 because we will KNOW how the power works! Philippians 4:13:13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].
Rather than be discouraged with yourself because of the weakness of your flesh, begin to have intimate fellowship with Him so that HE can continue that work in you that is making you more like Jesus! Remember Zechariah 4:6:
Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, “This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ saith the Lord of hosts.
Get to know Him better so that you can rely on Him and His work IN YOU! YOU will be blessed and HE gets the GLORY! AMEN! Here is Hillsong with "I Surrender":
Shalom in Him!
