Mission Workshop 1: Intimacy with God

50 Days of Mission IN HIS STEPS 2021

Workshop 1: Barriers to Intimacy with God Review the three biblical foundation images: Best friends, parent and child, and marital relationship.

Which one is most helpful for you? Why?

I. Four Barriers to Intimacy 1. Superficiality A. Definition •

“Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem. The desperate need today is not for a great number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people.” –Richard Foster

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“Some [seed] fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.” –Matthew 13:5-6

B. God’s Solution: Go Deep •

“Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.” –Prov. 2:3-5

C. Reflect: How deep is my relationship with God?

2. Failure to Prioritize A. Definition • The “tyranny of the urgent” leaves us feeling strung out, impatient, resentful, and even worse, empty.

• “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” –Luke 6:46 B. God’s Solution: Thirst for God • Only the fear of failure or of disappointing someone keeps us from saying NO to the never-ending demands and saying YES to the God who promises to give us rest.

• “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” –Psalm 42:1-2 C. Reflect: How much time do I desire time alone with God?

3. Focus on Information vs. Intimacy A. Definition • We can know a great deal about God without really knowing Him. • “We know that ‘We all possess knowledge.’ But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.”—1 Corinthians 8:1 B. God’s Solution: Practice Spiritual Disciplines • Disciplines differ from study time. They focus on being with God rather than just knowledge.

• “No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” –I Corinthians 9:27 C. Reflect: How can I be more intentional about practicing daily spiritual disciplines?

4. Unconfessed Sin A. Definition • Cherished but harmful habits, unsurrendered thoughts and feelings, and the distorting power of guilt and shame can keep us in spiritual isolation.

• “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.” —Isaiah 59:1-2 B. •

God’s Solution: Confess and Repent

• i. Confession brings our sins into the light which opens our heart to receive His forgiveness, restores our intimacy, and empowers us to overcome future sin.

• ii. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” –I John 1:9 C. iii.

Reflect: Is there any unconfessed sin in my life?

II. Discuss with Others 1. Which of the four barriers is your greatest challenge, and why?

2. What helps you go deeper in your intimacy with God?

III. Follow Up Intimacy is a choice and a commitment. “My heart says of You, ‘Seek His face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek.” –Psalm 27:8 ❏ Make a list of what would have to happen for you to know God in a more intimate way. ❏ Write down at least one specific action you will take to seek deeper intimacy with the Lord. ❏ Spend time in prayer to “purpose in your heart” and make up your mind that. You will not allow anything to stop you from seeking the Lord to see Him “face to face.”