While in His presence I began to pant for a more intimate relationship with Jesus. An intimate relationship such that He will talk to me more often, He will reveal himself to me, I will be an expression of His glory, and I will operate in the atmosphere of power and grace.
This is what intimacy with Jesus meant to me. I don't want to be an ordinary Christian. As I panted after him...
Psalm 42:1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
As I wait upon Him, He spoke... CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN. What does this mean? What mountain are you climbing? How do I climb?
Intimacy with Jesus does not come as a wish, but rather as a cry from a thirsty and longing heart. It is a cry that comes from the heart of a Christian that has been baptized in the Holy Spirit. A cry from a child of God who has beheld His glory.
Every time there is a cry for an intimate relationship with Jesus He always asks the person to come to him and there is a mountain to climb in getting to Him.
Mathew 14:25-30 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
In this scripture, Peter had beheld the glory of Jesus several times but this time around he wanted more - to walk with Jesus on the water. He cried to Jesus and He asked that he come to him. For Peter to get to Jesus he has to walk on the water - that is the mountain he must climb to get to Jesus. And we saw what happened to Peter while climbing. Intimacy with Jesus is not cheap!
The faith of Peter was shaken to the foundation while climbing the mountain (that is walking upon the water). The word "mountain" was used to show the rigor that it will require to be intimate with Jesus.
What physical qualities do you require to climb a physical mountain?
1. Determination
2. Focus
3. Stamina
4. Endurance
5. Decisiveness.
6. Believe
All these qualities are also required in climbing the mountain to meet Jesus.
The mountain to climb for an intimate relationship with God in the old testament was a physical mountain while in the new testament, it is sacrificial living.
Moses in the old testament had to climb mount Sinai to get to God. However, in the new testament, the apostle has to drink a cup (sacrifice).
Mathew 20:20-23 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
The cup that Jesus drank of that he is offering is a life of sacrifice. Jesus lived a life of sacrifice and to be intimate with Him you must climb the mountain of sacrificial living.
In the next part of this series, we will examine what it takes to live a sacrificial life to get into intimacy with Jesus Christ.
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