We had a guest speaker at church this past Sunday who is also a long-time friend. David and Susan Fletcher have been friends for over 50 years and I served under their leadership during the time I was a missionary to Belize, Central America. Dave is raising up a group of young believers and teaching them the basics of their faith. He has a wonderful way of expressing truth from the Word that all of us can apply to our lives. I want to include a few of his points as well as my own today.

Numerous believers both those newer to the faith as well as those who have been in the church for many years do not understand some of the things many of us take for granted.  There is a major lack of understanding that the Lord wants to have personal, intimate relationship with each of His sons and daughters. Many believers who know the doctrines of the faith well and may even be amazing at soul winning and serving, do not understand just how passionately our Father feels toward His creation.

The word fellowship as used in the New Testament is a strong word. It means communion, joint union and even intimacy (like the kind between and husband and wife). 

When John began his epistle (I John 1:1-4 NLT) he used this word several times. I am going to quote all four verses so you will understand the context from which I am speaking. “The one who existed from the beginning is the one we have heard and seen. We (John and others) saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is Jesus Christ, the Word of life. This one who is life from God was shown to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and announce to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then he was shown to us. We are telling you about what we ourselves have actually seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy will be complete.”

Notice that John, writing this near the end of his life, some 70-80 years after Jesus went back to His Father, said that his fellowship is with God the Father and Jesus. He still had an intimate relationship with God and he wanted them to have the same experience. 

Verse four tells us that when this is true our joy will be complete! Both David in Psalm 24 and Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 talk about “beholding Him.” We can gaze upon the Lord while having intimate fellowship with Him. How do we do that?

Dave gave us three practical steps on how to cultivate fellowship or intimacy with the Lord. The first and most important is that we must take the time. We cannot just try to “find” the time or “look” for it but we must be intentional. It must become a part of our regular routine. 

For me, that time is first thing in the morning before my day’s activities get going and can crowd out any other possible opportunity to stop and fellowship with the Lord without distraction. Even Jesus did this. Numerous times in the gospels we read where Jesus arose “a long while before it was day” and withdrew Himself to a solitary place to commune with His Father. I believe that is when He got His instructions for the day or week as well as His encouragement and fellowship on a level only He could have and enjoy. He took time to be with His Father. We must do the same.

A second step may seem obvious, but many of us don’t practice this. We must open our mouth. 

If I am reading the Word or studying, I don’t have to open my mouth. But if I want to have conversation with Him, opening my mouth is very beneficial. You can certainly hold conversation with Him without opening your mouth, but it is easier to remain focused and hearing your own voice reinforces what you are saying. Scriptures abound about how to do this. We “enter His gates” (His presence) with thanksgiving and go into His courts (further in, closer) with praise. 

The Psalms are full of expressions like “make a joyful noise,” “shout to the Lord,” “declare His goodness,” “His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Then, after we have given thanks and praised Him for His mighty acts, we can begin to worship Him by telling Him how much we love Him. This time should not become a ritual or routine but a life giving time to prepare yourself to hear what He has to say to you.

The third practical tip Dave gave us is that we must relax — we are not to strive to enter into His presence because this is about relationship not transaction. We do not come into His presence just to present our petitions (although that is certainly a part of our relationship with Him), but we come to enjoy Him and allow Him to enjoy us! God does not just want us to “manage” our Christian walk; He wants us to experience it!

An important insight from another teacher I respect made this observation. Proverbs 3:5-6 is a very familiar and often quoted scripture used for guidance. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths.” The word “ways,” (Hebrew word derek) many times is used metaphorically referring to the actions and behavior of people and is the same word used for the act of courting (see Proverbs 30:19). The word for acknowledge comes from yada which is to know someone very intimately. The author said “we could paraphrase verse six “In all you do, pursue and court God; seek intimacy with Him.””

Yes, the God of the universe, our Creator, wants us to pursue Him with all of our heart, mind and strength. He made us in His image and likeness so that we would have the capacity and ability to fellowship with Him spirit to spirit. If this concept is unfamiliar or even uncomfortable to you, I want to encourage you to ask the Lord to open up your heart and your understanding. 

Follow these three suggestions – take time out of your day, open your mouth in thanksgiving, praise and worship. Then allow Him to speak to you. You might be pleasantly surprised to hear what He has to say!