About

Big Apple Chapel is a New Testament based church in New York City, modeled after the pattern of the early church, with a strong emphasis on following Christ as a community of His disciples.

Services
  • Sunday - 10:30 am
  • 520 8th Ave, 16th floor
    New York, NY
  • phone: +1 (973) 837-1041
 

Sermons

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Intimacy With God

2008-04-06

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Ex 33:11 LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Joshua…a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.

 

"O, the fullness, the pleasure, the sheer excitement of knowing God here on earth." -Jim Elliott          2Ch 20:7 Abraham thy friend

 

Intentional seeking and daily dependence builds our delight with God

Ps 27:4 One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple. 5  For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion…

Lk 10:42  But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.

 

No Barriers:

Commitment-phobic; Fear; Hiding (guilt); Self-Esteem; Selfishness/Pride; Rejection; Bitterness/Resentment; Immaturity; Irresponsibility; Dishonesty; Devaluation; Addiction; Reactivity; Busyness; Poor Priorities; Talkativeness; Control issues; Sin; Unfaithful

 

Rom 8:37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

 

Trust and Transparency: from life’s ambition to moment by moment (and everything in between)

Heb 11:8  By faith Abraham obeyed…go out to…receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Ps 143:6  I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah 7 Answer me speedily, O LORD; My spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.  8  Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.

 

Independence is the Essence of sin, resulting in Separation  “Spiritual breathing” restores spiritual life 1Jn 1:9 Eph 5:18

Exclusivity Js 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Jas 4:5…The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously?

Isa 59:2 your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

 

Mutual Knowing is the Essence of a Relationship

2Pt 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you by the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,    Eph 1:17…in/by the knowledge of Him

Col 1:10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God

 

Rom 1:28 as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind,

2Th 1:8  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny…1Jo 4:8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love

 

Abiding requires Sustained Obedience

Jn 15:9 As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I... 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 15  "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you

Ps 25:5  Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. Cf 62:5 wait silently Pr 8:34

Mt 28:19…make disciples…20 teaching them to obey all things that I have commanded…I am with you always, even to the end of the age

 

Contented Conversation builds the Relationship

1Thess 5:15 pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18  in everything give thanks; 19 Do not quench the Spirit.20  Do not despise prophecies.21  Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22  Abstain from every form of evil.

Php 4:6 Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God

Heb 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Php 4:11  Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

1Tim 6:6  Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 8  And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

 

Yearning is Fulfilled for those who Follow

Ps 84:2  My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Jn 4 God seeks us

Ps 42:1…as a deer pants…2  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? Ps 143:6 Isa 26:9 

 

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. If we make time for the things that are important to us, does lack of intimacy with God imply that He is not important to us?

2. Why are we tempted to be more friendly with the world than with God? Why are we so bound to our physical senses? Where’s faith?

3. If God seems far away, guess who moved? Why are we hesitant to repent? What is the underlying problem with distance from God?

4. How do you listen to God? How do your recognize His “face” or voice? What keeps you from “waiting on God”?

5. How will you develop and deepen your relationship with God this week? What barriers might have to be blasted/conquered?