A Call to Intimacy
Keith Loper
Intimacy: The state of being intimate.
Intimate: marked by very close association, contact, or familiarity, marked by a warm friendship developing through long association suggesting informal warmth or privacy
Over the past several years I have read numerous Christian emails and thought I would try and contribute what I think God has been showing me about the church. Many I am sure have read the allegory about leaving Christian City. It is my opinion, that for the most part, what the remnant was has left it in part, but still holds to the traditions of the old model of man or a ministry acting as their head instead of Yeshua. This is to say, there is very little intimacy.
It can be tasted it in some writings and it can smelled as well. Worst of all, I as well as others suffer the consequences of not having complete or good discernment before we read.
Let’s explore this:
Revelations 2.2-2.4 states: I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those that are evil. And you have tested those that are Apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for my names sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
What I am primarily interested in looking at is the fact that this church, much like a great portion of America’s church and the remnant; work for the LORD, have patience, hate evil, persevere and have the ability to not become weary in doing so. This tells me that there is faith present to accomplish all of these things. Faith in God’s character. Faith in His willingness and abilities to help us do the works for His sake. This is a very scary place to be because of what He mentions next…..you have left your first love. Much of the Church in America is pursuing the work of the Lord not pursuing the Lord of the work. This puts anyone in the same place as those in Matthew 7:21-23.
These two groups of people sound the same to me. What are the consequences if repentance is not brought forth?
It appears to me and I do not want to seem like I am trying to minimize the consequences, but if you and I will cease to carry His oil, the Holy Spirit, we will become like Saul. The Spirit of the LORD will depart from us. Furthermore, we will be told to get away from Him, not for a mere moment, but forever. Intimacy is the goal.
Where are those people supposed to go who no longer have the Spirit? Where are those to go who are told to depart? Luke 7:28 tell us that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. They will be kept out of the kingdom. They will and must assuredly go to hell for their practicing of lawlessness. Where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.
What a terrifying thing. They go to the place that was reserved for the devil and his angels.
Is this possible? Is it going on today? Unfortunately the answer is yes. How do we know for sure? Where is He? What is He doing right this minute? Do you know? At the time of this writing He is looking over my shoulder as I type.
Sure He longs for the lost to be saved and he will help you draw them in, but you had better wait on His leading. Why? He is the King! If you don’t you will be practicing lawlessness. Follow Him, not man, unless he is speaking the words of God, not me, not a doctrine, but Him. How do we follow Him? Is he a flesh and blood that we can physically follow? No, He is a spirit and we must perceive Him by our spirit to know what He is doing and wants us to do. Yeshua “only did what He saw His father do”, nothing more, nothing else! That is our calling as well and to worship Him in spirit and truth!
If we want to be His friend we will do the things he commands us. Not what he commanded a day or two ago. (Unless we have not done it yet.) Our question should be; what is the curriculum for today LORD? What is it that You wish right now? We are to be courtiers. We are to serve Him and put Him at the forefront of our lives at all times. Let these words sink in deep. Gifts and their functioning do not mean you are right with God.
Can you imagine Jesus putting together a program? I can’t. His teaching occurred wherever He was and there was no charge to hear Him.
There was a time and season not so long ago when God called forth a remnant from His people that attended organizations or corporations or whatever they may be referred to as, to come from amongst them and become separate. (Come out and follow Me for yourself.) Today He is calling the remnant and any of His people who will listen to the next step. I don’t know specifically what it is for you, but it is further obedience to the things He wants. More intimacy. More of His heart functioning in your life and my life. Don’t divorce Him out of stubbornness, arrogance and fearfulness of heart as many of you have done. The remnant is being whittled down again. This will continue to occur until He has what He wants. People who want only Him and all of the other things will follow.
Please hear me. More importantly, please hear Him. This sounds oh so elementary, but the implications of the times we live in are tremendous. Do you want America to be judged again? Do you want America’s prosperity taking away? Do you want more terrorist attacks? Or worst of all, do you want to be cast out of His presence forever?
Here’s a litmus test if you will:
When is the last time that you felt the Lord’s presence while you were alone with Him? [daily]
When is the last time you heard Him speak to you (not through the scriptures)? [hourly]
Do you ask Him about His will for you for each week, day or hour? [hourly]
When is the last time you sat and just talked to Him? [daily] Did He answer you or was it a one sided conversation?
Do you walk with Him or do you just call on Him when you have a problem or need something?
When is the last time you wept in prayer with His burden?
When is the last time that you prayed for someone and felt the Holy Spirit move through you?
When is the last time you told Father God that you love Him? How about Yeshua?
How about the Holy Spirit?
It is not your neighbor who needs to repent first. It is you and it is me. Take the log out of your eye while I do the same to mine. I would suggest that many of us, including me, are not ready for what America is about to experience. Yes, possible great revival, but not unless there is purity and integrity in us, His people. If not, revival yes, but in the midst of one of the greatest judgments the world has ever seen. Invasion, sickness, famine, certain cities will just cease to exist. This judgment will last for many, many years and we will be left as a third world country. Don’t believe it? Just look at scripture. It is full of examples of what God did to nations that continually ignored Him.
Judgment is first for you and me and then the world. I heard a very prominent preacher once say that the 9/11 attack was not God’s judgment because the church was not judged first. I think we have been judged and are being judged. How? By the lack of His presence in our midst. By the lack of the miraculous in America. Sure miracles happen from time to time, but if we are so intimate with Him then why is there so much sin in the church?
Let us move away from an old mindset and move forward towards Him. Let us make a place where He can find rest in us. Lest us make ourselves ready. Let us return to our first love and not to programs. I hope you are getting my point. I can hear the aging remnant saying: yes I know all of this. I am talking to you more than anyone else. The last thing you did for God. Did you see Yeshua, the Holy Spirit or the Father doing in first? Oh, how utterly important this is. I am not there yet, nor do I think I will be next week, but I will get there for His sake. The consequences of not trying are far too great. I want to see you in heaven. I want to hear of all of your great and mighty exploits in intimacy for the LORD.
May God bless us with Intimacy!
Yesterdays revelation is todays death.