75. Intimacy With the Lord 02.23.20

I had an amazing time this weekend seeing multiple healings taking place. The worship was both raw and anointed in the most beautiful way. I really enjoyed the way the Holy Spirit moves through the body in a gathering like that. Friday evening was a teaching on the Holy Spirit and what it’s like when He has the freedom to move in a service. Sunday was an intense session, full of revelation regarding time spent alone with the Lord in His presence. The message targeted intimacy with the Lord in the secret place.

We can pray for a thousand people, cast out a million demons, lead thousands of people to Jesus, and none of that will mean anything toward our own salvation if we do not have a personal relationship with the Lord. If we don’t treat Him with the fear and awe that He deserves and we simply give Him the left over part of our day, week or year; how can we sit here and ask Him why we are still stuck in bondage? We are called to have a relationship with Jesus. All the time! That starts with personal time spent seeking His face. It starts with letting go of the mentality that your works must be perfect for you to be loved. It’s realizing we are loved and the Lord wants to share His time with us. It’s seeking the Lord over seeking the next episode of your favorite show. It’s seeking intimacy and revelation through time spent in the word and time spent worshiping the Lord.

Matthew 7:21-23
True and False Disciples
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

As worship was flowing, I was down on my knees with my face to the floor thanking the Lord for the ability to soak in His presence. I was met with another vision. In the first part of the vision, I saw a field and in the field there was a dark figure standing there. I couldn’t make anything out, all I could see was the simple silhouette of a person filled with darkness. It was alone, defeated, and felt lost. I began to see a small brightly lit fire burning in their chest. That fire was the subtle, tangible touch of the Holy Spirit. The fire began so small about the size of a lapel pin. It started with something as simple as a lyric to a worship song, a warm feeling from head to toe, a relief felt from within, a prophetic word, the revelation of a certain scripture, it was the healing touch of the Lord. As the fire grew, it slowly overcame the darkness. Within a few minutes, the flame had grown to be the size of their heart. The bright color from the flame illuminated their entire being. There was a joy, a peace and a calmness felt. Their entire countenance had changed from dark and foreboding, to elated and free. It all started with a delicate touch from a loving God.

John 14:26 - But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Psalm 63:1
You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.

Psalm 119:2 (NLT)
2 Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts.

The second part of that vision was emotional. As they continued walking through the field, they began to struggle with negative thoughts, and darkness took that opportunity to creep back in. Slowly the fire went down. As the walk went on, they tripped and fell. The stumble shook them up, fear had a chance to come back in, and the darkness spread. The walk went on for a little while longer and the person became tired, weary and emotional. Obviously more darkness crept in. The fire of the Lord kept burning, but, the trials and tribulations they had been facing were about to overcome the fire. The same fire that was burning brightly only moments before was now dwindling down to a smolder.

I noticed they were frantically working to fan the flames, but even their best effort would only slightly increase the brightness. No amount of work could bring the light back to the state it was in earlier. The harder they struggled to find a way to fan the flames, the more the darkness of this struggle overcame the fire burning from within.

Suddenly they stopped, knelt down in the middle of the field and raised their hands to the Lord. They were calling out asking to understand why the works of their hands weren’t enough to keep the flame burning. The tears were flowing and they simply gave up, broken hearted. They finally surrendered themselves, bowing down before the Lord. As soon as they came to rest in the presence of the Lord, the fire intensified burning with more glory than ever before. Darkness never stood a chance.

The Lord simply said “This is intimacy, Ash. Surrender yourself and rest in the presence of your savior. It is already finished.”

The works of our hands will never be enough to earn salvation if our heart is not in the right place. If our motives are not lined up with the word, we need to recognize the need for change. The only place you’ll be able to reignite your fire for the Lord is the place you get to when you humble yourself enough to seek Him with all your heart. Crave spending time alone reading the word as much as you crave your cup of coffee every day. It’s so important to incorporate this alone time with the Lord into your every day schedule. It’s seeking Him first not last.

Romans 15:13 - Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Exodus 33:14 “And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."

Matthew 6:33-34
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Psalm 9:10
10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

The Lord wants to reveal His heart to you.