Don’t get familiar, get intimate with Him
The word “familiar” is defined in the Oxford’s Dictionary as “well known from long association.” After listening to Pastor Prince on Sunday, it’s worth musing if it is good enough to have just a well-known and long association with Jesus. The answer? There’s something better. Intimacy with Christ is much better than familiarity with Him.
Senior Pastor said the disciples walked with Jesus for three-and-a half years. They knew the Lord and had a long association with Him. But it was their familiarity which caused Philip to ask in John 14:8 (NKJV): “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
Jesus replied: “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, “Show us the Father?” Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works (John 14:9-10).”
Pastor Prince said we can be disciples or students of Jesus. But it’s not ideal if we only see Him as a rabbi or teacher. However, if we have a sense of sonship to the Father, there is intimacy with the LORD.
He gave the example of the Roman centurion found in Matt 8:5-13. Said Senior Pastor: “The Roman centurion didn’t walk with Jesus day in, day out like Philip and the disciples. The disciples had familiarity, but the centurion had intimacy for the Holy Spirit revealed more to him about Jesus. The centurion said to Jesus, ‘Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word and my servant will be healed.’ To which Jesus said, “Assuredly, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”
And what happened next? Matt 8:13 tells us Jesus then said to the centurion, “Go your way, and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
So if it’s a breakthrough or healing that you need, see Jesus in the gospels who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38). Know that Jesus Himself said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father. Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in Me? That the Father in Me does the works.” So to see Jesus doing good and healing all is to see your Abba Father’s heart of love for you! Therefore, be encouraged not to treat the LORD as only your teacher. See Him as a loving Father, get intimate with Him like the Roman centurion and your breakthrough shall come next!
