For the last three Sundays we have been talking about unlimiting God in our lives. In my very first message in this series I very briefly mentioned the concept that as Christians we must draw near to God. I also mentioned that Christians who had lived their lives powerfully and effectively for God, like D.L. Moody, Charles Spurgeon, a blind Pastor in Africa, or a woman with a great ministry to orphans all had one thing in common: intimacy with God. So today, I want to elaborate more on intimacy with God. I want to talk about each of us climbing higher in our relationship with Him, so that we can unlimit God in our lives.

Intimacy with God is like climbing a mountain. If you personally were presented with the opportunity to climb a mountain, how would you respond?__________________________________________________

Climbers on the Mountain

Our prayer life will determine our intimacy level with God.

What does your prayer life mean to you?
______ I can tell God my daily needs
______ I can tell God my prayer requests for others?
______ I have an opportunity to find out God’s plans for me.
______ I can get to know God and hear from Him, and find out
His intentions and activity.

Prayer isn’t merely for us to place our wishes before God; it’s an opportunity for God to lay His heart upon us.

Through our prayers, we do not conform God to our will, rather He transforms us as we abide in His presence.

John Hyde - 1800's Missionary to India - "Praying Hyde"

We cannot rush in and out of God’s presence and expect to have a deep, dramatic encounter with Him.

We must ready our hearts to meet with the Lord.

The reason many of us do not hear God reveal more to us is that our time devoted to prayer is too rushed. Be prepared for sufficient time in prayer.

Jesus, our example, prioritized prayer. The disciples saw Him continually praying in secret and walking with spiritual power publicly. As a result, they asked Him “Lord, teach us to pray” in Luke 11:1.

Too often, however, we put the cart before the horse in our lives and make prayer an add-on. An afterthought. A bonus feature of what we’re already doing, placing our work ahead of Gods.

A deep devotion to prayer was always connected to the success of the New Testament church. Before the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost, the followers of Christ were “all with one mind”.

The words “one accord” in NKJV or “devote” in other translations carries the idea of insisting on something and clinging to it. It’s the picture of a soldier staying close to his commanding officer or leader.

The Apostle Paul reminds us to be devoted to prayer in Colossians 4:2.

In this NKJV devote is translated “continue earnestly”.

We need to remember we are interacting directly with the magnificent God of the Universe who is really right there with us when we pray. Sometimes we forget we’re in His presence when we pray. The Apostle John received great revelation from Jesus in His presence.

From that point on John had God’s glory and the future revealed to him while in Jesus’ presence.

I love what the Kendrick Brothers said in their book, “The Battle Plan for Prayer”:
"If we could only understand what being in the presence of the Almighty is truly like, our mind wouldn’t be casually wondering. We wouldn’t be drifting in and out of sleep. We’d be fully alert and overwhelmed. All attention held captive. Stunned. Speechless. And when He did speak, we would be humble, reverent, and very careful what came out of our mouths.”

Prayer is communion with God in order to intimately know, love and worship Him.

Prayer is an ongoing, daily way to know God better and better – to comprehend more of who He is and what He does. And the more we know Him and experience Him, the deeper we grow in our respect and love for Him – Love that can never match the depth of His love for us.

Paul’s prayer for the Church at Ephesus was that they would be able to comprehend God’s love.

Priscilla Shirer said,
“Because praying – reaching outward and upward to Him – is the way His passion comes down. Even prayers that begin with the blunt edge of will power, dragging your heart along kicking and screaming, can soon begin to shine with the cutting edge of hope, faith and passionate confidence in Christ. Once the wind of God’s Spirit starts blowing, you’re no longer praying rote, innocuous prayers. Instead, you’re praying deliberate prayers.”

Do you want to climb higher?
Do you want to draw nearer to God and have an intimate relationship with Him?
Do you want your passion to grow?
Do you want to have a prayer life that isn’t rote and routine, where you are
fully aware of God’s presence?

It’s up to you! You are the one who must determine to climb the mountain to see the majestic views despite any pain or sacrifices along the way. I challenge you to unlimit God in your life by climbing higher.