It seems that when Jesus is saying this to Phillip, it is something suprising...or like he is rebuking him, but he is only leading him on.

"The last one we get intimate with is Jesus."

Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring out rival.(Luke 10:18-20)
They had a great intimacy with Christ, but there was a much closer intimacy to come, he says--"I have called you friends." Friendship is rare..it means having identity in thought, heart, and spirit.
"The whole discipline of life is to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We recieve His blessings and know His word, but do we know Him?"

Jesus said,"It is expedient for you that I go away"--meaning in that relationship--so that He might lead them on.
I would imagine that it is a huge joy for Jesus when one of his disciples takes time to step more intimately with Him.

John 15:3-4

...so fruit bearing is just another extra with the manifestation of an intimate union with Christ.

personally, it's been a complete change. It's as though, now that there is that intimate relationship with Jesus, there isn't any feeling of loneliness, no need for sympathy from others, and the ability to pour out to others without being pathetic.
"The saint who is intimate with Jesus will never leave impressions of himself, but only the impression that Jesus is having unhindered way, because the last abyss of his nature has been satisfied by Jesus."

The only impression left by such a life is that of the strong calm sanity that God gives those who are intimate with Him.

that's just a little tid-bit i wanted to share with you guys

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follow God.

Excellent Lightbulb!

I have been hearing from people in stand how He is calling us to a time of intimacy over and over again since OneDay. That seems to be the theme for stand at this time in our maturation into the children He wants us to be.

Thank you for sharing,

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- David
- http://www.truckwerks.com/

Hey ya'll,

I just wanted to put my two cents in. I agree totally. I know that the only way to truely know someones heart is to spend enough time with them that you get through all the fake stuff we put out in order to impress each other.

Not just christianly speaking...even in the world we are always trying to either present ourselves as dark and mysterious, rich and confident, or poor and needy of affection, a loner or everyone's friend...you get the point.

I think God just wants us to "REALLY" become intimate with HIM and not the things He does for us or us for Him.

If we are not praying--don't tell people we are...If we are not reading His word--don't claim to be...If we are searching--don't claim to know all the answers.

In doing this we hinder a true relationship with Christ. And I mean this with love, but why lie to yourself to try to impress those who are lying to themselves as well, when it hinders a relationship with the ONE WHO TRUELY WANTS THE BEST FOR YOU AND NOT HIMSELF?

doesn't make much sense to this DAWG.

RRRRRRFfffffffffff

innerdawg

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agreed Dawg... agreed.



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Allen