Introduction
Those who are currently married among us, take a moment to reflect on your marriage today, how far and beautiful it has become. In marriage, closeness doesn’t happen just because you are married. It grows when a husband and wife spend time together, talk openly, and keep choosing each other every single day, despite going through thick and thin. But when the communication stops, even a strong marriage can start to feel distant. And to us who are not married yet, the same thing is true in our friendships. We feel close to friends we talk to often, friends we meet, laugh with, and stay connected to. But when we stop communicating, the friendship slowly becomes weaker. Distance grows, not because we stopped caring, but because we stopped connecting.
Our relationship with God works the same way. Intimacy with Him is not automatic. It doesn’t grow just because we say we believe. It grows when we spend time with Him, talk to Him, listen to Him, and seek Him with our whole heart. A believer must actively seek God to grow in Intimacy. But when we stop praying, stop reading His Word, and stop inviting Him into our daily life, spiritual distance quietly begins to rise.
In other words, before we serve people, we must first minister to God. Our calling is not only to work for Him but to walk with Him. If we lose that relationship, our ministry becomes activity without anointing. Our strength comes from time in His presence. Our direction comes from listening to His voice. Our spiritual life stays alive when we minister to Him first, before ministering for Him. Therefore, let us see how we can seek intimacy with God.
I. Intimacy begins with a deep desire for God
a) Passion to seek God.
Psalm 27:4:- “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”
Psalm 27:4 shows what was really in David’s heart, and to understand it better, let us examine what was happening in his life at that time. David wrote this Psalm during a season of danger, which is found in (1 Samuel 19–24), either while running from King Saul or during Absalom’s rebellion. Surrounded by fear, enemies, and uncertainty, he did not first ask God for protection or victory. Instead, he sought God’s presence. This teaches us an important truth: intimacy with God often deepens when we seek God mostly in moments of hardship. This year, I had to walk through one of the hardest seasons of my life. One of the biggest challenges I faced was the pressure of paying my business taxes. I run two businesses, and the amount I needed to pay was far beyond what I had. My savings account was empty, and I had no idea how I would manage it. The weight of it was heavy, and I felt completely helpless.
In that moment, I turned to God with all my heart. I prayed earnestly and decided to fast for three days, asking Him to make a way where I saw no way. I told Him, “Lord, You gave me this business. You can also send the clients I need.” After those three days of fasting, I continued to seek Him, trusting that He would hear my prayer.
A few days later, something unexpected happened. I received a message on my business WhatsApp from a number I did not recognize. It was an inquiry from Vietnam three people were planning to visit Bhutan and wanted to book a tour. After that message, everything suddenly went silent for almost a week. I prayed again, asking God to move if this was His provision. Then the reply came. The same person messaged me again, and this time he said there would not be just three people, but six of them coming to Bhutan. That tour was exactly what I needed. Through that group, God provided the money for my taxes and the bills I had to pay. It came at the perfect time, right when I had no resources of my own.
This experience reminded me of something important. I realized that I am not praying only for my own benefit; God was teaching me something deeper. He showed me that the same God who gave me the business is the God who brings the clients. Through this situation, He was teaching me to seek intimacy with Him even in my business, to trust Him not just for provision but for relationship.
Thus he says, in Psalms 27:4 “One thing I ask, this only do I seek,” showing that intimacy begins with a deep desire for God. His heart was not divided; he focused his life on one central pursuit, drawing near to the Lord. Even in the middle of danger, David longed for God more than anything else. His first desire was not safety, answers, or solutions it was closeness with God, because he knew God’s presence was his real refuge. That kind of desire is the foundation of intimacy.
And this leads us to an honest question: What is your crisis today? What is the enemy you are facing? What is the danger surrounding your heart right now? When pressure rises, when fear comes, when life feels heavy, do we desire God the way David did? Or do we allow our hearts to become divided, restless, or pulled in different directions?
David teaches us something powerful: spiritual hunger grows deepest in difficult moments. When the heart truly wants God, the soul naturally moves toward Him, even in crisis. It longs to be close to Him, to look to Him, to hear Him, and to stay near His presence. Intimacy with God begins when we choose to seek Him not only in peaceful times but also in the hardest seasons of our lives.
b) Seeking God intentionally
Seeking God on purpose comes after we truly desire Him. David didn’t just want God; he made the choice to draw near to Him. When he said, “This only do I seek,” he showed that getting close to God requires action. One way we do this is by spending time in prayer and worship. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Amen!
Another important way to seek God intentionally is by spending quiet time with Him. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” This stillness means giving our hearts space to focus on God, listen, and seek His guidance. Let me tell you the issue of today, many of us in ministry face another challenge. We become so busy serving people that we forget to sit before God. We move from person to person, meeting to meeting, and program to program. We pour our energy into the mission work, visiting, preaching, planning, organizing, yet our own hearts, yet slowly grow empty. One senior pastor from the Free Evangelical Church in Singapore said something powerful: the mandate is more important than the mission.
II. Intimacy grows as we draw near to God
James 4:8a ESV, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you”
a) Removing Barriers
Intimacy with God doesn’t happen by accident. James 4:8 reminds us, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” We grow close to Him when we make the choice every day to pray, worship, and have personal quiet time, and turn our hearts toward Him. Intimacy with God grows as we intentionally come close to Him, but certain barriers can hold us back. Sin is one of the biggest barriers. When we keep holding on to sin, it breaks our fellowship with God. Psalm 66:18 says, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”
b) Pride and distraction is another barrier
A proud heart resists God, but humility opens the way to intimacy. Proverbs 3:34 reminds us, “He mocks the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Distractions also weaken our closeness. Life is full of busyness, but when we focus on God and remove distractions, intimacy grows. Psalm 119:37 says, “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.” By removing sin, humbling our hearts, and clearing distractions, we position ourselves to draw near to God, and as James 4:8 promises, He will draw near to us in return. Amen! As we draw near, we must also remain connected.
III. Intimacy is sustained by abiding in Christ
John 15:4 –5, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”
a) Staying Connected to the Vine
(See this video) True intimacy with God is not just about seeking Him in moments of desire; it is sustained by remaining connected to Jesus every day. Remaining in Him involves the whole heart, mind, and will. Abiding is more than going through religious routines; it is living in continual fellowship, thinking His thoughts, choosing His ways, and committing our desires to Him.
Therefore, apart from Him, we can do nothing. Jesus emphasizes that the branch cannot bear fruit by itself. Our spiritual life, service, and growth depend entirely on remaining in Him. Any effort outside of Him is empty. When we recognize our dependence and stay close to Christ, intimacy is not just a momentary feeling it becomes the source of life, strength, and fruitfulness in every part of our walk with God.
b) Transformation Through His Presence
Abiding in Christ does more than give us strength; it transforms us from the inside out. As we remain in His presence, spiritual fruit begins to grow in our lives. Galatians 5:22–23 describes this fruit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities are the natural outcome of a life rooted in intimacy with God.
Intimacy with Christ also brings peace, joy, clarity, and purpose. Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” When we dwell in His presence, our hearts are steadied, our decisions become clearer, and our lives gain direction according to His will.
Thus, His presence shapes our character. Romans 8:29 tells us that we are being conformed to the image of Christ. As we stay connected to Him, His love, humility, and compassion begin to mold our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Transformation through His presence is not instant, but it is certain: the more we abide in Him, the more our lives reflect His heart.
Conclusion
At the end of everything, intimacy with God is what our hearts truly need. Ministry, work, responsibilities, and even good intentions cannot replace a living relationship with Him. We were created to walk with God, talk with Him, and stay close to His heart. The truth is simple: God is not waiting for our performance; He is waiting for our presence. He wants our hearts before He wants our hands. When we draw near to Him in desire, in quietness, in humility, and in daily abiding, He fills us with a peace this world cannot give and a strength this world cannot take away.
As we respond to God’s Word, there are three important steps we can take. First, make God your highest priority each day. Give Him your best time, pray, read His Word, and sit quietly before Him so your heart stays close to His. Second, remove anything that blocks your intimacy with Him. Let go of sin, pride, and the distractions that pull you away, creating space where His voice can be heard clearly. Finally, walk with Him daily, not just occasionally. Stay connected to Him, depend on Him, and allow every part of your life and ministry to flow from His presence rather than your own strength. When we make these choices, intimacy with God becomes a living reality that changes everything.
Sermon Prepared by Vijay Bardewa Ed