Intimacy In Him Part III

 Continuing with our topic on Intimacy, let's read what Ephesians 3: 16 & 19 has to say. 

     Verse 16:  That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man. 

     Verse 19:  And to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.  

     This word "know" means:  To know experiential because you are and have been completely open to someone and have experienced mutual feelings and affection towards that individual either through sexual union (intercourse) through close social or  spiritual communion.

     God created within all of us an irresistible need for intimacy. His intention from the beginning was for us to develop that intimacy with Him (which is spiritual intimacy) with our mate (husband and wife) so we would become one flesh (sexual intimacy) and one in heart (which is emotional intimacy).

     But if we've been deeply hurt, rejected, physically or emotionally abused by those we love and trusted in then walls go up and barriers are established.  We then find ourselves always on the defensive, becoming emotionally and spiritually distant from God and those we love.  And instead of being the rejected one, we become the one who does the rejecting and intimacy is lost. 

     What is "Emotional Intimacy"?  It is showing, expressing and sharing deep feelings that effect, stir up or inspire an emotional or physical reaction.

     In the Song of Solomon 4:12 & 16 these verses give us a beautiful picture of the healing that the Lord wants to do in us so we can have Emotional Intimacy.  Let's read what the Lord has to say to us.

         Verse 12:  A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

         Verse 16:  Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out.  Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

     The word "Garden" in this scripture means:  An enclosed cultivated ground.

          a.  This garden represents our hearts that can become encased in the pain and the hurt, of rejection, unforgiveness, bitterness and disappointments.  We seal up our emotions to prevent anyone from entering and we become overly cautious so no one sees that vulnerable part of our heart. 

     And the word "Fountain" in Hebrew figuratively means:  A source
          b.  This source is the very breath (the ruwach) and life (of the Spirit) that is vital in keeping our soul and spirit alive.  But if unresolved emotional issues of hurt and unforgiveness are allowed to grow in our garden, our soul and spirit become entangled and choaked off from the very source of life Himself.

     Beloved, He wants to come in and heal those damaged emotions.  He longs to hear you say to Him; Let my beloved come into his garden, the garden of my heart.  He wants to breathe the healing wind of His Spirit on your wounded and broken heart. He wants to apply the healing oil of the Spirit to the scars in your soul and strengthen, encourage and speak life into your spirit.  

     In verse 16 He is saying to us: Awaken! open your eyes. Let Me lift up and stir up your heart.  Let the north and the south winds that blow the cool favorable winds over the vegetation of Jerusalem blow upon you.  Let the wind of My Spirit move you as the wind moves and carries the eagle in flight.  Let Me breathe the breath of life deep into your soul and into your spirit and break open and loose the chains that bind.  Let Me exhale my love upon your garden so it's sweet aroma can flow freely, as a steady unbroken stream of water moves and envelopes the dry and thirsty land.  Then you will call me your beloved and I will consume the fruits of your love and you will see the multiplication of that fruit as you allow me my love to flow through you. 

     Question:  Do you want this kind of Intimacy with Him?  Next week I will share with you a vision the Lord gave me many years ago that He used to exposed and heal some very deep emotional scars that I didn't even know I had.  Be encouraged, He's not finished with us yet!

Blessings,

Elma Garlock

Intimacy In Him Part II

     Let's continue now with our teaching on   Intimacy In Him.

     It's only by knowing God that we learn to truly Love and it's only by Loving can we learn to understand Him, because Love comes from God, Love leads to God and His word tells us that "God is Love". 

     We can't physically see God as we see each other, because He is Spirit, but what we do see is the effect of His creation. We can't see the wind, but we can see what it can do and how it feels.

     And in the same way we can't see electricity, but we sure can see what it produces and we know that if we stick our finger in a light socket we will feel the effects of that electricity.

     The effect (which is the result produced by a cause) of God is His Love and when God comes into your life, you are clothed with the "Love of God" and the "Love of Man". An example would be:  A new Christian and how they want to love on and witness to everyone they come into contact with.  Have you lost your first love?

     So what happens is that God becomes known to others by the effect (the results that are produced in our lives) of that love.  Believe me, people are watching us to see if what we preach (Jesus and His love) is what they see and for some of us we are the only Jesus they will ever see.  This is why the enemy fights us and attacks us relentlessly and never gives up.  He knows that God's love breaks down emotional walls, heals the broken hearted, and sets captives free.  He knows God's love is a powerful tool in the hands of a believer because it saves, heals, delivers and causes hearts to be pliable in the hands of the Holy Spirit. This love is what the world is searching for but looking in all the wrong places.

     The second word I want to focus in on from our main text in Acts 17: 28 is the word "Live".   And what does this word mean?   Life enjoyed to the fullest, to experience something lively and to continue to persist. 

     In Galatians 5:25 it tells us:  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.

     To "live" in Him we need the breath of life which is the Holy Spirit.  When the Holy Spirit breaths life into us, our spirit man comes alive, and if we allow Him, He will live through us.  He will quicken us with power, over coming power and strength to live a life separated from the life that we once lived while we were in the world and a life that was dominated by the flesh.

     We know that at the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit comes and lives in us, and when He comes, he quickens our spirit man and we become truly alive.  He breaths the breath of life into us spiritually and He imparts life, His DNA and this word impart means:  to give a share of something to and to import information.  Think about it!  He, the creator of the universe and all living things imparts His precious Holy Spirit, His DNA into us which changes our spiritual DNA.

     Through science we know that all of us have our own genetic codes or DNA in the natural.  These genetic codes are what determines our hair color, eyes, skin, height and what gender we will be.  Also what our physical features will look like, what our emotional and natural characteristics tendencies will be as fallen man.  And they set in motion the development of every organ inside and out as we are being formed in womb where life begins. 

     

     And what is this spiritual DNA?  It is the defined element of Him in us that transforms us into His likeness through the process of sanctification by the power of the Holy Spirit.

          In John 6:63 it tells us:  It is the Spirit (He is the life giver) who gives life; the flesh (our fallen nature, weaknesses) conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit or life in it).  The words ( the truth) that I have been speaking to you are spirit (which is the element in man  which gives him a vertical window to see God) and life (the highest and best which Christ gives to us).

     The Holy Spirit regenerates us which means; He gives us new life, He restores us to moral and spiritual health.  He is the life giver.  He teaches us and leads us into God's rest.  He helps us to communicate with God through our spirit and when our spirit is joined  intimately with the life giving Spirit, it is filled with the life of God and nothing can limit that life (intimacy)
except you.

     Listen to what the word Intimacy means:  Being on familiar affectionate, personal terms with someone.  It is sharing your inner most thoughts, it an emotional bond, warmth, closeness and allowing yourself to be vulnerable. 

     Let me leave you with this one thought.  If you say the word Intimacy slowly what is the Lord saying to you?  Into-me-see

Blessings,

Elma Garlock

Intimacy In Him Part I

     Our message begins in Acts 17:28 that tells us:  In Him we Live, and Move and have our Being.

     When we talk about Intimacy, I know how it can trigger a lot of different emotions in each and every one of us.  Some of us have been deeply wounded by family, friends, spouse's, ministers and even pastors. We've blamed God and not taken responsibility for our own actions and reactions.  We've built walls around our hearts, willfully rebelled against the truth and lost that precious Intimacy we once had.  No wonder we feel empty and void. 

     Or maybe you've never experienced that Intimacy with God. You've wanted it, but never felt like you were good enough, spiritual enough or that God just didn't love you or care.  There have been times when you've cried out to Him in desperation, frustration and felt a deep longing in your soul. 

     Time and time again you've reached out to Him but something seemed to be blocking and holding back your break through. Beloved, my prayer for you today is that you gain more knowledge and have a greater understanding of our God, who loves you with an everlasting love and longs for you to have that Intimacy in Him.

    The first words we will talk about are "In Him" and what does it really mean to be "In Him"? 

    Let's look at the word "In" first and what it means:  A primary idea of rest and being  continually in a particular place, time, state or thing.

     In John 15:4 it tells us to:  Dwell (abide) in Me, and I will dwell in you. (Live in Me, and I will live in you).  Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.

     So once we understand what it means to Dwell (abide) in Him, we can learn to Rest in Him no matter what happens or comes into our lives.

      If we look up the word "Dwell" in the dictionary this is what it means:  To reside, live and have a home in a particular place. This means you take up housekeeping and you move in (In Him).  It means you get comfortable by take off those heavy garments of hurt, disappointment, anger and fears. You learn to rest in that fixed position as you become one with Him, as a branch is united with the vine.  

     When a branch is united with the vine, that branch receives it's nourishment from that vine, because here is where the sap freely flows that brings life and fruit is produced.  And that branch will continue to produce as long as it stays united to, dwells in and abides in that vine. (Hear what the Spirit is saying)

          In I John 4: 12,13 tells us:

          Verse 12:  No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.

          Verse 13:  By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

     Think about this.  If we are truly dwelling and abiding In Him, then His character and His love will be perfected, accomplished and manifested in our lives.  And this my friend can only be done by and through the power of the Holy Spirit that is in us.  It's easy to love someone that accepts you, pays you compliments, agrees with you and loves you back. But when people reject you, speak evil against you, persecute you and abandon you, then that love you thought had been perfected is tested and truth is exposed.  

     Precious ones, God wants to pour His love over you like warm honey.  I really feel that some of you are going through very rough times and it seems like they will never end but God is saying:  Hang on for help is on it's way.  The warfare has been long and hard but when the end comes you will see how clear the way will be and an understanding will be known.  And when darkness seems to be all around you know that the light that is within you will begin to shine ever so bright and that light will dispel the darkness and it will have to flee. Stand fast and stand strong where I have placed you in this battle for my angels are all around you and they are fighting for you...VICTORY is upon you and you will not be defeated but you shall be the victor. Your classification has changed in the spiritual realm and I have placed you in the heart and heat of the battle because of the call on your life. Call upon me and I will show you great and mighty things that you know not of and direction will be established in your mind and heart along with confirmation of the prophetic words that were spoke over you in times past says the Spirit of God.

Blessings,

Elma Garlock 

The Spirit Of Glory Part II

Let's continue now with Part II of  "The Spirit Of Glory."

      I want to take you back in time to Mount Sinai and a man named Moses who became a type and shadow of Jesus Christ.

     Exodus 34 tells us that the Lord said to Moses  to be ready and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai and present yourself there to Me on the top of the mountain.  And the Lord descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the Lord.  What was this cloud?  It was the manifested presence of God in all of  His glory.  And so it was there that the glory of Jehovah was revealed unto His servant Moses and a covenant was reestablished between God and Israel. The Lord also told him that His presence would go with him and He would give him rest.  So when Moses came down from the mountain the scripture tells us that his face shinned and that when the people saw him they were fearful and would not approach him. 

     What was it that they feared?  I don't think it was Moses himself, but that they feared the manifestation that was taking place in front of their eyes.  They did not understand the power of the Glory of the Lord that had transformed him.  Moses had spent forty days and forty nights in the Lord's presence and experienced His Glory in a way that he hadn't before and his countenance confirmed that. How could Moses not have changed once he had entered into the Glory of God and seen Him as an all consuming fire?  

      But what had the Lord done in Moses life?    

     The Lord had forever etched the encounter of His glory into Moses heart and burned His fire into his spirit.  God had anointed him with power, wisdom, understanding and the knowledge to help bring forth destiny's purpose. He also told Moses that He would perform miracles which had not been produced in all the earth, nor among the nations; and that all the people would see the working of the Lord.  Wow, what a promise! 

     Beloved, this is what the Lord wants to do in the midst of His people today.  He wants to show forth His glory in and through the church in a powerful and miraculous way.  He wants the world to see the church as an extension of Himself so the nations would be drawn to and experience the working of the Lord(His glory) in the church and through the body of Christ. 

     What do I mean by an "extension?  In the law of Physics this word means:  The state of having magnitude in three-dimensional  space.  Physics is the science of matter and energy, and their interaction. 

     So when we (matter) come into interaction with the Spirit (energy) we are going to experience His Glory that will cause a magnification of the gifts of the Spirit, signs, wonders and miracles of healing, deliverance's, restoration and freedom in the lives of His people and the world.  And the world will see that what we have is genuine and the veil that has been over their eyes will be removed.  They will understand that the God that we serve is the God they have been searching for.  The harvest is coming and God is going to use those who are seeking Him with their whole hearts and are willing to pay the price of death to self and say, God, not my will be done, but Thine.

     While Moses was on the mountain top God also told him to be sure to observe what I am commanding you this day and that He was going to drive out Israel's enemy before them so they could take the land that God had promised them.  He also instructed them to watch, (which meant that they were to be guarded and watch as as watchman on the wall, to protect and to be beware of an impending enemy) that would want to snare them into making a covenant with them. 

     The Lord has placed us as "Watchman on the wall" and He is warning us to be aware and alert, because the enemy presents himself as a friend, but in truth, he has set a trap to snare God's people into complacency and religious works of the flesh that would keep us in bondage and legalism. We have worshiped man and set him up like Israel's molten calf, because of lost faith and vision.  We have allowed the veil of flesh to cover our spiritual eyes so we don't have to face our own sin.  Rise up Watchman! awake from your slumber and no longer make covenant with the enemy of your soul.  Tear down the altars in your heart and smash the plans of the enemy.  Decide this day not to agree with the lies of the enemy and allow the Spirit to take away the veil from your eyes and bring liberty and understanding.       

     In II Corinthians 3:  Paul is talking about a new covenant and not of the letter of the law of Moses but of the Spirit.  But that a veil remain today over their hearts and that it can only be removed  in Christ.  But when a man turns to the Lord, that veil is taken away. This includes all of us who are under the new covenant weather Jew or Gentile. 
    
     In II Corinthians 3:17 & 18 it tells us: 

     Verse 17:  Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

     Verse 18:  But we all with open face (to unveil and taken away) behold (see reflected) as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image(likeness & representation) from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

     The word changed in this scripture will cause you to get excited because it comes from the Greek word; Metamorphose and means:  Completely transformed and changed in form, appearance and character.  In other words a complete change in every area and every way so that you and I would not be recognizable.

     God will take those from glory to glory that are seeking this change and allow a Metamorphosis to take place in their lives. He is calling us to look and see the truth that will transform us and prepare us for the Glory of the Lord.  He wants to teach us to wait for the Spirit and lead us into worship that will usher us into the very presence of God.  He says, come to the mountain top of the Lord where you will never be the same. Do you want to go?  Are you willing to climb the mountain of the Lord and present yourself to Me?  Here is where you will find rest and a place in me that can only be found in my Glory. 

Blessings,

Elma Garlock