Tabernacling & Knowing
True intimacy with God is found in longing for Him above all else, as Peter, James, and John experienced at the Transfiguration, where they desired to remain in His presence rather than return to ordinary life. Encountering God is not just about supernatural experiences but about deeply knowing Him, as seen in the Hebrew word "Yada," which signifies a personal and transformative relationship akin to the deepest human bonds. Stillness before God allows us to acknowledge His Lordship over our lives, silencing the chaos around us and bringing the assurance that He is faithful, sovereign, and ever-present as our refuge.
The Fullness of God
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them – Jn 14:23
Our favourite
Some people watch TV or listen to the radio. I long and pine for the Lord. I turn my affections to the Creator and desire to be with Him. If I do spend time with my wife, play with the kids, go to the gym or for a walk; flip a business, broker a deal, restructure finances, develop tools or design ideations; sit with people, write, or broadcast; evangelize or free slaves, then I constantly find myself coming back to that place of just longing for more of Him, all the ‘fun and excitement’ of some of those other activities just never ever measure up to His Face and knowing Him or hearing His voice.
Looking for the Lord, but He can’t be found… However, it’s in the looking I am found
Walking home, but not there yet… but its in the walking I am home
Tabernacles of God
When Jesus takes Peter, James and John and reveals Himself to them in His glory, they were undone, there was nothing else left for them in the world that they wanted. They just wanted to build tents and set up camp right there, and tabernacle with God. Heaven had been released early, you no longer had to die to get there, it was manifested on earth. It was in the beholding of His Beauty. For many years I thought Peter was just so dumbfounded by being in the manifest glory of God, he said whatever come to His mind and it was silly and non-sensical. However I have come to know that he wanted to camp. More than just a tent he would of built a house there if he could of but the thought of leaving the presence of God to do that was immediately dismissed. He would sooner have lived in a tent with God’s manifest Presence, then return to houses without Him (although we only live and breath and exist in Him).
Where is that kind of love and devotion. I believe God is releasing it in the Earth in this hour. He is releasing a love that is sweeter than wine
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine.” Songs 1:2
Knowing God
Encounters
It’s hard to talk about intimacy without bringing up the topic of how a man ‘knows’ his wife, as it is referred to about 12 times in the bible, meaning ‘having … relations’. This analogy is also referred to how God knows His people. There is a Oneness with God that we experience as blood-washed believers in Jesus.
The Hebraic word for ‘know’ can also mean; knowing, relations, experiencing, observe, perceive, recognize, knowledge and others. It is the word YADA ידע)). This is three letters; the
Yod (Y), which is the first letter of Gods Name and often means ‘the divine (spark)’,
Daleth (D), which means ‘door’ or enter
Ayin (A) which means ‘eyes’ or seeing.
Combining these three letters gives us the pictorial meaning: “When the divine spark enters, we see.” This visual allegory illustrates how many Hebraic words carry layered meanings, which we will explore further when examining the Names of God.
Marriage is a beautiful covenant where a man and woman come together, committing to a life of faithfulness and unity. Some couples share a strong bond of friendship, living harmoniously as true partners. Others, even through challenges, remain steadfast and devoted, demonstrating resilience and loyalty in their relationship.
Then, there are marriages that truly shine—radiating life, sweetness, joy, and tenderness. In these relationships, love flows abundantly, and both partners complement and uplift one another. They function as a united team, connected deeply on emotional, mental, and spiritual levels. These marriages are a beacon of light to those around them, inspiring others with their warmth and love. Their homes exude an inviting atmosphere of peace and joy, making everyone feel welcomed and enriched just by being in their presence.
Similarly with the Lord, we can know Him intimately in a way that is a sweet aroma and brings others to the knowledge of Him. A lot of the intimacy topics we discuss, can apply to marriages and other relationships, to deepen our intimacy with one another. However, I am bringing up marriages in this topic of ‘experiencing and encountering’ God because for many who can’t see God, intimacy is hard to relate to God.
However, it is possible to experience and know Him as intimately as a husband knows a wife, if not more so – and in a pure sense. These spiritual encounters with God typically leave us with a deeper sense and feeling of knowing Him the more often we encounter Him.
Knowing God More
Encountering God is seen throughout the Bible
Many biblical characters had visitations, supernatural experiences and conversations with the Almighty, though not all.
On our journey of going deeper, we should expect more experiences and encounters that shape our walk, deepen our faith, transform our nature and increase our knowing. This isn’t for a feel-good moment but it is unto us growing closer to Him and the result will transform the world around us. There is a consistent encountering that takes place as we abide and dwell, but there will also be moments in His Presence that mark us for life, that we will always remember. They often come with breakthrough, a word, a new direction or season, but not always. Some are just to comfort us or to specifically take us deeper in our relationship journey.
Personally, I am all in. Whatever it takes Lord, I want more of You, I want to look like Jesus more and shine like Him more. I believe that we can be as close to Jesus as anyone in the Bible was, if not more so because we have a greater grace that’s available because of the great darkness that exists in our time.
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
For behold, darkness covers the earth,
and thick darkness is over the peoples;
but the LORD will rise upon you,
and His glory will appear over you. Isaiah 60:1-2
Be Still
Intimacy in Stillness
Being still to know Him more intimately.
Perhaps the most powerful key to knowing the Lord more intimately is in the stillness. Life is so busy and there are always so many pulls to help people and voices that are preaching at us and discipling us way on or another, but the Lord asks one thing:
Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth! Ps 46:10
As we intentionally sit still and focus on God, and consciously recognize acknowledge Him as God, we put Him as God over our life and situation. This knowing and understanding of who He is, empowers Him to be that in our life.
Couples talk, but there are some moments where words just don’t satisfy. Similarly with God, there is great peace, faith and confidence that comes in stillness. Its in that place that He is exalted and lifted high among nations.
The verses in lead up to Ps 46:10 are about nations raging, grounds shaking, mountains melting into the ocean. The world is falling apart around them. But in the being still, all those situations and voices fade away. One thing remains, God is Lord. In this psalm it says twice
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
The Lord of Hosts – God of the Angel Armies – Yahweh Ts’vaot (Saboath) is with us. We need not fear or worry at what ever is happening around us. This we know God is God and He is going to be God. Intentionally focus on Him and you will know His Lordship in the situation. Fear fades and God-like assurity arises. He is faithful and true. He will do all that He said He will do. And He will never stop being who He is. And He is with you and your refuge
How Deep?
Are there levels of Intimacy?
How Deep do you want to go?
Are there levels of intimacy and how deep can we go? Ezekiel 47 talks about a river of Life that flows from Gods throne. It Says
Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple …
And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles.
Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist.
Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed.
He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Ez 47:1-6
This shows us that there is depths to the levels of the River of Life that flow through us and God uses a measuring stick. I know I want to be swimming and in uncrossably deep.
AI Summary of Levels of Intimacy
We prompted AI to categorize Old Testament main characters according to their intimacy with God and we got the following result:
Extraordinary Intimacy: Unique and direct encounters (e.g., Moses, Abraham, David, Enoch). These individuals had unparalleled closeness to God, characterized by direct communication and profound experiences:
Very Close Intimacy: Consistent trust and divine favor (e.g., Joseph, Elijah, Daniel, Isaiah, Samuel, Elisha). These individuals had significant encounters with God and demonstrated deep trust:
Significant Intimacy: Faith and obedience with notable divine involvement (e.g., Noah, Joshua, Jeremiah, Job, Ezekiel). These individuals experienced God’s presence and demonstrated deep devotion:
Notable Intimacy: Foundational faithfulness and devotion (e.g., Adam & Eve, Hannah, Ruth). These individuals demonstrated faith and obedience but with less direct interaction with God:
You choose, to burn, to dwell, to behold, to enquire….