Intimacy with GOD requires that you communicate with GOD directly in the name of JESUS. One of the most significant results of the death and resurrection of JESUS CHRIST is that you don’t need a priest to go between you and GOD. JESUS is our HIGH PRIEST WHO entered the Holy of Holies once and for all for the entire world. In John 16:23, HE instructed HIS disciples that “in that day” (signifying after his death and resurrection) to pray to GOD directly, because the way to the Holy of Holies would have been opened. (“And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the FATHER in my name, HE will give [it] you.” (John 16:23 (KJV))
Andrew Womack’s Living Bible Commentary, in Note 87 of John 16:23, states, “Ever since sin entered the world, man has always had to go through some mediator to approach GOD. This was because of GOD’s holiness and man’s sinfulness. In the Old Testament, sacrifices and priests were symbolic mediators.” After JESUS fully paid for the penalty of sin, HE became the HIGH PRIEST of man, the only qualified mediator between GOD and man (Hebrews 3:1 and 9:15). This means that we don’t need to run to prophets and prophetesses to hear from and commune with GOD, like in the Old Testament.
The book of Hebrews makes it clear that JESUS’s mediation is greater than anything that has ever existed before, in that HE not only is pure, but also actually cleanses and purifies the ones whom he represents. This means that we can come directly to the FATHER in JESUS’s name.
This is one reality of Christianity that you don’t hear in many churches today. Born again children of GOD do not need to have their pastors and ministers pray for them before they can receive from GOD.
Am I saying that it is wrong for someone to pray with you or for you? No, that’s not what I am saying. Don’t get me wrong—GOD has given these ministers as gifts to HIS church, to help teach, mentor, and grow the children of GOD to do the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:11-14). As a Christian, you should receive the guidance of your pastor and other members of the church.
However, many Christians run to others to talk to GOD on their behalf because they don’t know GOD, and don’t know that they can go to HIM directly for their needs. They have confidence in others praying for them, but don’t recognize that they themselves can freely talk to GOD and grow in intimacy with HIM.
The only reason you might have more confidence in others going to GOD on your behalf is that you believe that GOD hears them, but does not hear you. But the truth is that GOD wants to hear from you directly, because He loves you dearly. HE loves you so much that if you were the only person on earth, JESUS still would have died for you!
This point is profound and must be understood if you want intimacy with GOD to become a reality in your life. Personally, for me to think that I can freely and directly commune with the ALMIGHTY GOD, the CREATOR of Heaven and Earth, is a wonderful feeling! And that is exactly what JESUS CHRIST provided for us in HIS suffering, death, and resurrection. You can go to GOD your FATHER boldly in the name of JESUS, and you shall receive!
