Following Jesus (3) – ‘COMMUNION’

SERIES: FOLLOWING JESUS (3)
COMMUNION: BEING W-I-T-H JESUS
(Mark 3:13-14)
A message by Rev Dr Vincent Leoh on 28 September 2008

Mark 3:14a And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him ( to be his regular companions NLT ) Then He appointed twelve that they might be with Him (NKJV)

A “disciple” is someone who learns by following someone else. The Greek word for “follower” meant two things: It referred to someone who had a growing and deepening RELATIONSHIP to the one they were following. And, it also meant that the follower was committed to the process of a radical TRANSFORMATION because of the influence of the leader on his life.

I. THE DEPTHS OF COMMUNION AND INTIMACY – TAKE ME DEEPER INTO YOU!

There is one word that holds the key to intimacy: W-I-T-H. In the original Greek there are three different ways to use this word, with great implication and significance.

1. “META” (met-ah’) With = Someone who is in the PROXIMITY OR VICINITY OF. A primary preposition properly, denoting accompaniment; amidst. Implies CASUALNESS.
Mark 3:14; Mat. 28:20

2. “PARA” (par-ah’) WITH = To be NEXT TO, CLOSE TO or NEAR or BESIDE.
A primary preposition; near, beside. More intimate and closer than meta. It implies CLOSENESS.
John 1:39; 14:16-17, 23

3. “SUN” (soon) With = UNION, TOGETHER, i.e. by association, companionship, resemblance, possession A primary preposition denoting union; with or together but much closer than (meta) or (para). Implies COMPLETENESS.
Acts 4:13; Mark 16:20; Rom. 6:4-8; Col. 2:12; 1 Thess. 5:10; 2 Tim. 2:11
II. THE CALL TO COMMUNION AND INTIMACY – NOTHING LESS THAN HIS PRESENCE

In the Garden of Eden God showed His desire to walk with man and to have Communion and Intimacy with him.
Song of Solomon 2:8-10; 5:5-6

WE NEED TO “YADA” THE LORD!
Yada (Hebrew) = Know; to perceive, learn, understand, recognize, experience, believe, accept. (Greek = oida, ginosko).

Intimacy with God and the fullest possible fellowship and partnership with Him comes as we desire and seek to know Him & His plans and will and His ways. To know God is more important than anything else in life. John 17:3; Dan 11:32 ; Hos 6:3 ; Exodus 33:13; Isaiah 43:10; Phil 3:8.

III. THE PLACE OF COMMUNION – PRACTISING THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Psalm 91:1 “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Also Psa. 27:4; John 14:23; 15:15; Acts 4:5-13; Psa. 42:1-2;63:1-3; 84:1-2; 1 Chron. 22:19
If we allow ourselves to enter this level of intimacy with the creator of the universe, we will see, hear and perceive things that the natural man cannot!

1. LISTENING
“He who dwells in the SECRET PLACE of the Most High ….” (Psa. 91:1a)
THE SECRET PLACE – is the personal place of a person’s intimacy with God

IN WORSHIP
IN PRAYER
IN SOUL-SEARCHING

2. LEARNING
“… shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psa. 91:1b)
Hanging out isn’t enough. A disciple is a learner. He continues to expand his understanding of who God is and to know His ways.
To abide under THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY, and to live in THE SHELTER OF HIS WINGS is to behold His beauty moment by moment, in every areas of life.

3. LEANING
TIME
DESIRE
OBEY

CONCLUSION

COMMUNE WITH GOD, and be willing to do whatever it takes to get into and stay in the presence of Jesus. God desires and has called us to be fully committed, passionate followers of Him who pursue communion and intimacy with God and a desire to live fully for Him.