But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word. Acts 6: 4.

You cannot separate intimacy from your personal prayer altar. Intimacy as well as personal prayer altar represents the place of communion, consultation and union with God; this is the place where the deep calls unto deep. This is the place where the hidden and secret things of God and of other things are shown unto you. It is the secret place where you should pour out your heart unto God, for he is a refuge for us.

When we talk of intimacy with God, we are talking of men and women who have built very strong, uninterrupted and indestructible prayer altars with God such as Daniel will pray as usual, just as he had always done three times in a day, though the King and the law of the land forbids such. Daniel 6:10.  

And as David built an altar of morning, afternoon and evening prayers (Psalms 65:16-22): also at midnight, not allowing anything or anyone to interrupt the daily routine, discipline and engagements of his prayer altar before God. Psalms 119:62.

These are men that work or go about their daily professional jobs as others, but allow nothing or anyone in their lives to interrupt their prayer routine, or to quench or diminish the fire on their altars which must not go off, day or night. Leviticus 6:12.

Abraham was aware that he was God’s instrument through which the whole earth was to be blessed. He could not afford to be distracted by the idolatrous environment, having come out of an idolatrous land and family, so he had to keep his spiritual focus by continually building altars to God. Altars represent our worship to God. They represent a place of private communion with our heavenly Father. Building the altar was a reminder to Abram that God was his only source of hope, power, blessings, deliverance, victory, guidance etc. Without continually calling on God, he could not fulfil the call God had placed on his life: thus, building an altar to God was a priority in his life as well ours. Genesis 12:4-9.

Talk of Isaac, he built an altar of strong communion with God in prayer (Genesis 26:25): not only that, he was a man of daily – evening time meditation on God’s goodness, greatness, purpose and plans. Genesis 24:63-67.

Though Jacob fled from Esau after the stolen blessing, yet, God revealed himself to him at Bethel, where he sought intimacy with him, which he agreed and promised to build him an altar. At Syria, in the house of Laban his uncle and father in law, except he had kept the fire of his unknown secret altar burning, he could not had escaped the trap and slavery of Laban through divine guidance: also, the secret riches of his father in law could not have been transferred to Jacob by revelation. This is the name and memorial of God throughout all generations as the God of intimacy, who is the God of Abraham, Isaac and the God of Jacob. Exodus 3:15.

God is the Father in secret, the God of intimacy. He will openly reward every secret prayer and every secret works, good or bad. It was the intimacy of Hezekiah with God that had him overturns the prophetic message given by Isaiah that he will die. This is the judicial power of justification through intimacy with God, even as Moses appeal to the same power through his intimacy with God to ensure that divine justice was served against the rebels in the camp, by saying, Lord, respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them. Numbers.16:15. This is the position of authority and influence through intimacy with God.

Intimacy releases divine unseen power to fight and defend you. Through intimacy, you will receive sudden and divine instructions for strong protection, lest the enemy catch or take you by their net as a prey to the hunters of souls and destiny. Psalms 124:6-7.

When an intimate friend and companion were taken away from Abraham, he went back to his place of intimacy with God in prayer. King Abimelech of Gerar did not know that Abraham had a secret Father who watches his back before he took Sarah, Abraham’s wife to be his wife: but the God of Abraham showed up, and instructs him to give Sarah back, else he will die – this is one of the sudden manifestations of divine presence and victory through intimacy. Genesis 20:3-8.

Recently at Nice, after my cool of the day prayer routine between 2 am to 4 am, I was given a revelation where I was crossing over a bridge to the other side, but the bridge opened up in the process of crossing over it: nonetheless, there are two strong palms (behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made you waste shall go forth of thee. Isaiah 49:16-17), as if they’ve known and expected the sudden opening of the bridge, and they also know that I will be descending into it, pushed me back up front to the other side of the bridge. And I woke up.  

I shared the revelation with my friend at Nice, we only thank God for the victory, but did not know where exactly it was coming from until a recent event made better understanding and interpretation of the crossing over to the other side which could have been regrettable, very costly.

If you study the book of the Songs of Solomon very carefully, you’ll discover that it speaks of the intimacy and love of Christ for his church. God never hid his desire and expectations from man created in his image after his likeness for intimacy. This was the reason he always visited the Garden of Eden daily in the cool of the day until Adam allowed Eve and the serpent to interrupt and destroy his intimacy with God.

There is no place for the call to intimacy with God could be well understood than in the commandment given to love the Lord your God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37. Are we not his offspring? Could anyone disprove his cravings and yearnings for our intimacy with him? For in him we live and move and have our being. What is man that God is so mindful of? David will go on to acknowledge God’s thoughtful intimacy expression towards man by saying, your thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Psalms 40:5.

The purpose of intimacy is to know God increasingly if we yield and heed to his call for intimacy. He invites and commands intimacy, and he orchestrates it in us, both to will and do according to his good pleasure, but canst any by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea. Job 11:7-9.

We cannot have enough of God, but the nearer we draw unto him, the better we get to know him. James 4:8. This is the blessedness of those who hunger and thirst after God and his righteousness, they shall be filled for that particular period which does not exempt them from continually seeking after him, for they will need to be refilled afterward for a new supply of his spirit. Philippians 1:19.

Intimacy is to know God for who he is through constant prayer and studying of his word with sweet meditation of him, his word, his promises, his ways, his works, his power and faithfulness. Is God not a good and a sweet Father to us? Have we not tasted and partake of the graciousness of his salvation and faithfulness?

These three principles of constant prayer (b) giving ourselves to the word of God (c) daily meditation on God’s goodness and greatness etc are the steps designed to reach out to God and God reaching out to us, for David says, my meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord. Psalms 38:9.

How can you say you’re in love with God, but your heart is not united in his love? While we study his word day and night, he speaks to us (Psalms 1:1-3), and while we continue instant in prayer without laziness, we talk to him (Romans 12:12), and while we meditate in his word and other things that are pure, honest, just, virtue, good report, praiseworthy, we think and contemplate about him. Philippians 4:8.

The early church Apostles of Christ understands the valuable truth of intimacy with God as they applies it to resist any new challenge which might reduced their capacity to function effectively, hence, the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7. 

Intimacy is to pursue after God, seeking to know the God whose greatness is unsearchable, and his understanding infinite, therefore the question of intimacy with God should be an unending exercise until we see and know him as he really is. Psalms 145:3. Romans 11:13. David begs God, saying, I want intimacy as well as you want it. I want to discover you through intimacy, when you say, seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, your face, Lord, will I seek. Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsakes me, O God of my salvation. Psalms 27: 8-9.

Thou shall not go by flight, nor go in haste: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your reward. Isaiah 52:12. Just as Moses was delayed before the Lord on the mount, those who are called to give birth to revivals of fire and to impact the world around them are men and women who are willing to be delayed before the Lord through the intimacy of prayer, pruning, remodeling and refining until he releases and send them out. Exodus 32:1.

Everyone reads and studies their bible, they pray and meditate, but how often and what is the quality and measure of these spiritual exercises before God? Recently, God spoke to me for more time and attention with him. Sometimes, we are distracted without knowing it, but God wants more of our time and attention. Has your spouse ever spoken or complained to you for not having more time and attention they long to have with you, but are not receiving it? While we are still in this earthly tabernacle, all we can receive as reward of a laborious intimacy with God is a progressive transformation according to the ‘time measure’ of our closeness with him, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18.

I am a wonder unto many, but you are my strong refuge. Psalms 71:7. This is one the blessings of a secret place of intimacy with God, to make your life unpredictable like a wind that blows where it wants and you hear the sounds thereof, but none cannot tell where it goes next or where it comes from.

David prayed and asked God for intimacy into his secret place for he knows the power, blessings, victory, protection and other blessings we can derive from intimacy: one thing have I desired 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 behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. Psalms 27:4-6.

David, speaking from the assurance received from his intimacy with God, was convinced of his safety from Saul’s hunt and wicked schemes that he advised Abiathar who escaped when Saul killed his father and his children, destroyed Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword, for his safety, to stay with him, that as long as he is wandering around with him, he will be in safety from the sword of Saul – You should stay with me, fear not: for he that seeks my life seeks your life: but with me thou shall be in safeguard. 1 Samuel 22:23.

The more you look, the more you get from God, and the more you see from the secret place if you keep it growing. It depends on what your interests and priorities are. The secret place is a place of reparation and transformation where your Jacob, the Old man, can be changed to Israel, the new man if you fight from the altar of intimacy with God. Alos, your face can shine just as Moses’ face shone, and he had to put on a veil to cover his face whenever he came out of the presence of God to minister to the children of Israel because they could not look at his face for the glory radiating from him. Genesis 34:35.

But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? You can also speak audaciously with power and authority from the place of intimacy with God like Elijah the Tishbite declared, As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. 1 Kings 17:1.

Those who know their God shall be strong, and they shall do exploits, but this starts from the secret place of intimacy to discover him. The secret place with God on the altar of personal prayer is the place where personal and other issues are disclosed and resolved. It is a place where the mind of God is known and his immediate will is revealed. Are not the sons of Issachar, sons of the secret place who knows what Israel ought to do at any given season? 1 Chronicles 12:32. Note: those who will be willing to give up any convenient to be in the secret place of intimacy with God, just as Leah gave up his son’s mandrakes to Rachael to have Jacob or sleep with him for that night, and she was rewarded to conceive and have Issachar, will be rewarded with revelatory knowledge, power, unfailing guidance and blessings from God. Genesis 30: 9-18.

The fact is we cannot know God for who he really is until we get to heaven, when we shall see him as he is, when total transformation and glorification will take place: and he said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. And he said thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the Lord said, behold, there is a place by me, and thou shall stand upon a rock: and it shall come to pass, while my glory passes by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: and I will take away mine hand, and thou shall see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen. Exodus 33:18-23.

Intimacy comes with responsibility and accountability. The more we know God, the better we should act or behaves, live and represents him.The profundity of individual’s relationship with God is the reason we have different level and stages of spiritual growth and maturity in the church (b) the difference in spiritual capacity, influence and power with God before men: (c) the spiritual elevation or positioning, for promotion comes not from the east or west, God is the judge, he raised up one and bring down the other: (d) the deeper and indisputable spiritual revelation knowledge of scriptures: (e) increasing spiritual fruitfulness and stability through intimacy with God in whom our fruit is found. 

The bible speaks of secret disciples, but do you know that these secret men and women of God are borne out of their secret search and intimacy with God? They are God’s special reserve agents as God told Elijah that yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.1 Kings 19:18.

Open or secret disciples, the Lord knows them that are his. God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that fears him, and works righteousness, is accepted with him. Acts 10:34-35.

For whatever reason, God admits, approves and allows certain men and women as his secret disciples. We have Joseph of Arimathea, the rich man who begged for the dead body of Jesus to give him a proper burial. John 19:38. We also have a certain disciple who cast out devils in the authority of Christ name, but was not named among the twelve and has never followed Jesus, harassed and stopped by James and John, but Jesus rebuked them for doing so. Luke 9:49. There was Ananias, a certain disciple, chosen and sent by God to pray for Saul to recover his sight. Acts 9:17-18. The owner of the donkey that was used by Christ to ride with triumph into Jerusalem was a secret disciple and admirer of Christ: otherwise, he would not have released his ass and colt for his Lord’s use. Matthew 21:1-3. What about the good man of the house who provided and opened up his guest chamber for the Lord and his disciples to eat the Passover before his death? While some disciples are louder but empty, he was a useful and quite secret disciple of his Lord Christ. Luke 22:7-13.

Was it not in the intimacy with David in the inner chamber that Bathsheba had the King sworn to her that Solomon shall reign after him? 1 Kings 1:17. Who else was there when David sworn to Bathsheba to make Solomon his successor? Note: after David, the crown was rightfully for Adonijah by birth, but it was given to Solomon by the Lord through secret intimacy: those who will keep constant intimacy with God in the holy of the holies through their strong crying and supplication shall not only be promoted over others for their love in the spirit, but the secrets and deep things of the Lord shall be their recompense: for their water (anointing) shall not ceased, but flows always, and their bread shall not dry, but new, for revelatory and timely messages from the word of God shall be given unto them.

The bible speaks of the Lamb having seven eyes and seven horns of God which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Revelation 5:6.

This speaks of the fullness of Christ, both in revelation, power and in all things. There is but one Holy Spirit, but his functionality, dimensions, capacity, manifestations and positioning among the saints on earth are of seven different layers in the church. Some preaches and teaches better than others, but they both have the gift of teaching and preaching by the same spirit. Some give accurate and precise prophetic words, and do things better than others, being preferred above their brethren in the things pertaining to God though both both drink from the same spirit. Why? Because the fullness of the Spirit of God and its effectual working lies on the intensity of the fire of prayer on the altar of intimacy with God.

The Lamb standing in the midst of the throne as you know is the Lord of glory crucified, which is Christ, the Messiah, but his seven horns speak of seven dimensions of power available in him for any member of his body, the church.

Second, the seven eyes speak of the seven dimensions of increasing revelation available in Christ for anyone who will wash their eyes with eye salve that they might see and grow in increasing revelation of his mysteries and wisdom.

Christ will give strength and power to whosoever he will, for power belongs to God, and his people shall be willing in these days of his power. God will give light and truth: also, he will give revelation and understanding to those with strong, pure and uninterrupted altars of prayer in their intimacy with him – Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. Daniel 9: 21-22.

Paul preaches through intimacy knowledge of revelation from God – for I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15: 3. Judging by the fruits and works of Apostle Paul, you cannot but thank God for him, having made himself more available for God to use him through sacrificial intimacy. In some of his writing, he says, I received from the Lord, that which I also declared or delivered unto you. 1 Corinthians 11:32. Are they apostles of Christ, I am more, by the grace of God, I labored more than they all – this is love through intimacy, for whomsoever much has been forgiven, the same will love much.

Whatever we have or received from the intimacy with God is the measure and limit of what we can give to others, otherwise, we will be stealing from the intimate labors of others with God to run his errand, which will not help them to whom we are sent or called to serve, but each servant with the particular message which can only be received through intimacy with God.