INTRODUCTION
In December 2023, my Senior Pastor, Reverend Stephen Alexis, asked me to prepare a sermon based on our church’s theme for 2024, “Transitioning to a New Dimension in God.” As I sought the Lord during one of my evening devotions - praying, listening, and waiting quietly before Him - I asked what He desired me to share with the congregation. His response came with unmistakable clarity: “Do you know Me?”
I sat in stillness, almost stunned. It was a question I had heard from Him once before, years ago - a question that had stirred my heart and compelled me into a deeper, more intentional pursuit of His presence. And now, here He was asking again, inviting me once more into a greater dimension of knowing Him.
I answered Him, “Lord, I know some of Your ways, but I do not know all of You. I’m learning day by day.” And He responded, “Talk about Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.” I was filled with joy, yet I also wept, because this is what the Lord wants for all of us - to know Him. This journey is lifelong, unfolding as long as we walk this earth. After the Lord confirmed this word to me, I shared it with the congregation on March 17, 2024. As you read this study, take your time, search the Scriptures, and be intentional in practicing the keys outlined.
The foundational scripture for this teaching is John 17:3 (KJV):
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
So what does knowing Jesus Christ have to do with “Transitioning to a New Dimension in God”?
My fellow saints, everything begins and ends with Him. Without Christ, and more importantly, without truly knowing Him, we cannot move into a deeper dimension in God. All that we long to become and all that we desire to do for His glory, whether it is speaking in tongues, performing miracles, ministering healing, interceding with power, walking in deliverance, or making meaningful spiritual impact, is rooted in having a personal relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
John 17:3 reminds us that eternal life is not simply living forever but knowing God intimately. The Greek word ginōskō refers to deep, experiential knowledge - the kind of closeness found in a covenant relationship, much like the intimate bond shared between husband and wife. Eternal life is not defined by identifying as a Christian or merely saying, “I am born again.” It is defined by knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ personally and relationally.
We can attend church regularly, serve faithfully, worship passionately, and still miss intimacy with Him. Many of us have heard sermons on consecration, prayer, spiritual trajectory, walking with the Holy Spirit, and growing strong in the Lord. Yet beneath all these topics lies one core truth: transitioning to new dimensions in God must be built on knowing Him deeply.
When you take a moment to reflect, you may realize that although you know about Jesus - through sermons, devotionals, or Christian media - you may not truly know Him as a friend, a companion, or the deepest love of your life. Hearing His voice, whether audibly, in your spirit, through dreams, visions, or Scripture, flows out of relationship.
For many believers, our walk with Christ becomes one-sided. We pray, but often it is us doing all the talking. We speak at God rather than with Him. This is not to condemn anyone, because I have also walked through seasons of prayer that felt more like monologues than conversations. We are repeatedly taught to spend quality time with the Lord, but many simply do not know how to begin.
So consider this: how much of your prayer time is truly intimate? How much is simply you being with the Lord as you would be with a close friend, bringing your real, unfiltered self before Him? How much goes beyond routine worship phrases, beyond warfare prayers, and into resting at His feet with your insecurities, fears, and imperfections?
As we transition into a new dimension in God, this closeness becomes even more vital. If we desire to walk in the supernatural, miracles, breakthrough, revival, and manifestations of God’s glory, we must stay near to Him with hearts that are holy, yielded, and fully surrendered.
THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS
Jesus declared in John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches… without Me ye can do nothing.” As you study this week, take time to read the entire chapter of John 15. Notice how often Jesus emphasizes the importance of “abiding,” remaining, dwelling, and staying connected to Him.
There is a profound difference between knowing Jesus and merely knowing about Him. Matthew 7:21–23 presents a sobering reality: many will stand before Him declaring how they prophesied, cast out demons, and performed mighty works in His name - yet He will say, “I never knew you.” Gifts and ministry activity are not replacements for intimacy. If we are not abiding in Him and allowing Him to know us deeply, then all our efforts profit nothing.
It is not enough to learn facts about Jesus. What we know about Him must become a lived, personal reality. He is a real Person with emotion, personality, and a heart that feels. Walking with Him is a daily journey. We will never fully understand Him on this side of eternity, but we must continually pursue Him. He is awesome and multidimensional - fully God, fully Man, and fully Spirit.
Before we explore the keys to knowing Jesus intimately, it is important to understand the stages many believers pass through in their walk with God.
i. For the new believers, who have now been saved you are at the new believers' stage: You believe that Jesus was sent from God, He was born of a virgin, He died on the cross for your sins, and He died and rose again. And because you believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
ii. Some are at the discipling stage: You are a follower of Jesus Christ, you go forth and tell others about Jesus. At this stage, you develop a life of discipline where you exercise self-control and faithfulness to the work and things of God.
iii. Some are at the bondservant stage: As you progress in your Christian walk, you begin to experience trials, sufferings, and circumstances that can be difficult to accept or understand. But you are still obedient and devoted and submitted to God’s will.
You will find yourself wanting to please God more than pleasing people – Ephesians 6:6 says, “Not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart”. And when you think about a bondservant, it speaks to someone who is a slave or a servant. Jesus when He came to the earth had to learn to be a bondservant, even at the point of death. No matter what stage you are at, our daily walk with Christ requires us to die daily in the flesh,
iv. And there are those who are at the Friend stage:
John 15: 14-17 reads:
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
What marks a true friend of Jesus is when you develop that love for one another, and notice verse 14 are linked with verse 17.
When you are a friend of Jesus, you can intercede for others, for peoples, and nations – just like how Abraham, who was known as a friend of God, could reason with God to save the righteous souls that were in Sodom and Gomorrah. Just imagine that you can reason with God. For God Himself in Isaiah 1:18-20 says to Israel, “Come let us reason together”.
V. Then there are those who are Sons and Daughters of God – or as you may hear the term “Sonship”. Even God in Matthew 3:17, after Jesus was baptized said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”. God called Jesus His Beloved Son. And if we are called sons and daughters of God, guess what, that makes us not only heirs and joint heirs with Christ Jesus but also the Bride of Christ.
We are transitioning to a new dimension. I am saying all this because some of us, as we grow in this walk with the Lord over the years, we transition from one level of our relationship with the Lord to another level. But it must be progressive. There are those, sadly enough, after many years, are in the believer’s stage, or discipleship stage, and have never entered into the friendship or sonship stage in their Christian walk. The good news is, no matter what stage you are at in your Christian walk, you can know the Lord intimately through the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!
However, a relationship with the Lord takes time to build, just like with any person in a relationship. And you know what it's all a matter of choice. The onus is on us to want it and pursue it relentlessly.
This is not a passive decision but requires dedication, zeal, and discipline, for the enemy will fight you tooth and nail to keep you from entering that place and level in God. No one says that it will be easy, but you must choose to pursue Jesus. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.
Do you want to transition to a new dimension in God?
THE KEYS TO KNOWING JESUS INTIMATELY
1. Become Well-Acquainted With the Holy Spirit
The first key to cultivating intimacy with Jesus is becoming familiar with the Holy Spirit. He lives inside of us, closer than our own breath, and yet many believers still expect to encounter God somewhere outside themselves. Until we truly embrace the reality that the Spirit of God dwells within us, we will continue to pray, search, and strive as though He is far away.
We must also break old mindsets about prayer. Some pray as if God is distant, believing they must pray long and hard before He hears them. But the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, Teacher, and Friend, is within us. He is with you when you lie down and rise, in your joy and in your pain, in every breath and every tear.
My earliest encounters with the Holy Spirit came through conviction; first when I accepted Christ as my Lord and Saviour, and later whenever I did or said something wrong. Sometimes He impressed things on my conscience. That is often how it begins, before we learn to discern His voice clearly.
As you grow in hearing His voice, learn to wait in prayer. Be still. After praying, many rushed away without pausing to listen. But intimacy develops when we sit quietly before Him.
Some believers struggle to discern whether it’s their own thoughts speaking, the enemy, or the Holy Spirit. Remember this unchanging truth: the Holy Spirit will never contradict the Word of God. Jesus Himself said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27).
Engage in ongoing conversation with the Holy Spirit throughout your day. Even with a busy schedule, you can talk with Him while you work, cook, clean, commute, or rest. It may feel unusual at first, but if you desire to experience the reality of His presence, include Him in everything you do.
2. Study the Word of God
To know Jesus intimately, immerse yourself in the Scriptures, especially the words of Jesus in the New Testament. Before reading, pray and ask the Lord to open the eyes of your understanding.
Through the Word, you will discover the character and personality of Jesus. For instance, when Jesus told me in prayer that He is “meek and lowly in heart,” I later saw this confirmed in Matthew 11:29. Jesus Himself tells us He is gentle, humble, tender, compassionate, yet also bold and full of authority.
Even in the Old Testament, we see the same nature revealed: “The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.”
As you read, make what you discover about the Lord a personal reality. There were times when I experienced not only His compassion but also His firmness when correcting me – moments that humbled me deeply.
3. Love the Lord and Walk in Obedience
John 14:21 says, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me… and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
Obedience is one of the deepest expressions of love for Jesus. When we keep His Word, we position ourselves for intimacy with Him. He promises that He will reveal Himself to us and make His home within us. Just as Mary carried Jesus physically, the Spirit of Jesus now dwells in you.
4. Practice Intimate Prayer and Fasting
There are many forms of prayer: intercession, supplication, thanksgiving, confession, consecration, adoration, praise, and faith. But nothing replaces personal, one-on-one communion with the Lord. The Holy Spirit never forces Himself on us; intimacy requires desire and pursuit on our part.
Psalm 27:4 captures this longing: “One thing have I asked of the LORD… to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD…”
As a teenager, I longed to know God the way Moses and Elijah did. I began setting aside intentional time with Him. After work, I would sit on my bed with an empty stool before me. I knew the Holy Spirit was within me, yet imagining the Lord sitting across from me helped me focus during prayer.
Keys for Intimate Prayer:
• Set aside intentional time.
• Remove distractions.
• Pray in the Spirit.
• Treat this time as a sacred appointment with God.
Whether early morning, late at night, or during your commute, create space for Him daily.
ABOUT FASTING
I vividly remember September 30, 2008. I attended a crusade at my former church where an evangelist, who had ministered in over 120 nations, taught powerfully on intimacy with God. He prayed for four hours a day and studied the Word for at least three. His messages pierced my heart.
He challenged us to pray at least one hour daily and read the Word for 20 minutes to an hour. I was struggling spiritually at that time – battling tiredness, inconsistency, and shallow prayers – but I deeply desired intimacy with God.
After three days of prayer and fasting, seeking God to reveal Himself to me, I had my first life-changing encounter with the Lord. His audible voice filled my spirit as the Holy Spirit overtook me. I sang in tongues on a pitch I could never reach naturally. I felt my body tremble as the Lord touched my spirit. I smelled sweet oil. Then I heard Him say, “I am yours, and you are Mine.”
It felt like a spiritual betrothal; a marking, a setting apart. That encounter stayed with me for days, until trials soon followed. But that is a story for another time.
What matters is this: Do not live on yesterday’s encounter. Seek fresh oil daily. Intimacy with God must be continual.
And remember, fasting requires consecration. Seek forgiveness before you begin and know what you are fasting for. A purposeful fast draws God’s response.
5. Trust Him Completely
Intimacy is impossible without trust. Proverbs 3:5-6 remind us to trust the Lord wholeheartedly, not leaning on our own understanding. Do you trust Him with your life, your future, your decisions, your trials?
Trust is the foundation of intimacy.
6. Worship Him From the Heart
Worship is a powerful way to draw near to God. Psalm 145:1 says, “I will exalt You, my God, the King.” Let your worship be personal; sing to Him from your heart. Keep a melody of praise within you at all times.
7. Know Who You Are in Him
This final key completes the message: know your identity in Christ. You are God’s dwelling place. This earthen vessel carries the Holy Spirit; the presence of the Father, Son, and Spirit.
THINGS TO BE AWARE OF: DEVICES THE ENEMY USES TO HINDER YOUR INTIMACY WITH GOD
1. Distractions
Romans 12:2 warned us not to be conformed to this world. Distractions arise when we become overwhelmed by life, work, school, family, responsibilities, and our conversation with the Lord becomes less frequent. I experienced this when my schedule became full, and before long, my spirit felt empty.
One evening, when I finally paused to pray, the Lord asked, “Where have you been?” Neglecting God is a form of spiritual drifting. Do not wait until you feel as though you must start over again.
2. The Battleground of the Mind
The enemy often attacks through thoughts—fear, distraction, suspicion, judgment, temptation. This is why Scripture calls us to be sober and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8).
Sometimes, even innocent activities can steal our focus. When I become distracted, I often hear the Lord whisper, “Focus on Me.”
3. Growing Cold Spiritually
Even after we have had an encounter with the Lord, we can be in danger of becoming cold. But how can this be?
a) When you miss praying and spending time with the Lord and in His Word as you should. Whether it’s through busyness, ill health, or our jobs, if it continues in this manner over a period of time, you can become cold. When you find yourself waking up in the morning to say a quick prayer and carry on with the rest of your day, a quick grace before meals, and a sleepy prayer before bedtime, know that your prayers have become mechanical and void of touching the heart of God.
b) When you fall ill, and it becomes difficult to be close to the Lord because of the constant pain and suffering.
c) There can be a stage in your life when you have become tired; you are going through the motions; you become tired of people, things, your job, maybe even the Church and life itself.
d) Have you fallen in love with the approval of men or even with the ministry God has called you to serve in?
For those who have experienced this, it becomes difficult to get back to that place again, and when you pray, it feels as if it's not even touching anything. You feel like the presence of God is not there – you feel as if the Holy Spirit has left you. It’s a tormenting feeling. And the thing is, it doesn’t happen overnight; it occurs gradually over time until you realize you have just lost the zeal to spend time in prayer.
If this happens or is already happening, as hard as it may feel or seem, come before the Lord, repent, and cry out to the Holy Spirit to bring you back to that place. It will also take commitment and discipline on your part to meet with the Lord. Always be alert to the warning signs of an approaching cold heart and watch diligently for them. And you know what happens when we are intimate with the Lord every day? We will not feel like we are a stranger to Him. Don’t wait for when you come to church on a Sunday to reflect and self-introspect. The time is now!
CONCLUSION:
Ask yourself today, what are the forces in your life deliberately distracting you from Jesus? What are they? How long has it been this way, some days, a couple of months, some years? Think about your current pace of life. Is it harming your intimate walk with the Lord? Life is so busy, and it can quickly be filled with activities. My prayer for everyone today and even myself is that the Lord will grant us the strength and desire to pursue Him relentlessly and intimately – to know the Lord and to be known by Him.
There may be some of us who desire to take that step in your Christian walk to know the Lord intimately. You have not accepted Him as Your Lord and Saviour, and you want to know the King of kings and Lord of Lords. Now is the time to receive Him as Lord and Saviour in your Heart.
And there are those who have been in church - yes you are hearing about the Lord, you read about the Lord - but you don’t know Him on a personal level through the Holy Spirit. For others, you have re-evaluated your life and see that your busyness and the cares of this life have consumed you. And there are others - you were once on fire, you have had encounters with the Lord - but for some reason or the other, over time, your prayer life has grown cold. You want that passion for Christ to be reignited.
Today, make the bold decision to return. Ask the Lord to reignite the fire within you.
He is near. He is listening.
And He is ready to restore your heart.
Author: Kimberly A.S. Williams
