You may recall John Piper’s article The Morning I Heard the Voice of God and my response . I’ve been thinking quite a bit about a follow-up to that post, which means reading various books (or chapters of books) and articles that address prayer and “hearing” from God. I don’t see how I can improve upon John MacArthur’s words in Pulpit Magazine today. He writes,

“Knowing Christ,” in the Pauline sense is not the sort of mystical relationship many people imagine. Paul wasn’t longing for some secret knowledge of Christ beyond what is revealed in Scripture. He wasn’t asking that private messages from Christ be whispered into his ear.

We err greatly if we think of intimacy with Christ as some lofty level of mysterious, feelings-based communion with the Divine—as if it involved some knowledge of God that goes beyond what Scripture has revealed. That idea is the very heart of the gnostic heresy. It has nothing in common with true Christianity.

He then goes on the explain five aspects of true intimacy with Christ. They are

• the intimacy of faith
• the intimacy of true worship
• the intimacy of prayer
• the intimacy of obedience
• the intimacy of suffering

His conclusion?

Add all those things together to get the full picture: True intimacy with Christ
involves suffering, obedience, much prayer, a good knowledge of God’s Word, and
a life of faith.

Notice that those are not advanced skills for second-level Christians. They are the most elementary issues of the Christian life. That underscores the truth that intimacy with Christ is not some sort of mystical secret. It is the whole point of our life in Christ. Indeed, it is the chief end for which we were created: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Read the whole thing.