Knowing God Intimately # 1
We’re going to start a new series on Knowing our God, on having an intimate relationship with Him. I firmly believe that knowing God, who He is and what pleases Him, is the longing of every true believer. It started when God first created man. Adam and Eve would walk in the garden with God in the cool of the day. They came together for fellowship daily. It started back in the garden and it still continues today. Many may not know that the avoid on the inside of them can only be filled by fellowship with God.
Throughout the Word of God, it is the person who truly knows God that captivates us and inspires us. In the Word we see, the obedience of Moses, the faithfulness of Joshua, the boldness of Elijah, the heart of David and the faith of Abraham. This all came as a result of their intimate relationship and knowledge of God.
I) We need to purpose in our hearts to know God, not with a “puppy-love” or selfish mentality that looks only for its own benefits, but with a relationship that puts Him as the supreme and rightful place as Lord over our lives.
A) God and man long for an intimate relationship together.
1) God is reaching out to us, but we also need to be reaching out (or up) to Him.
2) Look with me to HOSEA 4:1.
a) God clearly states the cause of His people falling away.
(i) Their main problem was they lacked a knowledge of God.
(ii) God longs for the commitment of your heart to know Him with an increasing depth.
3) Notice what happens when a believer lacks the knowledge of God. HOSEA 4:6.
a) Isaiah said just about the same thing. He said in (ISA 5:13) “My people are gone into captivity, because {they have} no knowledge.”
b) People are destroyed and taken captive because of a failure to deeply know God and what He will respond to.
(i) Israel turned away from knowing God. And because of that they reaped calamities. It was a harvest of their disobedience.
B) Many Christians are in the same boat today because they lack truly knowing our God.
1) When they learn to set aside time and exert the effort to know WHO GOD IS, they will be lifted out of HOPELESSNESS into the abundant life that Jesus came to give us.
II) God has given us specific instructions how to prevent calamities, destruction, and bondage.
A) Look at JOB 22:21–28.
1) Notice that He said, “Acquaint now yourself with Him.” That’s the key, Getting to know Him, then you’ll be blessed in every area.
a) Part of the definition of the word “ACQUAINT” from the Strong’s concordance is, “SHOW HARMONY WITH, BE FAMILIAR WITH, KNOW INTIMATELY.”
2) (HOSEA 6:3) Says, “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning....”
a) When you press in to truly know God and His character, you will discover that He can be relied on and trusted. (Not with just head knowledge.)
b) He’s more faithful and unchangeable than the rising of the sun every morning.
(i) When you get to know someone, it’s easy to have faith in them.
(ii) In the years that Patti and I have been married, I’ve grown to know her likes and dislikes. Many times I know what she thinks about something before she even says a word.
(iii) As your relationship grows with the Lord you will begin to know His likes and dislikes. You’ll begin to think as He thinks and you’ll begin to feel what He feels.
(iv) But this will only happen as you spend time together.
3) (PRO 3:6 from the AMP.) Says, “In all your ways KNOW, recognize and acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”
a) As you seek to know Him, you will find the direction you need.
b) The Living Bible puts it this way, “In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success.”
(i) God will crown you with the abundant life when you put SEEKING Him 1st.
B) There is a vast difference between knowing a person’s actions and knowing what’s in their heart.
1) If I ask, “¿How many people know George Bush, or Bill Clinton?” Everyone might raise their hand.
a) But you only know about him, you know his actions, ¿but do you really know what’s in his heart?
b) It’s the same with God.
(i) Do we really know God’s heart, or do we just know about Him and His actions.
2) PSA 103:7.
a) Israel saw the mighty acts and miracles of God. (Plagues upon Egypt, Red Sea, water from a rock, and manna.) [Still accused God, curse His servants].
b) Moses was different. He still saw all the same miracles, but something made him different.
(i) He knew God.
3) ¿What was it that made Moses so different?
a) ¿How did Moses get to know God?
b) We see a glimpse of it from one of Moses’ prayers.
(i) (EXODUS 33:13 from the AMP. says), “Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, THAT I MAY KNOW YOU [progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with you, perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly] that I may find favor in Your sight.”
(ii) Moses had that true longing to know God. He sought such a closeness between himself and God.
(iii) Wanting to clearly understand the desires of God’s heart, knowing what brought joy to Him.
III) The Apostle Paul was very similar to Moses in this regard.
A) He longed to have that intimate relationship with God so that he could be used by Him.
1) Look at PHIL. 3:10.
2) The AMP translation even makes it clearer.
a) “[For my determined purpose is] THAT I MAY KNOW HIM — that I may progressively become more deeply and INTIMATELY ACQUAINTED WITH HIM, perceiving and recognizing and understanding [the wonders of His person] more strongly and more clearly.”
b) When Paul prayed this, he was not a novice, or a babe in Christ. He said this in the latter years of ministry.
(i) After all the miracles he saw, after all the manifestations he witnessed, after the visions he had, after all the missionary trips he went on, he still had the desire that he might know Him. (To know Him better.)
B) (JER 9:23-24 NIV) This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, (24) but let him who boasts boast about this: THAT HE UNDERSTANDS AND KNOWS ME, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.
1) Many times people want to talk about the things that they have done, but let’s be slow to speak and talk on your relationship with God.
C) Let’s end with this last scripture DANIEL 11:32.
1) I want to do exploits for the kingdom of God.
a) The word "KNOW" here literally means, "TO KNOW BY EXPERIENCE."
2) ¿Why should we want to do these exploits?
a) So others will come to know Him.
WOLCC SUN AM 3/15/92 and Sunday, April 25, 1999.