Sermon Tone Analysis

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*.

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*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.*