Knowing God Lesson 9

     What is Eternal Life?  Before going to the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prays in John17:3(Amp), "And this is Eternal Life; it means to know, to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand You (God), the Only True and Real God, and likewise to know Him, Jesus, as the Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent."

     Our salvation and Eternal Life are more than just going to Heaven, they are knowing God.  So many of God's children still don't "know" Him.  Carnal minded men have turned what Jesus did on Calvary's cross into a religion, instead of a relationship.  We struggle with man's idea of Who God is, because they're based on the first covenant under the Law of Moses and not on the Law of Love, which brought forth the relationship of Father and family.  We've missed out on coming into God's Presence, in order to know Him as Father, like God dreamed and planned.

     Many believe God is displeased and angry with our slightest mistake, instead of seeing a Father watching His children grow.  We keep trying to please Him with our efforts and works, instead of the prescribed way found in Heb.11:6(Amp), which says, "But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must necessarily believe that God exists and that He is the Rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him out."

     Why is it so important to be in faith, when we seek Him out?  Because, the only way to really know God, is by faith in His Love and His Word.  When we approach the Father in any other way, it's by our own efforts, instead of the avenue His Love has provided.  When we come to Him in faith, we believe what He's done, more than what we have done.  We keep trying to become righteous in God's eyes by our own efforts, instead of by faith in His Great Love which made us righteous by Jesus' Sacrifice. 

     When we come to know God, we can, by His Love, trust Him as Father, instead of what man's opinions teach He is.  When we come to know Him like a child knows his/her father, we can stop reaching out to man-made religious laws and traditions.  We seem to forget that it was by God's Own will that He gave birth to His Own offspring.  It pleases God to have us in His House.

     Why do we continue working to earn or qualify what God has already provided two thousand years ago, when He raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him as Lord and the Firstborn of the family?  We don't have to earn righteousness, because it's already been provided.  We don't need to qualify for God's Blessing, because it's already been Promised and provided.  Man's quest for God has fostered "hoops" which we contrive to jump through.  Man's way lists certain tasks we're to perform, in order to make God move on our behalf.  These come from not knowing God.

     God's children still try approaching Him, like those under the Law did.  This fails to please Him.  If God had been pleased with this approach, then He wouldn't have needed a new and better covenant through Jesus.  God didn't want us in the Outer Court, but wants us to come boldly into His Throne Room of Grace, any time we wish to enter.  We don't need to work for God's Blessing, but need to receive it by faith in what Jesus has already paid for on our behalf.  When we try earning it through another way, then we're disregarding and not having faith in what Jesus did.

     When we spend time in the Father's Presence, talking and listening to His heart, we discover what the "rest" Jesus Promised is.  Jesus said in Matt.11:28-30(Amp), "Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and over-burdened, and I will cause you to rest. I will ease and relive and refresh your souls Take My yoke upon you and lean on Me, for I Am gentle, meek, and humble and lovely in heart, and you will find rest, relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet for your souls For My yoke is wholesome, useful, Good not harsh, hard, sharp or pressing, but comfortable, gracious and pleasant, and My burden is light, easy to be bourne."

     Heb.4:9-10(Amp) says, "So then, there is still awaiting a full and complete sabbath-rest reserved for the true people of God; for he who has once entered God's Rest also has ceased from the weariness and pain of human labors, just as God rested from those labors, peculiarly His Own."  Heb.11:1(Amp) goes on, saying, "NOW FAITH (no longer Law, sacrifice, ritual, tradition or observance of holy days), but NOW FAITH is the assurance (confirmation, the title deed) of the things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality, faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses."

     It pleases the Father when we have more faith in what He has done and rest in this faith, rather than relying on our our works.

Knowing God Lesson 8

     Jesus prayed in John17:2-3(Amp), "Just as You have granted Him [Jesus] power and authority over all flesh (all human kind) now glorify Him [Jesus] so that He may give Eternal Life to all Whom You have given Him And this is Eternal Life; it means to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with) and understand You, the Only True and Real God, and likewise to know Him (Jesus) as the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) Whom You have sent."

     So many of God's children still don't know Him as He really is today.  The Name and Reality of our Heavenly Father, has been profaned and mistrusted over the centuries, because of the teachings and religious traditions taught in the Church.  We don't know which part of God's Word we can trust, because we've been trained to doubt His Word, by carnal interpretation instead of the Holy Spirit.

     We don't know God's will, so we don't pray in faith.  God's Word instructs us to "know and trust" His will.  When we don't have teachers who know God's will, then we can't be expected to know it either.  This is like sending our children to school without having a teacher and then expecting them to know how to write.  God's children have been trained to learn and not taught to think.  

     The Apostle writes in  1John2:19-20(Amp), "They went out from our number, but they did not really belong to us, for if they had been of us they would have remained with us. But they withdrew that it might be plain that they all are not of us. But you have been appointed from, and have been given an unction from the Holy One and you all know the Truth, or you know all things."

     So many teachings mix the old and new covenants, making them one.  Paul told Timothy in 2Tim.2:15-16(Amp), "Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved, tested by trial, a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing, rightly handling and skillfully teaching the Word of Truth. But avoid all empty (vain, useless, idle) talk, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness."

     Col.1:8-15((Amp) instructs us to rightly divide the Word of Truth for ourselves, so we can know God's will for ourselves.  Verse 9 says, "For this reasons, we also, from the day we heard of it (their love in the Holy Spirit) have not ceased to pray and make special request for you, asking that you may be filled with the full, deep and clear knowledge of His will in all Spiritual Wisdom (in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God), and in understanding and discernment of Spiritual things."

     The Holy Spirit Paul to pray the prayer above for the Church in Colossians and to reveal this petition for and to the modern-day Church, so that we could know and understand the Father's will too.  I read something and have held onto it throughout the years, which says, "Faith begins where the will of God is known."  If I don't know whether my prayer is God's will or not, then I'm not praying in faith, but I'm just making a wish, without expecting an answer.  We've fostered religious excuses for not knowing God and our own lack of faith.  This dishonors the Father and the Great Sacrifice that brought His Promises to us, through Jesus.  

     The Promises of the old covenant are now all "Yes and Amen in Christ Jesus," and we must find out what and who they are for.  We must understand how God dealt with the first covenant people and why He did this, while understanding why and how He deals with us in the new covenant.  The first covenant was with carnal, spiritually dead persons, so God established the Law and sacrifice which temporarily covered their sin.  The new covenant is for a new creation people who are now alive unto God, by Jesus' Sacrifice.  God deals with us by His Word and the Holy Spirit and our sins have been totally wiped away by Jesus' Blood.

     God no longer needs to deal with the flesh or senses of His people, but by and through our new creation spirit man/woman.  The Holy Spirit inspires Paul to write about this in 2Tim.3:16(Amp), which says, "Every Scripture is God-Breathed, given by His Inspiration, and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in disobedience, and for training in righteousness (in holy living), in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action. So that the man of God may be complete, proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every Good work."

     God doesn't use sickness, trials or calamities to teach us.  We grow by His Word and His Spirit.        

Knowing God Lesson 7

     Too many children of God don't know they have access to God's Throne Room of Grace and can receive Grace and mercy at their time of need, like Heb.4:16 says.  Many don't know we have the privilege of accessing the Presence of our Heavenly Father, in order to fellowship, receive Revelation and gain understanding from Him. 

     Rom.5:2-5(Amp) says, "Through Him, Jesus, we also have our access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this Grace (state of God's favor) in which we firmly and safely stand. And let us rejoice and exalt in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the Glory of God. Moreover, let us also be full of joy now, let us exalt and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character, approved faith and tried integrity and character of this sort produces the habit of joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God's Love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us."

     Understanding the things happening in today's world requires faith in God's Word.  We must hold fast to the Truth of God's Word.  It's paramount that we stay in fellowship and have an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father, so we can hear and recognize His Voice.  We must know that when hardships and troubles come before us, that it's the enemy and not our Father who is bringing them.  James writes about being "double-minded," in James1:8(Amp), saying, "For being as he is a man of two-minds, hesitating, dubious, irresolute; he is unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything he thinks, feels and decides."  If we are double-minded, then we won't be able to know who our enemy is and Whom our help comes from.

     Many Christians believe that when troubles arise in their lives, that "God is testing them," instead of knowing the enemy is testing their faith and trying to cause them to give up their walk with God.  If we don't know who is the cause of our troubles, then we are "double-minded and unstable and unreliable in everything we think, feel and decide."  We must know the Father for ourselves, not just relying on the teachings and opinions of others.  We must spend time in God's Word and in His Presence.

     Most believers can quote Rom.10:17(Amp), but don't hold it in their hearts.  Thus, Paul writes, "So faith comes by hearing what is told, and what is heard comes by the preaching of the Message that came from the lips of Christ, the Messiah Himself."  One can't have faith to come into intimate fellowship and understanding with God, if he/she has never heard it preached.  If we don't know God has invited us to be in His Presence at any time, then how can we know Him as "Father," and not just God.

     Our Father is the Almighty God and he has Blessed us and made us His family, through the Life, death and Resurrection of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus.  Surely, God would never deny our fellowship with Him after going to such lengths to return us to Himself.  We need to spend quality time with Him in prayer, conversation, and fellowship.  We have this open invitation to Him, through Jesus.

     It's marvelous to know we're going to Heaven when we die, but it's even greater to know Him while we're here on earth.  If we're double-minded, then we'll be uncertain we can know Him.  Faith comes by hearing, so our faith will be strongest in what we choose to hear.  It matters whether we choose to hear the Truth of God's Word or the world's lies, because that's where we will put our faith.  

     Go with me into God's Word concerning the "trials and tests" that come upon us in this world.  Choose what you're hearing for your life, here in this world.  Let's stop being double-minded and know where to stand in faith.  Is.54:13-15(Amp) says, "All your spiritual children shall be disciples taught by the Lord and obedient to His will; and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children. You shall establish yourself in righteousness (in conformity with God's will and order), you shall be far from even the thought of oppression or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Behold, they may gather together and stir up strife, but it is not from Me, Whoever stirs up strife against you shall fall and surrender to you." 

     Notice the above scriptures says that "You are to be the one who establishes yourself in His Righteousness."  This comes only be hearing and accepting the Word God speaks.  We choose whether we will listen to God's Holy Spirit and receive His Gift of Righteousness in faith or put our faith in what others say.  God has set forth an open door before us, according to Is.1:18-19(Amp), which says, "Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet they shall be white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land."

     Not long after being saved, the Lord called me to move to New York from Illinois.  I left my home, my mom and siblings, my job and my roots, trusting that God will take care of my family and me.  I gave up everything I knew, in order to obey His request.  Nothing seemed to work for me and I was certainly not "eating the good of the land."  I brought my frustration to the Lord and in my own justification, quoted the above scripture.

     God's response to me was very simple.  He said, "If you are willing and obedient, then you will eat the good of the land."  He showed me how I had been obedient, but my will was against Him.  He showed me how I was continually murmuring and complaining about the move, while looking back to my former home.  God had looked at my heart and found me to be unwilling to be obedient to Him.  I was like those in the Wilderness, whose continual complaints grieved and limited God.  I have remained where God called me, through fellowship and an intimate relationship with Him.  I've weathered many storms by faith in my relationship with Him, choosing not to be double-minded in His Wisdom and guidance.  I choose to hear from God and not the world.

Knowing God Lesson 6

    Just before entering the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said in John17:3(Amp), "And this is eternal Life: it means to know, perceive, recognize, become acquainted with and understand You, the Only True and Real God."

     Although Heaven and being in a place of God's Glory for all eternity are part of the Blessing, Knowing and walking with God on this side of Heaven in the intimacy of His great Love and Wisdom, are of great importance.  Many have received Jesus as their Lord and Savior, but still don't "know" Him and the Father Who sent Him.

     Paul writes in Phil3:10(Amp), "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 move clearly, and that I might in the same way come to know the Power outflowing from His Resurrection which it exerts over believers, and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed in spirit into His Likeness even to His death in hope; That if possible I may attain to the spiritual and moral Resurrection that it lifts me out from among the dead even while in the body."

     Many saved children of God only have a secondhand acquaintance with the Father.  We've been taught and heard many things that if we truly "knew" Him, then we would never believe.  Religion, with its carnal thinking and understanding, have only distorted the real natural and character of our Heavenly Father.  

     The only "natural" Image of our Father, is the Man, Christ Jesus.  Even after seeing Him in the flesh and as a Man, we're still unsure and view the Father as being an altogether different and separate Being.  We still can't distinguish the differences between the old and new covenant Father.  God dealt with the persons of the old covenant, who were spiritually dead, in a different way that He does with those of us who are Alive in Christ.  If we can't do this, then we will be hindered in knowing Him.  If we think our Father puts sickness and trials on His children, then we don't really know Him.  We know Who He really is, when we spend time in conversation and fellowship with Him.  We must sit at His table, hear and learn from Him. in order to overcome the misconceptions we have of Him.

     We can't really know anyone, unless we have spent time with that person.  If we don't know the Father, then our prayers aren't based in faith, because we don't know if He will answer them.  When we know Him and learn what His will is for us, then we will pray in confidence.  1John5:14-15(Amp) says, "And this is the confidence, the assurance, the privilege of boldness which we have in Him; we are sure that if we ask anything, make any request according to His will, in agreement with His Own Place, He listens to and hears us. And if since we positively know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know with settled and absolute knowledge that we have granted us as our present possessions the requests made of Him."

     This is a prayer of faith and not the "shoot the moon" kind of praying full of uncertainty it will come to pass.  Gal.5:6(Amp) says, "For if we are in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through Love."  When we know Him, we know the Love He has for us, which gives us confidence in Him."  1John4:16(Amp) says, "And we know, understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience, and believe, adhere to and put faith in and rely on the Love God cherishes for us. God is Love, and those who continue and dwell in love, dwells and continues in God; and God dwells and continues in Him."  

     Knowing God is  knowing His Love.  Most of us see God's Love through the natural love we have for one another.  Man's love is fragile and can be lost by an unkind action or wrongdoing against us.  God's Love is based on His Own Nature and Character.  God's Love "never failed."  We will know the Father and the Fullness of His Love, by spending time with Him in personal fellowship and intimacy.  God's children must talk with Him and ask questions of Him, while listening to Him and learning from Him. 

      If we don't ask questions, then we won't get the answer.  If we don't His will, then we won't be confident that He answers our prayers.  Jesus said, "My sheep know My Voice."  This comes by personally spending time and fellowshiping in His Presence.  God' Word, Jesus, is God's will and we can learnt to know God watching Jesus in the natural and seeing Him in the Word.

     We must not rely on the opinion someone else has about God's Word and will.  We must spend time in His Word and Presence for ourselves.  Is God the One Who puts sickness, tries and tests us, in order to teach us something?  Or, is He the One Who put all that on Jesus for us, so He could deal with us by His Spirit and Word?  Jesus came to do the Father's will.  Did He ever make someone sick, put hardship on someone or tell someone that their sickness "came from God?"  Did Jesus ever put the Curse of the Law on the people?  No, Jesus said He came to preach the Blessing, healing and liberty from the Law and the Curse, quoting Isaiah 61 in Luke 4.  Gal.3 tells us that "He bore the Curse of the Law, so the Blessing could come upon us."  2Tim.3:16 tells us that, "God now directs, corrects, convicts, and teaches us by His Word." 

     We must learn to know Him, so we can walk in the Fullness of His Love, in unbroken fellowship with Him, even while we're here in this world.  Jesus said in John17:3(Amp), "And this is Eternal Life; it means to know, perceive, recognize, become acquainted with and understand You, the only True and Real God."  It's up to every individual to know Him.  He wants to know us.