Knowing God Lesson 17

      John17:3(Amp) says, "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 Anointed One, the Messiah) Whom You have sent."

     This is awesome scripture comes with a realization that we have the opportunity to actually know and understand the Creator of the Universe for ourselves.  We have the opportunity to have a personal friendship and enter God's Presence, so we can know Him.  Many never pursue the open door into His Presence.  We prefer to stay in the Outer Court and believe that we can only enter God's Presence when we die and go to Heaven.

     We are God's family and He is our Father.  God's family was separated from Him by Adam's transgression, but Jesus' Resurrection restored us back to God.  God never stopped or forgot His quest to get His family back.  This cost Him everything He had, which was His Only Begotten Son, Jesus.  Why then, do we live like God is apart from us?

     Jesus said in John10:9(Amp), "I Am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out (freely) and will find pasture."  Through Jesus, we can do like Heb.4:16(Amp) which says, "Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the Throne of Grace (the Throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners) that we may receive mercy for our failures and find Grace to help in good time for every need (appropriate help and well-timed help), coming just when we need it."

     The sounds coming from the world today, are so loud and persistent that we can barely hear God's Voice.  Jesus said in Mark4:23-25(Amp), "If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure (of thought and study) you give (to the knowledge) that comes back to you-and more (besides) will be given to you who hear.  For to him who has (ears to hear) will more be given; and from him who has nothing (no ears to hear); even what he has will be taken away (by force)."

     We know from John10:10(Amp) that, "The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy."  And we know Jesus' "The Parable of the Sower" in Mark4:4(Amp) that, "Satan comes at once, and by force takes away the Message which is sown in them."  It's of utmost importance, that we know and have a personal relationship with the Father.  When we know, understand, perceive, recognize and become acquainted with the Father, then we can hold onto and understand what He says to us.  And, in order to do this, we must "have ears to hear."

     God is revealing many things to His people in these Last Days, so we can be more secure in His Word and His Love.  These times of Revelation have prove that many things we've accepted through the years are untrue.  Many of things were learned, pertained to the Law and not the new creation family we've become through Jesus.  God's ideas about His family aren't always what we were taught from man's ideas.

     When we allow God's Word and His Holy Spirit to reveal His Love, then we'll come into a closer fellowship and union with the Father.  Bad things still happen to people who know the Lord, so we assume it must be God Who is doing them.  We still live in a fallen world and satan is still the god of this world, according to 2Cor.4:4(Amp) which says, "For the god of this world has blinded the unbeliever's mind, that they should not discern the Truth, preventing them from seeing the Illuminating Light of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ the Messiah, Who is the Image and Likeness of God."

     We might be believers who are born-again, but we still walk in degrees of unbelief, because satan has blinded our minds to many wonderful things about our salvation.  None of us wish to be "unbelieving believers," but many of today's Christians still don't accept things the Father has made available to us.  Jesus told the people that, "By your traditions and rituals, you have made the Word of God of no effect."

     We've established our own rituals and traditions in the Church today, and like those Jesus spoke too, we fight to maintain them.  It's difficult to deceive those who've built a personal relationship with the Father.  We not only hear, but we pray about what we're hearing, in order to receive confirmation from the Holy Spirit.  In order to know His Voice,  requires that we have personal relationship with Him.

     I believe that God will give us warning before something happens to us.  If we will listen, then He will "lead us in paths of Righteousness, for His Namesake."  God will help us avoid the paths of the destroyer and will guide us in His Light, if we will listen.  Jesus prayed for God to "deliver us from the evil."

Knowing God Lesson 16

     John17:3(Amp) says, "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 Anointed One, the Messiah) Whom You have sent."

     The Holy Spirit might be the most neglected Person of the God-Head, but He is the One Who has been sent into the world to reveal Jesus and the Father to the world and the Church.  When Jesus told His followers that He "must go away," they surely felt lost and hopeless.  Jesus explained why He must go and how they would be better off in John16:7(Amp), saying, "However, I am telling you nothing but the Truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Stand-by) will not come to you (into close fellowship with you); but if I go away, I will send Him to you (to be in close fellowship with you)."

     Praying in the Power of Jesus' Name and reading the Word are good, but when we meditate on God's Word and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, He will reveal the secret things of God.  Jesus explained why the Holy Spirit was so important for the Church in John16:3(Amp), saying, "But when He (the Spirit of Truth, the Truth Giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His Own Message (on His Own authority); but He will tell whatever He hears (from the Father) He will give the Message that has been given to Him, and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future)."

     God spoke to Joshua about the Book of the Law, which is the scripture and new covenant, for us today in Joshua1:8-9(Amp), saying, "This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night; that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success! Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you god."

     Believers today are to take this Word and meditate on it day and night, allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal God's directions into our spirit too.  2Tim.3:16(Amp) says, "Every scripture is God-breathed (given by His Inspiration) and is profitable for reproof and correction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, 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 and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."

     When we mediate on God's Word, we're communing with the Holy Spirit and He will reveal the hidden Truth and give us the Spiritual Revelation that our intellect cannot perceive.  Paul wrote to the Church in Rom.8:5-6(Amp), "For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit, set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the Holy Spirit. Now the mind of the flesh (which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit) is death, but the mind of the Holy Spirit is Life and peace, now and forever."

     Paul wrote about renewing our minds in Rom.12:2(Amp), saying, "Do not be conformed to this world (this age), fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs, but be transformed (changed) by the enter renewal of your mind (by its new ideals and its new attitude) So that you may prove for yourselves what is the good and acceptable and the perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect in His sight for you."

     The renewing of our mind comes by meditating and being in close fellowship with the Holy Spirit.  When we remain in steadfast contact with the Holy Spirit day and night, He will reveal the plans and directions God has for our lives.  Jesus instructed His followers in Matt.6:33(Amp), saying, "But seek, aim at and strive after first of all His Kingdom and His Righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and all these things taken together will be given you besides."

     We know God's way of doing and being right, when we meditate on His Word and fellowship with Him.  1John2:20(Amp) says, "But you have been anointed by, you hold a sacred appointment from, you have been given an unction from the Holy One; and you know all the Truth or you know all things."  The Holy Spirit, Who lives within us, is God Himself living in our born-again spirit and He will transmit all the Truth to us.

Knowing God Lesson 15

     Jesus says in John17:3(Amp), "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 Anointed One, the Messiah) Whom You have sent."

     We must develop our relationship with the Holy Spirit, in order to know God.  Just prior to His going to the cross, Jesus told His disciples about the coming outpouring of the Holy Spirit, in John16:13-15(Amp), saying, "But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth Giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth), For He will not speak His Own Message (on His Own Authority); but He will tell whatever He hears from the Father (He will give the Message that has been given to Him) and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come (that will happen in the future). He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. Everything that the Father has is Mine. That is what I meant when I said that He (the Holy Spirit) will take the things that are Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you."

     Rom.10:17(Amp) tell us that, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God."  When  believers hear the Truth, by and from the Holy Spirit, it will bring faith into our spirit.  Jesus said in John16:13(Amp), "He, the Holy Spirit, will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth)."  Most people can read God's Word, but only the Holy Spirit can reveal, disclose, declare and transmit the Truth of the Word to us.  If we don't have a relationship with the Holy Spirit, then we will have very little Revelation of the Truth of God's Word.  If we don't have Revelation, then we will have religion and man-made ideals of what the Father truly says in the Word.

    In Prov.29:18(Amp) God says, "Where there is no vision (no Redemptive Revelation of God) the people perish; but he who keeps the law (of God, which includes that of man), Blessed (happy, fortunate and enviable) is he."  The law here is the Law of God and not the Law of Moses.  When man-made laws are contrary to the Law of God, we must follow God's way, which is the Law of Truth.

     God speaks about the new covenant in Malachi2:1-4,6(Amp) and about Levi, the Priestly tribe in Verse6, saying, "The Law of Truth will be spoken by the new Priests."  God's Word is the Law of Truth.  1Pet.2:9(Amp) says, "But you are a chosen race; a royal priesthood, a dedicate nation, God's Own purchased special people), that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfection of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous Light."  The Truth of Jesus' Resurrection and the marvelous deeds He accomplished for us, are the Law of Truth.  This Truth is about the new creation person of God, which sets us free.

     Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses and we now live in the Law of Truth, through the Power of Jesus.  John8:31-32(Amp) tells us, "So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My Word (hold fast to My teachings) and live in accordance with them, you are truly My disciples And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free."

     Only the Holy Spirit can reveal the Truth to us about the new priesthood and the new creation child of God we've become.  Jesus speaks about the Holy Spirit in John6:63(Amp) saying, "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are SPIRIT AND LIFE."  This is the Law of Truth about the new creation we've become through Jesus.

     We've been taught and received what theological persons that have no vision of the Power of Redemption.  Only the Holy Spirit can transmit this Revelation into our spirits.  We might know this by our intellect, but not have the Revelation of it in our spirit.  We will not be set free, without this.  We will still be held in condemnation, will be unable to put faith in our prayers and will not enter into the Father's Presence without this Revelation of the Holy Spirit. 

     John writes this about the Church in 1John3:21(Amp), "And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us (if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us) we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God."  Only the Law of Truth can dispel guilt and condemnation from our hearts.  The righteousness we have in Jesus, is the Law of Truth.  

     The Holy Spirit might be the most neglected Person of the God-Head, in our Christian walk.  But, Jesus said that we will be better off when the Holy Spirit comes, even better than when Jesus Himself was on earth.  Jesus says in John16:7(Amp), "However, I am telling you nothing but the Truth when I say it is more profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessory, Strengthener, Stand-by, will not come to you (in close fellowship with you); but if I go away, I will sent Him to you (to be in close fellowship with you)."

    

Knowing God Lesson 14

     John17:3(Amp) says, "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 Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent." 

     It's been difficult for most of us to "know" God, because we've tried to know Him by our natural mind and it's way of thinking.  Jesus says in John4:24(Amp), "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (reality)."

     After we're born of God through the Spirit, we have the ability to know Him by the Spirit Who lives in us.  Jesus says in John6:63(Amp), "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life-Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."

     So many believers struggle with our relationship with the Father, without connecting to Him like we wish.  We've attended different churches and fellowships of varying doctrines, hoping to be filled with Truth that will help us walk according to God's Word.  We can be taught the Revelation knowledge of God's Word, but it must get into our own spirit to become Revelation to us.  It might be Truth and Spirit, but it must go from our intellect and into our spirit, in order to make it ours.

     Everything Jesus spoke was "Spirit and Truth," but He spoke to those who walked by Law and sacrifice, so the hearers remained carnal in their thinking.  Paul wrote about those he ministered to in Rom.10:2(Amp) saying, "I bear them witness that they have a (certain) zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to correct and vital knowledge."

     The people couldn't understand the Revelation Paul was preaching, because of their unrenewed minds.  They had "zeal and enthusiasm" for God and they truly wanted to know the Father, but that could only come through God's Word and the Spirit.  Like so many believers today, they fashioned religious reasons why it didn't work in their lives.  Many true Christian, born-again persons who attend church, still have little idea Who God is.

     Jesus said in John6:63(Amp), "The Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."  We have the ability to read the Words by our intellect, but we don't have Revelation of them in our spirit.  This requires meditating on, reflecting on and allowing the Spirit Word to be revealed as Spirit and Life to our spirit.  God's Word must be received into our spirit, before it becomes Revelation knowledge to us.

     Spiritual Truth to a carnal, unrenewed mind, is just religion and not reality.  The people Paul wrote about had a zeal for God, but it was without knowledge.  Prov.20:27(Amp) says, "The spirit of man (that factor in human personality which proceeds immediately from God) is the Lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts."  Prov.29:18(Amp) goes on, "Where there is no vision (no redemptive Revelation of God) the people perish; but he who keeps the Law (the Word of God), Blessed, happy, fortunate is he."  

     Psalm119:130(Amp) says, "The entrance and unfolding of Your Words give Light, their unfolding gives understanding, discernment and comprehension to the simple."  Paul writes to the believers in Col.1:9(Amp), saying, "For this reason we also from the day we heard of it, 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."

     Jesus tells His followers in Matt.6:63(Amp), "Seek (aim at and strive after) first of all, His Kingdom and His Righteousness (His way of doing and being right); and then all these things taken together will be given you besides."  We have our right standing and righteousness of God, by faith in Jesus.  If we don't have Revelation knowledge of this though, then we will struggle walking in God's way of doing and being right.

     The Kingdom of Heaven is a place.  The Kingdom of God is a method of doing what the Kingdom works by.  Jesus said in Matt.18:18(Amp), "Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth, must be what is already forbidden in Heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and unlawful on earth must be what is already permitted in Heaven."  Jesus told His followers in Matt.6:9-10(Amp), "Pray like this; Our Father Who is in Heaven, hallowed (kept Holy) is Your Name Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven."  

     When we know the Father in Spirit and Truth, we will know what is proper or improper and what is lawful and unlawful.  We will know what is according to God's way of doing and being right.

Knowing God Less 13

      In John17:3(Amp) Jesus says, "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 Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent." 

     As part of His family, we should not only know Who our Father is, but also know Him by His character and His Person.  We shouldn't rely on the world or others to find out what His will and His Heart is, for Hi children.  We should be able to define our Father, His will and His Heart for us, without depending on what others believe.

     I never needed to ask my friends or neighbors who my earthly father was or what his will and heart were for me.  I knew my earthly father by my acquaintance with him.  I spent time with him and knew what he expected of me.  He taught me about good manners and respect towards my elders.  He provided all my needs and kept me safe, so I didn't need to be fearful or feel like I didn't belong.  I know he loved me, by association with him.

     2Peter1:2-4(Amp) says, "May Grace (God's favor and peace), which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, and Spiritual prosperity and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts be multiplied to you in the full, personal, precise and correct knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. For His Divine Power HAS bestowed upon us all things that are requisite and suited to life and godliness through the FULL,PERSONAL knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His Own Glory and Excellence (virtue). By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great Promises, so that through them you may escape by flight from the moral decay, rottenness and corruption that is in the world because of covetousness, lust and greed, and become sharers (partakers) of the Divine nature."

     We need to have a "personal, precise and correct knowledge of God and Jesus."  Without this, we only have the opinion of what others think about Him.  We've been swayed by these opinions, instead of relying on a personal, precise and correct knowledge of Him, which we gain by seeking Him for ourselves.  Some might criticize or be hostile towards us, and try to persuade us to conform to what they believe.  We've heard so many things that are untrue about our Heavenly Father and have believed these things, because we haven't spent time in His Word and Presence, for ourselves.

     Our Father isn't the Author of sickness and disease, even though one of His children falls ill.  Sickness and disease are still in this world, but it wasn't our Father Who brought them.  I can't find anywhere in Genesis, where Adam and Eve were sick, until they separated themselves from God and His Blessing on and for them.  How long do you suppose they walked with Him in Eden, before Adam's fall?  It could have taken thousands of years, before satan could deceive them into rebellion against God.

     There was no sin, sickness, hunger, poverty, or death before Adam's transgression.  Adam and Eve were immortal in their bodies and Eternal in their spirit, like Jesus is now.  Jesus came to restore us back to the Father, in the fullness of the joy He had when bringing forth His children.  God brought mankind forth, in order to Love and fellowship with us, in all His Glory.  During His earthly ministry, Jesus brought restoration to the body and soul of those who needed healing and deliverance.  Jesus brought forth the Fullness of restoration by the Spirit into our born-again spirits, by His death and Resurrection.  In the day of Resurrection, we will once again be restored to what the Father's Original Intent was, when He brought family into being.

     It's not a matter of only when we get to Heaven, like it was in the first covenant.  Now, it's a matter of Heaven has come to earth through Jesus.  Through Him, we can live here by the spirit while we're still in the flesh, by His Spirit and the Authority given us through the Power of Jesus' Name.  God has never changed from His Original Intent, when He gave man the authority and dominion over everything that creeps on this earth in Genesis.  This has been restored by and through, the faith in the Name of Jesus.

     The Name of Jesus isn't a P.S. we finish our prayers with.  Faith in His Name, is the Power by which our prayers are answered.  God didn't give Jesus a Name, but THE NAME.  I met several people in Mexico who are named Jesus, but that's not THE NAME.  We find Paul preaching, with miracles following and casting out demons, in Acts19:13-15(Amp), when some Jewish exorcists began calling on the Name of Jesus too.  Thus Verses`4-15 say, "Seven sons of a certain Jewish Chief Priest named Scerva were doing this, but one evil spirit retorted, Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?"  They commanded the spirit to come out, but used a name and even the Name Paul had used, but they didn't know Jesus and had no faith in His Name.  Knowing Whose Name and having faith in His Name, is what changes things.  2Peter1:2-4(Amp) says we need a "personal, precise, and correct knowledge of God and His Son Jesus Christ."  The Name of Jesus isn't magic, but is Power when we know Him.  His Name can change anything and everything in our lives, if we will seek Him for ourselves.  We need to have personal knowledge of Him, instead of relying on a religious opinion of others.