Be still, and know that I am God: Psalm 46:10

There are many false beliefs in the world today but one that seems to be growing all the time is atheism. An atheist, simply put, is someone who does not believe there is a God. For Christians this “false” belief is particularly disturbing. Even worse are the great numbers of people who do believe in God but don’t know him. Believing in him but not knowing him puts someone in a far worse state spiritually than the atheist.

Then there are people who wonder whether God is real or not. They seem to think of him as just some supreme-being sitting around in the sky just waiting to crack down on them if they do anything wrong. For myself and those who do know God we can assure you there isn’t anything further from the truth.

God is a loving, kind, caring, and merciful Father who loved you and me so much he died on the cross to pay our sin debt. Never caring that he would get nothing in return! And, sadly that is exactly what he gets from many, NOTHING!

So with the focus of our newsletter being how to know God, I think we should start by asking, “Is there really a God?” The simple and TRUE answer is YES. Yes there is a God, and furthermore one can know him if they want to. In fact, here is one of many clear statements in scripture that says so;

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.  Jeremiah 29:13 

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. Isaiah 45:22 

Do you understand what these verses said, my friend? There is a God, and you can know Him. Even Jesus said;

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.  John 14:21 

In order to really know God there are some truths that need to be known.  Anyone can learn a great deal about God by reading the Bible, but that does not cause them to know God in their heart. There is a world of difference between knowing about God and knowing God. I know something about an airplane, but I sure do not know how to fly one, even the most simple.

I am afraid that today many Christians are so self-centered, complacent, and worldly that getting to know the Lord is seldom on their mind.  So I’d like to share with you some fundamental things that are necessary for one to truly know God. Once you do it will change the way you live, and your life will never be the same.

After all, God knows all about you and me, so don’t you think it would be prudent to know the God who knows us?  We do not have to be afraid to get to know God because He loves us. God wants the best life for everyone, always has, and always will.

THE GOSPEL

The first thing a person must do to know God is to hear to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Without the gospel there can be no salvation.  Without the gospel people only have some form of a false religion.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16

Someone may ask, what is the gospel?  Fortunately, the scriptures tell us very clearly what it means. This is why it’s so very important to read the Bible, and read it every day if you really want to know God.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 

1Corinthians 15:3-4 

The Apostle Paul says the gospel relates to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, on the cross God dealt with the sins of the whole world by judging his own Son in the place of mankind.

Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 Peter 2:24

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:6-8

The God that made the world and all things in it, also created man in his own image, and simply because he loved man so very much. So hearing and knowing what the gospel is, is fundamental to getting to know our Creator, and about the salvation he freely offers.

A SINNER

In order to be saved, every person must know they are a sinner.  A person who refuses to acknowledge they are a sinner cannot and will not be saved. We have all broken the laws of God. Just take a look at the Ten Commandments and see how many you have broken. Look at the world around you, and at how people live and you know something is wrong.

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.  James 2:10 

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:     Romans 5:12

But “Praise God” there is hope by way of the Lord Jesus Christ to save us from our sin. But our adversary, ole Satan does his best to keep us from him. Satan does not care if this world full of sinners goes to hell. In fact, this is exactly what he wants to happen to everyone when they die. People die because they are sinners, and sinners need a savior. Jesus is the only savior and without him you will end up right where Satan wants you to: In Hell! It is sad when you realize how many do not believe this. If you die without a savior you will be eternally separated from God.

My friend, do you know you are a sinner? God says we all are. Have you asked the Lord to forgive you of your sins?  God is saving sinners everyday by the death, burial and resurrection of his only son Jesus Christ.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  Romans 10:13

SINNERS MUST REPENT

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19 

... but now commandeth every where to repent all men:  Acts 17:30

To repent simply means to have a change of mind.  When a sinner hears the gospel and decides to accept Jesus as their savior, they have repented.  They are now depending upon Jesus as their Lord and savior and they have a new life in Christ as a believer.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:9-10

Do you see how simple God has made it for sinners to be saved.  However, the Devil is going to do all he can to keep a sinner from trusting in Jesus because he does not want them to forsake him.  Satan hates God and he wants to spite God as much as he can by keeping sinners away from believing the gospel, and upon Jesus as their savior.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13

Even so, with all the wiles of the devil anyone who will admit they are a sinner and needs to be saved can be. Our salvation is by faith alone. Believing, trusting, relying upon the Lord means we are not depending upon ourselves to be saved, but upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.    Ephesians 2: 8-9

Have you trusted Jesus to be your savior? Then salvation was a gift from God to you because you accepted God=s son as your Savior. God does not save us because we deserve it or because we were good. Folks, we need to remember this. It is the goodness and mercy and grace of God only!

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.  1 John 5:12-13

KNOWING GOD

When someone believes in Jesus as their savior they are given salvation and have become a child of God. Now they are in a position to begin to learn about God and know God.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:  1John 3:1

Each person starts out as a babe in the Lord, and we must grow by the milk and meat of the Word if we are to be healthy and fruitful Christians. We should know as many things about God as possible such as, God is Holy, and God is good. He is love, just, and sovereign. God is also free. God is omnipotent. God is omniscient. God is omnipresent. YES! My friend God is all of these wonderful things because, God is God.

First of all, you must also want to know God. Do you really want to know Him? A Christian may see God answer their prayers, but still lack the intimate knowledge that is available to all who accept him as their savior. To really know God, one must get to the place where nothing else matters in life except to know God. AND, God is knowable, but to know him in a personal way requires prayer, prayer, and more prayer as well as a determination. It will require a holy life lived before a holy God. Not a religious life, but a holy life. 

To get to know him we must;

* First hear the gospel.

* Second, we must know and accept the fact we are a lost sinner.

* Third, we must believe Jesus died to save me from my sins.

Once we were saved the Holy Spirit came to indwell us.  He has taken up permanent residence in our hearts.  In fact, our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  1Corinthians 6:19 

Now that we realize this we need to learn to live our lives as such, and act like a child of God.

So we see that having an intimate knowledge of God is reserved for those who are determined to know him.   There must be a hunger, a thirsting, a longing and desperate need to know him. It is then we can begin to enjoy the out pouring of God=s Spirit within us that will leave us praising, worshiping and enjoying the Lord.

But before anyone realizes the reality of the Spirit=s presence they must have confessed all their sin and turned to the Lord with all their being, holding nothing back for themselves.  We must see we are like dung before Him. That we are nothing.

God has to be first in everything.  God must have total control. We must surrender all to him. Your need for God must be such that you have got to get a hold of him. My friend, you must make God personal to you.

THE JOY OF THE LORD

Today, what we have in Christianity are many believers who are just saved and they have not encountered the fullness of the Holy Spirit and the reality of God. They have not fully given themselves over to the Lord.  And many Christians are not enjoying the Lord in their daily lives.  Let me ask you a question; Are you really excited over being saved? Do you want God to use you?

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is not for our pleasure or use, but to enable us to do the work and will of God. To be filled means to be under the control of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Do you think most Christians today rejoice in the Lord?  To me they do not seem to. If you are someone who is either not saved or is unsure where you stand with God, seek him today with all your heart. He will answer your heartfelt plea and change your life today.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  James 4:8

Heavenly Father stir up all hearts of your people to really want to know you in a more intimate manner, I pray in Jesus’ precious name. Amen “Loving the Savior”  Preacher