You Can Know God

If someone were to ask if you knew some famous person or possibly some great figure out of history, how would you answer? You might say, "I know a lot about that person, but I don't know him.

One of the most exciting truths of the Christian faith is the promise of knowing God personally. In John 17[i] Jesus prayed that we might know the only true God and Jesus Christ who was sent into the world. The Bible teaches that you can only know God as you come to know Jesus Christ.

I recently passed through Bangkok, Thailand, with a group of people. We had a day to rest in Bangkok before traveling on, so we took a boat tour on the canals. We enjoyed talking with our bright young guide. And as we were departing someone in our group gave him a copy of another booklet that we produced entitled, Have You Considered Becoming A Disciple of Jesus Christ.

In a moment he came running after us. Catching up to my wife who was walking at the back of our party, he said, "Look what they gave me!" "Yes," she answered, "My husband wrote that." By this time I had turned back toward where they were talking. He ran over to me to ask about the booklet that obviously spoke of Jesus in the present tense.

"When was Jesus born?" he asked.

I thought he was asking about the date of Christmas, so I said, "We celebrate in December, but the Bible doesn't tell us the date of His birth."

"But it was about 2000 years ago?"

"Yes, that is correct," I replied.

He continued, "Buddha was born two thousand four hundred years ago."

"Buddha," I answered, "was a man. Jesus is the Son of God who became a man."

He continued to smile as so many people in that friendly country do, but his words were a little nervous, not wishing to offend but wanting answers. "Does He exist?" he asked me.

"Absolutely," I answered. He is real and near to us."

Still smiling nervously and speaking a little doubtfully, he asked, "How could I know that? Could I know Him?" I suggested that he begin by praying, "Jesus, if You exist, show yourself to me. If You are real, I want to know You."

God spoke through the Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah, "You will seek me and find me, if you seek me with all your heart."[ii]

I. Knowing someone personally Implies Conversation.

You can talk to God. Prayer is talking to God. At least that is how the Bible defines prayer. Prayer is at the very heart of Christianity. The Bible teaches that a person becomes a child of God by faith in Jesus. You must believe enough to ask Him to receive you, forgive you, and begin a personal relationship with you. This begins a lifetime of friendship and fellowship with God. The New Testament is clear that the only way you can get to know God is through Jesus Christ.[iii]

From the time humans first began to sin, we have been separated from God.[iv] Jesus died on a Roman cross and rose from the dead so our fellowship with God might be restored. The letter to the Romans in the New Testament says, "He (Jesus) was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to death for our justification," (or to make us right with God.)[v] When you come to be right with God you can begin to get to know Him.

Prayer is more than talking to God. Prayer is two way communication. God will also talk to you as you speak to Him. In the study, Experiencing God[vi], Henry Blackaby points out that God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances and the church (believers gathering together) to reveal Himself, His purposes and His ways. In fact, God initiates conversation with us. The Bible says no one will come to Jesus, if God does not draw him. It is God who has arranged for you to read this booklet. He is evidently drawing you to Himself.

II. Knowing God personally Influences your Life.

One of the purposes of our earlier booklet, HAVE YOU CONIDERED BECOMING A DISCIPLE OF JESUS CHRIST, was to show that Jesus calls people to a radically different lifestyle. Many people long for such a change of attitude and action, but fear such a change is impossible. The marvel of a relationship with Christ is His internal influence on us. An authority or a law coming from outside us can never produce real change. But Jesus comes to dwell in us. In the New Testament letter of Philippians we read that God works in us, "to will and to do what pleases him."[vii]

The internal influence of Jesus effects our desires and will. Wouldn't it be wonderful to begin to desire what would please God and make you happy? By affecting your will, God changes your nature so you can become what God created you to be.

III. Knowing God is an unending Intimacy.

One of the most painful facts about relationships is that they come to an end. Many of us experienced the loss of a parent through divorce in the most vulnerable period of our lives. Others of us have gone through separation and divorce of our own marriages, leaving us with a terrific sense of betrayal, guilt, bitterness, and often loneliness.

Many people fear entering permanent relationships because of the pain of separation. But casual relationships leave unfulfilled needs deep within us. And the repeated disruption of such relationships continues to cause emotional damage.

All human relationships must end eventually. My parents were married 60 years when my mother died. For nearly a year my father had difficulty carrying on a conversation with anyone with out weeping. God alone can meet your need for a relationship that will never be disrupted. In the New Testament book of John Jesus said, "All that the Father gives me will come to me. And he who comes to me I will never cast out."[viii]

IV. Knowing Christ personally requires total Submission.

All of us choose to submit to certain things in our lives. We can submit to friendships. We submit to government, to doctors, teachers and taxi drivers. When you come to God you must recognize that He is your creator and the one who owns your life. Submission to God is an exercise of faith that God desires what is best for you. I have known people who submitted to the care of a doctor even though they were afraid. You can trust God far more than a human physician even when what God asks is fearful or difficult.

Peter, who may be the best known of Jesus' disciples, had trouble submitting to anyone. He was a rough fisherman and an independent businessman. His bold personality is clearly seen in the Gospels.[ix] One day Jesus asked His disciples what others were saying about Him. They were saying He was John the Baptist risen from the dead or one of the Old Testament prophets. Then Jesus asked a more important question. "Who do you say that I am?" Peter answered first. "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."[x] Jesus told him he had to have learned that from God. A few minutes later Jesus started telling His disciples that He was going to be handed over to the Romans to be crucified. Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked Him. "Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!"

"Get behind me Satan." Jesus said. You have in mind the things of men not the things of God."[xi] Again and again Peter had to learn to trust Jesus. In Peter's first letter in the New Testament he wrote. "Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you."[xii]

The Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans. "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead you will be saved."[xiii]

What does it mean to confess that Jesus is Lord? We no longer have any context for the word "lord." The word "master" means more to us because a master may train his dog or lead students in martial arts disciplines. Confessing Jesus as your Master means voluntarily yielding to His leadership in your life. It is to say, "I surrender my will to Yours, Lord."

V. Submission to God requires a Decision.

Repentance is another word from the Bible that we do not use very much. In the early days of church Peter called to a crowd of people who gathered in the city of Jerusalem, "Repent then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."[xiv] The Living Bible paraphrases "repent" in this verse as "change your mind and attitude toward God."

Repentance is a decision to change the direction of your life. You must make a radical break from living for yourself to live for and in fellowship with Jesus.

Marriage vows may be a good picture of repentance. Some of the traditional vows said something like, "Forsaking all others, cleave only unto her/him." That is the point of marriage. Marriage is also a public declaration that two people belong to one another. Turning to God requires a decision of total commitment. It takes a commitment to stop doing things you know are wrong, and began living for God.

VI. Are you ready to decide?

If you are ready you may wish to pray a prayer something like this.

"Lord, I know that you are God. I surrender my life to You. I need you to forgive me for things that I have done that were wrong. I want to stop doing things that displease You. I need You to come into my life help me live like you want me to live and accomplish what You created me to do.

VII. What's next?

Start praying.

Discipline yourself to spend time alone with God every day. And you can also pray wherever you go and what ever you do. Pray for people around you in the market or on the street. Talk to God about everything. Ask Him to meet your needs and draw you closer to Him.

You will soon notice that you are still tempted to do things that are wrong. When you fail, don't give up. God has promised to forgive you when you are honest with Him.[xv]

Don't fall into the trap of just praying for yourself. Start praying for other people. Think about things they need and ask God to meet them. As you pray God will help you expand your prayers to His great purposes.

Start reading your Bible.

The Bible is a vital source of spiritual growth. God will teach you and open His word to you. You will understand things that never made any sense before. God's Spirit is now at work in your life.

Find a good church and join it.

Find a group of believers who will encourage and teach you. The church is a family that will help you grow strong in Christ. No church is perfect, but we need each other to live for Jesus.

Tell others about Jesus.

You don't have to go to school for years to tell people what Jesus has done and is doing in your life. You are a witness of God who is at work in you. God will help you say what people need to hear to come to Christ.

You can contact us. Trinity Baptist Church9802 Meadow Rd. SWLakewood, WA 98499(253) 584-8856www.trinitybaptistchurchlakewood.orgDavid YoungDavidbyoung@q.com

[i] The Bible, Matthew 16:16

[ii] Ibid., Jeremiah 29:13

[iii] Ibid., 1 Tim 2:5, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

[iv] Ibid., Isaiah 59:1,2

[v] Ibid., Romans 4:25

[vi]Experiencing God, Knowing and Doing the Will of God, By Henry Blackaby and Claud V. King,

[vii] The Bible, Philippians 2:13

[viii] Ibid., John 6:37

[ix] Ib,i., The first four books of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John

[x] Ibid., Matthew 16:16

[xi] Ibid., Matthew 16:23

[xii] Ibid., I Peter 5:7

[xiii] Ibid., Romans 10:9

[xiv] Ibid., Acts 2:19

[xv] Ibid., 1 John 1:9