Knowing God

KNOWING GOD

God desires for me to grow in my understanding of Him.

From birth until I received Christ as my Savior, I formed

habits of worldly understanding.

Now He wants to gradually transform my understanding of

Him so that I increasingly view life from His perspective. A

godly perspective produces godly behavior. It does not please

God if I simply attempt to change my outward behavior

without allowing Him to transform my inward thinking.

If I want my relationship with God to grow, I need to make

conscious choices to seek Him wholeheartedly, in much the

same way that a marriage relationship needs to be nurtured.

To not hinder God's work in and through me, I need to

maintain an open, honest and teachable attitude towards Him.

Since He alone really knows me, my role is to willingly allow

Him to make the appropriate changes in my understanding.

Jesus is the visible picture of God's character, and the One in

whose image God will mold me, as I allow Him.

God desires for me to know Him intimately, in a way that goes

beyond mere knowledge "about" Him.

Godly behavior is the natural outcome of His continuing

inward transformation of my convictions and values

... for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance,

but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Sam. 16:7)

1. MY ATTITUDE

a. God desires for me to grow in my understanding of Him, to know His heart.

Jer. 9:23-24 Thus says the Lord, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the

mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who

boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, ...

John 17:3 (Jesus said) ... this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and

Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.

Rom. 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the

image of His Son, ...

Rom. 11:36-12:2 ... do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of

your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and

acceptable and perfect. (see also 2 Cor. 3:18)

Eph. 3:16-19 ... that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with

all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of

Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

The highest goal of learning is to know God!

His perspective of life

should increasingly

become my

perspective of life.

Life

God

Me

b. In order to grow I need to actively pursue a closer relationship with Him.

Psa. 63:1 (David wrote) O God, ... I shall seek You earnestly; my soul thirsts for You, ...

Prov. 2:1-5 (Solomon wrote) My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my

commandments within you, make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to

understanding; for if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; if you seek

her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of

the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.

Matt. 7:7-8 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be

opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who

knocks it will be opened.

1 Peter 2:2-3 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may

grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

2. GOD'S WORD

TRUTH DOES NOT ORIGINATE FROM ME, OR FROM ANY OTHER HUMAN, BUT

ONLY FROM GOD HIMSELF. THEREFORE, ALL "PERCEIVED TRUTH" MUST BE

COMPARED TO, AND VERIFIED BY, GOD'S WORD - THE BIBLE.

a. One way God transforms me is through His Word. His Word is trustworthy.

Psa. 119:89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.. (see also 1 Peter 1:25)

Matt. 24:35 (Jesus said) "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.

John 14:6 (Jesus said) I am the way, and the truth, and the life; ...

John 17:17 (Jesus said) "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. (See also Psa. 119:160)

Rom. 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that

through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Eph. 4:21 ... truth is in Jesus,

2 Tim. 3:16-17 All