My message from today at NRN - Instructions for life Pt 1 - KNOW GOD

Pt. 1   KNOW GOD

Intro: What does it mean to know God? More to the point, does it really mean what we think it means? 



While trying to avoid confusion, these are critical questions for each of us to ask. The phrase “know God” is a fairly familiar one in the Church and other Christian circles. It is even familiar enough that it has moved from being a phrase that communicates the real condition of a person’s soul to a phrase that we use like some sort of insider jargon. It’s one of those things that we say as Christians that, without meaning to, we strip of depth of meaning. It sounds like the right thing to say. We believe we should know God.

In the Old Testament we read a fascinating account as King David is coming the last days of his life and is considering his legacy.  God has revealed to him that he would not build the temple to God because he was  a man of war.  One of David’s sons would be selected to build the Temple. David gives his sons these final words to remember:  

“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.”                                                                      1 Chronicles 28:9-10

What does it mean to know God?

1. _FACTS

The Lord our God keeps certain things hidden. But he makes other things known to us and to our children forever. He does it so we can obey all the words of this law.                           Deuteronomy 29:29

JESUS: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.                                                                                              Colossians 1:15-17 ESV

2. FAITH

Lord, those who know you will trust in you.

You have never deserted who look to you.  Psalm 9:10

Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
    Do not depend on your own understanding.
 In all your ways obey him.
    Then he will make your paths smooth and straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

“My Father has given all things to me. The Father is the only one who knows the Son. And the only ones who know the Father are the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to make him known.                                                                                  Matthew 11:27

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.                                                                                   Romans 10:10 ESV

The scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”                                         Romans 10:11 GNT

3. FOLLOW

They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.                  Titus 1:16

The Word was in the world. And the world was made through him. But the world did not recognize him.                                                       John 1:10

We know that we have come to know God if we obey his commands. Suppose someone says, “I know him.” But suppose this person does not do what God commands. Then this person is a liar and is not telling the truth. But if anyone obeys God’s word, then that person truly loves God. Here is how we know we belong to him. Those who claim to belong to him must live just as Jesus did.                                                                                                         1 John 2:3-4 NIRV

Closing: To truly follow Christ means He has become everything to us. Everyone follows something: friends, popular culture, family, selfish desires, or God. We can only follow one thing at a time. God states we are to have no other gods before Him. To truly follow Christ means we do not follow anything else.

Jesus said, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." There is no such thing as a "halfway disciple." As the disciples demonstrated, no one can follow Christ by the strength of his own willpower. The Pharisees were good examples of those who were trying to obey God in their own strength. Their self-effort led only to arrogance and distortion of the whole purpose of God's Law.