Knowing God - Part 2 John 17:3 Do we know God? Lack of knowledge of God is the cause of many of problems seen today. There is a lack of seeing majesty, power of God. Result: No fear, reverence for Word. Psalms 46:10 "Be still and know I am God" too often lacks meaning in our world today Some today excited because of increase in church attendance in nation. Unfortunately many of the gains are external while internal, the quality of religion deteri orates. Lack of commitment, no change in lives, toleration of sin, worldliness is rampant in many churches. It is impossible to keep our moral practices sound and inward attitudes right with our idea of God so inadequate. If we are to live as we should we must know the God we worship. Many religious people don't study. Religious bookstores filled with shallow and meaning less book that filled with personal testimony but no teaching on God. Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones wrote in Preaching and Preachers that one should read many sermons, but make sure the ones you read are from the 1800's and older. Only then would you find good serious teaching. What comes to our mind when we think about God? History will show that no people have ever risen above their religion and no religion has ever risen above the peoples concept of God. Worship is as pure or corrupt as the wor shipper has high or low thoughts about God Our worship is true only when we know who we are worshipping - John 4:22, 24-25 Paul told the Athenians, (religious people) about the unknown God - Acts 17:22-28 Reasons Studying to Know God is Essential 1. Morality is Dependent on True Knowledge of God. People live like they conceive their God. Reason for failure of pagan societies. Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. 1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 John 4:8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. The more we know about God the more we know what is right and wrong conduct. Need to study about God or we will be like the Corinthians: 1 Cor. 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 2. There is a Neglect of God Psalms 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Romans 3:11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. Context: Referring to Jews, supposedly the people of God. the same can be true today if we are not careful. Some reasons today: 1. 1.Secular humanism, lift up man instead of God, Evolution, no creation, man a higher order of animal, Religions have evolved, no revelation 2. 2.Science Fiction, Hope in some great being higher than selves 3. 3.False Gods - Buddha, Hindu, god within, etc. (See Jack Cottrell's "God the Creator") Contrast to how the Christian should be: Jeremiah 9:23-24 Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; 24 But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the Lord. Colossians 1:9-10 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; Our purpose must be to know God Himself better. Our concern must be to learn more of, not just the attributes of God, but the Living God whose attributes they are. We must seek, in studying God, to be led to God. Knowing God will help us be like the early Christians. This comes through knowledge of God. Philippians 3:7-10 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (KJV) When Paul says he counts the things he lost "dung" he means not merely that the does not think of them as having any value, but also that he doesn't go around thinking of them. What normal person goes around dreaming of manure? 1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: We need to face ourselves at this point. We have the true doctrine. Can smell false teaching a mile away. If one wants to know what it takes to be a Christian we can tell them. Yet, the joy, happiness, worry-free life which are marks of those who know God is rare too often. Sometimes see better attitudes among other religions. This shows a real need to know God better. To one who knows God, losses and crosses no longer matter. What has been gained simply banishes them from his mind. What other effects does knowing God bring on a man? Four Effects of Knowing God From Daniel 1. Those Who Know God Have Great Energy For God Daniel 11:32 "the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action" RSV Context: "despicable person" - vs 21, will corrupt many, "BUT" - vs 32. This shows that their action is a reaction to the wickedness and turning away from God they see about them. While God is being sinned against, they cannot rest, they must do something. (see Jenkins "Between the Testaments") When God's name is dishonored those who know Him take action. They fought against the wickedness and corruption about them. Didn't just turn their heads and pretend to not see it. If we lack action for God's glory, it shows that we do not yet know God as we should. 2. Those Who Know God Have Great Thoughts of God. There is not enough time to read every passage that shows God's power, wisdom, and how He rules over His creation in both nations as individual in the book of Daniel. No other book presents such a concentrated look at the sovereignty of God in the Bible 4:25-26 God is in control 1. The basis of Daniel's prayers in chp 2 and 9 2. Reason for 3 friends' confidence in denying authority in chp. 3 3. This is the central truth taught to Nebuchadnezzar in chp 2 and 4 4. Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged it 4:34-37 5. Belshazzar reminded in chp 5. (5:21) 6. Darius recognized it 6:25-27 7. Reason for Daniel's confidence in denying authority in chp. 6 8. Formed the main substance of all the revelations which God made to Daniel in chp 2, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12 Thoughts of God Daniel had 2:20-22, 9:4, 7, 9, 14 Is this how we think of God? Is this the view of God which our own praying expresses? Does this tremendous sense of His holy majesty, His moral perfection, and power keep us humble and dependent, awed and obedient as it did Daniel? This is one test by which we may measure how much or how little we know God. 3. Those Who Know God Show Great Boldness for God. Daniel and friends were men who took risks. It was not foolhardiness, they knew what they were doing. They had counted the cost and knew what would happen if God did not intervene. tis did not stop them. they were convinced they were right and their loyalty to God required them to take a stand. Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 20:22-24 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Nothing could stop Peter or Paul because they knew the God they were serving. This is the spirit of Daniel + 3 and all who know God. It does not matter what others who do not know God think. They would not bow to the will of any man or stop serving God because of some threat. Compare this attitude to those today who will not even ask to have their work rescheduled so they do not have to miss services. 4. Those Who Know God Have Great Contentment in God. There is no peace like the peace of those whose minds are possessed with full assurance that they have known God and God has known them and that this relationship guarantees God's favor with them in life, through death and on forever. Peace of 3 - Dan 3:16-18 Whether they live or die, they will serve the Lord. 2 Cor. 5:1-8 Do we desire such knowledge of God? 1. We must recognize our need for such knowledge. Must know that position, wealth, nothing matters except our personal relationship with God. 2. We must seek to know our God. Wayne Wells wayneliz@twave.net http://users.twave.net/ncc