KNOWING GOD IS INTIMACY WITH GOD
If there ever was a time in history that we needed the body of Christ to rise up, it is now! God has commissioned us to be the salt and the light of the world. Matthew 5:13-16. The world is longing for hope but often see those who claim to be Christians (representatives of Christ) living in direct opposition to the life of Christ. Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
I believe humanity is crying out for a demonstration of real Christianity! The prophet Daniel said, “But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” Dan 11:32 KJV God intended us to live empowered by his Spirit! The body of Christ is to be a demonstration of the kingdom of God on earth. Jesus told us to pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Mat 6:10 Yes, we are supposed to be a living, breathing demonstration of Jesus Christ to this world! This is why Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father.” John 14:12 We are not to live in our own strength but by the power of God within us. Apostle Paul said, “I am struggling with all God’s might that so powerfully works within me.” Col 1:29
So, what does it mean to know God, and why does knowing God cause people to be strong and do great things? In the next several Encouraging Notes, I want us to learn what knowing God means, what knowing God does, and how you can become one who knows God.
So, what does it mean to know God? We could start by asking the question, what does it mean to know any person? An excellent marriage relationship is a good analogy of the type of knowing that we are discussing. Knowing God is intimacy with God! The kind of knowing the Bible is speaking of comes from God being the purpose and passion of one’s life. When you get to know someone intimately, you get to know everything about them. Your love for them and time spent with them causes you to know their voice, heart, passions, and even dreams. The way King David described his relationship with God makes this point very clear.
Psalm 63:1-8 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the and beheld your power and your glory. 3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name, I will lift up my hands. 5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips, my mouth will praise you. 6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
David said, “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” This statement will be the mode of operation for those who will step into the power of God and live a life that demonstrates the love of Jesus! Christianity is not something you add to your life; it is your very life! The most exciting and rewarding life you will ever know is the life that is radically sold out to Jesus! This kind of person will be able to say, like King David, “Your love is better than life.” Those who will truly know God and walk in his power will be those who are intimate with God because…
KNOWING GOD IS INTIMACY WITH GOD