KNOWING GOD PERSONALLY by Pastor Wole Soetan

From John 17:3 ; 

It says, ’And this is life eternal, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.’ We’ve    been considering who we are in Christ. This is crucial in order for us to function as God would have us to. There’s something  we also need in our walk with the Lord in this world – a revelation of who He (God) is. We’re not talking about head  knowledge here, but knowledge given to us by the Spirit of the Lord.

A lot of people don’t know what eternal life is – they think it means living forever. This is partially true because everyone born in this world will live forever – some in eternal reward and some ineternal damnation. Eternal life is intimacy with God (John 17:3).
There are several ways we can know God. They are:

(1) By His creation (Romans 1:18-20) – Every human being on earth is without excusebecause God has made His ways known by works of His hands

(2) Through His character (especially His names) – God reveals His character through His names. For example, In Genesis 17:1, God revealed Himself to Abraham as Almighty God (El shaddai in Hebrew), which means one who pours out or releases His blessings from generation to generation. May that be your portion in the name of Jesus Christ. In Exodus 6:3, God reveled Himself to Moses as Jehovah, which refers to the self-existent one who is faithful to fulfil His promises

(3) The life of Christ (John 8:28-29, Hebrews 1:3) – Jesus is the revelation of who the father is

(4) His word and His voice.

God‘s ultimate desire for man is intimacy. The word intimacy means a close or warm friendship. It speaks of familiarity (from which we get the word family).

In Genesis 3:8, we see an account of the voice (sound) of the Lord walking in the garden in the cool of the day – probably in the morning and evening. In other words, man could recognize the voice of God. Sin severed us from the Lord, and He had to help restore what was lost – a one on one with Him.

In the days of Moses, the children of Israel said they didn’t want to hear the voice of the Lord – a dangerous thing to desire because man is designed to desire his maker (have a one on one with Him).

God’s original intention wasn’t to give the Israelites laws. He only did that because they (the Israelites) didn’t want a personal relationship with Him (the Lord). He had to give them laws.  Laws (codes and conducts) are the only alternatives to a personal relationship – they do not communicate the very essence of the heart of God.

He desires intimacy with us over rules and regulations. There’s so much confusion in Christendom because people concentrate on the inside rather on the outside; the secondary rather the primary thing. Knowing God is the solution to all the problems in the world.

The one who knows God will prevail over all the evils of this age – even if he misses it, he will not stay there (Psalm 91:14).

God revealed Himself in Jesus Christ – who (Jesus) was all He (God) wanted to say to us – and reconciled us to Himself. That’s why in the New T

estament we are given free access to our heavenly father.

One criterion the child of God should have in mind in deciding the church he should be planted in is one that doesn’t make God a mystery – makes the word of God plain. A lot of us think that the only reason Jesus came to earth was to ensure that we go to heaven.

That’s true, but the real reason He came was to marry us - make us one with Him – (Ephesians 5:22-32, Revelation 19).

If God desires that we become close to Him and know Him better, then what language does He speak? Psalm 81:5 shows us that there was a language that God didn’t understand. Incredible! Just as doctor uses a stethoscope to hear the heart beat of a man, God hears the language of your heart – your motives and intentions (Proverbs 20:27). Your spirit man is God’s torchlight.

1 Corinthians 2:11 says, ‘who knows a person’s thought except the spirit of a person who lives in him (the original rendering)?’ You can only know what’s in a man’s mind through his spirit (the real Him).

If you don’t know the Lord – haven’t received Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, or are presently not walking in the light God, pray this prayer. ‘Father I pour out my heart to you in the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ. He said that He would never reject any one who comes to Him. Look at my heart – my hunger for your very essence – and draw me close to you in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ. I repent of all my sins and failures; forgive me and wash me by the precious blood of the Lamb of God – who died that I may live. I believe that Jesus Christ of Nazareth died on the cross for me, and was raised that I might be made right with you. I confess Him as my Lord and Saviour right now.

Thank you, father because I belong to you – I’m in your family. I know that you will preserve me forever in the name of the blessed Lord Jesus Christ.’

Beloved, I pray for you with all of my heart; if there’s one thing that you will desire – and God Almighty sees your heart – it is that you will know your maker in the precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Every human being is designed to desire his maker (Philippians 3:10). God bless you.