It has been said that this is the ‘one thing in the world really worth pursuing’ (Robert H. Benson).

A.W. Tozer called it ‘the easiest and the most difficult thing in the world.’

What am I talking about?  Knowing God.  The Bible itself teaches us that:-

(a) it is what God himself desires,

Hos 6:6.  For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

(b) it is the gift that Jesus brings,

Jn 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

(c) it is the best thing in life,

Jer 9:23f  Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

1. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ‘KNOW GOD’?

Shivers down the spine?  A sense of elation, like a drug trip?  Do you hear a voice, or see a vision?

The Bible uses a number of analogies for our relationship with God: Father and son; husband and wife; king and subject; sheep and shepherd.  In all of these, the knower ‘looks up’ to the one known, with an attitude of respect, affection, obedience, and dependence.

Knowing God involves:-

(a) fear,

Prov 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Isa 6:5  Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

(b) affection,

Psa 73:25f  Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.  My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

(c) commitment,

Psa 34:8  O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

You are not nourished by looking at a menu; nor will you get to know God without committing yourself to him.

(d) obedience,

1 Jn 2:4. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

(e) deep and varied emotion.

Like Barnabas, we see God at work, and we rejoice,

Acts 11:23  [Barnabas], when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad.

Like the Psalmist, we see God spurned, and we weep,

Psa 119:136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

Like Peter, we fail our Lord, and we feel shame,

Lk 22:61f  And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.  And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.

But with Peter also, we gain a fresh view of God’s everlasting love, and experience inexpressible joy,

1 Pet 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:

(f) being known by him

We do not make friends with God, God makes friends with us,

Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God…

God ‘knows’ his children, not just in the sense that he knows all about them, Psa 139, but that he establishes a personal relationship with them.

Jer 1:5  Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Jn 10:27-30  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.   My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.  I and my Father are one.

2. HOW CAN I KNOW GOD?

(a) Negatively: not through human wisdom,

1 Cor 1:21 …the world by wisdom knew not God…

1 Cor 2:14  The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

(b) Positively: through Jesus Christ.

Jn 14:6 Jesus saith…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Mt 11:27 No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

Jesus is the ‘way’.

1 Pet 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God.

Jesus is the ‘truth’.

Jn 8:31f  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Jesus is ‘the life’.  Jesus brought ‘eternal life’ as a free gift.  He promises, not an easy life, but a full one.

Jn 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.