Can We Know God Intimately ?
What does "to know God" mean in the Bible ? Is it possible to know God intimately and be His friend ? It means much more than just knowing about God. God wants us to know Him and His love & mercy & goodness,... in very personal and real ways, to enjoy His presence in our lives, and to see and then join Him in His activity & work in and around us.
"This is Eternal Life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent."
- John 17:3
"…. So that you may know and believe Me (God), and understand that I am He." - Isaiah 43:10
"Teach me your ways so that I may know you and continue in your favor." - Exodus 33:13
The Hebrew word "yada" is used in the Old Testament and is translated in English as the word "Know" or "Knowledge". The Hebrew word yada has a much wider sweep and meaning than the English word know. The Biblical Old Testament word for Knowing God means the following; to know God means:
- to Perceive - to Learn
- to Understand - to Recognize
- to Believe - to Accept His Claims
- to Conform - to Be Willing
- to Perform or Live - to Obey
- to See or Experience
These words that all come out of the Hebrew word "yada" all hold important keys to getting to know God the way that He wants us to know Him. The opposite of knowing God is not ignorance or a lack of knowledge, but is Rebellion. The Greek words "oida" and "ginosko" are used in the New Testament. They have the wider meanings as the Hebrew word "yada", but in the context that they are used in the New Testament, they also have the following additional meaning: to know God means:
- to Believe & Accept Jesus - to Know Truth
- to Know Jesus is to Know God - to Respond in Faith
"O, the fullness, the pleasure, the sheer excitement of knowing God on earth." - Jim Elliott (ex-Missionary)
"Teach me Your ways, so that I may know you, and continue to find favor with You." - Moses (Exodus 33:13)
"I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things."
- Paul (Philippians 3:7-10)
Prayer: Passion For Seeking & Knowing God
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The Old Testament and New Testament words for "seek" mean:
to seek the face of God; to desire ; to examine or explore ; to seek earnestly ; to diligently search for ; to wish for ; to crave ; to investigate ; to pursue.
- Only God can touch our hearts and give us the desire to seek and to know Him, and to want His will & plans & ways above our own:
"I will give them a heart to know me." - Jeremiah 24:7
" O Lord, God of our fathers, keep this desire in the hearts of your people forever, and keep their hearts loyal to you. And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your commands, requirements, and decrees..." - I Chronicles 29:18-19
"For it is God who works in you to will and act according to His good purpose." - Phil. 2:13
- Intimacy with God and the fullest possible fellowship and partnership with Him comes as you desire and seek to know Him & His plans and will and His ways. Prayer and spending time with God is all about desire & passion for God ; it is not a "religious" discipline in your Christian walk.
"If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways, so I may know you and continue to find favor with you... Show me your glory Moses".
(Exodus 33:13,18)
" One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek; that I may dwell in the house (presence) of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in his temple." - David (Psalm 27:4)
"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God ? - Sons of Korah (Psalm 42:1-2)
" 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. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory... your love is better than life..." - David (Psalm 63:1-3)
" How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty ! My soul yearns even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." - David (Psalm 84:1-2)
" Now devote your heart and souls to seeking the Lord your God." - I Chronicles 22:19
" And you my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him he will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever." - I Chronicles 28:9
" For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. - Jer. 29:11-13
" I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ... I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings..." - Paul (Philippians 3:8-11Also: Hosea 10: 12 , James 4:8 , Deut. 4:29 , 2 Chron. 15:2 , Matt. 6:33 , Proverbs 21:21
"God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God." - Psalm 53:2
What Is Prayer
■ PRAYER IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE FOR A SINNER TO COME INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE ALMIGHTY & HOLY GOD, AND COMMUNICATE & FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM.
■ PRAYER IS A MINISTRY THAT WE ALL ARE TO PARTICIPATE IN; PRAYER IS DOING GOD’S WORK.
"If you have so much business to attend to that you have no time to pray, depend upon it, you have more business on hand than God ever intended you should have." - D.L. Moody
God’s Word shows that our prayers touch God’s heart, and He will respond and work in others’ lives when we call upon Him and intercede for others.
■ PRAYER IS GOD'S WAY FOR HIS CHILDREN TO ASK HIM FOR THE THINGS THEY NEED & DESIRE, AND TO SEE & EXPERIENCE HIS GOODNESS, MERCY, GRACE, FAITHFULNESS,....
- "TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD." — PSALM 34:8
■ CLOSE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND PRAYER IS THE KEY TO UNLOCKING GOD'S POWER: (POWER FOR YOUR LIFE, AND POWER FOR CHANGING THE PEOPLE & THE WORLD AROUND YOU)
It is not the act of prayer itself that is the key to unlocking God’s power. Many people and churches perform the act of prayer, but yet they are dead. When you have a close and right fellowship with God you will then have a powerful prayer life. Focus and concentrate on your fellowship with God first.
- “THE PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN IS POWERFUL & EFFECTIVE." - JAMES 5:16b
“Anyone who takes the time to enter into an intimate love relationship with God can see God do extraordinary things through his or her life.” - Experiencing God
“The closer you get to God, the greater the impact you will have on others’ lives. - Top Gun
“To be little with God is to be little for God.” - E.M. Bounds
■ SPENDING TIME WITH GOD/PRAYER IS WHERE THE SPIRITUAL BATTLES ARE FOUGHT AND WON ; GOD'S VICTORIES AND BLESSINGS ARE WON IN YOUR PRAYER TIME WITH GOD.
- EPHES. 6:10-18 - 2 CORINTHIANS 2:14 - PROV. 21:30,31 - PSALM 33:10,11
“O LORD, GOD OF OUR FATHERS, ARE YOU NOT THE GOD WHO IS IN HEAVEN ? YOU RULE OVER ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE NATIONS. POWER AND MIGHT ARE IN YOUR HAND, AND NO ONE CAN WITHSTAND YOU.” ...” FOR WE HAVE NO POWER TO FACE THIS VAST ENEMY THAT IS ATTACKING US. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO, BUT OUR EYES ARE UPON YOU.”... “THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SAYS TO YOU: “DO NOT BE AFRAID OR DISCOURAGED BECAUSE OF THIS VAST ENEMY, FOR THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS BUT GOD’S.” — 2 CHRONICLES 20:6, 12
“The one concern of the devil is to keep the saints from prayer. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, he mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.” — Jonathan Edward