HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW HIM?
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"...but the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits."
Dan. 11:32.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. Hosea 4:6
Knowing the Bible is one thing, knowing the Author is another.
Taking a review over my life, I realized I've been a christian for so many years without as much as knowing God intimately for myself. This is the reality of many Christians. We know of God and about Him but not intimately. Even the Hindus, Buddhist, and the sorts know about God too. But what's the difference in this knowledge? It's our personal revelation.
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Our knowledge of God combined with our walk with the Holy Spirit and the rightful application of this knowledge is what produces a fruitful Christian life pleasing to God. If we do not know God we would not be able to access Him and His promises/blessings to us. We would not know how to please Him.
Our knowledge of God should be progressive. We should not stick to what we've already known. It doesn't end there. Get new revelational knowledge everyday. If we do not study and know for ourselves, we will be tossed about by every wind of doctrine. No wonder Paul said
"..that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection."
Even after all Paul had encountered, He still wanted to know more. There are still heights we've not yet attained.
So this year, I've decided to really know God for whom he is through the study of His word, starting from Genesis to Revelation. I hope you would go on this journey with me.
Now, I would be telling us about the three types of knowledge described in the Bible.
THREE CATEGORIES OF KNOWLEDGE DESCRIBED IN THE BIBLE.
OIDO/OIDA ; which represent an intuitive knowledge such as the awareness of death, corruption and grief. This has to do with the mind and intellect. It may be what you have read from a book or what you were told. So it makes you become aware of that phenomenon.
GINOSKO/GNOSIS; which represent an experiential knowledge. We “come to know, recognize, perceive, distinguish and discern” but this knowledge is fragmented and immature. This knowledge is gained from having experiences of those things.
EPIGINOSKO/EPIGNOSIS; This is the highest form of knowledge. It is called revelational knowledge. This knowledge comes from God Himself through the Holy spirit to His people. This does not have to do with the intellect. It is the mature knowledge.The mature knowledge of God and His Son comes from His Word. Paul prays for the faithful at Ephesus . . . “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation (apokalupsis) in the knowledge (epignosis) of Him” (Ephesians1:17). Wisdom and disclosure comes with this mature knowledge.
This mature knowledge must be active and ever growing. It gives strong roots to the faith and the hope of our honored position in His coming Kingdom. Please note that in all three prayers Paul uses the word “may.” Christ reveals this knowledge only to those who keep seeking, keep asking, and keep knocking. It is for the obedient and faithful disciple. “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge (epignosis) of God and of Jesus our Lord;seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge (epignosis) of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:2-3). This knowledge given to His faithful provides the means to achieve glorious life in His Kingdom.
Come on a ride with me, on the journey of knowing God better!
PRAYER FOCUS
I PRAY THAT GOD WILL REVEAL MORE OF HIMSELF TO US, EVEN AS WE OPEN OUR HEARTS TO KNOW HIM MORE.
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