-
The Secret To Knowing God Series
Contributed by Dr. Lewis W. Gregory on Jan 24, 2022 (message contributor)
Summary: What does it mean to know God? It is not intellectual knowledge about Him. Knowing God involves having a vibrant intimate personal relationship with Him. This relationship should be ongoing, ever growing, and maturing.
1. THE FIRST SPIRITUAL SECRET - Jesus said that God is a Spirit and we must have a spiritual connection. (John 4:24) Therefore, we need the Holy Spirit to make God known to us. Only as we rely on the Holy Spirit as our teacher can we know the Lord and understand His Word. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26) This is the first spiritual secret to knowing God.
2. SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION - In 2 Peter 1:21 it says, “The prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Bible is truly God-breathed, inspired by God’s Spirit. The Author of the Book is God Himself. The Holy Spirit worked through human instrumentality. It was God speaking through the uniqueness of distinct personalities with different backgrounds and occupations, but it was always God bringing forth His Word to mankind! The Bible originated with God who is Spirit. Therefore, as a Spiritual Book, it can only be understood by the Holy Spirit.
3. KNOWING BY THE SPIRIT - It is not humanly possible to understand what God has prepared for us. We are told in 1 Corinthians 2:9 that “As it is written eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man what God has prepared for them that love Him.” There is only one way to know God.
The only way to know God is by the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God.” It is humanly impossible to grasp the things of God. The natural mind, which encompasses the physical human realm, cannot possibly comprehend the things of God. The things of God are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them. They cannot be known on the human plane. Why? Because they must be spiritually discerned—by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:15)
Therefore, the things of God are known only by the Spirit of God. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 2:12-13 NKJV) The things of God must be Spiritually interpreted. The Spirit gives us understanding. He alone can make God’s Word real to us. That’s the secret—knowing God comes by the Spirit!
4. TESTIMONY - I concluded that since the Bible is a Spiritual Book, only the Holy Spirit can teach me. Furthermore, only by God’s Spirit can I know and understand the things of God. Therefore, every time I open the Holy Bible, my prayer is, “Holy Spirit, show me what to read, and speak to me through Your Word. Make God known to me. Cause Jesus to become real and alive in my life.”
5. PRAYER FOR ENLIGHTENMENT - “Dear God, I realize that the Bible is a Spiritual Book, and the Holy Spirit, who indwells me, is going to teach me. Therefore, Holy Spirit, I trust you to enable me to understand the Bible. Make God known to me. Cause Jesus to become real and alive in my life.”
Copyright©2000 Dr. Lewis Gregory
You are encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way. Please give credit to the author in any printed publications.