1

The Study of The Study of GodGod

2

The People Who The People Who Know Their GodKnow Their God

Knowing GodKnowing God by J I Packer by J I PackerChapter 2Chapter 2

3

• ““I’ve known God.”I’ve known God.”• ““Would it occur to us to say, Would it occur to us to say,

without hesitation, and with without hesitation, and with reference to particular events in reference to particular events in our personal history, that we have our personal history, that we have known God?”known God?”

• ““Past disappointments and present Past disappointments and present heartbreaks don’t matter.”heartbreaks don’t matter.”

• ““Those who really know God never Those who really know God never brood on might-have-beens; they brood on might-have-beens; they never think of the things they have never think of the things they have missed, only of what they have missed, only of what they have gained.”gained.”

• Phil. 3:7 -10Phil. 3:7 -10

4

““But whatever was to my profit I But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of now consider loss for the sake of Christ, What is more, I consider Christ, What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him…. gain Christ and be found in him…. I want to know Christ.” I want to know Christ.”

Phil. 3: 7-10Phil. 3: 7-10

5

““Knowing” versus “Knowing About”Knowing” versus “Knowing About”• List some aspects of knowing about GodList some aspects of knowing about God

Information by reading/studying books of Information by reading/studying books of the Bible, Study Bibles.the Bible, Study Bibles.

Sunday School, Preaching, Teaching, Sunday School, Preaching, Teaching, Home Bible studies, Christian Books, Home Bible studies, Christian Books, Biographies of the saints, Commentaries, Biographies of the saints, Commentaries, Hymns, prayers.Hymns, prayers.

Is knowledge about God, good?Is knowledge about God, good? Is it the same as knowing God?Is it the same as knowing God?

“ “ A little knowledge of God is worth more A little knowledge of God is worth more than a great deal of knowledge about than a great deal of knowledge about Him.” Him.”

6

Some Evidence of Knowing GodSome Evidence of Knowing God• Great Energy for GodGreat Energy for God

Daniel 11: 32 “the people who do know their Daniel 11: 32 “the people who do know their God shall stand firm and take action.” RSVGod shall stand firm and take action.” RSV ““The Action is a Reaction to Anti-God trends around The Action is a Reaction to Anti-God trends around them”them” God’s truth & honor are assaulted. Will not allow the God’s truth & honor are assaulted. Will not allow the matter matter to go by, even at personal risk.to go by, even at personal risk.

1 Sam 17: 26, 451 Sam 17: 26, 45

• Energy, not just in public gestures, but above all Energy, not just in public gestures, but above all else, the 1else, the 1stst point is in their zeal for God’s glory in point is in their zeal for God’s glory in their Prayers.their Prayers.

Read prayer of Read prayer of Daniel 9: 3 - 10, 17 – 19Daniel 9: 3 - 10, 17 – 19

““The Invariable Fruit of True Knowledge of God is The Invariable Fruit of True Knowledge of God is Energy to Pray for God’s Cause.”Energy to Pray for God’s Cause.” By this, we may By this, we may test ourselves.test ourselves.

7

A Test of How Well we know God?A Test of How Well we know God?May lack courage of a David, but do we pray? May lack courage of a David, but do we pray?

Ungodliness:Ungodliness: Psalm 1 wickedness injustice, Psalm 1 wickedness injustice, Mockery of what is good and right, Mockery of what is good and right, impoverishment of the innocent for sordid impoverishment of the innocent for sordid gain, unfettered selfishness. Not only around, gain, unfettered selfishness. Not only around, but in usbut in us

Apostasy:Apostasy: Rejecting the truth of your Rejecting the truth of your Biblical beliefs (often in favor of opposing Biblical beliefs (often in favor of opposing beliefs because of self indulgence)beliefs because of self indulgence)

How much energy (passion) is in us for a How much energy (passion) is in us for a practice of prayer against such?practice of prayer against such?

““If not, a sure sign that as of yet we scarcely know If not, a sure sign that as of yet we scarcely know Him.”Him.”

8

The EvidenceThe EvidenceThose who really know God:Those who really know God:• Have great Have great EnergyEnergy for God and for God and

react to the dishonor of God’s waysreact to the dishonor of God’s ways Examples: Daniel, DavidExamples: Daniel, David

• Have great Have great ThoughtsThoughts of God of God Examples: Man’s great power vs. GodExamples: Man’s great power vs. God

• Have great Have great BoldnessBoldness for God for God Examples: Shadrach, Meshach, AbednegoExamples: Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego

• Have great Have great ContentmentContentment for God for God

9

Application: 1Application: 1stst Steps StepsIs it our desire to have a similar Is it our desire to have a similar knowledge & relationship with God as knowledge & relationship with God as Daniel and his friends?Daniel and his friends?

First:First: Let us not be deceived!Let us not be deceived! Must have Must have the right the right measuring stick. measuring stick.

Not by our Knowledge about God. Not by our Not by our Knowledge about God. Not by our church responsibilities and our gifts. But by our church responsibilities and our gifts. But by our prayer life and the fervor of our heart life for God. prayer life and the fervor of our heart life for God. Realize our need! How much we lack knowledge Realize our need! How much we lack knowledge of God.of God.

Second:Second: Must Seek the Savior And fulfill the Must Seek the Savior And fulfill the Promise of Promise of Jeremiah 29: 13 -14Jeremiah 29: 13 -14When we seek Him with all of our hearts, we shall When we seek Him with all of our hearts, we shall surely find Him.surely find Him.

10

12.12. ““Then you will call upon Me Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. I will listen to you.

13.13. You will seek Me when you You will seek Me when you search for Me with all your search for Me with all your heart. heart.

14.14. And I will be found by you, And I will be found by you, declares the Lord.”declares the Lord.”

Jeremiah 29: 12 – Jeremiah 29: 12 – 1414

11

Lord, it belongs not to my Lord, it belongs not to my carecare

Whether I die or live,Whether I die or live,

To love and serve Thee is my To love and serve Thee is my share,share,

And this Thy grace must give.And this Thy grace must give.

If life be long, I will be glad.If life be long, I will be glad.

That I may long obey;That I may long obey;

If short—then why should I be If short—then why should I be sadsad

To soar to endless day?To soar to endless day?