To Knowing God

1
To Knowing God
2
From NO-ING God To KNOWING God

• KEY VERSE
• I Thessalonians 43-5 3 For this is
  the will of God, your sanctification
  that you should abstain from sexual
  immorality 4 that each of you should
  know how to possess his own vessel in
  sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion
  of lust, like the Gentiles who do not
  know God

3
From NO-ING God To KNOWING God

• How do people say NO to God?

- I cant find a church that fits my
personality and I see too many hypocrites in
the church
4
Matt 1618 18 "And I also say to you that you
are Peter, and on this rock I will build My
church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail
against it.
5
Rev 34-5 4 "You have a few names even in
Sardis who have not defiled their garments and
they shall walk with Me in white, for they are
worthy. 5 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in
white garments, and I will not blot out his
name from the Book of Life but I will confess
his name before My Father and before His
angels.
6
From NO-ING God To KNOWING God

• How do people say NO to God?

- I dont have time for religion and its
requirements
7
Acts 2425 25 Now as he reasoned about
righteousness, self-control, and the judgment
to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away
for now when I have a convenient time I will
call for you."
8
From NO-ING God To KNOWING God

• How do people say NO to God?

- The Bible is too difficult to
understand, and besides, I need something
more personal
9
1 Cor. 121 21 For since, in the wisdom of God,
the world through wisdom did not know God, it
pleased God through the foolishness of the
message preached to save those who believe.
10
John 2030-31 30 And truly Jesus did many other
signs in the presence of His disciples, which
are not written in this book 31 but these are
written that you may believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you
may have life in His name.
11
Eph 33-6 3 how that by revelation He
made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly
written already, 4 by which, when you read, you
may understand my knowledge in the mystery of
Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made
known to the sons of men, as it has now been
revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and
prophets 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow
heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His
promise in Christ through the gospel
12
Where Do I Begin To KNOW God?

• KEY VERSE
• Job 1821
• 21 Surely such are the dwellings of the
  wicked, and this is the place of him who does
  not know God."

13
Where Do I Begin To KNOW God?

• How To Begin

-Understand that Christianity is more than
rules and no fun
14
I John 53 3 For this is the love of God, that
we keep His commandments. And His commandments
are not burdensome.
15
Where Do I Begin To KNOW God?

• How To Begin

-Make sure that your perception of God is
the one He wants you to have of Him
16
1 Tim 23-4 3 For this is good and acceptable
in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires
all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge
of the truth.
17
Where Do I Begin To KNOW God?

• How To Begin

-Determine to establish your own faith,
without following what someone else tells
you
18
Gal 113-14 13 For you have heard of my former
conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church
of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my
contemporaries in my own nation, being more
exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my
fathers.
19
Acts 91-4 1 Then Saul, still breathing
threats and murder against the disciples of the
Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked
letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus,
so that if he found any who were of the Way,
whether men or women, he might bring them bound
to Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed he came near
Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him
from heaven.4 Then he fell to the ground, and
heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why
are you persecuting Me?"
20
Matt 158-9 8 These people draw near to Me with
their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but
their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they
worship Me, teaching as doctrines the
commandments of men.' "
21
II John 9-11 9 Whoever transgresses and does
not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not
have God. He who abides in the doctrine of
Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If
anyone comes to you and does not bring this
doctrine, do not receive him into your house
nor greet him 11 for he who greets him shares
in his evil deeds.
22
What Hinders Me From KNOWING God

• KEY VERSE II Thess. 17-10
  7 and to give you who are troubled rest
  with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed
  from heaven with His mighty angels, 8 in
  flaming fire taking venge- ance on those who
  do not know God, and on those who do
  not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus
  Christ

23
What Hinders Me From KNOWING God

• KEY VERSE II Thess. 17-10

9 These shall be punished with ever-
lasting destruction from the presence of
the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10
when He comes, in that Day, to be
glorified in His saints and to be
admired among all those who believe...
24
What Hinders Me From KNOWING God

• Some of our hindrances

-Family (Abuse, drugs and alcohol,
hypocrites, divorce, no love etc.)
25
Matt 1037-39 37 "He who loves father or mother
more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who
loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy
of Me. 38 "And he who does not take his cross
and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 "He
who finds his life will lose it, and he who
loses his life for My sake will find it.
26
What Hinders Me From KNOWING God

• Some of our hindrances

-Friends (Peer pressure,
hypocrites, etc.)
27
Luke 961-62 61 And another also said, "Lord, I
will follow You, but let me first go and bid
them farewell who are at my house. 62 But
Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand
to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the
kingdom of God."
28
John 1242-43 42 Nevertheless even among
the rulers many believed in Him, but because of
the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest
they should be put out of the synagogue 43 for
they loved the praise of men more than the
praise of God. John 1513-14 13 Greater
love has no one than this, than to lay down
one's life for his friends. 14 You are My
friends if you do whatever I command you.
29
What Hinders Me From KNOWING God

• Some of our hindrances

-Misc. (Busy, Misplaced Love,
Indifference)
30
Luke 811-15 11 "Now the parable is this The
seed is the word of God. 12 "Those by the
wayside are the ones who hear then the devil
comes and takes away the word out of their
hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 "But the ones on the rock are those who, when
they hear, receive the word with joy and these
have no root, who believe for a while and in
time of temptation fall away (continue)
31
Luke 811-15 14 "And the ones that fell among
thorns are those who, when they have heard, go
out and are choked with cares, riches, and
pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to
maturity. 15 "But the ones that fell on the
good ground are those who, having heard the
word with a noble and good heart, keep it and
bear fruit with patience.
32
1 Tim 69-10 9 But those who desire to be rich
fall into temptation and a snare, and into
many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men
in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of
money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which
some have strayed from the faith in their
greediness, and pierced themselves through with
many sorrows.
33
False Standards Of KNOWING God

• KEY VERSE Titus 116
• 16 They profess to know God, but in
  works they deny Him, being abominable,
  disobedient, and disqualified for every good
  work.

34
False Standards Of KNOWING God

• These false standards are

- I am spiritual
35
Acts 101-6 1 There was a certain man in
Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of
what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a
devout man and one who feared God with all his
household, who gave alms generously to the
people, and prayed to God always. 3 About the
ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision
an angel of God coming in and saying to him,
"Cornelius!
36
Acts 101-6 4 And when he observed him, he
was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he
said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have
come up for a memorial before God. 5 "Now send
men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname
is Peter. 6 "He is lodging with Simon, a tanner,
whose house is by the sea. He will tell you
what you must do."
37
Acts 1048 48 And he commanded them to be
baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they
asked him to stay a few days.
38
False Standards Of KNOWING God

• These false standards are

- I go to church on Sunday
39
John 422-24 22 "You worship what you do not
know we know what we worship, for salvation is
of the Jews. 23 "But the hour is coming, and now
is, when the true worshipers will worship the
Father in spirit and truth for the Father is
seeking such to worship Him. 24"God is Spirit,
and those who worship Him must worship in spirit
and truth."
40
False Standards Of KNOWING God

• These false standards are

- I dont go to church, but I believe in
Jesus as my Savior
41
Col 118 18 And He is the head of the
body, the church, who is the beginning, the
firstborn from the dead, that in all things He
may have the preeminence. Eph 523 23 For
the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ
is head of the church and He is the Savior of
the body.
42
Acts 237-41 37 Now when they heard this, they
were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and
the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren,
what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said to them,
"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in
the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit(continue)
43
Acts 237-41 39 "For the promise is to you and
to your children, and to all who are afar off,
as many as the Lord our God will call. 40 And
with many other words he testified and exhorted
them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse
generation. 41 Then those who gladly received
his word were baptized and that day about three
thousand souls were added to them.
44
Acts 247 47 praising God and having
favor with all the people. And the Lord added
to the church daily those who were being
saved. Acts 2028 28 "Therefore take heed
to yourselves and to all the flock, among which
the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to
shepherd the church of God which He purchased
with His own blood.
45
How Can I KNOW that I KNOW God?

• KEY VERSE I John 46
• 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us
  he who is not of God does not hear us. By
  this we know the spirit of truth and the
  spirit of error.

46
How Can I KNOW that I KNOW God?

• To Know God Is To
• -Live For Him Everyday

47
Acts 542 42 And daily in the temple, and in
every house, they did not cease teaching and
preaching Jesus as the Christ. Luke 923 23
Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to
come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up
his cross daily, and follow Me.
48
How Can I KNOW that I KNOW God?

• To Know God Is To
• -Love Him With All Of Your Being

49
Matt 2236-38 36 "Teacher, which is the great
commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said to him,"
'You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, with all your soul, and with all your
mind. 38 "This is the first and great
commandment.
50
How Can I KNOW that I KNOW God?

• To Know God Is To
• -Spend Time With Him In Prayer And The Study
  Of His Word

51
Acts 242 42 And they continued steadfastly in
the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the
breaking of bread, and in prayers. 1 Thess.
517 17 pray without ceasing...
52
How Can I KNOW that I KNOW God?

• To Know God Is To
• -Share His Love With Others In Word And
  Deed

53
I John 47-11 7 Beloved, let us love one
another, for love is of God and everyone who
loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who
does not love does not know God, for God is
love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested
toward us, that God has sent His only begotten
Son into the world, that we might live through
Him(continue)
54
I John 47-11 10 In this is love, not that we
loved God, but that He loved us and sent His
Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to
love one another. I John 52 2 By this we know
that we love the children of God, when we love
God and keep His commandments.
55
KNOWING God Must Be Your Desire

• KEY VERSE
• James 47-8 7 Therefore submit to God.
  Resist the devil and he will flee from
  you. 8 Draw near to God and He will
  draw near to you. Cleanse your
  hands, you sinners and purify your hearts, you
  double-minded.

56
KNOWING God Must Be Your Desire

• You Must
• -Work Out Your Own Salvation

57
Phil. 212-13 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you
have always obeyed, not as in my presence only,
but now much more in my absence, work out your
own salvation with fear and trembling 13 for it
is God who works in you both to will and to do
for His good pleasure.
58
KNOWING God Must Be Your Desire

• You Must
• -Make Sure That You Are In The Faith And
  Saved

59
2 Cor. 135 5 Examine yourselves as to
whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.
Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ
is in you?-- unless indeed you are
disqualified. Acts 240 40 And with many
other words he testified and exhorted them,
saying, "Be saved from this perverse
generation."
60
KNOWING God Must Be Your Desire

• You Must
• -KNOW GOD!

61
QUESTIONS

• What do you feel is the biggest reason
  that young people decide to NO God instead of
  KNOWING Him?

62
QUESTIONS

• What is your perception of God with regards to
  keeping His commandments? Do you feel that
  Christianity is rules and no fun? Why?

63
QUESTIONS

• What would you say is the biggest let down for
  young people with Christianity? Explain your
  answer.

64
QUESTIONS

• Why do you think so many people feel
  comfortable giving weak excuses for being in a
  relationship with God?
• (Ex. I am spiritual I go to church on
  Sunday )

65
QUESTIONS

• If you have made it your desire to KNOW God,
  what has helped you to see the need for the
  pursuit of a relationship with God?

66
QUESTIONS

• Are you willing to stop NO-ING God and start
  KNOWING God today? Let us help you.
• Feel free to contact someone before you
  leave today