True Christianity Pt5
6 Keys to Growing in Your Knowing God – A
Sunday, December 15, 2019
I.True Christianity
A.Review
1. (Matt. 7:21-27) “…I never knew you…”
a. (John 17:3) Eternal life = knowing God.
~(John 3:16 NIV) Bible believing = eternal life = knowing God = salvation
~(Jas. 2:19 NLT) Bible believing = knowing God
b.Know (ginosko) to intimately know in relationship, become well acquainted with; idiom for sexual intercourse between a husband and wife.
c.Knowing God is to be in life union with God through Jesus, having an intimate, loving, personal relationship that results in bearing fruit.
d.Our union with Jesus is likened to a marriage relationship throughout the scriptures.
2.A healthy relationship with God will be characterized by shared love, commitment, sacrifice and bearing fruit.
a.(Matt. 22:36-40) Jesus’ two commandments.
~(John 13:34-35 NLT) love one another like Christ loves us.
b.Everyone says they love God, but how do we know if we really do? (John 14:15 ESV)
~(1 Thess. 4:1-8; 1 John 5:2-3) Law vs Grace.
B.6 Keys to Growing in Your Knowing God
1.Hearing the Word (Luke 10:38-42)
a.(Rom. 10:17 ESV) Faith comes by hearing and hearing, not by reading or by having heard. Knowledge and understanding come by reading.
~(Heb. 11:6) without faith
~(Heb. 10:25 NLT) regular church attendance
2.Doing the Word (John 14:21-23 TPT)
a.(Jas. 1:21-25 NLT)
b.Recall opening parable in Matthew 7
c.(Isa. 1:19) willing and obedient
3.Prayer and Fasting (Acts 13:2-3; 14:21-23)
a. Prayer – The primary purpose of prayer is fellowship with God.
b. Fasting (Matt. 6:16-18 ESV)
New covenant fasting is:
#1 – For you and not for God
#2 – For the purpose of putting your body under your control and not allowing it to control you.
(1 Cor. 9:27 ESV)
#3 – Not a hunger strike to get God to do something for you.
#4 – Is to sensitize your spirit and desensitize your five senses to better hear God. Fasted lifestyle: I will not listen to just anything, I will not just watch anything. I will not allow my appetite and five senses to control me.
. Christian Suffering – Christ suffered some things as our substitute and others as our example (Phil. 3:10-11 NIV)
a. (1 Pet. 2:19-21 NIV) Christ as our example
b. (Rom. 8:16-18 NLT) shared glory and suffering
c. (2 Tim. 3:10-12) suffer persecution
d. (Luke 6:26) the world will not love you unless you’re like them.
e. (Matt. 13:20-21) persecution for the words sake
5. Fearing God (Ps. 25:14 NKJV/NIV/NLT)
a. Fearing God is not being afraid of God. The fear of the Lord is to worship, praise, and offer thanksgiving, to stand in reverential awe of God, Who He is and what He’s done.
~(Matt. 4:10; Deut. 6:13 Fear = worship)
b. (Ps. 50:23) God will show you His salvation
c. (Ps. 22:3 ASV) God lives in our praises.
~(Jas. 4:7) As we draw near to God, He draws near to us.
6. Yielding to the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-18, 26 TPT)
a. (John 16:12-15 TPT) union and communion
b. (Rom. 8:13-16) true sonship
[Pastor Lee Stokes]