GRACISM 4
MEGAKNOWLOGIES
We have a theme going on here - we are Megamorphic church, we have Mega Youth, Meganauts - now I am talking about “Megaknowlogies”
In short, another title could be KNOWING GOD!
MEGA:
Mega means 'very large', ‘huge', ‘extreme’, and as such the God of the Bible defines and epitomizes all that is ‘Mega’. This God is eternal, existing both within and outside of time, hence His consciousness and cognizance is beyond all dimensions, knowing the beginning and the end. He models all that is; wholeness, wholesome and wholehearted, has created all things including all there is to be known, plus our capacity and capabilities as human beings to search out, understand and apply knowledge.
KNOWLOGIES:
‘ology’ is used in English – as a suffix – an ending - most often to identify various branches of knowledge / discipline.
Technology - is my corporate world - tech knowledge / computer science
Dermatology - derma being the skin - knowledge of skin diseases
Biology - a biologist studies biology - the biosphere
Theology - study of the living God,
Knowlogy – a Megamorphic play on words indicating the intimate knowledge of God where we don’t just know about Him but we know Him
TO KNOW
Biblical meaning
Genesis 4.1 “ Adam knew Eve his wife and she conceived”
Of course he knew her – she was his wife after all. This knowing is referred to as ‘carnal knowledge”
However, especially in this perverse age carnal knowledge has been trampled on, made unclean. You should only engage in this type of activity when you are prepared for the responsibility that procreation brings.
God knows us.
Jer 1:5 Before I formed you in the belly I knew you”
Gen 18:19 For I know of him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
Jn 5:42 : But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
Jn 14:20: At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
How much do we know God?
I know Donald Trump is the President of the US, I have heard a lot about him and I know certain things he has done, who he is married to, so things I know about him - but I have never heard of him and I don’t know him personally.
Get this! I know GOD! The God who created the universe! …this knowing God began a long time ago…
My testimony
Who can know GOD?
Anyone!
Romans 10:13 - Whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved
Your choice if you stay just ‘saved by the skin of your teeth’.
It is two way
Matt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. -
John 6:64: But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.
Obedience is the key
Jn 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed
Where can we know God?
The church?
I have heard tourists talk about visiting an old antiquated beautifully adorned church building in the hope of finding God there…and then being disappointed because although the building was stunning the place was empty!!
People think that if they go to an empty Church they may find God in there. That is not to say if those same tourists went to a church gathering where there were believers they may have found God.
Paul speaking to Christians in 1 Corinthians 3: 16 stated “ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
Anywhere - God is omnipresent
Psalm 139:7 “ Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend up into heaven, you are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold you are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall your hand lead me and your right hand shall hold me.”
Jeremiah 23:24: ‘Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him?’ declares the LORD. ‘Do I not fill heaven and earth?’ declares the LORD”
But I can’t see Him or sense Him
There are times when we may not feel Gods presence. God has a promise to His people - if you are a believer
Hebrews 5:13 “I will never leave you nor forsake you”
God is ALWAYS with you. If you don’t sense Him being close guess who moved? No matter where you are God can reach to you spirit to spirit .
God is looking for us to be looking to Him for the relationship sake rather than what he can give us or we can give to Him.
Jer 31: 31 - 34: 31 ”Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be
34: And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, know the LORD: for they shall all know me. from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
How can we know God?
You must be born again
John 3: 3 -8 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
By faith
Hebrews 11: 6 - But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him
Listen
Matt 13: 9 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
To know God you have to hear His voice, obey His voice – that is carry out His will together with God.
You have to be listening to hear His voice.
Humble yourself
Prov 18: 12 …And before honour is humility.
When can we know God?
Any age,
Psalm: 22: 9 – 10 But you are he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. 10: I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou are my God from my mother's belly.
Psalm 71:9 Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth
Even before we are born again God is looking to reveal Himself to us.
Any where
Any time
Psalm 121: 4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
Acts 10: Cornelius - is an example of a gentile (non Jew) who feared God, prayed and was a generous person
What can we know about God
God is inexhaustible
Jer 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
His Will - for your life
Matt 18; 28 To disciple nations - God’s will for all of us
Get planted in an expression of His Kingdom - The church, servant attitude what ever needs to be done
Get a working relationship going with leadership
In everything give thanks
Pray without ceasing
Rejoice in the Lord always
Obedience to the Lord
His Wisdom - how to best do life
Proverbs 4:5,7 - Wisdom is the principal thing -
Solomon’s prayer for wisdom was honored by God
Corinthians - Is God’s wisdom for Bible Believers, foolishness to those that perish
His Word – the manual for life, it has it all
Logos - the written word / Gen - Revelation
Rhema – an utterance of the word
His Ways –
When Israel turned away from God, He rose up an evil King to bring them to a place of humility and pain whereby they cried out to God
His Works –
What He does to reveal His glory on earth eg His creation
Moses knew His ways but people knew His works
The word reveals so much about God, study it and live by the Spirit and you will learn so much about him also.
Why know God?
God is love and He has a plan for your life
John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly
John 17:3 tells us eternal life is to know God and He whom God sent, namely Jesus.
Psalm 19: 2 - Day by day utters speech and night unto night displays knowledge
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.
And God has given us a conscience the more we ignore that conscience the more we put ourselves in a place where we will miss out on God’s plan for our lives
Paul’s Damascus experience Acts 9:5 “ It is hard for you to Kick against the pricks”
BID (Biblically informed decision)
Anyone can know God here and now
Those of us who do know God, let’s continue to grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus in all His ways so that we can impart it.