Feb. 16, 2019 By Irene Webster
Why know God more intimately?
It will be well with those who revere and worship Him realizing His continual presence. God will pour out His rich rewards on them.
Proverbs 8:34-36 (AMP) 34 “Blessed [happy, prosperous, to be admired] is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts.35 “For whoever finds me (Wisdom) finds life and obtains favor and grace from the Lord. 36 “But he who fails to find me or sins against me injures himself; All those who hate me love and court death.”
Proverbs 8:18 (AMP) “Riches and honor are with me, Enduring wealth and righteousness (right standing with God).
How can we know God more intimately?
Spend time with Him. Show your gratitude, even when you don’t feel like it and bring a sacrifice of praise to Him. Stir yourself up and recall what the Lord has done in the past! Remember, all relationships mean sacrifice…and like any relationship you need to make time for Him. Put Him first and your day will go well! Pray like David did, asking for help from the Lord with specific requests.
Example: Psalm 143
Put your trust in Him.
Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way]
Study the Word of God. Let Him talk to you through His Word.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.
Discover how God talks to you…still small voice, audibly, through others, events
Obey and be blessed –
Deuteronomy 1:26-28 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: 28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
- Psalm 18:20-25 (AMP) The Lord dealt with me according to my righteousness (moral character, spiritual integrity); According to the cleanness of my hands He has rewarded me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 22 For all His ordinances were before me, And I did not put away His statutes from me. 23 I was [a]blameless before Him, And I kept myself free from my sin. 24 Therefore the Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness (moral character, spiritual integrity), According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. 25 With the kind (merciful, faithful, loyal) You show Yourself kind, With the blameless You show Yourself blameless,
Know His perfect Word brings protection
Psalm 18:30 (AMP) As for God, His way is [a]blameless. The word of the Lord is tested [it is perfect, it is faultless]; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
God says so and wants us to hide the Word in our hearts!
Psalm 119:11 Amplified Bible (AMP) 11 Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
Be like Solomon
1 Chronicles 28:9 “As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father [have personal knowledge of Him, be acquainted with, and understand Him; appreciate, heed, and cherish Him] and serve Him with a blameless heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and minds, and understands every intent and inclination of the thoughts. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him as your first and vital necessity] He will let you find Him; but if you abandon (turn away from) Him, He will reject you forever.
Make a real effort to come to Him and be refreshed, freed from dead religion.
Matthew 11:28 Amp Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation].
Because we are sustained by His Words. It is our daily bread.
Matthew 4:4 (KJV) But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Also we live by Jesus Christ’s example. For instance, it was during times of great surrender and intimacy Jesus was empowered. In fact it was right after Jesus fasted 40 days and used God’s Word when tempted that He then stepped into His powerful destiny Matthew 4:23-24
We too will find greater anointing and power when we draw closer to God by spending time with Him, by reading His Word, praying, and listening to His voice.
God is responsive to our pursuit
Proverbs 8:17 God loves those who love Him and those who seek Him early and diligently shall find Him!
HOW?
2. Commit to coming to Him each day, early and in a set place without interruption.
Be determined to come to Him early!
Psalm 63:1 (KJV) O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
Psalm 108:2 (KJV) Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
Early means to search, seek diligently, in the morning
God is calling us to come early!
Song of Solomon 2:10 My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
Come defined mean to carry away, bear, bring, come away, go, grow, lead, let down, march, prosper and pursue, cause to run, spread, take away, vanish, cause to walk, wax x be weak.
Go alone like Christ did
Matthew 14:23 (AMP) After He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was there alone.
Jesus asked His disciples, “Can you not tarry?”
Matthew 26:38 (KJV) Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
Tarry means to stay, abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand (don’t be in a hurry to leave)
Sing and praise Him for His mighty works like David!!!
Psalm 108:2 (KJV) Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
Psalm 146:2 While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
PRAY – use the Lord’s Prayer. Also, pray in tongues (the Holy Spirit) when you don’t know what to pray.
Matthew 6:9-13 “Pray, then,
in this way:
‘Our Father, who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name. PRAISE THE LORD
10 ‘Your kingdom come,
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven. ASK HIM TO BE PART OF YOUR LIFE AND OTHERS TODAY
11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread. ASK HIM TO BE YOUR PROVIDER, MEET YOUR NEEDS
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment]. CONFESS YOUR SINS, AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS GOD WILL FORGIVE YOU
3. 13 ‘And do not [lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’ ASK FOR HELP WITH TEMPTATION, TO OVERCOME THE WORKS OF EVIL
FINALLY DECLARE GOD’S AUTHORITY, POWER AND MAJESTY OVER YOU AND OTHERS TODAY!
Be vigilant and passionate
Colossians 4:2 (AMPC) Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving.
Psalm 17:1 (AMP) Hear the just (righteous) cause, O Lord; listen to my loud [piercing] cry;
Listen to my prayer, that comes from guileless lips.
Wait on the Lord
Lamentations 3:25 (AMP) The Lord is good to those who wait[confidently] for Him,
To those who seek Him [on the authority of God’s word].
Wait means gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon)
Acts 1:4 (AMP)
4 While being together and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Of which,” He said, “you have heard Me speak.
Wait here means to stay around, await
How often and how much time?? I believe a tithe of our time is a good start…
The Jews prayed 3 times a day…
Psalm 55:16-19 (KJV)
16 As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Psalm 1:2 (AMP) But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually] meditates day and night.
Daniel 6:10 (AMP) Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he went into his house (now in his roof chamber his windows were open toward Jerusalem); he continued to get down on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.
Why? We follow Christ’s example and commands.
4. Matthew 7:7-11
(AMP) “[a]Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will [instead] give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will [instead] give him a snake? 11 If you then, evil (sinful by nature) as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give what is good and advantageous to those who keep on asking Him.
God responds to consistent prayers.
Psalm 52:8 I consistently trust in God
Other ways to get to know God more
- Be baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:4 (AMP) While being together and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Of which,” He said, “you have heard Me speak.
Acts 2 Tells how the Holy Spirit came to the followers of Christ.
- Repent when you fail, give heed to God’s reproof. Stop sinning and obey. Seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38 And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ because of the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Proverbs 1:23 (AMP) “If you will turn and pray,
Behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
Side question:
Are my sins really forgiven?
Psalm 103:12 KJV As far as the east is from the west, So far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
- FAST
Ezra 8:23 (AMP) So we fasted and sought [help from] our God concerning this [matter], and He heard our plea.
Isaiah 58:6 (AMP)“[Rather] is this not the fast which I choose, To undo the bonds of wickedness, To tear to pieces the ropes of the yoke, To let the oppressed go free And break apart every [enslaving] yoke?
5. Daniel 9:3 (AMP) So I directed my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.
Joel 2:12 (AMP)
“Even now,” says the Lord,
“Turn and come to Me with all your heart [in genuine repentance],
With fasting and weeping and mourning [until every barrier is removed and the broken fellowship is restored];
No question. Fasting helps us better communicate with God. It quiets our flesh, and makes us more aware of what we are asking for, who we are, our own issues, and helps us to hear His voice more clearly.
QUESTIONS
What do these scriptures say to me?
Psalm 139:1-18 O Lord, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up [my entire life, everything I do]; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And You are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue [still unspoken], Behold, O Lord, 5
You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, And [You have] placed Your hand upon me. Such [infinite] knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high [above me], I cannot reach it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will take hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, And the night will be the only light around me,” Even the darkness is not dark to You and conceals nothing from You, But the night shines as bright as the day; Darkness and light are alike to You. For You formed my innermost parts; You knit me [together] in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was being formed in secret, And intricately and skillfully formed [as if embroidered with many colors] in the depths of the earth. Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were appointed for me, When as yet there was not one of them [even taking shape]. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I could count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.
ANSWER:
Other concerns that if answered will help us know God more:
Can you see God?
6. John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
Can we really hear God?
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one-fold, and one shepherd.
Does God hear you? Yes, talk to God!!! Tell Him your concerns.
Psalm 17:6 KJV I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
Will God help me?
Psalm 18:3 (KJV) I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so, shall I be saved from mine enemies.
What is God like to me according to these scriptures?
Psalm 18:2 (AMP)
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and the One who rescues me;
My God, my rock and strength in whom I trust and take refuge;
My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower—my stronghold.
My rock
My fortress
My Deliver
My Strength
My Shield
My Salvation
My High Tower
My light
Psalm 18:28 (AMP) For You cause my lamp to be lighted and to shine; The Lord my God illumines
my darkness.
Psalm 18:25 With the kind (merciful, faithful, loyal) You show Yourself kind,
With the blameless You show Yourself blameless,
God’ Character
Psalm 59:16 (AMP) But as for me, I will sing of Your mighty strength and power;
Yes, I will sing joyfully of Your lovingkindness in the morning; 7
For You have been my stronghold
And a refuge in the day of my distress.
Psalm 55:22 God will sustain us if we cast our burden on the Lord. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken (slip, fall, fail).
Jonah 3 and 4:2 When the people repented God was:
1. Gracious
2. Merciful
3. Slow to anger
4. Of great kindness
What else is God like?
A teacher using His Word to bring instruction to life and life more abundantly!
Prov. 5:7…listen to God and depart not from the Words of His mouth!
Prov. 5:23 We can die for lack of discipline and instruction…
A lover…
Micah 1:3-5 God is jealous for our attention and wants to be 1st in our lives
Nahum 1:2 King James Version (KJV)God is jealous, and the Lord revengeth; the Lord revengeth, and is furious; the Lord will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.
Merciful
Psalm 147:11 (AMP)
The Lord favors those who fear and worship Him [with awe-inspired reverence and obedience],
Those who wait for His mercy and lovingkindness.
Psalm 147:3 (AMP)
He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds [healing their pain and comforting their sorrow].
Forgiving
Psalm 78:34-39 Full of compassion, forgiving because He remembers we are but flesh…
Joyful, mighty, dances
Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
My righteousness.
Psalm 16:2 (AMP) I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good besides You.” 8
God is my counselor
Psalm 16:7 (AMP) I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; Indeed, my heart (mind) instructs me in the night. God brings pleasures forever
Christ is our advocate (lawyer)
1 John 2:1 [Christ Is Our Advocate] My little children (believers, dear ones), I am writing you these things so that you will not sin and violate God’s law. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate [who will intercede for us] with the Father: Jesus Christ the righteous [the upright, the just One, who conforms to the Father’s will in every way—purpose, thought, and action].
Steadfast in His love
Psalm 59:10 Amplified Bible (AMP)
My God in His [steadfast] lovingkindness will meet me;
God will let me look triumphantly on my enemies [who lie in wait for me].
God is just (fair)
Proverbs 24:12 (AMP)
If you [claim ignorance and] say, “See, we did not know this,”
Does He not consider it who weighs and examines the hearts and their motives?
And does He not know it who guards your life and keeps your soul?
And will He not repay [you and] every man according to his works?
God is revengeful
Zephaniah 3:8 (AMP)
“Therefore [you of the godly remnant of Judah, patiently] wait for Me,” declares the Lord,
“[Wait] for the day when I rise up as a witness [against the nations].
For it is My decision and My right to gather the nations,
To assemble kingdoms,
To pour out on them My indignation,
All [the heat of] My burning anger;
For [in that day] all the earth shall be consumed
By the fire of My zeal.
God is good, and protects when you are in trouble.
Nahum 1:7 God is good, a Strength, and Stronghold in the day of trouble to those who take refuge in him and trust him.
Like a father God instructs, corrects and reproves, and disciplines
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Hebrews 12:5 My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 9
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
God is your Father in heaven.
Matthew 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Matthew 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Matthew 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 9
God is like a shepherd
Psalm 80:1 (AMP) Hear us O Shepherd of Israel; You who lead Joseph like a flock;
You who sit enthroned above the cherubim [of the ark of the covenant], shine forth!
But what does a shepherd do?
1. Provides, feeds, shelters, waters
2. Protects, defends, delivers
3. Heals
4. Leads
5. Corrects
6. Is merciful Matt 12:7,
7. Comforts Matt.12:11-12
8. Gives peace, calms (still waters, song) Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Why is this important? We too are like sheep!
Bottom line Sheep need a shepherd to lead, heal, protect. WHY?
10.
1. They are very group oriented but bite each other when too close…
2. Stay in flocks (there is safety in numbers). Church is perfect for us!
3. Have delicate bones and can be hurt easily, slip and fall, breaking a leg.
4. Sheep are not very bright. They have a brain the size of a walnut. A sheep can drown in 2 inches of water.
5. Sheep are very meek, easily frightened or spooked by rushing water, other animals and can die easily if by itself.
6. Sheep need protection because they have no defense naturally and are easily killed by predators.
So I ask you now, who is God to you? Read all of Psalm 18, Proverbs 1:33, Matthew 7:24
Ask yourself:
- What did David do to get God’s help?
- Who is free from fear or dread of evil?
- Have you ever experienced God’s help this way? Share a brief testimony
- If not yet what can you do to get God involved in your need? List 2-3 things:
NOTES