In his sermon, Mr. Scott Brummett highlighted 6 characteristics of someone who truly knows God, and contrasted that with those in the Bible who knew about God or who were religious, but didn't truly know God personally.
John 8:53
- Pharisees claimed to know God but really just knew *about* and *of* Him, not knowing Him personally
- They kept the Law, but did not know Him
Matthew 7:21
- "Not everyone who says to me "Lord, Lord" will enter the Kingdom of Heaven..."
- To enter the Kingdom one must do the will of the Father
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1. To have a relationship with God, first, God must initiate that relationship
- John 6:44 - No one can come to me unless the father who sent me calls him
- He must call us
2. They talk to God
- Rom. 12:12 - Continue steadfastly in prayer
3. They study God's word
4. They keep His laws
- 1 John 2:3-6 - Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments
5. To know God, you must be broken
- Completely humbled
- Humility, repentance, and submission are key to knowing God
- Psalm 51:17 - "the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit..."
- 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 -
- It is in the times when we are the most broken in life, that God is able to teach us the most
- Isaiah 66:1-2 - "...but this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word."
- Breaking a young horse analogy
- Job - A good man who knew God, but goes to God and questions Him. 38:1-5 The Lord answers Job. 42:1-6 Job answers in humility, repenting.
- Repentance-turning and going in the opposite direction from which you were going
- Paul - Pharisee, religious, learned man, persecuted the early church until God blinded him. Acts 9:1-9 - the road to Damascus
- Philippians 3:9-10 - "and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--"
- David - Confronted by Nathan the prophet after his adultery with Bathsheba, loses his child, and is humbled.
- 2 Samuel 12:13-18
- Psalm 51:17 ..."a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart..."
- James 4:6 "...God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble...."
6. To truly know God, you must have His Spirit living within you
- Romans 8:14-17 - His Spirit bears witness with our spirit, that we are children of God...
- Joint-heirs with Christ
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Conclusion: God wants us to know Him
- John 17:1-3 Father, glorify your Son...this is eternal life, that they may know You
- John 17:22-23
- From the time you came to know God, how much change, how much repentance have you seen?
- Humble yourself, seek after God and you will find Him.
Scott and his wife, Renita, have three boys. Scott grew up in central Pennsylvania. He enjoys basketball, fishing, the outdoors and spending time with his family.
