DO YOU KNOW GOD ? DO YOU LOVE HIM ? - TO KNOW GOD IS TO LOVE HIM - Part I

Movies don't usually do a good job of honoring God and often times they portray themes exalting human traits above His mercy and love. One of the differences between human love and God's love is the ability of God's love to transform a person's character. When a person comes to know God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, he or she will continually be elevated and transformed while remaining in that relationship. What is not commonly understood by many who profess to love and know God is that their claim is either supported or not supported by evidence in the way that they live their lives. It is not possible to love God secretly; to love Him without revealing a preference and desire for Him in one's leisure, labor and life time. While God loves human beings, it appears that sin has so blinded our minds as to prevent most of us from realizing that God expects us to love Him in return. Many people would probably agree that a one-sided relationship is one where one person gives all the love and the other person does all the receiving. All growth and advancement in the relationship is checked because of the selfishness of the one who chooses only to receive. Is the purpose of life merely to receive love from God ? We will explore this and other questions as we look at how God expects us to love Him in return.

WHAT DOES GOD WANT WITH YOU AND I ?

"Ye are MY witnesses saith the LORD, and MY servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am HE: before ME there was no god formed, neither shall there be after ME." Isaiah 43:10

Notice that the Lord has chosen human beings to fulfill two very important roles -

"MY witnesses"

"MY servant"

We may ask the question - for what purpose has God chosen witnesses and servants ?

THAT YE MAY KNOW

BELIEVE

UNDERSTAND

We may further ask - What are we to know and believe and understand ?

"that I am HE" (and what else ?)

"before ME there was no god formed (and)

"neither shall there be after ME."

The verse indicates choice, trust and thought - important components of every relationship.

God chooses servants

He trusts persons as His witnesses

He invites the thoughts of the mind to know, believe and understand Him

"Be still and know that I am GOD..." Psalm 46:10

What does it mean to know someone ? To know God in particular ?

Know - to perceive with certainty; to understand clearly; to have a clear perception of truth, fact, or any thing that actually exists -to recognize by recollection, remembrance, representation or description

Why does God want human beings to know Him ?

"GOD desires to bring men into direct relation with HIMSELF."

From the first verse in the first chapter of the first book in the Bible where GOD introduces HIMSELF---"In the beginning GOD..." (Genesis 1:1) to the first verse in the first chapter of the last book in the Bible--- "The Revelation of JESUS CHRIST..." Revelation 1:1, GOD is trying to make HIMSELF known to us...Why? Another one of the reasons why God wants us to know Him is given as follows -

GOD desires from all HIS creatures the service of love - service that springs from an appreciation of HIS character.

HOW DOES KNOWING GOD IMPACT A PERSON'S LIFE

"Grace and peace be multiplied unto YOU through the knowledge of GOD and ofJESUS CHRIST our LORD." (2 Peter 1:2)

This verse, as well as Job 22:21, tells us what may be multiplied unto us by knowing GOD and JESUS...Grace and Peace--

"Gr.ace gives man power to obey the laws of GOD."To learn of CHRIST means to receive HIS grace, which is HIS character. Many people are willing to accept God's forgiving grace for the pardon of sin but very few believe in or are willing to accept God's enabling grace to overcome sin.

"The peace which CHRIST called HIS peace, and which HE bequeathed to HIS disciples, is not a peace which prevents all divisions; but it is a peace which is given and enjoyed in the midst of divisions. The peace that the faithful defender of the cause of CHRIST has is the consciousness that he is doing the will of GOD and reflecting HIS glory in good works. It is an internal rather than an external peace."

Other ways that a person is impacted by knowing GOD...

a) "To know GOD is to love HIM."

b) "When we know GOD as it is our privilege to know HIM, our life will be a life of continual obedience."

c) " the more we know of GOD, the more intense will be our happiness."

(John 14:15,21/1 John 5:3/Psalms 16:11/1 John 4:7,8/Hebrews 12:28/Romans 1:3-5, 6:14,15/1 John 2:3,4/Isaiah 26:3/Psalms 119:165)

The above is self-explanatory and clear beyond question. Knowing GOD-- perceiving HIM with certainty, understanding HIM, recognizing HIM by recollection, remembrance, representation or description will lead to loving HIM, obeying HIM and the experience of happiness with an increasing intensity. Grace and peace are multiplied to a person through knowing GOD and JESUS CHRIST. The character quality of love in God will, if allowed, awaken and inspire love and gratitude in us which will be revealed in a practical revelation of the character of Jesus Christ.

"For the love of CHRIST constraineth us..." 2 Corinthians 5: 14

Constrain - to compel or force; to urge with irresistible power

Anyone who is habitually experiencing the love of Christ senses the compelling, urging power of that love to go forward in obedience to do whatever God asks or requires...

© 2010 Tyrone Keels

www.issues-of-life.com

You have just been reading from a study entitled, "To Know God Is To Love Him." Look for more pages from this study in future blog posts...

RIGHT THOUGHTS & THINKING RIGHT - PRINCIPLES OF VICTORY IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE - PART VIII

Many mistakenly believe that because God is love, no matter what their character is like, somehow God will allow them into heaven. It is a significant tragedy that many will be unprepared for an eternal life in the presence of God because they choose not to believe one very important fact: that character is not changed in heaven nor at death. God does not change anyone after they die nor does He magically transform a person's character in this life against their will or without their cooperation. The development of a Christ-like character that can truly enjoy heaven and can be trusted in heaven must take place in this life on earth. This development of character cannot take place apart from the grace of God but we are reassured that God will perform the work in us as we cooperate and that we can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth us. The need to have and the promise of obtaining victory over sin in order to be saved is clearly presented to us in the Bible and the Spirit of prophecy. This challenges us with nothing less than aiming for moral excellence in Christ through total dependence upon God's enabling grace. The good news concerning the practical "how" of attaining the goal of overcoming sin needs to be presented just as much, if not more, as the good news about the forgiveness of sin. Let's look at some of the principles that our heavenly Father has shared with us to help us obtain the victory over all selfishness and sin in our lives. The principles requiring human effort for victory over selfishness may be divided into two specific categories which are both physical and mental.

PRINCIPLES THAT ASSIST IN OBTAINING THE VICTORY

PRINCIPLES THAT STIMULATE OR INSPIRE A DESIRE FOR VICTORY

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:5)

#1 HAVING RIGHT THOUGHTS

a) If the thoughts are right, then as a result the words will be right; the actions will be of that character to bring gladness and comfort and rest to souls. Think right thoughts and you will perform right actions.

b) The more we think of heaven, the more happiness we shall have.

c) As Christ the Pattern is constantly kept before the mind's eye, new habits will be formed, powerful hereditary and cultivated tendencies will be subdued and overcome, self-esteem will be laid in the dust, old habits of thought will be constantly resisted, love for the supremacy will be seen in its real, despicable character, and will be overcome.

d) Habitually dwelling upon Christ, his exalted character, and the all-sufficient merits of his sacrifice, increases the faith, sharpens the imaginative power, strengthens the longing desire to be like him, and creates holy earnestness in prayer, that makes it efficacious.

e) “...pride and self-worship cannot flourish in the soul that keeps fresh in memory the scenes of Calvary.

f) As the mind dwells upon Christ, the character is molded after the divine similitude. The thoughts are pervaded with a sense of his goodness, his love.

g) By constantly contemplating heavenly themes our faith and love will grow stronger. With eternal realities in view we will habitually cultivate thoughts of the presence of God. This will be a shield against the incoming of the enemy; it will give strength and assurance, and lift the soul above fear.

h) And as one drop of rain prepares the way for another in moistening the earth, so one good thought prepares the way for another.

i) “...when the Lord sees the determined effort made to retain only pure thoughts, he will attract the mind, like the magnet, and purify the thoughts,..”

j) It is learning to think less of ourselves and more of making others happy that will bring to us divine strength.

(Proverbs 12:5,16:11,11:25/Romans 12:2/Isaiah 26:3/Titus 1:15/Philippians 4:8/1Peter 1:13/Hebrews 12:1-3/Ephesians 4:23/Psalms 94:19,104:34)

The unconverted, natural mind has no intention of overcoming sin and self and sees nothing particularly appealing about frequently contemplating heaven or having the thoughts centered in Christ. There is hope, however, for the soul who will recognize his or her need and cry out to God for a complete transformation of mind. This study will be continued in subsequent posts.

© 2010 Tyrone Keels

www.issues-of-life.com

You have just been reading from page 9 of a booklet entitled, "Principles of Victory in the Christian Life" Look for more pages from this booklet in future blogs... If you are interested in having the entire book email your request to education@issues-of-life.com. You can see what the cover looks like at www.issues-of-life.com and by clicking on products.