Knowledge of God is Essential!

Knowledge of God is the essence of a believer’s life. Because we have knowledge of Him, we believe. This is not knowledge by simply reading a Scripture, or a godly book, and leaning to our own understanding. This is revelation by the Holy Spirit; something inside us clicks with understanding; our spirit informs our minds. Knowledge of God is our true grounding place. It helps us to believe. When we believe we receive by faith what He has provided by grace, and we are able to participate in all of His benefits. Doubt and wavering are the result of imperfect knowledge.

By the Word of God, we understand that knowledge of Jesus, caused faith and belief in Him, which caused the results of a healing miracle. The centurion’s servant was very ill. Knowledge of Jesus caused the centurion to seek out Jesus for help. He demonstrates what he knows about Jesus by these words: “Speak a word and my servant will be healed” (Matthew 8:8). These words confirm knowledge of Jesus, belief in Jesus’ authority and power. The result “…as you have believed let it be done to you” (Matthew 8:13).

Let’s look at a human example. Suppose someone writes a check to you, but you don’t know that person. Therefore, because you lack knowledge of this individual, you don’t believe you have the money until the check is cashed and actually in your hand. But, if you do know this person who wrote you a check and have full confidence in this individual, you know you have the money before the check is cashed because you trust the person.

When we have knowledge of the Lord, of His character, we trust Him. When we trust Him, we believe Him before we actually have proof of anything. We believe before we see. We believe that the moment we seek Him by prayer, that we receive what we pray.

“This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will (which is His Word; my emphasis), He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14,15).

Each believer is set apart for God. We should view ourselves as innocent, set apart for Him because of what Jesus has done; the work of the cross. Set apart for Him, we must know that He is attentive to us. He hears us when we pray and answers us as we pray according to His Word, which is His will. We should believe that we have our request the moment we pray and not when we receive manifestation. This comes from knowledge of the Lord. This is not knowledge from leaning to our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). This is revelation by the Spirit.

“You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for Himself. The Lord will answer when I call to Him” (Psalm 4:3).

Turning to the world does not satisfy, or it should not satisfy. The world may encourage us to seek satisfaction through its ways of doing and thinking and evaluating. It must be seen to know that the satisfaction is at hand. Happiness comes only then, and produces an emotion of satisfaction. But God is our true Source. He is the Source of joy. Joy is rich in depth and goes beyond satisfaction because of a tangible experience. Joy knows before anything is manifested in this world. Joy is confidence in God before any tangible results. This is because of knowledge of Him. This is because we believe in Him. While man goes around on highs and lows based on the senses, joy is rock-solid consistency. There is great peace because of joy which does not fluctuate based on circumstances. Joy comes from knowing the true nature of God!

“You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine” (Psalm 4:7).

These tangible things are fleeting and temporary. When the harvest fluctuates and new wine is gone, so will the happiness these people experienced. But, since God is the Source of joy, the Source of hope, joy will always ground us and peace will result, anchoring us in our set apart life in the Lord. The result of knowledge of God and the joy that is experienced, is peace, a lasting contentment that does not waver like the changing wind. The consistency of His presence, of His attention toward us because we are set apart for Him, is profound joy, profound peace, unshakeable no matter the circumstance.

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord will keep me safe” (Psalm 4:5).

The result of all of this is true praise and worship, a heart filled with gratitude that must be expressed! God loves His set apart ones! He loved us when we were a mess in sin, before we believed in Him, but how much more now that we are His beloved children (Romans 5:8-10)!             

So, what is our job as His children? Believe in Jesus, the One that God sent (John 6:28.29). We can only believe if we have knowledge of Him. Knowledge of Him leads us into the depths of living a life from His divine fullness which He has provided to us by grace.