Knowing My Father

Mr. Tozer shows below, that God may be known and how true believers have desired to know the Lord. This is more than ‘knowing about Him’ but ‘Knowing God Himself’.

AW Tozer in his book 'The Knowledge Of The Holy' ...

All social intercourse between human beings is a response of personality to personality, grading upward from the most casual brush between man and man to the fullest, most intimate communion of which the human soul is capable. Religion, so far as it is genuine, is in essence the response of created personalities to the Creating Personality, God. 'This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.' (Joh 17:3)

Moses used the fact that he knew God as an argument for knowing Him better. 'Now, therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight'; and from there he rose to make the daring request, 'I beseech thee, show me thy glory.' God was frankly pleased by this display of ardour, and the next day called Moses into the mount, and there in solemn procession made all His glory pass before him.

David's life was a torrent of spiritual desire, and his psalms ring with the cry of the seeker and the glad shout of the finder. Paul confessed the mainspring of his life to be his burning desire after Christ. 'That I may know Him,' was the goal of his heart, and to this he sacrificed everything. 'Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may win Christ' (Phi 3:8).

For the child of God such a thought, and such knowledge, that God may be known is almost too wonderful! But that is not all – The following shows that the Lord wants us to know Him. That He is passionate about us having accurate knowledge and thoughts about Him. And thereby building a relationship with Him for the following two reasons:

• For the believer to get to know Him from personal experience to the point where the believer trusts Him completely.
• For the believer to live a life, in this world, that has the Lord intimately involved in it. Where he gets to ‘acknowledge the Lord in all his ways’

That the Lord is passionate that the believer gets to know Him is seen by:

• The various names that He has given us for Himself. Names that teach us about Himself
• The many attributes in the Scriptures describing His Essense and His Person
• The many Scriptures that repeatedly list these attributes. Collectively giving us vast amounts of information about the Lord.
• His command that He is worshipped in Spirit and Truth - John 4:23-24

John 4:22-24
22  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Knowing About Him

• Inherent Knowledge (born with)
• Knowledge from Creation
• Knowledge from the Scriptures

Inherent Knowledge

Romans 1:19
19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.

This is knowledge of God that we are born with.

 It is not hard to convince a child that there is a God that created our world. It makes sense to them. The fact that there is a loving God watching over them meets a deep need. A need that doesn’t go away no matter how long we live. A need that only God can meet.

They need to be taught that He is ever-present and can be known.

It is only when we grow older, that we start to become cynical. That the inner corruption causes us to desire self rule. Self rule rather than submit to God.

Knowledge from Creation

We live daily with the handiwork of God before us. The mind-bogglingly complex creation demands a Creator. A Creator far beyond our mental comprehension.

The Scriptures testify to the revelation of God through His creation.

Psalms 19:1-4
1  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.
2  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.
3  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4  Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,

(Werner Gitt's books "If Animals Could Talk", and "The Wonder of Man" wonderfully explore and give glory to God for His handiwork in Creation.)

Knowledge from The Scriptures

The revelation of Scripture is the primary means of knowing anything for certain. It enables the individual to be able to say, “Thus saith the Lord,” with conviction. Knowing that they are correct in their statement.

The Scriptures reveal to man many important things that the Lord wants us to know. The greatest knowledge of all is the knowledge about the Lord Himself. The revelation of the Lord concerning Himself is central to all other revelation.

Through the Scriptures Jehovah has revealed Himself:

• Through direct statements / teaching regarding Himself.
• Through the historical records of His dealings with man.
• Through the many names He has given for Himself. Each name has meaning that reveals His essence and character.

By reading, careful study and meditation over the Scriptures. Comparing scripture with scripture, we place ourselves in the place where the Holy Spirit can open our understanding of the truths of Scripture. And ultimately the truth about the Lord Himself.

Jeremiah 29:13
13  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

The above three sources of revelation are vital for us to know and grasp. However they are not enough to know the Lord as we are meant to. By them we can only get to KNOW ABOUT the Lord, we cannot get to KNOW Him Himself as He calls us to.

Knowing Him

From the Scriptures I believe that it is important to the Lord that we KNOW Him. That our thoughts, understanding, and belief are accurate concerning Him. It is not enough to the Lord that we KNOW ABOUT Him. He wants us to KNOW Him from personal experience with Him.

Psalms 34:8
8  O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

1 Peter 2:3
3  If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

1 John 1:1-3
1  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2  (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
3  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

The above verses speak about personal experiences with the Lord. Experiences that are necessary for us to learn from and thereby get to KNOW Him.

The Example of The Apostle Paul

The apostle Paul’s growth from knowing about the Lord to knowing Him is very precious.

As a Pharisee Saul knew many things about Jehovah, However, that knowledge was tainted by the doctrines of men, as well as the careless attitude of his peers towards Him. Saul was more passionate about the doctrines of Judaism, (in practice a mixture of Scripture and doctrines of man) than passionate about God Himself. The fact that the Lord chose to reach out to him, is perhaps an indication that Saul was passionate about the Lord above that of majority of his peers. However, Saul was like many who never moved far beyond KNOWING ABOUT the Lord to KNOWING Him.

When the Lord reached out to him on the road to Damascus, Saul experienced the Lord Himself. Something new to Saul. Saul took the opportunity that the Lord gave him. The opportunity to respond directly to the leading of the Lord Himself. Saul had previously enjoyed KNOWING ABOUT his God, as well as the fellowship of peers who believed as he did. Now through the Holy Spirit, Saul (eventually Paul) enjoyed the teaching and personal leading of God Himself. Paul began to KNOW God because he experience personal attention by God. Attention that he was able to discern, and identify. Paul began KNOW the Lord influencing people on his behalf – Ananias was sent by the Lord to minister to the newly saved Saul.

Acts 9:6
6  And he[Saul] trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Acts 9:10-12
10  And there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12  And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

Saul’s encounters with the Lord were of such a nature as to be unmistakably encounters with the Lord. As apposed to his wishful thinking interpreting the events as from God.

Saul/Paul’s walking with the Lord so thoroughly changed him that when he looked back at his life as Saul. And all that he had achieved in life, he declared it all as worthless. Worthless when compared to what he then had since coming to know Christ. He says:

Philippians 3:7-8
7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Paul’s ministry thereafter was one of living only for the purpose of serving Christ. The following are some of the recorded experiences that Paul had with the Lord:

• Paul was not won to Christ by the preaching of a man, but the Lord Himself reached out to the Pharisee Saul and won him. – Acts 9
• Paul was not man taught in the Christian faith, but seems to have received direct revelation while in Damascus and perhaps also while in Arabia. - Gal. 1:17
• When in Jerusalem for the first time, Paul is warned in a vision that his ministry would not bear any fruit in Jerusalem at that time. – Acts 22:17-23
• In Lystra Paul is stoned and dragged out of the city believed to be dead. While the other disciples stood around him, he miraculously recovers, stands up, goes into the city and departs for the next city with Barnabus the next day. – Acts 14
• While in Troas Paul sees a man in a vision asking him to come to Macedonia to help them. – Acts 16
• While in jail in Philippi, an earthquake brings the ‘keeper of the prison’ to the end of himself and he is won to Christ. – Acts 16
• In Corinth Paul is assure by the Lord that he will have great success in Corith. Paul stays preaching and teaching in Corinth for a year and a half. – Acts 18
• Paul’s voyage to Rome had evidence of the Lord’s presence with him.
  • Paul and all aboard were assured safety though they were shipwrecked on the island of Malta. – Acts 27
  • Miracles on the Island of Malta- Acts 28:
    • Paul bitten by a poisonous viper did not die as a person naturally should.
    • Paul heals many sick brought to him.

My Father’s Providential Ministry

The Lord’s providential dealings with man plays a very large role in my getting to know Him. The Lord’s providential dealings with man are not always un-noticed by the individual who is the object of providential dealings of the Almighty. There will always be providential dealings of the Lord that the believe won’t know about. However, as my walk with the Lord developes, I will become more and more aware of my God’s providential workings in my life. Because my Father wants me to develop a closer and closer relationship with Him, He will cause me to notice His / the Holy Spirit’s providential works in my life.

The following Scripture sheds some light on our Father’s close dealings with believers:

Psalms 104:27-34
27  These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
28  That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
29  Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
30  Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
31  The glory of the LORD shall endure forever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
32  He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
33  I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34  My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

V27 - 28/ The believer walking with the Lord relys on His provision, and receives it. He recieves it, knowing that it comes from the hand of the Lord.

V29 – 30/ All of man exists because of the Lord (v30); Our happiness (when I’m not bringing trouble into my life) and continued life is in His hands (v29).

V30b & 32/ Our physical world prospers or suffers at our Father’s pleasure.

V31b/ The Lord rejoices in us and the physical universe – the work of His hands.

33  I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.

34  My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

V33 – 34/ The psalmist has developed a high confidence in the LORD. This conidence comes from being taught about the Lord, as well as experiencing his LORD's providential dealings with him. The psalmist writes of a life long commitment to singing His praise. The psalmist anticipates 'sweet' meditation of his LORD.

I aim to show that the Scriptures teach that our God’s purpose for man is that he has been created for the purpose of knowing his Creator, learning to trust Him and growing to love Him with all His being.

Our Lord’s providential dealings with man are to bring him to the place where He can interact with his primary creation – man – and receive his confidence and love. This is brought out very strongly in this next scripture:

Proverbs 3:5-6
5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Our Father wants us to come to know Him enough to trust Him and truly love Him. The only trust that our Father is worthy of is where we trust him with all our hearts. Even when we don’t understand His dealings with us. If we can grow to where we are acknowledging Him in every part of our lives, in every hour of the day. He promises to lead the way in our lives. When He is leading we cannot fail, nor be unfruitful!

Verses on the Lord’s Providential Dealings with Man

Proverbs 16:9
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

Psalms 25:8
Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

Psalms 25:9
The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

Psalms 32:8
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

Isaiah 30:21
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Isaiah 48:17
Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

Jeremiah 10:23-24
23  O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
24  O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.

James 1:5
5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.