As Christians we are seeking to know God, but in what way or to what degree?
“He made His ways known to Moses; His acts, to the children of Israel.” -Psalm 103:7
God’s ways are different from His acts. His acts are His activities; His ways are the principles by which He acts. The children of Israel knew only His acts, but Moses knew His ways (Psa. 103:7).
Hebrews 3:10
Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. Hebrews
Three Ways of Knowing God
According to His acts
According to His principles
According to His being
We all start out only knowing God’s acts. These are the most apparent of the three and fit in with the most basic concept of God- He’s the Sovereign, calls the shots, rules the universe and yet is somehow privy to our needs. We ask for something and He acquiesces. I have a job interview and pray that God will give me the job. I have a test and pray that God will help me get a good grade. I have an annoying roommate and pray that God will help me be understanding. This is the initial experience of a new believer and don’t get me wrong, it’s a precious and comforting experience to realize that God is your provider, protector, and source of material blessing.
Knowing God keeps you in a constant relationship with him and you're always connected to him. Check my last post, it clearly state steps to stay connected to God
In this stage, we may fall into trying to buy God’s deeds with our deeds. It goes like this. We have a need and want Him to do something for us. But then we are painfully aware of how much we haven’t done for Him. So we make promises to God in hope that He will act for us. We promise to live for Him, to be better, to try harder. We may not think this consciously- I’m bribing God to act for me- but nonetheless it’s something along these lines.
You can't also do without prayer in Knowing God. Prayer is a very tool that brings the realm of the supernatural into manifestation.
Here in Nigeria, I went up to the mountain to pray, Ori-Oke Olorunkole Akinyele Ibadan precisely. The fire and passion to serve God was burning in me, all I wanted was knowing God. When I got to the mountain, I asked for the descending and ascending of angels. Afterwards, I fell asleep, behold supernatural beings were patrolling the mountain where I was. I was scared and asked God to make them go away. Immediately, I felt peace and there God revealed himself to me in a new dimension.
I shared this because as a son of God, I've seen his personality, his act and being. I'm proud to say Knowing God is the best thing that has ever happened to me and can ever happen to a man.
It's interesting when you Know God's will for your life.
There is nothing wrong with this early in our Christian life, but ultimately we need to begin to know God in a further way.
His principles are the ways in which He acts or the reasons behind His actions. Thus, Abraham knew that God was righteous and thus could negotiate for Lot’s rescue from Sodom (Genesis 18:23-33). Moses knew God’s faithfulness to His word to the patriarchs and thus could ask God not to destroy the children of Israel in the wilderness for His sake (Exodus 32:9-14).
This is an advancement but eventually we need to know God according to His being.
“Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters, and you who have no money; come buy and eat…”
Isaiah 55:1
The waters here are the many rivers of the Spirit for our enjoyment and drinking.
To us the divine waters are free. Our deeds are not money to Him. To the religious and natural man their money is their good behavior. We just need to come and drink. This is how the Bible ends. The Spirit and the Bride are calling out to thirsty sinners to come take the water of life freely (Revelation 22:17).
To God the waters cost greatly. The lead up to Isaiah 55 is Isaiah 53, a seminal chapter on the crucifixion of Christ. He paid the highest price not merely to forgive our sins but to prepare the divine drink. On the cross He was pierced, but out came blood and water. The water is not what He does or why He acts but His being, essence, and element- the Spirit.
The price we pay for these divine waters is what we are. We get His being for our being. Not His doing for our doing. This is the highest thought of God- drinking God to gain God. In this way God gains us and we gain God.
Our highest thought of God may be that He shed His blood for us. But Isaiah 55:8 indicates otherwise. God’s highest thought is to become a drinkable salvation to man as the Spirit.
What should we do for all that God has done for us? Drink.
What shall I return to Jehovah for all His benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of Jehovah.
-Psalm 116:13-14
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