"Let us occupy ourselves entirely in knowing God. The more we know Him, the more we will desire to know Him. As love increases with knowledge, the more we know God, the more we will truly love Him. We will learn to love Him equally in times of distress or in times of great joy." - Brother Lawrence
Let me ask you today - do you "know God"?
Notice that I didn't ask - do you "know about God"?
And if you claim to "know Him" personally, is it true that you have made it your "main business" to "know Him" more? In other words, you are "occupied entirely" with this pursuit.
And the more you "know Him," can you honestly say that you have "learned to love Him equally" - no matter which season you are in - a "time of distress" or a "time of great joy"?
J.I. Packer said this - "Disregard the study of God, and you sentence yourself to stumble and blunder through life blindfold, as it were, with no sense of direction, and no understanding of what surrounds you. This way you can waste your life and lose your soul."
The Great Texts of the Bible added this statement - "Some men regard God in such a way as to believe that however they live, and whatever they believe, all will come right with them in the long-run. But these do not 'know' God in Whose presence no evil can stay."
Does it really matter if you "know God" any further than your salvation experience?
How many today are "disregarding the study of God"? Are you?
How many are "stumbling and blundering through life blindfold" "with no sense of direction" and " no understanding of what surrounds" them?
Sad but true - this describes many in today's Church! They see no need for the "study of God" and are suffering the consequences.
J.I. Packer then added this - "Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord."
So, in a sense, what we can derive from all of the above comments is basically this - "Knowing God" is the foundation of everything.
Mankind was created to "know" and love God and submit to His good and loving rule. However, due to the Fall, people do not naturally "know" Him. They do not understand His relationship to them. They do not know Him as their rightful Sovereign... Guide in difficulties...Redeemer from evil...and Friend in necessities.
In fact, Christianity is the only "religion" which believes one is able to "know God" as a person - to have a personal relationship with Him - which entails communion with Him and love towards Him.
The Bible strictly teaches that the "knowledge of God" must be sought to be enjoyed.
The Great Texts of the Bible said this - "Knowledge of any kind requires thought and effort. It does not come by chance, in a momentary flash."
Nor can it be gotten easily by the next generation through the "laying on of hands." (Many want an easy "impartation" without any effort on their part.)
In 1 Chronicles 28:9, David exhorted his son Solomon - his successor to the throne - with these words - "And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father..." David "knew God" and that is why he proved to be a Great Leader for Israel. In order for Solomon to succeed as the next sovereign of Israel, he had to do the same.
Think about what is being said here.
David could have given any word of advice to his son. But what was the first thing mentioned? It was crucial that Solomon "knew the God of his father."
Look upon our world today. Look upon America. Look upon the American Church. Look upon the family. Is it not so that our greatest problem is that the Leadership of today - generally speaking - does not "know God" nor are they seeking to "know Him" more and more?
We mentioned earlier that "knowing God" is the foundation for everything.
Then consider this. Psalm 11:3 says - "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?"
Said another way - With all things out of order, what source of safety or confidence does the saint of God have?
Do you see how important "knowing God" and "increasing" in this knowledge can be for a society of people? For you?
The Apostle Peter closed out his second epistle with these words - "But grow in...the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..." (2 Peter 3:18) With this exhortation, he made the laboring to "know Jesus" more clearly and more fully an absolute necessity for the believer - to be preferred before everything.
We can see why in Matthew Henry's statement - "Such a knowledge of Christ as conforms us more to Him, and endears Him more to us, must needs be of great use to us, to preserve us from falling off in times of general apostasy..."
And we can surely agree that we are living in those times!
Not only Peter but the Apostle Paul as well saw the need for the believer to "grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ." We see this conviction exemplified in his prayer for the saints in Colossians 1:9-10 - "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire...That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing... increasing in the knowledge of God."
Paul prayed earnestly for the believers that they would "increase in the knowledge of God" as time rolled on - knowing by genuine experience - more of God...more of His love...more of His peace - day by day. This would be their greatest security against error.
Let me ask you again - do you "know God"? Have you made it your "main business" to "know Him" more? Does it really matter if you "know Him" any further than your salvation experience? Or are you like so many who are "stumbling and blundering through life blindfold" "with no sense of direction" and " no understanding of what surrounds" them?
This is one reason why Walking In Truth Ministry was raised up by God over fifteen (15) years ago - to see that the believer "knows God" and "increases in the knowledge of Him" by means of our written Bible Messages and Podcasts.
And that is why we ask you to read and study our written messages and take the time to listen to the podcasts. (Be sure to also invite your friends to join our mailing list.)
Read what one person said about our messages -
"Thank you so much for accepting my friend request, Sis. I recently started listening to your sermons at Spreaker app on my cell phone. God bless you...My life is turning around because of Jesus and your sermons. God bless."
For your information - here are a few highlights to watch for concerning our messages -
1) The messages are coming to your Inbox from - Walking In Truth Ministry - and not - Connie Giordano. Be sure to watch for that!
2) Normally, the written messages are sent out on Tuesday evening, while the podcasts are sent out on Friday evening.
3) The podcasts (audio messages) come in various forms for your convenience. If you are not able to listen to them using the Spreaker Radio link, then try the iHeartRadio, Podbean, Libsyn, or YouTube links. You will find these links on the bottom, left-hand side of the page in the colorful boxes.
4) Each message announcing the podcast also includes links in the body of the message. Scroll down the page to find all of them. Select the one that works best for you.
5) I have found that my international friends can listen easily to my podcast using iHeartRadio. Most who own computers can listen to anything using YouTube. Or just about anyone with a computer can listen using the MP3 format. You will find this format in Podbean and Libsyn. I include all of these for your convenience.
6) We at Walking In Truth MInistry have a specific app for our podcasts through Podbean. Each message (announcing the podcast) tells you how to download it on your smartphone.
7) You can easily download the Spreaker, iHeartRadio, or YouTube apps on your smartphone or tablet and listen to the podcasts using this means. Just search for - "The Connie Giordano Show" - and you will be led to all or many of my audio messages.
We are asking you to pray about being a blessing to us with your financial gift. God has ordained that those who are "taught the Word" should financially support those who "teach" it.
If we have been a blessing to you through our written messages or our podcasts or both, then we ask that you would do what the Word of God says and be a blessing to us with your financial gift. God honors obedience to His Word! He will bless you in return! You can count on that!
To all those who faithfully support us every month with your financial gift, we want to say - "Thank You" - from the bottom of our hearts. We could never have accomplished all that we are doing without your help! May the Lord reward you richly in this life and in the life to come! We know that He will!
If you would like to be a blessing to this ministry or a faithful supporter, you can make your check out to - Walking In Truth Ministry - and mail it to the following address -
Walking In Truth Ministry
P.O. Box 383016
Duncanville, TX 75138-3016
Or, if you prefer to use Paypal, you can send your financial gift to - [email protected]
You can also send a Money gram - if that means of exchange will work better for you.
We are a nonprofit organization with a tax exemption status.
Thank you ahead of time for your gracious gift,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
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