How to Really Know God

 I recently heard a pastor say this. "Do you want to know how to really know God?"

 

Answer: "Die"

 

He didn't mean physical death. He meant Die to self. You see I believe this is one of the biggest problems of most Christians in these last days. Not only do they have very little faith, but they believe in an OSAS Easy Greasy Grace and a Best Life Now lifestyle that belittles the salvation and power of the Living God and turns Him into a Santa Claus in the sky. 

 

The problem is they don't know God and because of that, they have not allowed Him to change them from the inside out. Sure, some may be born again, but what they fail to realize is that being born again is only the beginning of salvation.  Honestly, pastors do a huge disservice in not fully explaining the cost of following Jesus up front before they give their altar calls. (Or maybe most of them don't even believe that at all)  The Scripture says that we need to really count the cost before we make a decision for Jesus. Why? Because it's an all in or nothing relationship. You must day by day die to self and walk the walk of obedience and faith, or what's the point?  If you are riding the fence with one foot in the world and one foot in the Kingdom, just remember that the fence belongs to Satan.  

 

And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.  For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—  Luke 14:27-28

 

Does the world love you? Do your lost family and friends love to hang out with you? Do your lukewarm Christian friends enjoy your company? If so, you may not be fully devoted to Jesus. Why? Because He said that the world would hate us because it hated Him. 

 

If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. john 15:18

He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:25

 

What consumes your mind during the day? Job, kids, money, beauty, relationships, problems?  Yes, we must think of these things in order to go on but what consumes your mind when you're not busy? If it isn't Jesus and His Kingdom, then you may have an idol.

 

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8

 

Do you want to know God and be like Him? Then you must make sacrifices. You must spend time with Him. Do you know that every minute you spend in the real presence of God, He is doing a mighty work on you? He uses that time to sanctify you, to change your heart, to mold you into the image of His Son. So, if you spend 10-15 minutes a day reading a devotion and maybe lift up a prayer in the car on the way to work, you will NEVER really get to know the Lord and never truly have your heart changed. That's why we see so many Christians struggling with sins they've been struggling with for decades.  Believe me, sacrificing time is a big deal for me. I have so many things on my plate. But time with the Lord... good quality time, is the most important part of my day and it should be yours too. 

 

Why am I being so tough on you?  Because we are about to enter a season of great judgement on the church and a season of a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the remnant of God's Children who truly love Him. I'm talking about miracles, signs, wonders and the glory of God resting on us so powerful that people around us notice it!  The Bride is going out in a blaze of glory, such a bright blaze that it will spur the lukewarm and lost to jealousy for what God has given us. Let's face it, the Western Church is dead and dying. People are looking for something real, something powerful and for true love. 

 

Yet so many of us seek only our own comforts and our own desires. I'm guilty of it as well. Get to know the Lord. Sit with Him and ask Him to talk to you, ask Him to tell you what is on His heart. We so often just dump all our prayer requests on His lap and then leave. How heartbreaking!  Ask Him to share His heart with you, to talk to you. Ask Him to help you recognize His voice and sense His presence. This pleases Him!  He will answer you!

 

Also put on the Full Armor of God. You can only do this while in His presence and while walking in the Light. If you want to be a part of His last minute harvest, I encourage you to be more serious about your walk with the Lord now than you've ever been. This is not a time to sleep.   Not a time to shrink back. 

 

Start believing in who you really are in Christ and all the promises He has given us by faith. Health, Provision, Knowledge, Wisdom, Discernment, Joy, Peace, Protection, Power.. and start walking in it!  It's time to get serious. We don't have much time left, Saints...