To Know God and Make Him Known

Scripture

John 1:9–13 “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

To Know God

True light

2 Corinthians 11:14 “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Psalm 119:97–100 “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.”

Which gives light to everyone

John 1:4 “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11 “Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”

Preventing Grace - Prevenient Grace or Common Grace

Romans 1:19–20 “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

He was in the world

Because the world was made through Him

Yet the world did not know Him

He was in the world, the world was made through Him and for Him, yet the world did not know Him

How could the world not know Him?

Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”

The truth is there to be known but they suppress it

Romans 1:21–23 “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.”

Romans 1:25 “because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.”

The New York Times referred to women as “non-transgender women”, shifting the definition

“Birthing persons”, “cis-women”, “menstruators”

Men and women are different and that makes them valuable

Marriage is between one man and one woman

Earth was created for humanity, there is no overpopulation

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

They are letting criminals out of prison and putting people in prison for praying

A woman in the UK was arrested for silently praying across the street from an abortion facility

People don’t know Jesus because they reject God

Romans 1:32 “Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”

To know God

What happens when we stop rejecting Him?

More than knowing about Him

Knowing His ways

Dwell with His Spirit

The God who laid the foundation of the earth, set the boundaries for the waters, oversees the storehouses of snow, commands the morning, caused the sea to split and the mountain to shake, rained fire down from heaven to consume Elijah’s sacrifice and altar

The God who gave His one and only Son to the world, who became flesh and dwelt among us, who radiated with the glory of God, full of grace and truth, who died for us, and rose again

That God wants to you to know Him

That God wants to spend His days with you

Psalm 112:4 “Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.”

He gave the right to become children of God

His life pours into us

Before we didn’t know Him, now He is our Father

Born of God

Born again

Life by the Spirit

Before we were dead in our trespasses, now we have new life, eternal life

This is why Jesus, the Word, the true Light, was coming into the world

So people would see clearly, receive Him, and be born again

How now shall we live?

Are we living according to the light?

Are we compromising on the light?

Are we seeking to know God more?

We often think God is trying to limit us, same as in the garden, but He came to bring us life. When a kid is told they better act right or Santa won’t give them any presents, they don’t call Santa mean, they start acting right. Why? Because they want the gifts. How much greater are the gifts God has given to us?! And He wants to give more gifts, but we must be closer to Him.