Experiencing GOD

schedule:

1

1/5-11 introduction 9 pages

1/12-18 ch.1 (knowing GOD) 10 pages

as you read the material, engage it don’t just gloss over it . see it as an an investment,... look for GOD to make a spiritual deposit in your life through this material.

as you read meditate, annotate… look for the unfamiliar

look for new insight , approach or revelation of scripture… more importantly as we engage this material ask the relevant question WHAT IS GOD SAYING TO ME? what am i to walk away with

Preface

Today were going to focus on the INTRODUCTION. We will extricate some of the highlights found therein

Today were going to focus on the INTRODUCTION. We will extricate some of the highlights found therein

But if your like me you read the PREFACE which is a short and thorough testimony of who Henry Blackaby is.

I was encouraged that Mr. Blackaby isn’t a novice. He has an extensive resume with GOD dating back to his youth. Like Samuel he encountered GOD very young, and subsequently he SURRENDERED his heart to follow after GOD.

don’t gloss over this

this is REVELUTIONARY

you hear people talk about their salvation

when is the last time you’ve heard someone testify about their SURRENDER? we gonna deal with it

Blackaby’s testimony qualifies his SURRENDER he says two important things that astounded me

GOD didn’t give full disclosure, but one assignment at a time, and GOD had some major assignments already prearranged for him

Blackaby testifies that all he could do in his human strength is TRY TO BE FAITHFUL.

you gotta know that BLACKABY understands his own weaknesses, limitations and more importantly who he’s partnering with.

he surrenders

GOD starts opening doors

he has to trust GOD for the journey and his growth

he has to trust GOD to perfect that which concerneth him

BLACKABY reveals how daunting the experience of SURRENDER is

because when he says all i sought was to be faithful, he’s revealing his hand in that statement.

he already knows that the vision GOD had for his life was going to be much greater than what he could ever see himself accomplishing

it’s like submitting a resume or application for a job you know you don’t qualify for!

ILLUSTRATION:

you ever have two obligations that were equally important and you had to be at both at the same time. and you gave your word to both parties. now one you know your either gonna be late or you just ain’t gonna make it at all. and you pray and ask GOD to work out the details because only he is OMNI PRESENT.

Only GOD can be where you are and where you headed at the same time

So BLACKABY says i surrender,.... not knowing what to expect. but i trust GOD for the outcome and the process

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

SURRENDER- 1. cease resistance, submit

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

SURRENDER- 1. cease resistance, submit

SURRENDER- 1. cease resistance, submit

2. yieldedness with a unyielding tenacity for the will of GOD

HAS ANYBODY IN HERE SURRENDERED TO THE WILL OF GOD IN YOUR WALK WITH GOD? DO YOU CARE TO SHARE?

open the floor ....

write this word down in your journal or in the margins of your book. and i challenge you to revisit it.

true SURRENDER is when you become unwaivering in your approach to GODS will

it’s not picking it up and putting it down again

SURRENDER is when you become resolute

SURRENDER is when:

Jacob becomes Israel - Genesis 32:22-32

Simon becomes Peter - John 21:15-19

Saul becomes Paul -

Benefits of SURRENDERING TO GOD

You grow closer to GOD

  But for me it is good to be near God;

I have made the Lord God my refuge,

that I may tell of all your works.

You hear his voice more clearly

 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

You are led by his SPIRIT

 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God

You walk in His authority over evil

 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

He enlarges your vision

 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God

WEEK (2) KNOWING GOD BY EXPERIENCE!

WEEK 2

Dear GOD we want to first thank you for this journey of getting to know you experientially. It is our hearts desire to surrender to your will for our life. We open our hearts and minds in subjection to your will. Ultimately we worship you for who you are, and we ask GOD that you would reveal yourself to us in ways that we have not known. We confess right now according to the infirmity of our flesh, our weaknesses, inconsistencies, and short comings. For that we thank you for grace and your tender mercies! Father you are so faithful and so true! We ask that you guide us on this journey. Help us to remain open, humble and ready to engage each experience as we study this material. Thank you for Henry Blackaby and for impressing it upon his heart to document his experiences, encounters and revelation of you. Father as we glean from his experiences, give us wisdom on how to personalize each experience and integrate the knowledge and revelation into our lives. This we pray with great expectancy, in Jesus name Amen!

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GOD’S ACTIVITY IN YOUR LIFE

WE GIVE PEOPLE CREDIT (scripture)?

WE TAKE CREDIT (scripture)? ; Psalm 115:1

GODS ATTRIBUTES IN YOUR LIFE

KNOWING GODS PERSON

NOT YOUR PERCEPTION

YOUR ALLIANCE TO GOD

YOUR ALLIANCE TO GOD

YOUR RELATIONSHIP

NOT YOUR RELIGION

TAKING ACTION

GROWING IN GRACE AND IN THE KNOWLEDGE