KNOW GOD
“Start With WHY” - Message Series
Matthew 7:21-23, John 10:10, Romans 5:8 (NASB), Romans 6:3-4, 1 Corinthians 1:13,
The church is here to know God and help others know God. If we get away from our main purpose and forget WHY we are a church…then we cease to be a church and we become a social club of people who like to get together.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. —Matthew 7:21-23 (KJV)
We exist to
It is easy to think that the Church has a lot of different objects—education, buildings, missions, holding services … the Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became man for no other purpose. It is even doubtful, you know, whether the whole universe was created for any other purpose. It says in the Bible that the whole universe was made for Christ and that everything is to be gathered together in Him. —C.S.Lewis, Mere Christianity
KNOWING
You can learn about God, and hear about God, and even attend church without truly KNOWING GOD!
The greatest privilege we have in this life is to KNOW GOD and have a relationship with Him!
1. SURRENDER TO
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. —John 10:10 (KJV)
Love is the Answer!
Jesus loves you, more than you can even understand with your human brain and human emotions.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:8 (NASB)
True LOVE has more to do with the GIVER and the giver’s decision, than RECIPIENT, or the recipient’s worth.
So today we can (REPENT) turn from our sin and embrace the LOVE that God has shown to us.
If you want to KNOW GOD and have a relationship with Him, you must first surrender to His love.
2. TAKE ON THE
OF JESUS
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? —Romans 6:3
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. —Romans 6:4
The reason that we are baptized in Jesus’ name is that we are being baptized into Jesus. We are taking on his name, similar to the way a woman takes on her husband’s name. We are saying that we belong to Jesus and we are identifying with Him in His death and burial. Jesus is the one who died for us and He is the one whom Christians were buried with.
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? —1 Corinthians 1:13
Being baptized in the Name of Jesus is a covenant, it is entering into a relationship with Jesus and taking on His name. It should take place as soon as you have repented and turned away from sin to EMBRACE the love of Jesus in your life.
God promises to fill you with His Spirit (the Gift of the Holy Ghost).
3. KEEP
There is More
Each day, week, month, year, or season that passes in our lives…whatever comes, we go through it together!
Here is a secret: PRAYING is communicating with God!
Through prayer, we can know God more. If we are praying and reading His Word combined, we will grow in our relationship even faster because we will be aware of how we please Him, and how much He loves and blesses us!
KEEP GOING! Be around others who encourage your relationship with God! Attend weekend services as much as possible, get connected with small groups and dream team …hang out with people who love God and are moving towards Him daily.
4. START WITH
Why does our church exist?
So everyone we come in contact with has a chance to KNOW GOD!
• This is why our church will go on mission trips…so we can help people everywhere come to KNOW GOD!
• This is why we have various events and big services … so we can help our community have a chance to KNOW GOD!
• It is why we are planning to plant more church campuses in the next 10 years…so that other communities surrounding us will have the chance to KNOW GOD!
• The reason we have invested and are investing so much into our online campus is that so many more people are now starting or renewing their relationship with KNOWING GOD over the web before they step back into a church building.
• Why does our church need a coffee shop right next door? So that we can have an opportunity to help people KNOW GOD over a cup of coffee, and the profit that comes in through the coffee shop can help us to give more to missions so that people everywhere have a better chance to KNOW GOD!
6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. —1 John 3:6 (ESV)
IF WE CONTINUE IN OUR
Today we should choose to embrace the LOVE of God and turn away from our sins!
The more we KNOW HIM, the more we will
If you don’t KNOW JESUS, why not start that process today! Embrace His Love that you feel right now…
There are those of you here and watching online that need to rekindle your relationship with Jesus. We all need to make getting closer to God and getting to KNOW GOD more our top priority starting right now!
When we are “little Jesus” walking around this earth…
– those around us will be affected.
– others will come to KNOW HIM because of our lives.