HOW WELL DO YOU ECNOW GOD? _____.. _ _

Note to the syenker: Help audience see that recognizing Jehovah involves much more than Itnowing facts about him. It means being intiniately acquainted with his purposes, deeds, qualities, and feelings. It means ncting in harmony with that knowledge and assisting others to do so. Instill burning desire to ltnow Jehovali intiniatcly

IVVE IIAVE PROSPECT OF ETERNAI, LIFE FROM ICNOWING COI) (5 min.) Means everlasting life to know, or ‘talte in knowledge,’ of God and Son (Read John 17:3)

Jesus must have meant more than one’s having knowledge that God exists Merely having some knowledge of Jehovah and claiming to worship Iiim was not eiiough to malte

Samaritans acceptable to God (Joh 4:7-26 [read verse 221; w70 679-83) Similarly, many today do not Itnow God’s name; confuse God with his Son (w84 8/1 20)

Aslt yourself: ‘Do I know God and his Son in sense needed to havefirm prospect of eterna1 life?’

WIIAT KNOWING A PICRSON INVOLVICS (5 min.) Truly Itnowing sonieonc means more than merely believing that he exists iinozoing someone means perceiving his identity and being acquainted with his personality, his feelings

I-Iow can we ltnow Cod in this sensc? I-low can we hclp our childrcn aiid Biblc studcnts lo do so?

This requires intimate acquaintance and expcrience over a period of timc (TS 131 13) Amalekite who claimed that he had Itilled Saul certainly did not Itnow David (2% 1:l-IG)

Dici not know David’s view of God’s anointed one (1Sa 26:3-11) Might wonder: ‘How can I get to Itnow Jehovah? Docs he not say that his ways and thoughts are vastly higher

than ours?’ (1% 55% 9) Words in Isaiah 55 were to bacltsliding, apostate Jews who left God’s ways

But in what ways niight we search for and come to Irnow hini? Even they could return to Jehovah and come to Itnow hini again (Read verscs 6, 7)

HOW AND WIIY IIURIANS CAN TRULY ICNOW COD (I5 min.) One way \ve can come to Itnow hini is by striving to imitate him

It is possible l o imitate hini, and that is his will for us (Ge 1326-28; rcnd Colossians 3:lO) Good qunlities that we nianifest-love, mercy, wisdom, justice, and so forth-nre nicre reilcctions of him

When we forgive another, we are refiecting God’s ways (Read Ephesians 4:32-5:l) Sin mars nian’s reflection of God, yet the more \ve Itnow him, the more \ve can reflect Jehovah’s glory (2Co

3 : ~ ; i t - i 964 n i ; 2090 7/15 17 16) Bible helps us to Itnow hini in terms \ve can grasp (i2-2 13 76-8)

Though he is a spirit, Jehovah is spolten of ns having eyes, ears, and a fnce (1Pe 3:12) Using these human expressions helps us to comprehend; description in spirit ternis would be like trying to

describe colors to one who had been born blind The Bihle’s description of Jehovah’s fcelings and reactions helps us to Itnow hini (Ps 78336-41)

He is not like LIS; ratiier, shows how much w o are in ltis iniage By stiidying tlie Biblc, tlien, we can come to ltnow God-his deeds, purposes, qualities, feelings

It is a challenge whcn reading and studying not just to get facts but to know God When you teach the Bible to others, do you cali attention to what the materiai rcveals about God hiniself?

( ~ 8 4 8/i 16 117, 18)

1 8 : ~ ; it-2 isi 12)

We can be helped to know God by having a persona1 relationship with hini Can be illustrated in God’s comnient that he ‘bccame acquainted’ with Abrahani, based on their dealings (Ge

Similarly, Abraham had come to Itnow God, \vas sure of His love, niercy, and justicc (Ge 18325) By regularly talking to God in prayer about matiers of concern and by seeking his guidance, \ve come to Itnow

To ltnow Jehovali Cod also mcans mco.qni5ng his position arid aiitliority a i i t l rsc1in.q iii 1i:iriiioiiy with what \ve

Regarding Hebrew term for “kiiowleclge” with reference lo Itnowing Cod, Tlieologicnl Diclionmy of’ the Nezo 7’estctment snys: “It is thus rcspectful and ohcdicnt acknowlcdgment of tlie powcr rind grace and demand of God. This means that knowledge is not tliought of in terms of the possession of iiiforniation. I t is possessed only in its exercisc” (Vol. 1, p. 698)

Jehovah rejected the Israelites for their laclt of knowledge, that is, recognition and obedience (Read Hosea 4:1, 6)

him better (2084 8/i 16 119)

know of him (2075 117 115, 16)

Obviously, they knew who God was but did not act accordingly (Verse 2; it-2 181 13) History proved they belied their claim stated a t Hosea 8:2 (Read)

No. 1 3/91 Printcd in U.S.A.

l‘his cniphusizcs that \ve nccd more than head liiiowlcdgc; our Zives should manifest our ltnowing God We havc sccn that humans cali itnow Cod aiicl ways thcy do tliis (learning about him, having relationship,

recognizing his authorily zind acling accoixliiigly), but vita1 questioiis arc: Ilow can I be sure that I personally know Cod? Are thcre relinblc indicatioiis?

ICXARIINIS YOUILSISLl~’ TO SISE IIOW WISLL YOU KNOW GOD (15 min.) Oiie critcrion of how well you know Cod is whether he recognizes you witli approva1

God’s kiiowing soiiico~ic ofteii nicans granting rccogiiitioii to that one as approvcd, as acceptable and worthy

The converse is also true: A persoii is not known i€ Cod and Jesus do not recognize or approve of hini (Read

Conscquciitly, for you to ltnow Cotl fully, lic iiiust first kiiow you (Ga 4:8, O )

of his atteiitioii (Rcacl Aiiios 3:1, 2) (ws 137 114)

Mattliew 7:21-23) (w75 118 1118)

Oiic tiiriiiiig lo Gocl witii inith in hiiii aiicl oli busis of rilnso~ii can conic to bc known, recognized By growiiig i n faith aiid avoiding lawlcssncss, you can continue io be lrnown by Cod

Aiiother gaugc of how wcll you lrnow Cod is whether you lovingly obey his commands (1Jo 2:3-6) lf in liis lieart a person thinlrs hc can obey one coniniand, such as by preaching, but ignore others, such as by

ciigagiiig i i i loosc coiitlcict, Traud, or lyiiig, lie does iiot kiiow God or Jesus; he is a liar Oiie sincerely tryiiig to obey fi l l Cod-giveii conimands is coniing to ltriow God

ZZiisbfi?id, you arc comiiiaiided to love wifc as own body, iiot be harsh or demanding (Eph 5:28) If you as a liusband treat your wifc ltiiidly and patiently (without showing irritation), it is an

Other conimands of more persona1 nature are equally iniportant if one is to kiiow God well

indicutioii that you Iwow Cod, who gavc you sucli dircction TYlfiz, you arc coniiiiriiidccl to havc respect for your husbaiid, even though lie may not conipletcly live up

Showiiig rcspect eviclcnccs that you arc comiiig lo ltnow God, who has clearly set forth the priiiciple of to your espectations (Epli 5:33; wG9 1/1 31)

relative subjection Yozcng Clirisl ict?~~, you show a desire io kiiow Cod by obeying parenis, as he commands (Eph G:1, 2)

By obeying pareiits’ rules tliat do iiot break God’s law, you advance toward knowing God (yp 11-12) When you strive to avoid unchristian association, you indicate that you know God

If we choose unchristian associates, God cannot associate witli us (Ps 15:l-5; w89 9/15 26-30) By being vcry sclective and associating witli truc Cliristians, you show that you ltnow God

One truly knowing God is aware tliat he welconics our prayers; any fear of approachiiig him is thus cast out

Do your prayers indicate that you kiiow Cod? You can come to ltnow him more by iiicrcasing the regularity

Il’ you sin, as al1 of us do, show you ltnow and trust God by bringing it up in prayer, seelring and accepting

Turn to God regularly in prayer, thus showing that you trust aiid know him

(2070 415; it-2 G O ~ 112, 3 )

and intiinacy of your prayers to liini

forgivcness (Ps 26:1, 2) But is knowing God just somctliing betwccii tlie two o€ you, or is more involved?

IIELP OTIII~ILS TO JOIN YOU IN KNOWING GOD W15LL (5 min.) As noted, we can hclp othcrs itnow God by cmphiisiziiig his rcquircments, purposes, and qualities (Read Daniel

11~32, 33a) ( ~ 7 0 689-90) Applies now when many are worsliipiiig niaii-iiiadc peace orgaiiizatioii Some people know Ixisic Eible storics, but cali ycru inipart to thcm undeista?ding, helping them truly come

In prcaching iind teaching, call attention lo reasons why God acted in the past as he did; encourage

By living daiiy by Bibie principles rind standards, we help others lo see the advisability of coming to know God

to Icnou, God?

coiifideiice in his futurc actions based on his qualities exemplifìed in past dealings

and lo serve hini Paul said Jeliovali maitcs “the lrnowledge of hiiii perceptible through us in every place” (2Co 2:14) The knowledge is sprcad by the way Christians iive-ctercising lrnowledge and reflecthg its good effects,

Confideiitly urge others io talte up true worship, comiiig to know Jehovah and having part in his purposes (1Ch

Now and iii the futurc, wc will not have iiiere hcad knowledgc of the path of life but will know by experience

Bible assures us tliat the ‘lrnowledge o€ God will li11 the earth’; does not mean just information, but the exercise

Truiy, tliei-e is reasoii for satisfactioii and pleasaiitness in lrnowing Jehovah and the path of life; this is the

(Adhcrc closcly i o thc outiiiiccl iiiatcriai, aiid OIJSXW tlic iiidicatcd tiniing 01 cacli scctioii. Not ai1 citcd tcxts necd to be read)

NO. l-pzigc 2 TO BE COVERED IN 45 MINUTES

displaying the new pcrsonality

28:9; Joli 17:3)

t hat pleasant pat h

of knowkcdgc by doiiig liis will because of kiiowing hiiii (Isa l l :9 )

Iriiowledgc ihat leads io everlasting life