R1032 How To Know God

Don't you wake up many mornings and so I got booted again folks.

How did how do you and not battle against the flesh welcome The Encouraging Word with Dr. Don Wilton well-known author and evangelist, and today's message how to please God. It's an exciting time in studying God's word with the book of Philippians. In this concept of pleasing God.

I know in my own life I been a man pleaser. Too many times. Let us call out each other to be godly. First and foremost we do this watch another were available for you. Maybe we need a prayer word of encouragement over you today.

We have friends ready to do that right now at 86689 were I pray you jot it down or put in your phone may not need it now for 24 hours a day. We stand ready to take your call at 866-899-9673 would love to connect online@theencouragingword.org. Now today's message how to please God with Dr. Don Wilton on The Encouraging Word.

How sweet it is to know the Lord Jesus Christ to them to know his life eternal and how deeply we have been blessed today as we gather here like this, as we worship you as thousands gather around the word of God and father we are so mindful to that there are thousands upon thousands of people who just want to know how to know God, Lord Jesus, speak to our hearts as we open the word that you will all be made manifest in our lives and father. Today we going to pray for people everywhere who desperately need to give their hearts and lives to you who need to know that they are forgiven of their sin and have their names written in the Lamb's book of life speak to us and father for just a moment I want to pray like personal privilege to pray for somebody right now worshiping looking for that heavy heart that burden the heart that anxious heart. The name of the Lord Jesus, together with Christian people everywhere. I pray for that person. Father, we expect today that you're going to speak to us like never before that lives again to be radically from school that people will never be the same again because of the one about whom we speak. The one who lives in our hearts.

The one by the power of God was raised from the dead, the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray these things a man get ready fostering your seatbelts. The day went diving into it.

The beginning of some of the most cataclysmic or some events that you and I can possibly even conceive what is God's word teaches what's going on today. Is it possible that Jesus is about to return. The bottom line is are you are not ready.

You know the Lord Jesus folks, I'm going to invite you to open your Bibles this morning to the book of Philippians we going to be in chapter 3 theme for several months as being quite simple and yet most profound, the real secret. I think we could all agree today that most people want to know what the real secret to life really is not good we be perfectly frank, open and honest with one another.

Today I watched this life is not everything. It's supposed to be now. Yesterday I was a privilege to officiate at a most beautiful wedding) the century just magnificent. What a grand celebration and the couple are off on their honeymoon.

Life is wonderful. So can I say this now that the wedding is over. Life can also be not all that wonderful and wind rights to these people at Philippi. I really believe that the bottom issue is he is giving to them the real secret he's telling people that there is an onset to life and today folks. I'm looking at one question. How to know God all right and the survey says why we do this let's conduct a public opinion poll in these United States of America.

And let's take the average consensus of opinion, how do you become to the point at which you can say I know God and what does that mean and by the way, who is God anyway, we got people yesterday from all around the world. They'll tell you, probably a thousand different opinions about who God is from cultural perspectives from national perspectives from religious perspectives, but carrying these United States of America. This diverse nation of landed immigrants this nation of compromise and tolerance this nation in which the First Amendment means that it doesn't matter who or what I believe I have a right to do whatever it is that I feel I need to do. How do you know God by definition. I want you to know that I'm talking about the God of our fathers. Yes, if you would open your Old Testament I'm talking about the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. When I pulled about the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. In light of what the Bible teaches me and what I know to be true. I am talking about other than the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but should have everlasting life.

Because God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him through the Lord Jesus Christ might believe and might be saved. That's why Paul put it like this.

He said if you confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that they literally means that he alone is God. And then you believe in your heart that God by his power, right, is this Jesus from the day you will be say.

That's how you know God by dear friend and brother, Dr. Billy Graham wrote a book entitled how to have peace with God. Actually, I'm asking the same question but you know I did not skip poll asked that question.

Let's look at it together in Romans in Philippians chapter 3 and verse 10. I'm just going to read the first part of the verse. That's all I want you to remember this today because this is exciting news. Paul said this, I want to know Christ. Are you searching for meaning in life. Just listen to funeral services folks you been to a funeral service likely where the deceased is someone who evidently did not have a personal relationship with the Lord and just listen to what even clergyman say about what it means to know God is mass confusion. I was born in Africa.

My mother and father find people, many of you know them, but my mother and father were far from God in our home as young boys while we had a father who was well-connected great athlete could do just about anything highly qualified popular champion athletics but he didn't know God.

He had no personal relationship with Jesus Christ and he had a big hole in his heart and life. It was actually rather strange rarely and I know one or never to say this about one's mother but goodness me my mother was a knockout. I mean she was one beautiful girl I've seen the pictures she still lives.

I love her to bits, but you know in that kind of why I can understand my dad falling off his motorbike when he met her you that my father was a complete person because he married a beautiful lady and he had three magnificent son. The middle one was just adorable but you know dad had a hole in his heart and then one day it all changed and what a powerful man of God Dr. Wilson's father became brother John Wilton, a life-changing instrument of the gospel. Satan is alive and is on the move in the United States is actively engaged in all aspects of our government in our educational systems and in the lives of our children.

The next generation never forget Satan has been defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ and this victory enables us in the next generation of believers to stand victorious in the presence of the enemy wavering and unafraid this month. As you give a gift of $20 or more to The Encouraging Word you will receive a powerful message series by Dr. Don Wilton. Satan defeated enemy among us class, you will receive a copy of Dr. Wilson's inspiring book defying the odds to help encourage you through all of life's challenges request this empowering resource at today as you support The Encouraging Word with your ministry gift to us at PO Box 2110, Spartanburg, SC 29304 call us toll-free at 866-899-WORD word. Conclusion today's message how to please God. Dr. Wilton reminding you were still a vital 24 seven at 866-899-WORD. My father's lap and my mother's life and my life and my brothers live in my son's lives in my daughter's life and my nephews and my nieces live and friends and family members and associates all around the world lives just began to train because my father came to know God. He was no different from you he had everything and yet he had nothing in his will in that day you by looking at him that there was nothing else that this man needed but there was one thing missing God, you take God out of your life. You can be a multimillionaire and I'm miserable you'd like God out of your marriage, your on your road poll said I want to know Christ today where living in a world of massive influence and we are rubbing shoulders with one another and there is a frantic search going on in America to be in the right case at the right time and to be properly connected and to have your name on the resume and to be able to install the lines of what we do what we don't. But God's Word tells us that without Jesus, when nothing Paul said in verse thing I want to know Christ. I just want to tell you today how to know God. Three things the Lord has put in my heart. Number one. Listen to your heart. In Romans, team chapter 9 verse nine Paul says something about the heart.

He said it is with your heart that you can face that Jesus is Lord, let me tell you what happened to a great Methodist man of God by the name of John Wesley all here at all. I mean, he'd written on the sea with people who would deeply spiritual essay that Mr. Wesley could've quoted Scripture just like me but he didn't know God. He got back to Aldersgate in England. We know those words.

He recorded them for us.

This mighty man of God. This great Methodist missionary, and preacher. This man influenced so many who was willing to give up his life. This man when he died. Nothing could be said about him accepting Jesus Christ.

This is what he said my heart was strangely warm. That's how you come to know God. Listen to your heart now want to tell you why you need to listen to your heart. Folks watch this list please understand this today is your posture are big of you. Listen to this. The spirit of God is the one who draws your attention to God. You might say to me today. What does that mean I don't know. But Jesus said the wind blows where it wants to you don't understand where it comes from or how to get sleep.

But you know it you will be born again, he said to Nicodemus, will Nicodemus. Of course goodness me. There was a man now. I mean, he was head of the mission agency. This this man had all the qualifications I mean he was seminary trained.

He had a PhD just like me. Jesus looked at him and said to him you must be born again you need to come into a personal relationship with God in and through me.

The Lord Jesus Christ. How does that happen. How do you know God.

Listen to your heart when you come to know Jesus Christ, my friend. You are responding to the love of God in Christ Jesus. He is making himself known to you and you know it, you might say to me today. Pasta would you please try and define our quantifying that knocking at your heart's door, but I can define my I remember I remember there is a bore in the land so far away it seemed like the guy from the real world and civilization. I just knew something in my heart. It was an almost.

It's like in easiness I you know I sort of describe it like butterflies in your tummy. You know this just a Leica kind of a disturbance.

It's like when you go to church on Sunday in the and the preacher gets up and and and it's kind of like you don't know when you're happy or sad with your Apple when you're down with you want to get up and leave you but just deep down there is just this constant thing that goes on.

That's God by his spirit speaking to you folks. Some of you had better take notice.

You know why you pasta says that to you because you can send away your day of grace they will come a time when God's spirit watch this will no longer strive with you.

You become Leica a brick your heart will get so hardened genocide pasta define. The Bible tells some today. You might be looking at me and you from when you were two bricks in a tricky high you been saying no no no no no no no I pray because I love you so much that God me tell you, folks, my most fervent prayer for you is you pasta is with the Lord Jesus would keep on and keep on your heart would keep on pounding and keep on pounding that God will never leave you. I believe it. I believe that God is going to parties grace upon you. But watch out something you are messing with God you hiding behind your riches and your motorcars and your busyness and your troubles and your depression and your hurt and life itself in life is so tough and your mind is so cluttered and week by week goes by and you cite what I please not go through another one of those church service. Listen to your heart number to look to Jesus.

That's the second thing you must do in order to be saved, to know God look to Jesus. Earlier in our study Philippians chapter 2 you'll remember verse nine Philippians 2 verse nine therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue will confess in heaven and on earth that Jesus Christ alone is low.

Jesus put it like this. He said I am the way the truth and the life no man can come to the father but by me.

Look to Jesus.

Listen to your heart because the spirit of God speaking to you look to Jesus because he is the only begotten of the father. He is the one who came and laid down his life so that you and I can have life so that we can be forgiven of arson and number three lay aside all your arguments lay aside all your arguments just lay them aside. That's what Paul was saying in Ephesians chapter 2, he said it is by grace through faith that you are say not of yourself, not of your works. Not in your capability, not of your capacity.

Not because of your brilliance because what you have or you don't have lay aside your arguments just lay them aside.

Stop trying to fight against God. Stop trying to philosophize. Stop trying to look for religion folks. Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship that's why I'm so happy to tell you today that what Jesus has done for me. He will do the same thing for you formally invite you to give your heart to Jesus. Listen to your heart, look to Jesus lay aside all arguments.

That's why love that song went back we got to sing at Steve. Come on up. We got to sing an incredible song today just as I am, without one plea. Did you hear that just as I am, without one plea, but that the high blood was shed for me and that thou would puts me there just wrapping the how but you Lord you are killing me to come to you, O Lamb of God, I gotta say that against the that hold just as I am, without one plea. So what can I bring today. All right if I was coming as it is a person, Steve. I think I could say this and I want to tell you something. My friend, you know, I being a good person you know I arson man I support you no good. Mission goals I've started a charity but I haven't done them just using as an illustration.

You don't need to apply to my charity run. I started charity. You know I belong to a church. I preach messages I you know what I'm saying.

Folks and these things are so great, wonderful, that's why we knew so much of this is why that's why we have helping ministry centers as we do in our church.

That's why we have great great wonderful work going on wonderful but none of those mean that you know God, just as I am, without one plea no argument, no more debate, but that thy blood told about Jesus was shed for me and that you will went back in that little word bricks are like that.

That's a good all good English word that you can meet up calling me mopping up our hearts nor I'm listening to my heart Lord Jesus the Menelaus article O Lamb of God, to give your heart to Jesus is that you are you ready to come to Christ. He's using this radio station and this broadcast of the message of Dr. Wilton all in harmony to save the loves you and it's time to come home. We love to pray with opening your heart to Christ is the most important decision you can never change my life and I knew about Jesus a long time before I knew it makes all the difference in the pray you through and give you some free resources that will help you get started on your walk with Christ. Or maybe return home to Jesus. Just let us know. 866-899-WORD the number that's 866-899-9673 it connected our team ready 24 hours. They talk to pray to connect you with some free resources units 866-899-WORD you can visit us online@theencouragingword.org we really would love to connect with you and hope you join us again for the Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton right here on The Encouraging Word