How Do You Know God

Knowing God exactly as is his dreams, and I want to know God is moving to Beloit with Bible teacher and grandma, how do you know God is the title of today's message. A message focusing on his grace teaching from chapter 1.

Here's an you are not possibly know you know someone who is incomprehensible how can you know someone who is invisible and speaks audibly and how can we know God and answer that? The story that John MacArthur tells about a friend of his will going to call Bill, who was staying with some of his friends named the Joneses and he was saying with your national and was invited to Greenville South Carolina which is about an hour and 1/2 away and he was invited to go down and speak while he was staying with the Joneses and a cup of green bull drove up to Asheville and they picked Bill up at the Joneses and drove them to Greenville and Bill spoke in a couple drove him back to rational back to the Joneses house got back to the Joneses house was after midnight. It was in the dead of winter and it was already beginning to sleet and snow and the roads were getting bad. It was freezing cold and so Bill said to the couple that are driven from wrinkles that just drop me off of the driveway. I know you need the back to Greenville before the roads get impassable and just drop me off. I can see the lights on the home and and I know I'll be all right. They drop them off.

They turned around and went back to Greenville and walked up to the house of the Joneses and went to the front door and he knocked on the door and there was no answer so he knocked on the window and there was no answering one on the back of the kitchen door and he banged on the door. There was no answer. He banged on the windows. Nobody came to the door, the windows and no lights came on so we thought well I just eat tragically could make anybody up and so I thought lodges go next door to the neighbors and the neighbor was about a quarter-mile down visa, but that's not a problem just walked to the neighbors not call the Joneses asked him to open the door for me so he walks down to the neighbor's house as he drew near the neighbors house.

He heard this big dog start the mark and he thought will wait a minute, it's after midnight and I'm walking is a stranger to the neighbor's house and I wonder if that dog bites and I wonder if his neighbor has a shotgun and maybe not such a good idea to go to the neighbor's house and and then he thought lodges go find an all-night convenience store and I'll call from there. So Bill began to walk down the road and he walked and he walked. At one point he fell into a ditch that 2 feet of icy water and he was wet, freezing cold. It was Dawn before he found all-night convenience store anywhere in the convenience store and he called the Joneses on the phone with the print shattering it isn't Mr. Jones where have you been. He told his whole tail and Mr. Jones was horrified and he said that I am so sorry.

I'll be right there to pick you up a build out your member before you left for Greenville I gave you a key to the house bill reached in his pocket and there was a key. How do you know God is giving you the key and the key is Jesus Christ.

Jesus is enough to know God exactly the same. It's amazing to me is how so many people seem to be throwing away the key, but the key to knowing God exactly as he is, is Jesus. I remember speaking with a large national secular convention and that invited me to speak and so I did what I do, which is not best to exalt Jesus.

And when I finished I was at a banquet table that was in front of several thousand people and MC stood up at the platform, and he looked down at me and he said Mrs. lots we think you need to understand that we all have our own gods and some of us: Mohammed, some of us: Buddha and some of us, although some of us, Messiah. Some of us may call in Jesus and I didn't say anything but I thought you not want to know God like that. If there is a God seated on a throne somewhere at the center of the universe and surely he has a personality, character and name by which he calls himself and I want to know God exactly as he is known, the way someone says he might be or the way they think he is the way they've been taught and is much as I appreciate the way my parents raised me and one of the blessings for me has been his office sought to know God, myself through Scripture and through Jesus. I found that he's just like my parents taught me, but I want to go just on what my parents said my pastor tells me or someone else. I want to know God exactly as he is in Hebrew says that he is exactly like Jesus to open your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 1 were going to look first of all, at the fact that Jesus Christ is enough to know God exactly Jesus is enough to know God exactly for two primary reasons. One, because of his deity, and to because of his humanity slips begin considering his deity versus 1 to 3 of Hebrews chapter 1 in the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his son, whom he appointed heir of all things and through whom he made the universe the sun is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Every time I read those verses. I feel like I've been to the most holy Place is like holy ground as Jesus Christ is revealed as the son of God in his deity and the Scripture says that in times past God spoke in many different ways and speaking in the Old Testament.

I just thought about that for a moment he spoke to Abraham. I don't how he spoke to Abraham. In fact, one of the things I want to ask when I get to heaven as Abraham. How did God speak to you and you just there and worshiping idols and suddenly God leaves out of heaven was like a trumpet blast or was it handwriting on the wall or was it just an impression in your heart and what would cause God's voice to be so distinct that you would leave everything to follow him want to know that but I don't and I know he spoke to Moses, the burning bush. I know he spoke to Jeremiah through parables and to Ezekiel through visions and he spoke to Baylon through a donkey and spoke to Mary through angels and spoke to Nebuchadnezzar through dreams and he spoke in many different ways all sorts of ways, but in these days he spoken to us through his son Jesus and John 11 says in the beginning was the word the word was with God and the Word was God and the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us, even Jesus Christ, and the word that John uses in John's Gospel foreword is low cost, which means the entire expression of God's heart in his mind. Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart a man speaks and I think we could say the same thing about God that out of the abundance of God's heart. He speaks and what he said is Jesus you want to know what's on God's heart. It's Jesus is the exact revelation of the heart of God to someone here who's afraid of God and maybe it's the way you were raised. Maybe something that happened in your past may be the way your churches presented them to you for some other reason. Your freight is out to get you or your afraid he doesn't like you and you want to know how God feels about you and you just look at Jesus. For God so loved you but he gave his son. God loves you. Jesus is expression of what's on the heart of God and God's heart is saying I love you I love you I love you I love you is exact revelation of the heart of God in his exact revelation of the mind of God and says he is the heir of all things, and if I had an air when I would leave everything I had to the air.

My air would receive everything I had, that the bank didn't claim first end and air is just somebody that's has everything that's coming and Jesus Christ is the heir of all things, not in the sense that God is ever going to die, but that God is given everything to the sun that he's the heir of all things. So he is exact representation of what's on the mind of God for the future.

You know what the future of planet Earth is what the future of the United States unit with all of the terrorism going on was the future of the United States was the future of Israel and Iraq and her neighbors. What's the future for North Korea in the Pacific rim and China was the future of Australian South American Russian you what the future is replanted or is Jesus. Jesus is God's plan for the future. One of the most thrilling chapters all about trauma. Get the bobbing I think of Genesis chapter 1 the thrilling creation chapter and then I think of maybe some other parts of the Old Testament, but in the next chapters that stand out to me.

Luke one and two, when the creator became incarnate as our Savior and I might think of John, chapters 18, 19, 20, when the Savior who gave his life on the cross was raised from the dead men may be asked to Pentecost. But surely one of the most thrilling chapters in all Scripture is revelation chapter 5, when John says I saw heaven opened, and I saw someone sitting on the throne and he was holding a scroll in his right hand in the scroll was a title deed. The planet Earth and whoever possessed the scroll had the right to rule the world and fulfill God's purpose for the human race. And no one was found was worthy to possess that scroll except one man who was able, even Jesus the Lamb who was slain the Lamb upon the throne, and Jesus walks over to the one who is holding the scroll and he takes the scroll, asserting his right to rule, asserting his right to fulfill God's purpose for the human race. And nobody said you can't do that. Nobody says who do you think you are. He's claiming his right to rule the world fulfill his father's purpose for the human race because he's the heir of all things. He is the future of the world you want to know what the future of the universe is most intriguing verse in Ephesians Ephesians 1 verses nine and 10 says, and he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even cries that the future of the universe is Jesus the future of planet Earth is Jesus. You know what your future. Your future is Jesus. In second Corinthians 318 it says that as you and I behold him the Holy Spirit within us, changes us from glory to glory character to character until your conform to the image of Jesus first John chapter 3 says one day when we see him were going to be like in your future is Jesus, the future is Jesus the future of the universe is Jesus because he is exact revelation of what's on God's mind. God is planning the future and is Jesus exact revelation what's on God's heart, his heart says I love you so loved you.

He sent Jesus exact revelation of what's in his hands. In verse two it says that, through whom he made the universe is an adult before wrap my mind around the truth that Jesus Christ is the creator of the universe. I thought he began at Bethlehem.

I thought he was born as a baby. I didn't realize that he has always been, and you find them in Genesis 1 and in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Earth was without form and void the spirit of God hovered over the face of the date verse three and God said in his word, went forth, let there be lights and all the way through Genesis 1 and God said, his word went forth, and we would think that just nouns and pronouns going out of the mouth of God or some language to become the John's gospel chapter 1 that tells us that that word they went forth in the beginning was none other than the pre-incarnate son of God in Colossians 1 says that everything that is made was made by him and for him. He is the creator and because he is the creator of the heavens which are great big things in the earth for your little bitty things that we know that God is actively at work. His hands are involved in great big things to me just tell you how big for a moment and will apply. I don't know this myself. I read this out of a book. Okay, I'm assuming it's true that's our son is so big that you can fit 1.2 million earths into the sun and still leave room for 4.3 million moons. Our son is the nearest star.

The next nearest star is five times larger than our son. The Northstar is 400 trillion miles away, and 400 trillion but 14 zeros after that. Now that's just great being against the heavens.

He created great big things actively involved at work and big things. So let me ask you what big thing is facing you a big decision a big job change. A big commitment of big project a big responsibility.

Maybe it's a health issue. Something in your family that's being how God works through Jesus. And great big things and he works through Jesus and little bitty thing.

He is the creator of the earth and the earth doesn't mean just dirt for the planet. It means little molecules and atoms that make up earth and ease at work in small things did you know that the brain cells that hold all of your memory are confined to 1/2 inch cube. I think that's why can't remember anything. I need a bigger queue. Your heart beats 800 million times in a lifespan. No two snowflakes are alike the wires that connect the information centers in the human brain. If you stretch them and the and would reach from the planet Earth to the moon and back home in their small he's at work in small things, what did you think so small it was too small to bring to his attention had somebody last week.

With tears coming down her cheeks and said my husband doesn't believe that God can find me a parking place not go to the mall doesn't care about little things she says curious about whatever you care about a small home, small children, small ministry, small dream, small desire, small word small fear small tear he cares about small things and God works through Jesus and small things. Nothing too small for him.

He works in great big ways and he works in small things, Jesus is exact revelation of what's on God's mind what's in God's heart and what his hands are involved in and is also the exact representation of God's glory. Verse three the son is the radiance of God's glory.

I don't exactly know what that means but we think of radiance as being like a shining light and I'm on the Old Testament when the children of Israel wandering through the wilderness to remember and they needed to see the way at night and God sent them a fiery pillar to lead them to the wilderness at night to give them light after dark and during the day in the brawling heat he set a cloudy pillar to hang over their heads are like a great big umbrella, but it also led them through the wilderness. It was a glowing cloud, and it was the symbol of God's presence, leading them to the wilderness.

I know when Moses went up on Mount Sinai that the glory of God was so intense that when Moses came down his face shone to remember everybody you had been talking with God because his face reflected the glory of God and Moses dropped a veil over his face, a people couldn't tell when the glory departed. And remember when the sacrifice in the tabernacle, and God accepted their sacrifice and is golden, glowing cloud would come down in the tabernacle, the priest was terrified to go in because it was a symbol of God's. And there's something about the radiance of his glory in a Shekinah glory that golden, glowing. It has to do with his presence to member on the Mount of Transfiguration when Jesus invited Peter James and John to go up on the mountain and then in the middle of the night against the inky black sky saw Jesus standing there and he said that his clothing was brighter than anything could ever wash it clean. It was brilliant white, like the sun shining and the light that was coming from. Jesus wasn't reflected it was coming from within. It was the radiance of God's glory. I don't know exactly what that means.

One day you are going to see that were going to see the glory of God, not in a cloudy pillar, leading us to the wilderness and not reflect on somebody's face and not a golden glow that makes is terrified to go near but we're going to see the person of Jesus Christ.

But the word glory is also interchangeable with character and so when you think of the glory of God. You think of the character of God in Jesus Christ is exact representation of the character of God, and on these talk shows you there all discussing what God is like and will it be like this or will it be like that and they say is a capricious is a selfish is a ruthless is a cruel is a soft is the indecisive is a benevolent is a detached, dizzy, ignorance is a week is a conniving, easy like your abusive father or your legalistic pass you what God has long he is exactly like Jesus. Jesus is God and focus and therefore we know God is kind and he's tender and he's loving and he's patient and he's good and he can be stern and he's just an he's forgiving and he's faithful, and he strong Jesus is God and focus God is exactly like Jesus is exact representation of the glory of God, of the character of God's if you want to know what God is like. You have to look any farther.

Jesus is exactly like Jesus and Jesus is exact representation of God's greatness. Verse three says he sustains all things by his powerful word and it's a thrilling comfort to know that God is not detached and we keep messing with this universe and we see all sorts of things erupting to know that God hasn't just created us, spun us around on the globe and then left us to just sort of make her own way or guess our way through life but God is actively involved every second every moment every day of our lives you think of him sustaining the universe to the power of his word. In other words, Jesus is the word of God. He sustains it and do some more things I discovered there's a gravity like force that holds the neutrons and protons together in our universe of our planet. And whenever you are a little child did you ever look at a globe and know when you, the world turns and were on the bottom side. How can will fall off its gravity is what your mother charges gravity and course I want to know where gravity comes from and they can be so interesting. Monday when we get to heaven to find out where it comes from. It could be that that magnetic force comes from Jesus himself, but you have to work hard to hold it together. He just speaks a word, and he sustains all things with his powerful word. And you know if the sun were closer to our planet, we would burn up. If for any farther away would freeze to death that you know that our planet is tilted exactly 23°, which gives us four seasons of the year.

If you or any other degree of the tilt it would give us continents of ice did you know the moon is at the exact distance. It is from earth to give us tides twice a day.

If for any different distance.

Our earth would be an undated with water because of Todd's Wednesday and the boundaries. The general the ocean floors at the right depth to give us oxygen if they were different depth, we would have carbon monoxide and the errands it wouldn't be fit for human consumption that you know our atmosphere is just the right density ever atmosphere when he center that meteors and things that come through the space all the time would come right through and just blow us the guy who keeps all that delicate balance in place, its chief just to the power of his word. So what is there in your life that needs to be bound.

Is it your time. I pray for balance in the attention I give my children what each one of my children to feel like you're my favorite, and that takes balance of enemies. I pray for my staff. Each one would feel my attention in my care and what needs balance in her life and it's a delicate thing.

Maybe something in your business. Maybe something in your health and get your blood pressure. Something else that needs his touch, bring up a form asking the help he sustains all things with his powerful word is exact representation of God's greatness is exact representation of God's grace. Verse three after he did this he provided pure purification for sins. And this is the most incredible thought to think of his humility Philippians to the one who thought it not robbery to be equal with God because he is God the Creator of the universe, sustainer of all things, and he took upon himself the form of a man made himself of no reputation took upon himself the form of a servant humbled himself became obedient even death on the cross that we have the one who is the creator and the sustainer giving his life to bring me purification of sin and we see his humility. That's God's grace. Nothing but the grace of God would send his son Jesus to down the cross for you and me sinners who didn't even know we needed a Savior. At that point could care less. Romans 58 says here in God demonstrated his love for us while we were still sinners, we didn't know we needed a Savior. We didn't care. He sent Jesus at his grace, and not only his humility, but we see his authority when it says in verse three that after it provided purification for sin, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high that Jesus Christ left his glory in heaven, and came to heaven took upon himself the form of a servant humbled himself, even to the cross and then after he had been raised from the dead. God how exalted him and gave him a name above every name, that the name of Jesus every tongue will confess every and that's God's grace is that the creator became a Savior, who is now the one who is our Lord is exact representation of the grace of God you questioned God's grace. So where you deserve is just so afraid of what is going to let happen you because of something done or something in your past and you look at Chase and you see the grace of God giving us what we don't deserve the creator became a Savior, who is our Lord whoever lives to intercede for us Monday coming back to receive us to himself. Mr. Scott's grain now hears and with this final word. The blessings we access by God's grace are awesome but they pale into insignificance when compared to the thrilling revelation of God. We see in Jesus, praise God. What marvelous grace that is greater than all our sin and guilt and shortcomings in mistakes and failures. God did not have to reveal himself to us, but he did. He chose to make himself visible in a way we could understand as man.

This visibility is not only compelling and clear.

It's glorious.

This has been living in the light please take advantage of all the free resources that and Graham lots.org to help and encourage you in your walk with God and in your study of his work is here each week for living in the light