Scripture: Exodus 33 v 12 - 14: "And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.
13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.
14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest."
Phillipians 3 v 8 - 10: "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;"
These two great men of God, chosen vessels, powerfully gifted, had one central heart's desire - that I may know Him. If they did not know Him, how about us? Do we really know Him?
In this first week of 2024 we know very little about all that will occur before it becomes 2025. We have to live it to know it. To know Jesus we have to be alive in Him as in Him we live and move and have our being.
Paul wrote that everything he ever knew or owned became worthless in the light of the knowledge of Jesus. He realised that being in the presence of God, experiencing the anointing of His nearness, was worth more than anything on this Earth, or in the world. The anointing of the Holy Spirit transforms us into vessels meet for the Masters use.
When we feel His presence and respond to Him we are opened in our spirit to receive instructions of what He needs us to do. When this is an established experience some things require urgency and knowing His ways gives us short cuts to getting things done prayerfully. It is thrilling to be in such close contact with the King of Kings and to want to know Him more.
Moses too was overwhelmed that God knew him personally and he wanted to know Him like that, and be in His mighty presence. Nothing was more sacred to Moses. He would never for a moment forget the experience of the burning bush, or deliverance of the Hebrews from Egypt. He knew God as a God of miracles who fed His people for forty years with manna and quail. He sent forth a river of water in the desert, flowing out of a rock to satisfy twelve tribes and their flocks.
Yet these two, Paul and Moses, wanted to know Him more. David wrote, As the deer pants for the water so my heart longs after You, You alone are my heart's desire and I long to worship You. Those who have tasted the wonderful presence of Jesus, want nothing more because He utterly satisfies those who come bringing offerings of praise, worship and love.
To know anyone you need to spend quality time with them. You need to have earnest conversations with them and respect their opinions. This forms a friendship that lasts. You listen to what others say about your friend and your knowledge grows.
It's no different with Jesus. He says that we hear His voice. It's sometimes necessary to get into a quiet place with no distractions to truly hear all He has to say. When you ask Him things wait to hear His response. Many people ask in prayer then walk away without waiting for an answer.
The answers may come in various ways. You may be led to a scripture verse. This week I was praying with a prayer partner and we had the option of meeting with one of two people. We asked the Lord and were given clear direction in scripture to 'choose for ourselves which one to speak to'.
When we are more acquainted with Lord Jesus He gives us short cuts in getting His message across. This is enhanced by the gift of discerning spirits from the Holy Spirit, and 'the word of knowledge'. Some have said to me that I read them like a book. It's not me. Jesus knows them to even how many hairs on their heads. It is He that tells me what I need to know in order to pray effectively.
The Holy Spirit is here on Earth with us as a personal Teacher to each Christian. Ten days after Jesus ascended to His Father in Heaven, the Holy Spirit was sent as a gift to help us.
They heard a sound like a strong wind and upon their heads appeared tongues of fire, power came upon them and they started to pray, speak and worship in other tongues. Languages they had never learned poured forth from their mouths in loud utterances. The people in the street below were from many countries and had come to Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost. They understood the words the apostles uttered. They heard them telling of the wonderful works of God.
Not all tongues are in known languages, some are in heavenly languages unknown on Earth. When the Lord wants to get a message across to unbelievers He uses known tongues that will be understood by them.
Everyone who has been baptised in the Holy Spirit and has received His gifts of tongues, interpretation of tongues, faith, miracles, prophecy, healings, discerning of spirits, word of knowledge and word of wisdom, has begun to know Him, the Living God.
Through the power, anointing, gifts, fruit, guidance of the Holy Spirit, we learn to scratch the surface of knowing God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. The more we know, the more we want to know, but to plunge into the depths of really knowing God, this world has to become nothing. Our God is far removed from anything that even looks like sin.
He has forgiven sin for sure, as soon as we repent and show remorse it is deleted forever. No guilt remains and we are free to be grateful. Free to explore the nature of God and receive all the changes following Jesus brings upon us. Our blocks to transformation are stubbornness and self-deception which becomes unbelief and backsliding.
Starting out in this new year let us make "That we may know Him" our quest and our one desire. Paul spent three years alone in the desert after his conversion for one purpose - to know Him whom he had persecuted and hated for no real reason. To discover the nature and purpose of Jesus appearing to him on that dusty Damascus road, and turning His blinding lights upon Him.
Acts 22 v 8 - 10: "And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do."
Paul did exactly what Jesus told him to do. His life was turned upside down. He dedicated his time to being obedient to his calling and learning as much about Jesus as he could. He was never satisfied and even at the end of his days said, That I may know Him and the power of His Resurrection. Think on these things!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, no matter how long we have been born again and in a personal relationship with You and Jesus, we need to know You more than we do. We will spend eternity with You, so every bit of knowledge will be a delight. Help us to seek Your face and experience Your divine presence in our midst. In Jesus' name. Amen.