Divine Gift: A Heart to Know God

Devotional

Day 1: The Divine Gift of Knowing God

The heart to know God is a profound gift that cannot be achieved through human effort or merit. It is God who initiates this relationship, transforming our hearts to perceive and understand Him. This transformation is essential for true revival and salvation, as it leads to a deep, personal knowledge of God that transcends mere religious activities or external signs. Without this divine gift, our spiritual experiences remain shallow and counterfeit, lacking the genuine connection that characterizes a true relationship with God. [05:23]

Jeremiah 31:33 (ESV): "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

Reflection: In what ways can you open your heart to receive the divine gift of knowing God more intimately today?

Day 2: True Revival and Refinement

True revival is marked by a deep, personal knowledge of God, often refined through difficult circumstances. God uses trials to purify His people, preparing them for a genuine return to Him. This process leads to a heart that desires to know God above all else, moving beyond superficial religious practices to a transformative relationship with the Creator. The vision of the two baskets of figs in Jeremiah 24 illustrates how God sometimes uses challenging situations to refine and prepare His people for a deeper relationship with Him. [12:17]

1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV): "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Reflection: What current trial in your life might God be using to refine your heart and draw you closer to Him?

Day 3: Intimate Knowledge in Salvation

Salvation is characterized by an intimate, covenant relationship with God, where His laws are written on our hearts. It is not about following rules or having head knowledge but about experiencing God's presence and power in our lives. This relationship is transformative, leading to a life that reflects God's character and desires. Knowing God intimately involves more than intellectual assent; it requires a personal encounter with His love and grace, resulting in a life that is continually being transformed by His Spirit. [30:02]

Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper, more intimate relationship with God that goes beyond mere rule-following?

Day 4: Christianity and Obedience

True Christianity is marked by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, evidenced by obedience to His commandments. A true Christian knows Christ intimately and follows Him, reflecting His character in their life. This knowledge is not about religious activities or external appearances but about a genuine relationship with God that leads to a life of obedience and transformation. The Good Shepherd knows His sheep, and they know Him, living a life that bears the fruit of the Spirit and aligns with His will. [47:06]

John 10:14-15 (ESV): "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep."

Reflection: In what specific ways can you demonstrate your obedience to Christ in your daily life today?

Day 5: Discernment and True Knowledge

Knowing God involves discernment and a commitment to truth. It is not about religious activities or appearances but about a genuine relationship with God. This knowledge leads to a life of obedience and transformation, distinguishing true believers from those who merely profess faith. True knowledge of God requires a heart that is open to His leading and a willingness to follow His truth, even when it challenges our preconceived notions or comforts. [52:02]

Colossians 1:9-10 (ESV): "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."

Reflection: How can you practice discernment in your spiritual journey to ensure that your knowledge of God is genuine and transformative?

Sermon Summary

In Jeremiah 24:7, God promises to give His people a heart to know Him. This profound promise is central to understanding true revival, salvation, and Christianity. A heart to know God is not something we can manufacture or earn; it is a divine gift. Without this heart, our spiritual experiences are shallow and counterfeit. True revival is marked by a deep, personal knowledge of God, not by external signs or religious activities. It is a return to God with our whole heart, a transformation that begins with God’s initiative.

The context of Jeremiah 24 reveals a vision of two baskets of figs, representing two groups of people. The good figs, those taken into Babylonian captivity, symbolize those whom God is refining and preparing for revival. The bad figs, left in Jerusalem, represent those who are complacent and unrepentant. This illustrates that sometimes God uses difficult circumstances to purify and prepare His people for a deeper relationship with Him. True revival occurs when God’s people receive a heart to know Him, leading to genuine transformation and a return to holiness.

True salvation is characterized by an intimate knowledge of God. It is not merely about following religious rules or having head knowledge. Salvation involves a personal, covenant relationship with God, where His laws are written on our hearts. This relationship is transformative, leading to a life that reflects God’s character. Knowing God is not about intellectual assent but about experiencing His presence and power in our lives.

True Christianity is marked by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, knows His sheep, and they know Him. This knowledge is evidenced by obedience to His commandments and a life that bears the fruit of the Spirit. A true Christian is not identified by religious activities or external appearances but by a heart that knows and follows Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Divine Gift of Knowing God: The heart to know God is a divine gift, not something we can achieve on our own. It is God who initiates this relationship, transforming our hearts to perceive and understand Him. This transformation is essential for true revival and salvation. [05:23]
2. True Revival and Refinement: True revival involves a deep, personal knowledge of God, often refined through difficult circumstances. God uses trials to purify His people, preparing them for a genuine return to Him. This process leads to a heart that desires to know God above all else. [12:17]
3. Intimate Knowledge in Salvation: Salvation is characterized by an intimate, covenant relationship with God. It is not about following rules but about having God’s laws written on our hearts. This relationship transforms us, leading to a life that reflects God’s character and desires. [30:02]
4. Christianity and Obedience: True Christianity is marked by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, evidenced by obedience to His commandments. A true Christian knows Christ intimately and follows Him, reflecting His character in their life. [47:06]
5. Discernment and True Knowledge: Knowing God involves discernment and a commitment to truth. It is not about religious activities or appearances but about a genuine relationship with God. This knowledge leads to a life of obedience and transformation, distinguishing true believers from those who merely profess faith. [52:02]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:15] - Introduction to Jeremiah 24:7
[01:10] - The Promise of a Heart to Know God
[03:30] - God's Gift of a New Heart
[05:23] - The Divine Gift of Knowing God
[09:10] - True Revival and Its Context
[12:17] - Refinement Through Trials
[20:24] - The Return and Revival
[29:47] - True Revival: A Heart to Know God
[30:02] - True Salvation: Knowing God Intimately
[37:09] - Personal Experience with God
[47:06] - True Christianity: Knowing and Following Christ
[52:02] - Discernment and True Knowledge
[55:07] - Responding to God's Word
[59:37] - Obedience as Evidence of Knowing God

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Jeremiah 24:7
- Ezekiel 36:26
- John 10:14

---

Observation Questions:

In Jeremiah 24:7, what does God promise to give His people, and what is the significance of this promise? [01:10]
How does the vision of the two baskets of figs in Jeremiah 24 illustrate the difference between those who are refined by God and those who are complacent? [10:00]
According to the sermon, what are the characteristics of the "good figs" and the "bad figs" mentioned in Jeremiah 24? [15:56]
How does the sermon describe the relationship between knowing God and experiencing true revival, salvation, and Christianity? [09:10]

---

Interpretation Questions:

What does it mean for God to give someone a "heart to know Him," and how does this relate to the concept of true revival? [05:23]
How does the sermon explain the role of difficult circumstances in refining and preparing God's people for a deeper relationship with Him? [12:17]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that true salvation is more than just following religious rules? [30:02]
How does the sermon define true Christianity, and what role does obedience play in this definition? [47:06]

---

Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you felt God was refining you through difficult circumstances. How did this experience impact your relationship with Him? [12:17]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of having a heart to know God. What steps can you take this week to deepen your personal knowledge of God? [05:23]
Consider the distinction between external religious activities and a genuine relationship with God. How can you ensure that your faith is rooted in a personal connection with God rather than just rituals? [09:10]
True salvation involves having God's laws written on our hearts. What practical changes can you make in your life to align more closely with God's character and desires? [30:02]
The sermon highlights the importance of obedience in true Christianity. Identify one area of your life where you struggle with obedience to God's commandments. What can you do to address this challenge? [47:06]
How can you discern between genuine spiritual experiences and those that are shallow or counterfeit? What role does a heart to know God play in this discernment? [52:02]
Reflect on your current spiritual journey. Are there any areas where you feel complacent or unrepentant, like the "bad figs"? What steps can you take to seek true revival in these areas? [15:56]

Sermon Clips

"I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, for they shall return unto me with their whole heart." [00:02:48]

"God gives it; you cannot learn it, you cannot create it, you cannot manufacture it. I cannot put it in you; a church cannot give it to you. No one can do that. This certain kind of heart, this one heart, is a gift of God. I will give them a heart to know me." [00:05:02]

"If you know God this morning, God gave that to you. It wasn't your righteousness, it wasn't you seeking after Him, it wasn't that you're so brainy or intelligent or educated or you're a book reader. None of that. If you know God, if you have a heart within you that says, 'I desire to know you, I know you, I love you, I fellowship with you,' do you know what has happened? God has done heart surgery within you." [00:05:25]

"True revival is when God gives His people a heart to know Him again. It's not money, it's not ministry, it's not mega buildings, it's not being known, it's not titles. You know what it is? God has given me a heart to know Him. This is revival." [00:22:17]

"True salvation is characterized by an intimate, covenant relationship with God. It is not about following rules but about having God’s laws written on our hearts. This relationship transforms us, leading to a life that reflects God’s character and desires." [00:30:02]

"True Christianity is marked by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, evidenced by obedience to His commandments. A true Christian knows Christ intimately and follows Him, reflecting His character in their life." [00:47:06]

"Knowing God involves discernment and a commitment to truth. It is not about religious activities or appearances but about a genuine relationship with God. This knowledge leads to a life of obedience and transformation, distinguishing true believers from those who merely profess faith." [00:52:02]

"Do you realize Jesus says the mark of a real sheep is they know me? I thought everyone was known of God and a lot of people know God. Jesus said a real sheep knows God. That's how you tell it's a sheep. A goat doesn't know God, and you know by their actions." [00:47:06]

"Do you know what true revival is? True revival is when God gives His people a heart to know Him again. It's not money, it's not ministry, it's not mega buildings, it's not being known, it's not titles. You know what it is? God has given me a heart to know Him. This is revival." [00:22:17]

"True salvation is characterized by an intimate, covenant relationship with God. It is not about following rules but about having God’s laws written on our hearts. This relationship transforms us, leading to a life that reflects God’s character and desires." [00:30:02]

"True Christianity is marked by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, evidenced by obedience to His commandments. A true Christian knows Christ intimately and follows Him, reflecting His character in their life." [00:47:06]

"Knowing God involves discernment and a commitment to truth. It is not about religious activities or appearances but about a genuine relationship with God. This knowledge leads to a life of obedience and transformation, distinguishing true believers from those who merely profess faith." [00:52:02]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?

Divine Gift: A Heart to Know God

Devotional

Day 1: The Divine Gift of Knowing God

Day 2: True Revival and Refinement

Day 3: Intimate Knowledge in Salvation

Day 4: Christianity and Obedience

Day 5: Discernment and True Knowledge

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Divine Gift: A Heart to Know God

Share