Knowing God: The Foundation of Confident Faith

 

Summary

In a world filled with uncertainty and crisis, the essence of Christianity is to bring us into a profound knowledge of God. This knowledge is not merely about experiencing thrills or having our sins forgiven, though these may be part of the journey. The ultimate goal is to know God as a living, personal being who is actively involved in our lives. The early Christians exemplified this understanding through their calm and assured prayers, knowing they were speaking to a sovereign Lord with absolute power.

The contrast between idolatry and true Christianity is stark. Idolatry, whether in the form of physical idols or abstract philosophical concepts, lacks life and power. In contrast, the God of Christianity is a living God, a creator, and sustainer of the universe. This God is not an abstract idea but a personal being who listens and responds to our prayers. The early church's dynamic faith, which turned the world upside down, was rooted in this knowledge of God.

This knowledge is based on several foundations. First, it is through nature and creation that we begin to understand God's power and majesty. The intricacy and order of the universe point to a divine creator. Second, God has revealed Himself through scripture, particularly through prophecy, which provides undeniable evidence of His existence and plan. Third, history testifies to God's active involvement in the world, from the creation of the universe to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The ultimate proof of God's existence is found in Jesus Christ, who demonstrated divine authority and power through His miracles, teachings, and resurrection. The early Christians, having witnessed these events and experienced the Holy Spirit's power, prayed with confidence and assurance. This same confidence is available to us today if we truly know God and have a personal relationship with Him.

Key Takeaways:

- The essence of Christianity is to bring us into a living knowledge of God, not just to provide experiences or forgiveness. This knowledge transforms our prayers into confident conversations with a sovereign Lord. [23:02]

- Idolatry, whether through physical idols or abstract concepts, lacks life and power. True Christianity involves a relationship with a living God who actively engages with His creation. [26:17]

- Nature and creation reveal God's power and majesty, pointing to a divine creator. This understanding is foundational to knowing God as the sovereign Lord of the universe. [33:13]

- Prophecy and scripture provide undeniable evidence of God's existence and plan. The fulfillment of prophecies in the life of Jesus Christ is a testament to God's active involvement in history. [40:50]

- Jesus Christ is the ultimate proof of God's existence, demonstrating divine authority and power through His life, death, and resurrection. This knowledge empowers us to pray with confidence and assurance. [49:56]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[21:53] - The Essence of Prayer
[22:34] - Knowledge of God
[23:54] - Assurance in Prayer
[25:02] - Living God vs. Idolatry
[27:40] - Misconceptions of Prayer
[28:52] - Sovereignty of God
[31:57] - Basis of Knowledge
[33:13] - God in Nature
[38:25] - Revelation Through Scripture
[42:26] - Historical Proofs
[48:13] - Jesus as Ultimate Proof
[51:41] - Personal Experience
[55:15] - The Shaken World
[57:47] - Entering the Unshakable Kingdom

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Galatians 4:8-9
2. Acts 4:24-31
3. Hebrews 11:3

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Observation Questions:

1. In Galatians 4:8-9, Paul contrasts knowing God with serving "those which by nature are no gods." How does this passage highlight the difference between idolatry and true Christianity? [24:11]

2. According to Acts 4:24-31, how did the early Christians demonstrate their knowledge of God in their prayers? What does this reveal about their understanding of God's sovereignty? [28:52]

3. Hebrews 11:3 speaks about understanding the creation of the world through faith. How does this passage support the sermon’s emphasis on knowing God through nature and creation? [35:10]

4. What specific examples from the sermon illustrate the early Christians' confidence in prayer due to their knowledge of God? [23:38]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon describe the impact of knowing God as a living, personal being on the early Christians' prayer life? What does this suggest about the nature of their relationship with God? [23:54]

2. The sermon contrasts idolatry with true Christianity. How does this distinction affect one's understanding of God's involvement in the world? [26:17]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that nature and creation reveal God's power and majesty? How does this understanding form a foundation for knowing God? [33:13]

4. How does the fulfillment of prophecy, as discussed in the sermon, serve as evidence of God's active involvement in history? What implications does this have for believers today? [40:50]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own prayer life. How can you cultivate a more confident and assured approach to prayer, similar to the early Christians? What steps can you take this week to deepen your knowledge of God? [23:38]

2. Consider the idols in your life, whether they are physical objects or abstract concepts. How can you shift your focus from these idols to a living relationship with God? What practical changes can you make to prioritize this relationship? [26:17]

3. How can you use the beauty and intricacy of nature to remind yourself of God's power and majesty? Is there a specific place or activity in nature that helps you connect with God? Plan a time this week to engage with nature in this way. [33:13]

4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of scripture and prophecy in knowing God. How can you incorporate more scripture reading into your daily routine? Identify a specific time and place for this practice. [40:50]

5. Jesus Christ is presented as the ultimate proof of God's existence. How does this understanding influence your faith and daily life? What actions can you take to live out this truth more fully? [49:56]

6. Reflect on a time when you felt uncertain or in crisis. How did your knowledge of God influence your response? What can you learn from that experience to apply in future situations? [51:41]

7. The sermon concludes with a call to enter the unshakable kingdom of God. What steps can you take to ensure you are part of this kingdom? How can you share this message with others in your community? [57:47]

Devotional

Day 1: Transformative Knowledge of God
The essence of Christianity is not merely about experiencing spiritual highs or receiving forgiveness for sins, but about entering into a profound and transformative knowledge of God. This knowledge is characterized by a personal relationship with a living God who is actively involved in our lives. The early Christians exemplified this understanding through their calm and assured prayers, knowing they were speaking to a sovereign Lord with absolute power. This relationship transforms our prayers into confident conversations with God, rooted in the assurance of His sovereignty and love. [23:02]

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"

Reflection: In what ways can you deepen your personal relationship with God today, moving beyond mere rituals to truly knowing Him as a living presence in your life?


Day 2: The Powerless Nature of Idolatry
Idolatry, whether through physical idols or abstract concepts, lacks life and power. In contrast, true Christianity involves a relationship with a living God who actively engages with His creation. The early church's dynamic faith, which turned the world upside down, was rooted in this knowledge of God. Idolatry offers no real power or life, while the God of Christianity is a creator and sustainer of the universe, listening and responding to our prayers. This understanding calls us to examine the idols in our own lives and turn to the living God who offers true power and life. [26:17]

Isaiah 44:9-10 (ESV): "All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing?"

Reflection: Identify one idol in your life, whether a physical object or an abstract concept, and consider how you can replace it with a deeper reliance on the living God.


Day 3: God's Revelation Through Nature
Nature and creation reveal God's power and majesty, pointing to a divine creator. The intricacy and order of the universe testify to God's existence and His sovereign rule over all. This understanding is foundational to knowing God as the sovereign Lord of the universe. By observing the natural world, we can gain insights into God's character and His creative power, which should lead us to worship and trust Him more fully. [33:13]

Psalm 19:1-2 (ESV): "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge."

Reflection: Spend time in nature today, observing the intricacy and beauty around you. How does this experience deepen your understanding of God's power and majesty?


Day 4: The Certainty of Prophecy and Scripture
Prophecy and scripture provide undeniable evidence of God's existence and plan. The fulfillment of prophecies in the life of Jesus Christ is a testament to God's active involvement in history. Through scripture, God has revealed Himself and His purposes, offering us a reliable foundation for our faith. This certainty should inspire confidence in God's promises and encourage us to delve deeper into His Word to understand His will for our lives. [40:50]

2 Peter 1:19-21 (ESV): "And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

Reflection: Reflect on a specific prophecy from the Bible that has been fulfilled. How does this fulfillment strengthen your faith in God's promises and His Word?


Day 5: Jesus Christ as the Ultimate Proof
Jesus Christ is the ultimate proof of God's existence, demonstrating divine authority and power through His life, death, and resurrection. The early Christians, having witnessed these events and experienced the Holy Spirit's power, prayed with confidence and assurance. This same confidence is available to us today if we truly know God and have a personal relationship with Him. Jesus' life and work are the foundation of our faith, empowering us to live with boldness and assurance in God's promises. [49:56]

Colossians 1:15-17 (ESV): "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Reflection: Consider how the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ impact your daily life. How can you live more boldly and confidently in light of His divine authority and power?

Quotes

In a world filled with uncertainty and crisis, the essence of Christianity is to bring us into a profound knowledge of God. This knowledge is not merely about experiencing thrills or having our sins forgiven, though these may be part of the journey. The ultimate goal is to know God as a living, personal being who is actively involved in our lives. [00:21:33]

The ultimate object of the Christian faith is to bring us all to a knowledge of God, the very thing that these people have got. And if we haven't come to a knowledge of God, well, to say the very least, our Christianity is something which is very defective. [00:23:08]

These men and women here in the early church knew God as the Living God. They were talking to a person, a living being. It's the very essence of prayer. It's the thing that stands out on the very surface of this record. I say they were not crying out into the void. [00:24:57]

Idolatry, whether it be the vulgar idolatry of the populous or the refined and subtle and sophisticated idolatry of the philosophers, neither did they pray to some vague something. To whom have you been praying when you've thought you've prayed? What have you been doing? [00:27:40]

Prayer means speaking to the Living God, an acting God, a God who looks down and who knows where we are and what our circumstances are and is able to do something about it. He's the Living God. That's the one they're praying to. [00:28:26]

The essence of prayer is that in one's terrifying and terrible circumstances, one goes without hesitation immediately and directly with confidence and assurance and boldness unto Him, The Sovereign Lord of the whole universe. [00:29:58]

The early Christians didn't view things like that. They always started with the Old Testament. God didn't begin to live, you know, at the birth of Jesus Christ. God has been and will be. God is eternal. This is merely a turning point. [00:33:47]

The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and godhead, so that they are without excuse. God the Creator, these men believed that the whole universe was made by God. [00:36:54]

Prophecy, the argument of Prophecy is unanswerable. You cannot explain it in any other way whatsoever. Here it is, staring you in the face, there God who has revealed himself in the truth to men and enabled them to utter it, and especially this matter of foretelling. [00:42:02]

History, oh, here's a great proof of God and the being of the Living God, and how often does One in times of Crisis fall back on this. Thank God for it. This is the great message, if you like, of the Old Testament. [00:42:26]

Do you want to have absolute proof of the being and existence of the living, true Eternal God, The Sovereign Lord of the universe? Here it is. He has sent his only son into this world. He said he would. He promised it throughout the centuries, and then he did it. [00:48:13]

These are the proofs of the Living God, that you don't pray to an abstraction or to Ultimate Reality or to the ground of all being, but to a living personal God who thinks, who acts, who sees you, who knows all about you, can answer your prayer, and is ready to do so. [00:51:41]

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Transcript
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