Knowing God: The Foundation of Spiritual Authority

Devotional

Day 1: Knowing God Is the Key to Strength and Impact

True strength and the ability to do great exploits as a believer are rooted in knowing God personally, not just knowing about Him. When you truly know God, your life is marked by spiritual power and effectiveness, and you are able to stand firm and accomplish things that are beyond your natural ability. This knowledge is not just intellectual but experiential, shaping your confidence and actions in every area of life. [41:00]

Daniel 11:32 (NKJV)
"Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need God’s strength to do something beyond your own ability, and how can you intentionally seek to know Him more deeply in that area today?

Day 2: Jesus Alone Reveals the True Nature of God

No one has truly seen or fully understood God except Jesus, who alone declares and reveals the Father’s heart, character, and nature. All our ideas about God must be measured against what Christ has shown us, for He is the only one qualified to make God known. If you want to know who God is, you must look to Jesus and His words, for He alone is the perfect revelation of the Father. [50:59]

John 1:18 (NKJV)
"No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him."

Reflection: What is one aspect of Jesus’ life or teaching that challenges your current understanding of who God is, and how can you let that truth reshape your relationship with Him?

Day 3: The Name of the Lord Is Authority and Character

The “name” of God is not just a label but represents His authority and character; knowing His name means understanding who He is and what He is able to do. When you know God’s character, you can trust Him fully and act with boldness, knowing that His authority backs you up. This is why miracles, deliverance, and protection are all tied to the name of the Lord—because His name is a strong tower, and those who know it can run to Him and be safe. [59:49]

Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV)
"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe."

Reflection: What is one promise or attribute of God’s character that you need to “run to” and trust in today, especially in a situation where you feel vulnerable or afraid?

Day 4: Faith in God’s Character Releases Miracles

Miracles happen when believers place their faith not just in the words they speak, but in the character and authority of God Himself. Like Peter at the temple, when you know God’s character, you can act boldly and expect God to move, even when circumstances seem impossible. Your job as a Christian is to seek to know God’s name—His character—so that you can become more like Him and walk in His authority, bringing healing and transformation wherever you go. [01:06:21]

Acts 3:6, 16 (NKJV)
"Then Peter said, 'Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.' ... And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all."

Reflection: Where do you need to step out in faith today, trusting in God’s character and authority rather than your own resources or abilities?

Day 5: The Purpose of the Church Is to Know and Reflect God

The ultimate reason for gathering as the church is to know God deeply and to be transformed into His likeness, so that we can represent Him to the world. It is not about religious routine or simply belonging to a group, but about seeking to know God’s character and authority so fully that we become His ambassadors, carrying His presence and power wherever we go. As you pursue knowing God, you are equipped to do the works of Christ and to bring His life to others. [01:10:28]

2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJV)
"Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God."

Reflection: What is one way you can intentionally reflect God’s character and represent Him to someone in your life or community this week?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered in gratitude for God’s goodness and the joy of fellowship, celebrating the connections that span continents and generations. Our time together was a reminder that every encounter in God’s presence is purposeful, and that our journey—no matter how far from home—always centers on Him. The heart of our reflection was a simple but profound question: Who is God? Too often, we define God by what He does—Creator, Healer, Provider—or by the emotions He evokes, like love or kindness. Yet, these are only expressions or actions, not the essence of who He is.

Scripture reveals that knowing God is the foundation for strength and for doing great exploits. Daniel 11:32 declares, “The people who know their God shall be strong and do exploits.” This knowing is not about religious activity or even spiritual gifts, but about a deep, personal relationship. Even in heaven, it is not what we have done, but who we know—specifically, knowing Christ—that grants us access. Jesus Himself said that many will claim to have done mighty works, but He will say, “I never knew you.” The implication is clear: our impact and our destiny hinge on truly knowing God.

But how do we know God? The answer is not found in our own ideas or even in the experiences of the patriarchs, but in Christ, who alone has declared the Father. Jesus is the full revelation of God’s character and authority. The “name” of God is not just a label like Jesus, Emmanuel, or Counselor; it is the very character and authority of God. To know the name is to know the character that gives us authority over all things. This is why miracles, deliverance, and victory are possible—not because of formulas, but because of relationship and revelation.

Our calling is to seek to know God’s name, to become so aligned with His character that we walk in His authority. Church is not a place to graduate from, but a place to continually grow in the knowledge of God. As ambassadors for Christ, we are called to manifest His character and authority in the world, bringing healing, deliverance, and hope. The next generation must be equipped not just with knowledge about God, but with a living, experiential knowledge of Him, so that they can stand strong and do exploits in His name.

Key Takeaways

1. Knowing God is the foundation for spiritual strength and effectiveness. It is not enough to know about God or to recount His works; true strength comes from a personal, experiential relationship with Him. This relationship empowers us to do great exploits, as our authority flows from intimacy, not activity. [41:00]
2. Our understanding of God must be shaped by Christ’s revelation, not merely by tradition or even the experiences of biblical figures like Moses. Jesus alone fully declares the Father, and any concept of God that does not align with Christ’s revelation is incomplete or even mistaken. This challenges us to continually refine our understanding of God in light of Christ. [50:59]
3. The “name” of God is more than a title; it represents His character and authority. To know the name is to know the very essence of who God is, and this knowledge gives us access to all that He has. Miracles and breakthroughs are not the result of formulas, but of knowing and trusting in the character behind the name. [56:11]
4. Our journey as believers is to seek, know, and become like the name—God’s character. Church is not a place to pass through, but a place to be transformed until our character and authority reflect God’s own. If our lives do not yet mirror His character, we are called to keep seeking and growing, not to “graduate” from the process. [68:14]
5. As ambassadors for Christ, we are entrusted with His authority to bring healing, deliverance, and hope to the world. This responsibility is not reserved for a select few, but for all who know the name and character of God. The next generation must be equipped to know God deeply, so they can stand strong and do exploits in His name, resisting the pull of the world and manifesting His life. [76:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Greetings from Ghana and Ministry
[02:30] - Honoring Friends and Hosts
[06:10] - The Purpose of Our Gathering
[08:30] - Opening Prayer: Help Us Know You
[10:00] - The Importance of Knowing God
[13:00] - Who Is God? Beyond What He Does
[17:00] - The Danger of Secondhand Knowledge
[20:00] - Moses, Jesus, and the Revelation of God
[24:00] - Christ Alone Declares the Father
[28:00] - The Power and Meaning of the Name
[32:00] - Authority Flows from Character
[36:00] - Becoming Like the Name
[40:00] - Ambassadors for Christ: Our Calling
[44:00] - Prayer, Impartation, and Closing Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Daniel 11:32 (NKJV) — > "Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits."

2. John 1:18 (NKJV)
> "No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him."

3. John 17:25-26 (NKJV)
> "O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."

Observation Questions

According to Daniel 11:32, what is the result of knowing God? How does this compare to simply knowing about God?
In John 1:18, what does it say about who can truly reveal God to us?
In the sermon, what examples were given of how people usually describe God, and why did the speaker say these are incomplete? [[44:53]]
What does Jesus say He has done for His followers in John 17:25-26 regarding the Father’s name?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that knowing God is not about religious activity or even spiritual gifts, but about a deep, personal relationship. Why is this distinction important for a believer’s life? [[41:00]]
The speaker contrasts Moses’ experience of “seeing God” with Jesus’ unique revelation of the Father. What does this teach us about how we should shape our understanding of God? [[50:59]]
The sermon explains that the “name” of God is more than a label—it’s about character and authority. How does this understanding change the way we pray or act in Jesus’ name? [[56:11]]
The message says that our authority as believers flows from intimacy with God, not from formulas or activities. What are some dangers of relying on spiritual routines instead of relationship? [[57:19]]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to move beyond knowing about God to truly knowing Him. What is one area of your life where you have settled for secondhand knowledge of God? How can you pursue a more personal relationship with Him this week? [[43:42]]
When you think about God, do you tend to define Him by what He does (like Creator, Healer) or by who He is? How might your relationship with God change if you focused more on His character than His actions? [[44:53]]
The speaker said that miracles and breakthroughs come from knowing and trusting the character behind the name, not from using formulas. Is there a situation in your life where you have been relying on a “formula” instead of seeking God’s character? What would it look like to shift your focus? [[56:11]]
The message says church is not a place to “graduate” from, but a place to keep growing in the knowledge of God. Have you ever felt like you’ve “arrived” spiritually or become complacent? What is one step you can take to keep growing? [[01:08:14]]
As ambassadors for Christ, we are called to bring healing, deliverance, and hope. Is there someone in your life who needs to experience God’s character through you? What is one practical way you can show them God’s love or authority this week? [[01:10:28]]
The sermon expressed concern for the next generation, that they need a living, experiential knowledge of God. If you have influence over younger people (children, youth, friends), how can you help them know God personally and not just know about Him? [[01:16:52]]
The speaker said, “If our lives do not yet mirror His character, we are called to keep seeking and growing.” What is one aspect of God’s character you want to reflect more in your life, and what is a specific action you can take this week to grow in that area? [[01:08:14]]

Sermon Clips

Because it's very easy for you to say the name is Jesus. Is that not it? I remember the Bible said that the name is called Jesus. Meaning that the name is labeled Jesus. Meaning that there is a name, but you label that name Jesus. You didn't get it. There is a name, but that is the label of the name. It's just like this thing. I could name it anything I wanted to name it, but I decided to name it a drum cover or a drum housing. It is just the name, but the power of this thing is its ability to hold the sound so that it doesn't pierce my ears. And many times we take the level that we give it to the name. That is the reason why people get so much confused when we say Emmanuel and one day we say Jesus and another day we say His wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father. Because we are so confused, but they are all labels. They are ways of referring to the name. So what is the name? Because the name is the Father. [01:02:48] (65 seconds) #NameBeyondLabels

The word name comes from the Greek word onuma that means authority and character. Say authority or character. So when we say, let me tell you something. The Bible says that the two shall become one, right? Okay, so let me talk to my friend so that if I talk to you, maybe you'll be offended. Let me talk to my friend. You see, now that you are married, you are getting to know each other. You see, there are times your wife will do something that you are like, ah! I didn't know this is a real way. This is a real way. I mean, even in life, you make friends and one day they show you something small. And you're like, man, I never realized who you are. Because you get... That's the definition. So he said, those who know my character, they shall be strong. [01:03:54] (78 seconds) #AuthorityAndCharacter

If I know God is able to change things by character, I know He won't let me go down because He's going to change it because I know Him by His character. Do you understand that? Because once you get to know God by His character, you know that by His character you can hang on Him. [01:05:11] (19 seconds) #KnowingRevealsTruth

If you don't know where you are going, anywhere is a destination. Is that not true? You don't know, I mean, I get up, I don't know where I'm going, I guess what, whatever I get, when I get tired, I say, and that is destination. But this is where I'm going. Listen, my job is to seek to know the name in order to become the name. That is my job. So if I am not just like it is, I'm not still there. [01:08:41] (33 seconds) #SeekToBecomeName

Why are you in church? You are in church to know God. And who is God? God is the name. What is the name? The name is the character that gives you authority over all things. So if I don't have the character that gives me authority over everything, I'm still not there. [01:10:28] (23 seconds) #ChurchIsToKnow

Because, you see, we as those who are the forerunners, that he that dwells in the bosom of the Father declares him. And the Bible says that Christ said that as, the Bible says that as he is, so are we. So if Christ dwells in the bosom of the Father, I dwell there. And if so, then if Christ, by dwelling in the bosom of the Father, can declare him, then I also, by dwelling in the bosom of the Father, ought to declare him. [01:18:27] (25 seconds) #NextGenMustKnow

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