Knowing Jesus: Beyond Knowledge to Relationship

Devotional

Day 1: Experiencing Eternal Life Through Knowing Jesus

True faith is not about accumulating biblical knowledge but about developing a personal relationship with Jesus. Many people, like the Pharisees, may know the scriptures extensively yet miss the essence of Christ. Eternal life, as defined by Jesus in John 17, is about knowing God and Jesus Christ intimately, not just living forever. This relationship transforms our understanding of faith from a mere collection of facts to a living, breathing connection with the Savior. By coming to Jesus, we experience eternal life, which is a deep, personal, and transformative relationship with Him. [04:47]

John 17:3 (ESV): "And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

Reflection: In what ways can you deepen your personal relationship with Jesus today, moving beyond just knowing about Him to truly knowing Him?

Day 2: Serving God, Not Money

Jesus taught that the true masters are God and money, not God and the devil, as many might assume. This highlights a subtle deception where one might think they are serving God while actually serving money. Earthly values such as wealth and status are often esteemed by men but are detestable in God's sight. Jesus exemplified a life where money was a servant, not a master, and He calls us to adopt the same perspective. By aligning our values with heavenly ones, we can ensure that our lives are truly centered on serving God. [06:47]

Matthew 6:24 (ESV): "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

Reflection: Reflect on your current priorities. Are there areas in your life where money has become a master rather than a servant? How can you realign these priorities to serve God more fully?

Day 3: Embracing Humility and Childlike Faith

Greatness in the kingdom of heaven is not about being a renowned preacher or having vast biblical knowledge, but about humbling oneself like a child. This humility is characterized by a simple trust in God, a lack of self-importance, and a readiness to forgive and forget. Jesus emphasized that such childlike faith is essential for true spiritual growth. By embracing humility, we open ourselves to a deeper relationship with God and a more profound understanding of His kingdom. [16:03]

Matthew 18:3-4 (ESV): "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Reflection: Consider an area in your life where pride or self-importance might be hindering your spiritual growth. How can you adopt a more childlike faith and humility in this area today?

Day 4: Knowing God as Our Father

Knowing God as our Father is foundational to overcoming anxiety and living a life of peace and trust. Jesus came to reveal the Father to us, and this relationship transforms our lives, enabling us to be better fathers and followers of Christ. By understanding God as our loving Father, we can find comfort and assurance in His care, which helps us navigate life's challenges with confidence and peace. [24:24]

Matthew 6:31-32 (ESV): "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all."

Reflection: How does knowing God as your Father change the way you approach your worries and anxieties? What steps can you take today to deepen your trust in His provision and care?

Day 5: Living by God's Call

Stepping out in faith requires a clear call from God. It's not about pursuing Christian work for recognition but about fulfilling God's specific plan for our lives. Trusting God to provide and guide us is essential for a life of faith. By seeking His direction and being obedient to His call, we can live a life that is truly aligned with His purposes and experience the fullness of His blessings. [38:18]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to step out in faith? How can you seek His guidance and trust Him to lead you in this area today?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound difference between possessing knowledge of the scriptures and truly knowing Jesus. It's possible to read the Bible and yet miss the essence of Christ within its pages. This is akin to the Pharisees, who had extensive knowledge but lacked a relationship with Jesus. The core of our faith should not be about accumulating information or adhering to rituals, but about coming to Jesus and experiencing eternal life through Him. Eternal life, as Jesus defined in John 17, is not merely about living forever but about knowing God and Jesus Christ intimately.

We delved into the concept of values, contrasting human values with heavenly ones. Many things esteemed by men, such as wealth and status, are detestable in God's sight. Jesus taught that the true masters are God and money, not God and the devil, as many believe. This highlights the subtle deception where one might think they are serving God while actually serving money. Jesus exemplified a life where money was a servant, not a master, and He calls us to adopt the same perspective.

Furthermore, we discussed the importance of humility and childlike faith. Jesus emphasized that greatness in the kingdom of heaven is not about being a renowned preacher or having vast biblical knowledge, but about humbling oneself like a child. This humility is characterized by a simple trust in God, a lack of self-importance, and a readiness to forgive and forget.

Finally, we reflected on the significance of knowing God as our Father. This relationship is foundational to overcoming anxiety and living a life of peace and trust. Jesus came to reveal the Father to us, and knowing Him transforms our lives, enabling us to be better fathers and followers of Christ. On this Father's Day, let us strive to know God more deeply and reflect His love and care in our families.

Key Takeaways

1. **Knowing Jesus vs. Knowing About Jesus:** It's possible to have extensive biblical knowledge yet miss the essence of Christ. True faith is about coming to Jesus and experiencing eternal life through a personal relationship with Him, not just accumulating information. [04:47]
2. **Heavenly Values vs. Earthly Values:** Many things esteemed by men, such as wealth and status, are detestable in God's sight. Jesus taught that the true masters are God and money, not God and the devil, highlighting the subtle deception of serving money while thinking one serves God. [06:47]
3. Humility and Childlike Faith: Greatness in the kingdom of heaven is about humbling oneself like a child, characterized by simple trust in God, a lack of self-importance, and a readiness to forgive and forget. This humility is essential for true spiritual growth. [16:03]
4. Knowing God as Father: Knowing God as our Father is foundational to overcoming anxiety and living a life of peace and trust. Jesus came to reveal the Father to us, and this relationship transforms our lives, enabling us to be better fathers and followers of Christ. [24:24]
5. Living by God's Call: Stepping out in faith requires a clear call from God. It's not about pursuing Christian work for recognition but about fulfilling God's specific plan for our lives. Trusting God to provide and guide us is essential for a life of faith. [38:18]
** [38:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[04:19] - The Danger of Knowledge Without Jesus
[05:00] - Human Values vs. God's Values
[06:35] - The True Masters: God and Money
[07:22] - Jesus' Example of Money as a Servant
[08:15] - Eternal Life: Knowing God
[09:26] - The Difference Between Goodness and Knowing God
[10:16] - Fulfilling God's Plan for Your Life
[11:12] - Jesus' Mission and Our Purpose
[12:22] - The Importance of Knowing Jesus
[13:03] - Eternal Life Defined
[14:30] - Knowing Jesus in Everyday Life
[15:20] - True Greatness in the Kingdom
[16:43] - Humility and Childlike Faith
[19:06] - Keeping God's Commandments
[21:39] - Knowing the Father
[24:24] - Overcoming Anxiety Through Knowing the Father
[29:12] - Being a Father Like God
[37:03] - Trusting God for Provision
[40:15] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

John 17:3 - "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
Luke 16:15 - "He said to them, 'You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.'"
Matthew 18:4 - "Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

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Observation Questions:

According to John 17:3, what is the definition of eternal life? How does this differ from common perceptions of eternal life? [13:03]
In Luke 16:15, Jesus speaks about what is highly esteemed by men. What does He say about these values, and how does this contrast with God's perspective? [05:00]
What example does Jesus use in Matthew 18:4 to illustrate greatness in the kingdom of heaven? How does this example challenge common views of greatness? [16:03]
How does the sermon describe the difference between knowing about Jesus and truly knowing Him? [04:47]

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Interpretation Questions:

How might the understanding of eternal life as knowing God and Jesus personally change a person's approach to their faith and daily life? [13:03]
What are some modern examples of values that are highly esteemed by people but may be detestable in God's sight? How can believers discern between the two? [05:00]
Why does Jesus emphasize childlike humility as a key to greatness in the kingdom of heaven? How does this humility manifest in practical terms? [16:03]
The sermon mentions the subtle deception of serving money while thinking one serves God. How can believers ensure that God, not money, is their true master? [06:47]

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Application Questions:

Reflect on your personal relationship with Jesus. Do you find yourself knowing about Him more than truly knowing Him? What steps can you take to deepen this relationship? [04:47]
Consider the values you hold dear. Are there any that might be more aligned with worldly standards than with God's values? How can you realign your values with those of the kingdom of heaven? [05:00]
In what areas of your life do you struggle with humility? How can adopting a childlike faith help you grow spiritually and relationally with others? [16:03]
Anxiety often stems from a lack of trust in God as our Father. What specific anxieties do you face, and how can knowing God as your Father help you overcome them? [24:24]
Reflect on your financial decisions and priorities. Are there ways in which money has become a master rather than a servant in your life? What changes can you make to ensure God remains your true master? [06:47]
How can you actively seek to know God more deeply this week, especially in the context of being a better parent or mentor to those around you? [29:12]
Identify one area in your life where you feel called to step out in faith. What would it look like to trust God for provision and guidance in this area? [38:18]

Sermon Clips

"You can read the scriptures and not come to Jesus. If you don't see Jesus in the scriptures, what you've got, my brother, sister, is a knowledge of good and evil. Infant baptism is wrong, water baptism is right. Praying to Mary is wrong, we must pray to Jesus. You can go to a list of a thousand things like this where you're right, and you could be just another good Pharisee, because Jesus says you don't come to me. You haven't come closer to Jesus through reading the Bible. You've just got a lot of information, and as you pass on that information to other people, you can get a lot of honor in Christian circles." [00:04:07]

"That which is highly esteemed by men is detestable in the sight of God. Have you understood that? I don't mean whether you know the verse. Do you know that all the things that you value so highly, which men value highly, which human beings value highly, God may not value at all? Not only does not value, read it carefully, that which is highly esteemed by men is detested by God. How did men get such values then, which God detests? By partaking of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. If they had partaken of the tree of life, they would have known what God values." [00:05:20]

"Money is a master, and God is a master, and these are the two masters. Now if you go to most, I'd say 90% of Christians in the world or 99, and ask them this question, who are the two masters in the world, they will all say God and the devil. Jesus said no, the two masters are not God and the devil, it's God and money. Where did I get that from? I got that from the words of Jesus. Where do people get the idea God and the devil are the two masters? Because it's from the tree of knowledge of good and evil." [00:06:22]

"Jesus said in John chapter 17 what eternal life is. I told you man's values have been perverted when he took part of the knowledge of good and evil. And if I don't get my sense of values right, I will never be able to fulfill God's plan for my life. Let me say that again, if I don't get my values right in terms of heaven's sense of values, I will not fulfill God's plan for my life on earth. I may do 101 good things." [00:10:16]

"Jesus didn't come to earth to do a lot of good things. He came to do the will of his Father, that was it. He didn't go to China, he didn't go to Africa, there were needy people all over, he didn't go to Europe. He spent all his life in a small little nation called Israel, and in that nation, he spent about 30 years living at home and making stools and benches, and three and a half years of ministry, and at the end of it, he said, Father, I finished the work you gave me to do." [00:11:12]

"Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? You know the disciples asked that question once, and they got a surprise when Jesus said, was it Peter or Mary or who's the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? You go to the Roman Catholics and they'll give you one answer, you go to the Protestants, they'll give you another answer, and both of them are wrong. You go to the disciples, they were wrong too. Matthew 18, Jesus asked the question, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" [00:15:20]

"Whoever humbles himself like this child, he's the greatest. I'll tell you my testimony, I have meditated on that verse for many, many, many years, because I'll tell you, I said, Lord, I want to be great in the kingdom of heaven. I don't want to be great on this earth, I don't even want to be great among Christians. I don't want to be known among Christians, I don't care if nobody in the world knows me, I want to be great in the kingdom of heaven." [00:16:43]

"Jesus said in Matthew 11 and verse 27, the middle of that verse, Matthew 11:27, no one knows the Son except the Father. If you know Jesus Christ, it is because the Father revealed him to you, not because of your cleverness. Humble yourself and say, God revealed Jesus to me, and listen to this, no one can know the Father except the Son and the one to whom the Son reveals him. You cannot know the Father by hearing some preacher explaining what God." [00:21:39]

"Jesus has to reveal the Father to you. I'll give you my own testimony. I was born in a Christian family, my father was born again before I was born, so I had the good fortune of being sent to born-again Christian churches right from childhood. I never went to a nominal Christian church even as a child, also to Sunday school, but for 19 years of my life, I did not know Jesus Christ as my personal savior till the day came in my life where I began to know Jesus Christ as my personal savior." [00:24:24]

"Do you know this Father who knows the number of hairs on your head? If you wake up one morning and you find a hair on your pillow, do you get worried about it? Oh, one hair is gone, I don't have much hair, I don't worry about it myself, but my Father in heaven, he knew the exact moment when that hair fell off my head into the pillow. You may think that's ridiculous, it's not, I believe what Jesus said." [00:29:12]

"Know the Father, there'll be zero anxiety in your life, I'll tell you, there will be zero anxiety. You can go to any place that God sends you. Some of you are concerned about your job insecurity. Is there anything that the Father in heaven doesn't know about that he cannot solve? Is there a problem on earth that your heavenly Father cannot solve? We all need to know the Father better, and then we will be better fathers to our children." [00:37:03]

"When I stepped out of the navy 56 years ago, I took my entire life savings, I spent about 11 years in the navy and gave it all away for the Lord's work. I said I'm going to step out to serve you with zero in my bank account. I stepped out with zero in my bank account, and when Annie married me, we had zero in our bank account, said we're going to trust God to provide our needs, and that's 54 years ago." [00:38:18]

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Knowing Jesus: Beyond Knowledge to Relationship

Devotional

Day 1: Experiencing Eternal Life Through Knowing Jesus

Day 2: Serving God, Not Money

Day 3: Embracing Humility and Childlike Faith

Day 4: Knowing God as Our Father

Day 5: Living by God's Call

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Knowing Jesus: Beyond Knowledge to Relationship

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