The Priority and Power of Knowing God

To truly do something great or to find strength in life, everything begins with knowing God. Outward religious activity or tradition can never satisfy the deep longing of the soul; only a genuine relationship with the living God can. What we believe about God shapes who we become—our personalities, our priorities, and even our destinies. If we worship anything less than the true God, we are inevitably shaped and diminished by those lesser things. But when we seek to know the God revealed in Scripture—the Creator, Redeemer, and Friend of sinners—we are transformed and dignified.

God is not distant or unknowable. He has revealed Himself through nature and, most clearly, through His Word. While there are mysteries about God that remain hidden, He has graciously made known what we need to know for life and godliness. The pursuit of knowing God is the highest intellectual and spiritual calling. It is not enough to know about Him; we are invited to know Him personally, as a child knows a loving father, as a friend knows a friend. This relationship grows as we spend time with Him in prayer and in His Word, not just performing outward duties but cultivating a heart that loves and seeks Him.

Knowing God brings dignity and confidence. The world may boast in wisdom, power, or wealth, but Scripture teaches that the only true boast is in understanding and knowing the Lord. This relationship is the source of our true identity and worth. As we mature in faith, we move from simply knowing our sins are forgiven to overcoming spiritual battles, and ultimately to a deep, abiding knowledge of God Himself. This maturity is marked by increasing intimacy and trust.

Those who know their God are strong and do great things—not because of their own power, but because they are connected to the One who is sovereign over all. The stories of Daniel and his friends remind us that courage and faithfulness flow from a deep relationship with God. Yet, the more we know God, the more we are humbled. His sovereignty, wisdom, and love are far above us, and yet He knows us intimately and loves us deeply. Our knowledge of Him is always preceded and sustained by His knowledge of us.

The Bible stands as the unique, authoritative revelation of God, enduring through centuries of opposition and changing countless lives. It is not just a book to be admired or studied, but a living word to be treasured, obeyed, and internalized. Ultimately, the greatest comfort and strength come not from our knowledge of God, but from the assurance that He knows and loves us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Our Image of God Shapes Our Lives What we truly believe about God determines the direction and quality of our lives. If we worship lesser things—money, pleasure, self—we become like them, diminished and restless. But when we seek the true God, we are transformed, dignified, and set on a path of eternal significance. Our spiritual health depends on the accuracy and depth of our knowledge of God. [04:01]
• 2. Knowing God Is a Personal Relationship It is not enough to know facts about God; we are called to know Him personally. This relationship grows through time spent in prayer, Scripture, and honest communion. The difference between knowing about God and knowing God is the difference between religion and life, between information and transformation. [12:04]
• 3. Maturity Means Growing in Intimacy with God Spiritual maturity is not measured by years or knowledge alone, but by a deepening relationship with God. We move from spiritual childhood—knowing only that we are forgiven—to spiritual adulthood, marked by victory over sin and intimate fellowship with the eternal God. This growth requires intentional pursuit and openness to God’s ongoing work in us. [22:57]
• 4. Knowing God Brings Strength and Authority Those who know their God are strong and do exploits. True spiritual authority and courage come from a living relationship with God, not from self-confidence or worldly power. The heroes of faith were ordinary people who did extraordinary things because they knew and trusted their God. [24:41]
• 5. God’s Knowledge of Us Is Our Greatest Comfort Ultimately, our relationship with God rests not on our pursuit of Him, but on His prior and ongoing knowledge and love for us. He knows us intimately, cares for us continually, and never loses sight of us. This truth humbles us, comforts us, and energizes our faith, reminding us that we are never alone or forgotten. [31:18]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:27] - The God You May Not Know
• [02:48] - Who Is Your God?
• [04:38] - Becoming Like What We Worship
• [05:17] - The Names and Nature of God
• [06:23] - God Reveals Himself
• [08:15] - Created to Know God
• [09:25] - The Priority of Knowing God
• [12:04] - Knowing About God vs. Knowing God
• [16:22] - First Love and Heart Religion
• [16:51] - The Dignity of Knowing God
• [20:32] - The Maturity of Knowing God
• [24:09] - The Authority of Knowing God
• [27:39] - The Humility of Knowing God
• [34:21] - Do You Know God?
• [36:13] - The Bible: God’s Enduring Word
• [42:01] - A Life Saturated with Scripture
• [47:04] - The Bible’s Power to Change Lives
• [47:48] - Closing Blessing and Challenge

Bible Reading

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.”

2. Daniel 11:32b (ESV)
> ...but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.

3. 1 John 2:12-14 (ESV)
> I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Observation Questions

1. According to Jeremiah 9:23-24, what does God say people should and should not boast about?
2. In the sermon, what are some examples given of “idols” that people might worship instead of God, and how do these idols shape a person’s life? [04:38]
3. What are the three stages of spiritual maturity described in 1 John 2:12-14, and how does each stage relate to knowing God? [20:32]
4. How did Daniel and his friends demonstrate strength and courage because of their relationship with God? [24:41]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does the way we view God have such a powerful effect on our personalities, priorities, and destinies? [04:01]
2. The sermon says, “We can only worship someone we love and we can only love someone we know.” What does this mean for the difference between outward religion and a real relationship with God? [16:22]
3. According to the sermon, what does it look like to move from spiritual childhood to spiritual adulthood? What are some signs of growing intimacy with God? [22:57]
4. The sermon mentions that knowing God brings both dignity and humility. How can both of these be true at the same time? [27:39]

Application Questions

1. The sermon warns that “outward religious activity or tradition can never satisfy the deep longing of the soul.” Are there any religious habits or traditions in your life that have become empty routines? What would it look like to make them more about knowing God personally? [15:45]
2. When you think about your own image of God, do you see Him more as distant or as a loving Father and Friend? How has your view of God been shaped by your experiences, and how might it need to change? [03:27]
3. The sermon says, “If your god is money, you will become a materialist. If your god is sex, you will become increasingly sensual. If your god is yourself, you'll be more and more self-focused.” Are there any “lesser gods” or idols that you are tempted to put before God? How do you see their influence in your life? [04:38]
4. What are some practical ways you can intentionally grow in your relationship with God this week—through prayer, reading Scripture, or honest conversation with Him? [15:10]
5. The sermon describes three stages of spiritual maturity: knowing your sins are forgiven, overcoming spiritual battles, and deep, abiding knowledge of God. Which stage do you most identify with right now, and what is one step you could take to grow deeper? [22:57]
6. Daniel and his friends were able to stand strong and do great things because they knew their God. Is there a situation in your life right now where you need courage or strength? How could a deeper relationship with God help you face it? [24:41]
7. The sermon says, “Ultimately, the greatest comfort and strength come not from our knowledge of God, but from the assurance that He knows and loves us.” How does it change your perspective to remember that God knows you intimately and cares for you continually? [31:18]