Learning to Know God Experientially

“Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise and skillful person glory and boast in his wisdom and skill; let not the mighty and powerful person glory and boast in his strength and power; let not the person who is rich [in physical gratification and earthly wealth] glory and boast in his [temporal satisfactions and earthly] riches;

24 But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me [personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My character], that I am the Lord, Who practices loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24 (AMP)

“I am the Lord exercising or practicing loving-kindness…” According to Strong’s Concordance, the word loving-kindness here means God’s mercy. God’s mercy is put in the first and highest place, because without it we would flee from God in fear.

There are 6.7 billion people on the earth today and millions confess to know the God of creation. With thousands of years having gone by, we have had time to study, discern and search to find the truth about this awesome God. One thing we can all say without a shadow of doubt is that we are looking for a God who is full of love, mercy, compassion and peace.

Learn to know Him
The word of God says in Daniel 12:4 that knowledge will increase in the last days or “at the time of the end”. The wealth of information and technology available today has opened up a whole new world and with the extreme pace that we live our lives at, it is easy to be distracted from learning to know our God daily in an experiential way.

When we learn to know Him, it is easy to boast in Him and not in our own wealth, our own wisdom, or in our own mighty deeds, because we know all of these qualities come from Him and not ourselves. God says He takes delight in it when we understand and know Him. Hallelujah!

As believers, we are only beginning to know our God, and come to an understanding of what He has done for us. He sent His Son to cross the boundaries and limitations that stood between God and the human race. He bridged the gap and reconciled us back to our God; we now have a relationship with our heavenly Father and are no longer estranged and alienated from Him. We need to pause, stop, drop everything, be still and know that God is still on the throne and is watching over us as a faithful father. God’s desire is to know man and mankind to know their God; this is what we were created for. What a mighty God we serve!

Paul says ”That I may know Him experientially”

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, (or whatever it takes) I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11

That I may know Him – this means in an experiential way. Paul is saying that I may be fully acquainted with His nature, His character, His love. This should be the burning desire in the heart and mind of every Christian – to know Christ experientially.

The Apostle Paul wanted to know the Lord Jesus Christ experientially. He wanted to know Him in His resurrection, in His sufferings (read 2 Cor.11:22-33), and not only to know Him in His death, but even to die like Him, so that by any means (or whatever it took) he would attain to the resurrection from the dead.

When we get to know our God and grasp the immense revelation of who He is, and what He has done for us, nothing will be able to stop the Body of Christ from sharing His love, His mercy, His gracious generosity and abounding goodness.

Paul is one of the greatest examples of what a true man of God is. Saul, before he became Paul, was a blasphemer, a rebel against Christ. He says in Acts 26:11 when Christians were put to death “I cast my vote against them.” But when he had an encounter of the God-kind on the road to Damascus, his life was changed forever and he followed the Lord wholeheartedly.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul says, “Imitate me just as I imitate Christ.” This is a very powerful statement. I believe that we should all aspire to live our lives for Christ so that others will want to imitate us as we imitate Christ.

When we learn to know Christ in an experiential way, we are learning firsthand about His character, His love, His mercy, His grace and compassion. Someone once said that experience is the greatest teacher.

As we learn to know Christ in an experiential way we will become bolder and be able to stand firm on His word. As I have learned to depend on Him, He has delivered me out of some hair-raising situations. He is there for every believer who has called on His name – just as I could call on my older brothers at any time and they would be there to help me out of any crisis I found myself in. After all, isn’t that what family is all about?

Believers are brought not only to redemption, but to the Redeemer Himself. The best way to learn to know Him is through His Word, obedience to His word and spending time with Him daily in prayer. You will begin to experience His presence and influence in your life in a way that will change you forever. May this devotional be an inspiration to you to walk in a deeper revelation knowledge of who you are in Christ and who Christ is in you.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Evangelist Peter Rahme