BIBLE BASICS For Smart People Who Do Not Want To Be Dummies About God and the Bible LESSON 1 - What About God? (Continued) 20. GOD IS JOYFUL. "In His presence is fullness of joy." 21. GOD HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR. He made monkeys! 22. GOD IS KNOWABLE. "They shall all know me..." (Jeremiah 31:34), spoken prophetically of Israel, yet in the future. When Jesus returns with his mighty angels he will take vengeance "On them that KNOW NOT God" (2 Thessalonians 1:8). "He that says, I KNOW him and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (1 John 2:4). "They profess that they KNOW God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate" (Titus 1:16). WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO *KNOW* GOD? Do we really know God? 1. Some people know ABOUT God. 2. One person may say that he KNOWS someone, but his is just a casual acquaintance. 3. One person may KNOW another person intimately, as a husband and wife. HOW CAN WE KNOW GOD INTIMATELY 1. Search for Him (Jeremiah 29:13). 2. Call upon Him (Romans 10: 13). 3. Come near to Him (James 4:8, Matthew 11:28-30; John 6:37). 4. Listen to Him. His Word is a mighty revelation of God. 5. Open your life to Him (Revelation 3:20). 6. Love Him (Deuteronomy 6:5). 7. Obey Him (1 Samuel 15:22; 1 John 2:4). 8. Commit yourself to Him (Psalm 37:5; 2 Timothy 1:12). 9. Observe His marvelous creation (Romans 1). DO WE KNOW THE GOD OF THE BIBLE, THE GOD WHO MADE HEAVEN AND EARTH? Some people "worship" a god of their own imagination, because they do not know God as He is revealed in the Bible. They are not properly informed about Him and do not really know Him in a personal way. Jesus said to the woman at the well of Samaria, "You worship you know not what; we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22). Therefore one might say that some people "create" their own god rather than knowing the true creator God. IDOLS. "Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments" (Exodus 20:3-5). AN IDOL IS SOMEONE OR SOMETHING THAT TAKES THE PLACE OF GOD. John said, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols" (1 John 5:21). Is there anything that takes God's place in your life? During the week or on the Lord's Day (Sunday). To many, Sunday is not the Lord's Day; Sunday is "Funday" or a work day, not a day for God and for rest. Some people's god is "the almighty dollar," as they say. Some live for pleasure, not for God. Some people do worship Satan and demons; others just serve them and think they are ignoring both God and Satan. "Please tell me more." --- The Missing Link, Inc. P. O. Box 40031 Cleveland, Ohio 44140 USA Tel. 440-201-6046 http://misslink.org/cover Copyright © 2018 Swiss Valley Web Design Bible Basics Index/ God/ Bible/ Jesus/ Holy Spirit/ Creation/ Sin Forgiveness/ Prayer/ Angels/ Death/ Resurrection/ Judgment Second Coming/ The Church/ Worship/ Jesus' Birth/ Commandments Jesus' Life/ Bible Instructions/ Crucifixion/ Resurrection (2) Eternal Security/ Holiness/ Salvation Seminar/ Webmaster