Do You Really Know God?

Do you really know God? That is the question the Lord wants us to ask ourselves. Do you really know the God of the Bible, or is it that you simply know the scriptures you have read about Him?

If we truly want to know our God, we can begin by looking into the schoolmaster - the Old Testament. It is in the Old Covenant that we see His heart and mind concerning His people. Below is His rebuke of Israel as they walked in their own way, forsaking the way of righteousness.

Scripture Sequence - Isaiah 57:10-15

Isaiah 57:10

Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope:...

I have seen this part of the rebuke play out in the Church so many times with so many sons of God. Essentially, God is saying, “You have traveled so far from righteousness in pursuit of your own way. Though I have not allowed you to succeed in your quest, you will not give up. You will not come to the place where you say, “There is no hope in this that I am doing.”

Isaiah 57:10 (Continued)

…thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved.

“You continue to look to yourself, the strength of your own hands. Therefore, you will not be convicted of unrighteousness, because your hope is in your own ability.”

Isaiah 57:11

And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?

“Your life is a lie. You have discarded from your heart the way of righteousness. Even though I (God) have held my peace a long time, you will not be convicted of your evil ways, because you do not fear me.”

This is a sharp rebuke. God was dealing with Israel concerning idolatry. They continued to worship other gods in spite of the commandments God had given them. Today is no different. Many sons of God are worshiping things other than God.

• Some worship ‘self.’
• Their way
• Their i mage
• Their desires
• Some worship money
• Some worship fame or notoriety
• Some worship knowledge

Isaiah 57:12

I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.

But God will declare or expose all our self-righteousness. He will bring it to the forefront, allowing us to do as we will. But He warns, none of our doings will profit us. But then He goes on to say…

Isaiah 57:13

When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them:...

But when judgment comes, let your way and your will deliver you. Neither is sufficient to deliver you from the judgment of God.

THOSE WHO TRUST IN GOD

Isaiah 57:13 (Continued)

…but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain;

Isaiah 57:14

And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling block out of the way of my people.

The stumbling block is placed in our lives by God. It is a guarantee that we will not enter into God’s rest, as long as we are walking contrary to the will of God. So many have deceived themselves, believing that God’s love will somehow accept or cover their sin. But the truth is, God’s love cannot and will not embrace that which He has condemned.

This is a truth the devil does not want those who have gone out of the way of holiness to receive. Nevertheless, if we should humble ourselves and come before the Lord, He will be just to forgive all our tresspasses.

Isaiah 57:15

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,...

It is true that God lives in the sons of God. But it is also true that unless we are contrite in spirit, God will not move through us. He will not override our negative dispositions and do as He has done through those who completely obeyed Him, trusted Him, and feared Him.

To be contrite is to be crushed to powder, to see ourselves as nothing were it not for God, and to embrace the fact that my making will be His doing. Whatever, I am to be, it will be His design; for I am incapable of procuring my purpose without His leadership and guidance.

This literally means, to be completely void of self and selfishness. To consider ourselves as slaves to the will of God. This is a very hard saying for some, seeing as how many of us actually worship our way, and our right to control our own lives.

This is a very bad place to be with God. He sent Jesus to die a death that purchased our mortal bodies. He is now the Master of the flesh. It belongs to Him. He will follow the commands of the Father and do through this flesh that which pleases God. But we are not in agreement with that truth. We need power. We need to exercise our own will.

But God does not work with that mindset. He works through the humble. Those who are lowly in heart. Those who walk in unprofitableness, not entitlement. Those who will forsake all their ways for the way of righteousness at any cost to them.

This life will be a life of suffering. It will include humiliation. But how will we respond to such degradation? Haughtiness and self-defensiveness is not the way of God. This is not the definition of humility.

Humility allows unfairness, disrespect, persecution and abuse. It is a manifestation of the character of Christ.

But you must be honest with yourself. “In my heart, do I really allow these things? Or, is there resentment towards the ones who perpetrate such against me?” The disposition of your heart in such instances determines humility or haughtiness.

Isaiah 57:15 (Continued)

…to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

I want to remind you of a verse of scripture that truly reflects the mind and heart of God, regarding those who refuse to live according to the Spirit within them. Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye (Acts 7:51).

Our God is faithful to those who obey His will. He will revive, or in our case, sustain the life of those who submit to His Spirit.