Know God By George Scullin People of the Living God Nov 2004 (via Mowser)

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Know God
By George Scullin
People of the Living God
Nov 2004

In Luke the tenth chapter, Jesus had sent the seventy out to preach the Kingdom of God, and they had returned rejoicing that the devils were subject to them (verse 17). Jesus then said to them in Luke 10:20, “In this rejoice not that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” Was there something wrong with casting out devils? Did not Jesus send the twelve out, giving them power to heal the sick and cast out devils (Luke 9)? Did not He say that believers would cast out devils, speak with tongues and heal the sick (Mark 16:17-18)? After Pentecost, did not the apostles have power to do all kinds of miracles and supernatural works?

Casting out devils is a supernatural work. Some think that supernatural works are evidence of spiritual stature. The truth is that supernatural works are not proof of godliness and do not assure one of eternal life. In Matthew 7:22-23, Jesus said many will claim that their supernatural works qualified them for eternal life. NOT SO. Jesus did not deny their works. He just said He did not KNOW them, and evidently they did not know Him, for He called them workers of iniquity.

Knowing God is more than acknowledging that He exists. One does not really know God unless he has a very personal relationship with Him; a recognition of His majesty that is to be honored and revered.

How do we know that our name is written in heaven? How do we know that we love God? How do we know that we know God?

“By this we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (I John 2:3-4).

That is how we know that we know Him. We do not know that we know Him just because we feel good when we are singing some chorus about God’s love for us. We do not know that we know Him because we speak with tongues. People speak with tongues and do not really know God. Men need to get this message: spirit manifestations do not prove that one has a relationship with God! The proof is that we DO WHAT HE SAID TO DO. If we do not apply the commands of the Lord Jesus to our lives and walk with God in His way, we are not going to make it. Do not expect to be there. He said so every plainly. “He that has My commandments and kept them, he it is that loves Me” (John 14:23). This is the evidence that our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life; that we love God, and that we know God.

Abraham had no supernatural works, but he knew God and God knew him. Abraham had a personal relationship with God, and he honored God by obedience. God said concerning Abraham, “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him” Gen. 18:19).

Those that believe that they know God because they are engaged in religious activities will not be prepared for the troubles that Jesus warned would come in the end time. World conditions show that we are on the verge of great changes; and we need to be prepared, because great changes are going to take place among God’s people, also.

Jesus warned us of the days that would be like Noah’s day (Matthew 24:37-39). When Noah and his family entered into the ark, God shut the door. No one else was saved. Jesus said, in Luke 13:24-27, that the “Master of the house” is going to shut the door again, and many will seek to enter in and shall not be able. These are religious people; they are not sex perverts or murderers. These people are going to say; “We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, and Thou hast taught in our streets” (verse 26). These are people who desire eternal life.

Folks, the day of salvation is going to end when God shuts the door, and those that KNOW NOT GOD are going to be lost eternally. “Blessed are they that DO His commandments that they might have right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city” (Rev. 22:14). Jesus said, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.”

Obedience to His words is the required qualification for the right to eternal life. But men do not want to “Do His commandments”

Instead of the statutes and standards that God instituted, men have devised their own inventions that appeal to the flesh, thinking that God will accept their human inventions as a substitute for spiritual values. This is actually rebellion, for they are despising God’s ways and doing their own ways. For example, consider music in the church: music was once an expression of worship, but it has become entertainment and showmanship. It may increase the size of the congregation, but God will never accept it as a substitute for obeying Him, for worshipping Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

Jesus did not accept the hypocritical churchmen of His day. He said, “Why do you call Me, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46) He even told them they were of their father, the devil (John 8:44). He did not compromise His standards for men’s desires. Esau despised the blessing of God. It meant nothing to him. He traded it for a mess of pottage. Men despise the blessing of the Lord today; they despise the straight gate and narrow way that leads to life. They despise the commands of Jesus. They despise the way of righteousness. They despise truth. They despise everything that God called men to embrace and to live by.

Jesus said, “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Men do not want to come to Him. They want Him to come to them. They want His salvation; they want Him to bless their program; they want Him to bless the way of life they choose. They want Him to bless their teachings and practices. They say that we live in a different era, and the teachings of Jesus are not applicable to our time. God will not accept their reasonings, and they will be judged as everyone else according to the words He spoke (John 12:48). They do not know God and will not receive eternal life.

“This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3).

“And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments” (I John 2:3).

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