Growing in the ‘Knowledge of Him’

Nothing will influence our lives like our perspective of things, for what we see will become the motivating force in our Christian lives. What sustained Moses in the wilderness and David on the run from Saul, and many others, was their vision and knowledge. The word tells us that they persevered because they saw him who was invisible; their faith was active (Hebrews 11.27). If our plans, agendas, ideas and visions don’t need God, or include Him, then they are not of God, neither are they born of real faith. Destiny is not determined by what we possess, but what possesses us.

“My people are destroyed through lack of knowledge” wrote Hosea the prophet. The days that we live are times where the real thing is often replaced by the counterfeit, and because we are often unsure as to the genuineness of the true article, we are lured away and deceived, and our faith can become defective. Faith, as an act in itself, holds no power; it is not faith that moves mountains, but faith in God, born out of revelation and knowledge. Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian Church was “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” (Ephesians 1:17). The Psalmist declared that “They that know your name will put their trust in you”.

Faith that is real and makes a difference springs from knowing God; the greater the knowledge, the greater the faith. God is not interested in the elaborate structures of organised religion; He is looking for those with no pretensions of greatness or concern about image and for those whose hearts are turned towards him; a faith that is real and genuine, along with a love relationship and a desire to know Him. In the midst of Job’s indescribable sorrows and pain, God was at work, and the scriptures tell us that Job continued to trust. There are times when we do not know what the Lord is doing in our lives; we cry out, but often receive no answer; we seek to find him in all directions, but His whereabouts are not discernible (Job 23: 8-9). It is very often down to trust, for trust, especially when darkness prevails, is the highest form of faith.

It was said of Abraham that he was fully assured that what God had promised, He was able to perform. It was this revelation of God, this knowledge that enabled him to exercise the faith that we read about in the Word, and it was this knowledge that enabled Abraham to offer to his nephew Lot the land of his choice, knowing that God had greater things in store for him. So what do we conceive God to be? History has proven that our concept of God not only fashions our thinking, but will set our standards and influence our behaviour, for no people, nation or religion has ever risen to be greater than its thoughts, meditations and visions of God. To know that your life has a glorious destiny in Christ is a vital step in knowledge, but to have an understanding of how great and mighty our God is, how much He loves us, and where we fit into His plan and purpose for our lives, is another.

We live in a spiritual environment. On Ruskin’s Monument at Derwent Water there is an inscription: “The Spirit of the Lord is around us in the air that we breathe; His Glory is in the light we see; in the fruitfulness of the earth, and in the joy of His creation”. God is constantly at work in our lives to enlarge our vision, broaden our horizons, and deepen our knowledge of Him. “Call on me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know” (Jeremiah 33.3). What an exciting promise – Join with me as we seek to know Him more.

Blessings to you all

From Jack

Author info

Jack has been a faithful member of the Free Methodist Church for 34 years, spending many of those years in leadership. He lives in Lancashire, UK, and has recently celebrated 60 years as being a Christian! Find our more about Jack and the story behind Jack’s corner: Treasures of the Word here.

Jack Kerridge