How To Really KNOW God For YOURSELF

SERIES: BEING A GREAT PERSON FOR A GREAT GOD Philippians 3:8-11; Selected Scriptures By D.Z. Cofield, Th.M., D. Min. October 23, 2022 Responsive Reading – James 2:14-26 (ESV) Leader: What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? Congregation: If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, Leader: and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? Congregation: So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Leader: But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. Congregation: You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Leader: Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Congregation: Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? Leader: You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; Congregation: and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. Leader: You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Congregation: And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? Together: For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. 1. To really know God you must make the decision to KNOW The LORD for YOURSELF. Philippians 3:8-9 (ESV) – Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— Knowing – 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) – For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2. To really know God you need to realize your KNOWLEDGE of The LORD only becomes a REALITY on the other side of your EXPERIENCES. Philippians 3:10-11 (ESV) – that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Know – Mark 5:29 (ESV) – And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Power – Resurrection – Ephesians 1:19-20 (ESV) – and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, Sufferings – John 16:33 (ESV) – I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Acts 14:22 (ESV) – strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 2 Timothy 3:12 (ESV) – Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 1 Peter 3:14-17 (ESV) – But even if you should suffer fo...