KNOWING - HEAD OR HEART?
09th Sep 2020
There is a great difference between knowing about someone and knowing them personally. You can study theology and yet lack a personal knowing of God who wants to interact with you in so many different ways.
Paul speaks of his before and after experience, “I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him.…” (Philippians 3:10)
I have met people who in a technical way can tell me more about God, His Word and His attributes than I know. But I can tell them about my personal experiences of God, and they look mystified because at a personal level they have never experienced Him.
We live in a generation of experience seekers, touchy feely, aware of the supernatural and wanting to know God in a hands on way. Paul’s life was changed through the Damascus Road experience, when he met the personal Jesus and head knowledge reached his heart.
Do you expect the people you pray for to experience God’s amazing and personal presence? Do you encourage them to hear the voice of the Spirit? Are they receiving theory or a personal encounter?
My neighbour’s husband died two years ago leaving her with two very small children. She has coped well, but September is a hard month; the anniversary of Rick’s death and their wedding anniversary, all evoking painful memories. There is also the new school term for the children. She needs the Comforter, His powerful presence, His assurance that He will always help her, His tangible love, His comfort, direction, wisdom and so much more.
When I found Jesus at the age of 11, I knew nothing except I had invited Him to come into my heart and help me. He did, I was ignorant of the theology, but at the time I needed His presence and help in tangible ways. I asked for help in finding an item of clothing I needed for laundry at my boarding school where the rules were rigidly enforced - and He showed me where it was. That proved that God was with me and really interested in the small details of life, and wanting to draw me close, so I could know Him.
Jesus says, “Seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened - those who seek find.” I still meet Christians who say they can’t hear the voice of God. There are some who say they have heard the voice of God in the past, and I ask them whether they obeyed the last instruction and encourage them to go back to that place and start again.
You need to ask God to speak again, to make Himself real to you - so you can say “I know Him.”
PS - I recommend you read my book, “What do these Stones mean?” for more personal testimonies. You can buy it on this website - go to Books
by Joyce Sibthorpe
