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 for righteousness’
sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in
your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a
defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;
yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that,
when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may
be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be
God’s will, than for doing evil.

1 Peter 2:21 (ESV) – For to this you have been called, because Christ also
suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his
steps.

Study Questions

1. Who’s a person you thought you knew who you found out did
something you never would have imagined they would have done? Explain
2. What makes you think you know someone well?
3. Dr. Samuel Chand says we hire people for what they know and fire
them for who they are? What makes it difficult to really know who someone
is before you hire them?
4. What’s the best way to know someone?
5. Who knows you best? Why do you think that person knows you as
well as they do?
6. What does it mean for you to know Jesus Christ as your savior?
7. How do you need to act to show you’ve made a decision to know
Jesus Christ as your savior?
8. How have experiences in your past helped you to know God in a
greater way?
9. What experiences are you currently going through that are helping
you know God in a deeper way?
10. When you face struggles this week, how can you remember to rejoice
in what God is doing rather than complain about what you’re going
through?