knowing God the way Jesus knew Him

Have you ever wondered how you know what you know about God and His ways? When Jesus taught, the people were amazed and said “How did this man get such learning without having studied?” His reply was that He got His teachings by following God’s will (Jn 7:15-16). In fact, Jesus told them that discernment came from following God’s will: anyone who did so would know that Jesus’ teaching came from God (Jn 15:17). You might say that these people would be tuned to the same station as Jesus was.


To follow God’s will one must both read about it and hear it. We read the Bible and have a general knowledge of what the Lord wants. But He speaks directly to our hearts to tell us specifically want He wants of us. If we do what He is asking us personally to do, and obey the scripture, we are following Him . . . abiding in Him.

In Jesus’ discourse about abiding in Him He tells the disciples that they “remain” in Him if they obey His commands (Jn 15:10), and are His friends if they do what He commands (Jn 15:14). Jesus is telling the disciples that they will get more than discernment if they follow Him in obedience, for friends know the will of the Father, and He will answer their prayers (Jn 15:15 & 23-24).

Later John tells us that the love of God is shown through our obedience to Him (1 Jn 5:3). A lot of our Christian walk relies on our willingness to follow, and obey, Christ. The rise of God’s people will be epitomized by their obedience, love and knowledge of Him, their friendship with Him, their discernment, and the fabulous way He answers their prayers. These people will prophesy and teach truth because they have spent time in the presence of God.

There will also be a rise of people who have fallen away from the Faith. They will say that they know God but they do not do what He says. Because obedience is the key to knowing God and His ways, these people will prophesy and teach lies (1 Jn 2:4 and 6). Their disobedience was prophesied about long ago and is one of their most noticeable traits (2 Tim 3:2 & Titus 1:16). Jesus said that their hearts would grow cold (Mt 24:12; see also 2 Tim 3:4). They lack discernment and go after false teachers, false prophets, and antichrists. We know they are not God’s friends because He does not receive them into the celebration of the marriage of the Bride to the Lamb (Mt 25:12).

One of the reasons people turn away from obeying the scriptures and God’s spoken word is because they want a convenient, self-centered faith. They disobey because they do not believe what God requires of them (1 Pet3:8b). These people are like the seed that fell on the rock, who received the Word with joy, but have no root. When the time of testing comes upon them, they fall away (see the Parable of the Sower; Lk 8:13). It is the unbelieving and liars, among others, who partake of the second death (Rev 21:8).

For those of us who prophesy, we must know God’s ways. That is what makes ministry rich and opens up the receiver’s heart, mind and spirit. To know Him, we must obey Him. There is no other way. Let us be like the people who rise up in God’s glory, and not in shame, for we were destined to be with Him forever. Amen.