Search Me and Know Me
John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
To be known by someone is an intimate association. Often, people say, “to know in the biblical sense” referring to physical intimacy. While that is an accurate assessment in many situations in the Scriptures, knowing God and other people, biblically speaking, is most certainly far more intimate and deep … there is simply another level all together of closeness in disciples. The last few weeks our congregation has experienced the hand of God in the exposure of sin as well as the number of baptisms. These two opposing directions seem to clash radically, while some are being disciplined by God, others are being brought into the light. In fact, these two directions go hand in hand in the heart of God. As he has “reï¬?ned by ï¬?re” that our faith” may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor” 1 Peter 1:7 the Phoenix International Christian Church has seen ï¬?ve incredible baptisms in the last seven weeks! God’s heart is to truly know us and to be known by us … he desires and expects intimacy on an entirely different level. We are called to have the heart of David and ask God to “search me and know me” Psalm 139:23.
1. Know Him Genesis 3:8-11 “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me… she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
Adam walked intimately with God in the Garden of Eden until he sinned. As soon as he sinned, Adam felt his nakedness, when before it was not an issue. This “self-awareness” is not of God. Adam no longer wanted to walk with God, his sin made him want to hide and even try to deceive God. It is the same with us. As we allow sin to slip into our hearts, we get distant and want to hide from God and other godly people. Are you dealing radically with sin? You and I must protect our relationship with God … the most important and special friendship we will ever have is at stake. In addition, Adam did not protect Eve but blamed his wife. This radical departure from God’s plan is also seen in us when we allow sin to stay in our hearts. Ever felt like not attending church or skipping Bible Talk because you are guilty? Often people do not even return phone calls because of unrepentant sin. Why? Sin separates us from God and from each other. Are you dealing radically with sin so you can continue to walk with God and be in fellowship joyfully with other disciples? The challenge here is to have the desire to know God intimately and so be able to stay in close fellowship with others.
2. Seek Him Psalm 27:4, 8 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple- My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.
Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
Psalm 119:1-2, 10 Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart- I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stay from your commands.
This must be our hearts. I learned a long time ago, that when a man falls in love with God and his Word, you cannot get rid of him. No matter what happens to him, he will persevere and not just remain faithful; but that man will get stronger and more like Jesus. How is your walk with God? Are you in love with him and his word? Are you reading his word and praying daily … longing for time with God, and is it your heart to just get to know him better by seeking him? There is supernatural strength in a real walk with God as the “dynamite” of God cuts our hearts and gives us encouragement. In daily prayer we can ï¬?nd the strength God promised when we were baptized. Church, let us be known as lovers of prayer and the word of God.
3. Search Me Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
A few days ago I was frustrated and really wrestling with God. I realized that although I had confessed my sins to God and to the brothers, I did not go all the way and ask God to search me. I was relieved that my sin of the moment was dealt with, not seeing the heart God really wants. God wants to have us humble and vulnerable hearts that are willing to have him search the innermost places in our hearts. Then he can show us our sin and temptation on a heart level, and we can have the power to overcome. In addition to this, God knows all these things anyway (Hebrews 4:13), but how much better to lay our hearts bare with true openness rather than being found out later. As one of my best friends always says, “You can get ï¬?red up now or ï¬?red up later” … I say, “You can have God search you now or search you later”- What kind of intimacy do you want with God? Let each of us strive to have David’s heart to allow God to search us now and show us anything offensive so we can be holy as He is holy. Righteousness comes from faith as we obey the word: Psalm 32:1-2 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.
He stoops down to make me great,
Matt Sullivan
The Brothers & Sisters in Phoenix would like to welcome to our Latin ministry: Luis Garcia, Raul Vazquez, Fermin Soriano, Maricela, Jaime & Megan Torres who are placing their membership today from Portland, OR.
“So the word of God spread …” Acts 6:7
