Knowing Jesus
Know Jesus; Know Peace. No Jesus; No Peace!
You may be asked if you know who the President is. But, knowing who he is and knowing him are two very different things. It’s not enough to know about Jesus. We must connect with Him personally.
John 8:19 Then they asked Him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know Me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew Me, you would know my Father also.”
“Know” in the Greek = eidó (i’-do) meaning to remember as a relation or family member, intimately; to appreciate.
1 John 2:3-6 And we can be sure that we know Him if we obey His commandments.
4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.
5 But those who obey God’s Word truly show how completely they love Him. That is how we know we are living in Him.
6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
Knowing Jesus comes from knowing His Word. To the degree or measure that you know Jesus and His Word, is the same degree or measure of peace you have. To the degree that you keep your mind on Jesus and His Word, is the degree of peace you have.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You: because he trusts in You. Trust = to hie for refuge; confidence, boldness.
Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His
shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
Grace is not a doctrine; it is a person. When God looked down on the human race and saw we needed grace, He didn’t send an instruction manual. He sent His Son.
John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
No one ever died or stayed dead in Jesus’ presence. Dead areas in your life are there because you are not conscience of His presence.
Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Hebrew word for trouble is tsarah (tsaw-raw’) = adversary, adversity, affliction, anguish, distress, tribulation, tight spot, trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
Do you treat your friend as if they are in the future? He is the “I AM.”
Isaiah 41:10-11 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
11 “Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; Those who contend with you will be as nothing and will perish.
John 8:52-58 The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys My teaching will never die!’
53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
54 Jesus answered, “If I want glory for Myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my Father who will glorify Me. You say, ‘He is our God,’
55 but you don’t even know Him. I know Him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know Him and obey Him.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad.”
57 The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!
Knowing Jesus means to trust and obey. Not from past experiences; not always looking forward to “one day;” but fresh and anew, intimacy with Him every day.