God is Knowable
Much of the Christian world builds their understanding on what makes sense to them. Most people decide what church they should go to by whether or not they agree with the pastor. This is not inherently bad, except that most people believe according to what seems right to them.
Many pastors believe they hear from God regularly. When you ask them what this looks like, they will often describe reading scripture and getting inspired by a thought. This is possibly true, yet each pastor disagrees with the pastor down the road, and most claim to have received their understanding from God. Which one has actually heard from God? Almost none will describe having a conversation with God about what they believe they heard. The people who attend these church attend based on what they have chosen to believe. In truth, people build churches on what seems right to them.
All over the internet are sites by well meaning Christians who claim their fellow believers are teaching heresies. And, every position contradicts the next site claiming to have ‘the truth’. They each give a bunch of scriptures proving their perspective.
Who is right, and how do we tell?
Relationship with God draws men into truth. Opposing opinions form among men who have limited interaction with God. Such individuals will fill in the holes themselves rather them seeking God for the details. How they fill in the holes often is based on personal bias.
Consider this scripture: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32 NKJV). How does one come to know truth? The previous verse gives the template. Verse 31: Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My (logos= spoke) word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth…”
I want you to consider what it means to abide in the things that Jesus says, and what it truly means to be a disciple. This verse might be restated as “let Jesus teach you things, and while He does, let what He says become alive within you. Take what He tells you to heart.“
What if Jesus moved in the house next-door to you? What if every day He came to visit you at your house and personally teach you how to live just like He did: flowing in the spirit, releasing God’s presence, performing miracles, and just being free? Wouldn’t that be amazing? This, in fact, that is exactly the job of Holy Spirit. And He didn’t move next-door, instead He moved inside of you.
John 16:7,12-15 NASBS
[7] But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. [12] “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. [13] But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. [14] He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. [15] All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.
We often ignore the mentoring of God and favor men’s wisdom and promoting our own opinion. Christians in particular have a tendency of latching onto an idea that sounds good and making our home there, never really knowing if it’s true. Yet, we hold on tightly to our beliefs because it comforts us, and it is what we have chosen. We treat our beliefs as if they are binkies, the blanket we used to cling to as a child to soothe ourselves.
A disciple is somebody who listens closely to his instructor and takes to heart the things his instructor says, all the while trying to apply them.
Very few people have a walk with God like this because they don’t believe that God is actually someone you can know like you know a close friend. This is exactly the relationship God wants to have with each one of us.
1 Corinthians 2:13-14 NKJV
[13] These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. [14] But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Knowing God Changes Us
I am always fascinated by the impact that focusing on hearing from God has on a person. Those who start to hear also start to believe the same things that others who hear believe. Most people who are filled with the Spirit prefer music that carries the anointing. The more they crave deep surrender, the more they desire to be surrounded by this type of music. The same thing happens with hearing. Their faith starts to increase. They get excited about new freedoms. Their level of condemnation decreases. Their expectations on the love of God becomes foundational. I have seen this trend so often, and such people don’t need to be told or taught these things by people.
The other significant thing that happens in the life of a believer that is actively hearing God, is they experience transformation. That first scripture from John 8 is talking about getting freed from sin. In the next few verses the Jews start asking Jesus what they will get free from by being one of His disciples. Jesus responds by pointing to sin and says that “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Relationship with God always produces change. How could it not? Think about this scripture. 1 John 3:6 NKJV “Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.” Now this one. 1 John 2:6 NKJV “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”
You may be asking how this works because your experience tells you that man is destined to struggle with sin, and you might not know anyone who you could see has experienced any type of transformation. But we contend that the reason for this is not a lack of faith or fervency, but rather a misunderstanding about what relationship with God looks like.
One of My favorite scriptures is 2 Corinthians chapter 3. The entire chapter is a beautiful study on transformation. 2 Cor 3. “[14] But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil (of condemnation) remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. [15] But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. [16] Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. [18] But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” As we spend time with God, we get to really experience the true nature of God and see Him for who He really is. These encounters cause us to be “transformed into the same image.”
There are other benefits to encountering God. Have you ever long to have a fuller understanding of God’s love? Many of us have yearned deeply for a greater revelation on this love, believing it would shift our hearts and make following Jesus easier. Encountering God answers this hunger, and more.
Ephesians 3:17-19 TPT
[17] Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life. [18-19] Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences-the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding-this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!
God is calling us to rest in the love of Christ, to abide in an endless encounter. God wants to give us an encounter that “transcends our understanding.”
Fruit Proves Change
People who allow Christ to mentor them live very different lives. They don’t struggle as much with darkness, failure, or bondage. God challenges us to move in love and let go of insecurities. They learn what life in the Spirit looks like, a life full of faith and peace. The miraculous starts to become a part of their existence rather than just a remote speculation. Love becomes their normal reaction.
Luke 6:44-45 NKJV
[44] For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. [45] A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
John 13:34-35 NKJV
[34] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. [35] By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The fruit we show the world proves that we have been with Jesus. Being with Jesus causes us to act like Jesus. The world is looking for people who look like Jesus. Good fruit looks like the fruit of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23 TPT “But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.” Being mentored by Holy Spirit causes us to manifest God’s nature. Those who have been with God will look like they have been in His presence. They don’t have to will themselves to act this way. His nature pours out of them automatically.
Galatians 5:16 TPT
[16] As you yield freely and fully to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self – life.
Judge by Fruit Not Doctrine
Most people, including pastors, are only interested in whether we believe the correct doctrine. Jesus did not instruct us to discern who belongs to Christ by the doctrine they have. Those who truly belong to Christ will have His nature.
Galatians 5:24-25 TPT
[24] Keep in mind that we who belong to Jesus, the Anointed One, have already experienced crucifixion. For everything connected with our self – life was put to death on the cross and crucified with Messiah. [25] We must live in the Holy Spirit and follow after him.
When people judge based on doctrine, they elevate their own understanding and opinion above the working of Christ within a life. When you spend a lot of time with God, He will change your doctrines too. He knows what is born of the Spirit and what is just our opinion. He will lead you into all truth.
If you want to deepen your own walk, then recognize those whose lives prove they can hear God. We are not told to respect people by what they believe. Any man who acts like Jesus deserves our respect. Any man who can hear God, and his life has changed as a result, deserves to be listened to. Such a man has spent time in God’s presence, and has pursued to deepen his own surrender. If such a person says that God has told them something, their life proves that they can hear. Those that spend a lot of time arguing doctrines usually lack godly nature. Listen to those who prove that they know God, even if you object to their beliefs. This humility will help you as you pursue knowing God too.