You Don't Know ME

Seeking and Knowing God and who HE really is.

Sermon by Hilton Kriek

When we look at the life of Jesus we find that many times, and most of the time He caused 'chaos' wherever He went. An example of this is when Jesus healed on the Sabbath. He shows us here that HE is Lord over all and that HE reigns above everything. Jesus also mentions that 'man was not made for sabbath, but sabbath for man'. From this, we can see that Jesus came to turn things upside down. He confronted religion and through this shows us what His heart truly is for us. When Jesus caused chaos, things were not falling out of place, but into place, as He intended in the first place.

When we truly know what His heart is for us, and we truly seek Him, "all hell will break loose". By this, we mean: 'the Devil fears a man who knows God.' You will face distraction, hopelessness, worry, fear and unbelief. But this is because we don't truly know who God is. We don't know how to 'cast our cares' on Him, or how to let go.

Imagine this: you are admitted a ticket to attend the most amazing carnival, with the best rides and the best food. But you can't go on any rides and you can't get any of the good food. This carnival ticket represents us praying the salvation prayer and thinking that everything is going to be great from there; we hide behind a positive attitude, because 'hey, at least I made it to the carnival'. But God wants more for us. We will only experience this when we truly know Him. There's a price to pay... we can't choose what we like and what we don't like in the Word. We're constantly hammering on our needs, and why God needs to do this, or that, for us to truly believe and trust Him. Jesus healed 10 lepers - only ONE came back to thank Him.

Another reason why we're satisfied with the fact that we can't 'go on the rides' or eat 'good food', and why we become doubtful is because we don't know how to approach and acknowledge God.

So why do we pray prayers filled with such doubt and unbelief that lead to no answer or breakthrough?

I believe it’s because we as believers have been fed this watered-down version of who the Messiah Jesus Christ is and what it costs to be called His disciple. We are taught and told: "Don’t worry Jesus loves you and wants to bless you, just come to Jesus, He will make it right. Don’t worry everything will work out for you, just say this little sinner’s prayer and you are saved, welcome to heaven and that’s where it stops…" We get the ticket to heaven and we learn the Christianise language by the meantime your world is falling apart. Did we forget that Jesus said “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” – we need to die to self! There is a price to pay. He said if you love me, obey My commands.

I call it the M,M,I syndrome (Me, My self and I). Its all about me and what can I get from you GOD! We are like the Pharisees & Sadducees who want Jesus to show them a sign from Heaven. "PROVE THAT YOU ARE GOD": this is demonstrated in our prayers. "Lord if you answer this prayer, I will believe in You, just show me a sign that you are real and I'll trust you. Lord I really need that promotion at work and if don’t give it then I know that you don’t exist. We are so shallow sometimes. We want what the Hand can give and don’t care much for the One who Gave it! We are like the 10 leapers who were healed by Jesus - Luke 17:11-19 and only 1 returned to say thank you and worshiped Him. When last did you thank God for something?

"Our Father in heaven, Hallowed (Holy) be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven." We must approach the Father and give Him the Glory He is due. Here is the best part: God doesn’t need it from us, it’s actually for us! Because when you start you pray like this: "Bless the Lord oh my soul, praise His Holy name, The lord is Holy and there is no one like Him, by your Hands and Your Hands alone You made the heavens and the earth. You are above all other gods and there is none like you!" The problems we face? They seem so insignificant to who He is and What He is able to do! Then faith arises and we lift up our prayer to Him and His blessings have space in our lives.

In order for us to walk in these blessings and receive them then there is a condition that needs to be met. Salvation is free to you, and the condition is that you choose Christ, if you reject Christ then you do not receive salvation and the forgiveness of your sins. Psalms 103:2 NKJV says the following: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." Here are the keys to unlock these provisions in our lives and what conditions need to be met in order for us to receive them.

• 1. Psalm 34:10 NKJV - The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

• 2. Psalm 34:7 NKJV - The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.

• 3. Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

• 4. Joshua 1:8 NKJV - This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

• 5. Exodus 20:12 NKJV - “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.

• 6. Malachi 3: 10 - Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

• 7. Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV - “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

• 8. Romans 8:14 NKJV - For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

• 9. Hebrews 11:6 - But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

• 10. Isaiah 26:3 NKJV - You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.

• 11. Psalm 34:7 NKJV - The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.

• 12. Psalm 91: 14-15 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will [e]set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

• 13. Romans 8:28 NKJV - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

These scriptures refer to:

1. Seeking the Lord.

2. Fear Him.

3. Trust in the Lord.

4. Acknowledge the Lord.

5. We are to meditate on His word day and night (Its all about Him).

6. Keeping your Mind is fixed on Him.

7. Setting your love on Him.

8. Knowing His name.

The central focus of each of these scriptures is that God is the centre of it all - He is the source of everything and without making Him the source then unfortunately we will continue to miss a large portion of what He wants and has for us. But How do we Love someone if we don’t know them? God loves us, because He knows us!

Jesus says this:

Matthew 6:33 NKJV - "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

Jesus also give us insight and teacher us on how to seek God in the New Testament of the Bible. There are several instances where Jesus went to pray alone:

• Matthew 14:23: After feeding the multitude with five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus dismissed the crowd and went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.

• Mark 1:35: In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus went to a solitary place to pray.

• Luke 5:16: Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

• Luke 6:12: Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray and spent the night praying to God. The next day, he chose his twelve apostles.

• Matthew 26:36: Before his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus went with his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane. He told them to sit while he went a little farther to pray.

The more time we spend time in the secret place with the Lord, the more we get to know Him; we learn to hear His voice; experience His presence; we receive revelation from Him and about Him. I believe that as we meet with Him in the Secret place that the anointing is smeared on us. When we seek Him, and truly seek Him, then every area of our lives comes in line with His will and desire and for us. When we know Him, there is a certainty that comes, and nothing can deter you from it; and faith stands in the face of uncertainty!

It’s all for Him – He is the source! He is the Holy God of Zion!