One Resolution: Know God Exodus 34:6-7 Colossians 1:9-13 P10 of PrayFirst Journal Season of resolutions. A season of recognizing what needs to change. You don’t have to look hard to see how broken our world, nation, our community, our homes are. But God’s message to us is this: Everything the world is needs is who I am That is why as a follower of Christ. There is really only resolution. To know Him – Wednesday we began this year –remembering who God is All other resolutions are temporary, but to know God is eternal life [unstoppable, undefeateable, unlimited, nevre ending] One resolution that will change everything else –to know God, not about Him

And God passed by Moses declaring His Name, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty . . . ” This is everything God is –this is everything we need This is the one resolution we need to make – to know him

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. [ John 17:3 ] P10 of PrayFirst Journal Season of resolutions. Good to evaluate life. But as a follower of Christ. There is really only resolution. That’s this verse. All other resolutions are temporary, but to know God is eternal life [unstoppable, undefeateable, unlimited, nevre ending] One resolution that will change everything else –to know God, not about Him

To “know” God is to be directly connected to God (not just “know of” God) Sometimes we forget what the Christian life is about. It’s true in this world God can help us heal, be better, do things right But that’s not the goal of life. Like to think of them like this Christmas lights It’s true I can untangle them, change a bulb. But they aren’t plugged in Nice to untangle life – but we have to be connected We were meant to shine in darkness – not be neat and useless We can try to untangle others – but our main job is to shine his life We’ve got to get back to the most important priority/purpose. The Bible says Jesus came to restore it – believers pray for it.

The way we know God Colossians 1:9-13 Not just know of him – doesn’t help socket to know its there Stand with me – God’s Word Paul is praying about people knowing God –the real true God – here is what he teaches us.

I am asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will . . . (Colossians 1:9) If you want to know God, you have to ask God to reveal Himself to you You can’t get to God. He is holy. He is perfect. He is sinless. He is other. We don’t have the ability to find him. He is a holy God. He is an awesome God. We don’t choose how or when. Matthew 11:27–28 (NIV84) no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. What the Bible calls Doctrine of Revelation "God's supernatural disclosure to human beings of truth they would not otherwise know and are incapable of discovering on their own.“ Here is how to think of it.

ask God to come to you and reveal Himself 2. understand and accept To know God you have to: ask God to come to you and reveal Himself 2. understand and accept how He will come to you We can’t get to him. He has to come to us. Not being able to drive and wait for parent to come. Played school sports year round – wait for parent to pick me up. Used to hate it – wanted to do things on my terms, time and my way That’s pride – that’s our condition – to know him We can’t come to him – but we can yes to how He wants to come.

God comes through The Spirit So I pray. I keep asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding (v9) Paul says – way to know him is through the spirit Growing up – knew this was coming to pick me up  

no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. (1 Cor. 2:10-12)

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth . . . [He] will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. . The way we receive him is by the spirit – and that’s why we pray (John 14:16-17, 26)

When we pray we shut out the world and welcome in God’s Holy Spirit. [PrayFirst Journal, 7:15] Ways to pray – begins today

God invites me into His Word. So I focus on it. I keep asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding (v9) Choose to get in the car – as unattractive as it looks to friends Not what I related to – what He uses He has given us His Word

These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word. Not what the world says Most of us know more about sports teams, tv shows than jesus (Isaiah 66:2)

To be in God’s Word & Spirit is know God’s presence and hear Him speak to you. [NT Bible Project] You don’t need someone to “give you a word.” You need to be someone in The Word. “Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119:73‬

God exists as Lord. So I surrender. we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way (v10) He is the only one driving If you are driving, its not God in the car with you Listen to what Jesus says

anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. This is (Matthew 10:37-38)

[15 Days of Prayer & Fasting] We fast from the world to feast on His Word. We lose “our life” to gain His eternal life. [15 Days of Prayer & Fasting] This why we fast – BACK OF BULLETIN Put him first 5.4 hours in front of tv 9 hours on your phone Food – consider health / choose something I am hungry for you I want health not death God only you have eternal life –everything else is temporary

God requires faith in His Son. So we worship. For God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son (v13) My mom wouldn’t go anywhere until I buckled up. Its our faith in jesus that holds us to God You can’t know God outside of Jesus

Therefore, I urge you in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:1-2)

What you worship you become. What you depend on is your destiny What you worship you become. What you depend on is your destiny. To know Jesus is to worship Him. [Worship God Sermon Series] He is ultimate –return to that Instead of some make up Jesus – back to reconnecting Food – consider health / choose something I am hungry for you I want health not death God only you have eternal life –everything else is temporary

One Resolution: Know God V9 Through His Spirit Pray Prayer Journal Through His Word Focus NT Bible Project V10 Through His Lordship Surrender 15 Days Fasting v13 Through His Son Worship Sermon Series If you want to reconnect If you want light and not darkness in your life

So the wayward son got up and went to his father So the wayward son got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his child, threw his arms around him and kissed him. Luke 15:22–24 (NIV84) “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:20)

And God passed by Moses declaring His Name, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty . . . ”