“A Better Way 7”

Knowing God

I. The Right Way to Pray

A. Meaningful Communication

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV) … the Lord looks at the heart.”

Prayer is not trying to Get Something from God, Prayer is All about Our Heart, Interacting with God through Heartfelt, Communication.

B. Walking and Talking with God

Genesis 3:8 (NKJV) They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…

Adam and Eve’s Primary Purpose was Communion and Fellowship with God; They didn’t Have any Needs in the Garden.

II. Prayer Postures

Prayer is not just about Asking God for things; there is a Place to Ask God for Things, but the Main Reason for Prayer is Communion with God!

A. Becoming Still Before God

DEFINE: Still - Quieting Your Soul before God, becoming Calm and Undisturbed in His Presence.

Psalm 46:10 (NKJV) Be still, and know that I am God…

There is a Place in Prayer where We Should become Still before God and Focus on His Peace that Surpasses all Understanding.

B. Listen for God’s Voice

DEFINE: Listen - Focusing Your Attention on God, through becoming Conscious and Aware of His Voice.

1. The Example of Samuel

1 Samuel 3:10 (NKJV) Now the Lord came and stood and called, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”

Life can get so Busy that You don’t take the Time just to be Still and become Aware of God and Listen to His Voice.

C. Giving Thanks to God

DEFINE: Thanks - Expressing Heartfelt Appreciation and Gratitude to God.

Psalm 69:30 (NKJV) I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Psalm 107:8 (NKJV) Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

D. Giving Praise to God

DEFINE: Praise - Celebrating God’s Goodness with Spontaneous Outbursts of Joy; Singing, Clapping and Dancing.

Psalm 100:4 - 5 (NKJV Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 150:1–6 (NKJV) 1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! 2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! 3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! 4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! 5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!

PRINCIPLE 1: The Primary Purpose of Praise is Expressing Love and Appreciation to God for His Goodness and Power!

III. Knowing God

John 3:16 (NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

PRINCIPLE 2: Salvation is a Greater Experience than just Going to Heaven and Spending Eternity with God One Day; Salvation is about Knowing God through a Close Intimate Relationship in the Here and Now.

A. Salvation is Knowing God

John 17:3 (NKJV) … this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

PRINCIPLE 3: An Effective Prayer Life is One where You get to Know God, through Talking, Loving and Worshiping Him.

B. Knowing God Intimately

DEFINE: Know - the Most Intimate Personal Relationship that Two People can Have.

Genesis 4:1 (NKJV) Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.”

PRINCIPLE 4: The Main Purpose of Salvation is Not Just the Forgiveness of Our Sins, Salvation is all about Having God as Our Best Friend through a Close Intimate Relationship with Him.

1. Knowing God through the Baptism of His Love 1 John 4:8–9 (NKJV) He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

PRINCIPLE 5: God is Love! Prayer is not Formulas and a Prayer List; Prayer is about Your Relationship with God, where You are Loving Him and He is Loving You.

Galatians 5:6 (NKJV) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

PRINCIPLE 6: Knowing God is not just Based on Religion and Church Attendance; Knowing God is About Falling in Love with Love Himself!

2. Knowing God through the Baptism of His Presence

Acts 1:8 & 2:1–4 (TPT) 1:8 But I promise you this—the Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will be filled with power.[k] And you will be my messengers to Jerusalem, throughout Judea, the distant provinces[m]—even to the remotest places on earth!” 2:1-4 On the day Pentecost was being fulfilled, all the disciples were gathered in one place. 2 Suddenly they heard the sound of a violent blast of wind rushing into the house[c] from out of the heavenly realm. The roar of the wind was so overpowering it was all anyone could bear! 3 Then all at once a pillar of fire appeared before their eyes. It separated into tongues of fire that engulfed[e] each one of them. 4 They were all filled and equipped[f] with the Holy Spirit and were inspired[g] to speak in tongues—empowered by the Spirit to speak in languages they had never learned!

3. Knowing God through the Baptism of His Word

John 1:1–4 & 14 (TPT) 1 In the very beginning (Jesus) the Living Expression was already there. And (Jesus) the Living Expression was with God, yet fully God. 2 They were together—face-to-face, in the very beginning. 3 And through his creative inspiration this Living Expression (Jesus) made all things, for nothing has existence apart from him! 4 Life came into being because of him, for his life is light for all humanity. 14 And so the Living Expression (Jesus) became a man and lived among us! And we gazed upon the splendor of his glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father overflowing with tender mercy and truth!

C. The Primary Purpose of Prayer Ecclesiastes 9:7 (Message) God takes pleasure in your pleasure!

PRINCIPLE 7: The Primary Purpose of Prayer is Knowing Him through a Pleasurable Life-Giving Relationship!