Knowing God

Every New Year I ask the Lord for a scripture from His Word that will direct me in my study of His Word. This year it was 1 John 2:13a "I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning." As I began to seek more understanding and read more of the chapter, it appeared to me that God was telling me it was time to know Him in a deeper, perhaps even more personal way. My response was "YES LORD"!! Let me share with you a bit more of the scripture:

1 John 2:13-14 (NKJV)
I write to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
Because you have overcome the wicked one.
I write to you, little children,
Because you have known the Father.
I have written to you, fathers,
Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.
I have written to you, young men,
Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you,
And you have overcome the wicked one.

It appears that as little children in the Lord we come to know Father God who loved us so much He sent His only Son to die for us. As we study the Word we learn to overcome Satan, and the things of this world become strangely dim. We become strong young men (and women) and the Word abides in us. This is good. But when we mature, the Word indicates we "know God".

As I considered my "knowing God", I began to seek what God meant for me. I realized of the three persons in the Trinity, the one I know least is Holy Spirit. I grew up in a liturgical church where Christianity was following a good deal of ritual and a set of rules. It wasn't bad, but it was incomplete. Personal experience with a personal God was simply never presented to me. When I came to a personal relationship with Jesus and began to study the Word, the focus was on Christ, and the Word. This was good but again it was incomplete. Holy Spirit was mentioned only in passing. I had a sense that "things of the Spirit" were emotional, silly nonsense. The Holy Spirit miracles in the New Testament were for the New Testament church, those things no longer existed.

It was time for me to dig into the Word. I also found a book that helped me in my search by Dr. Robert Heidler, "Experiencing the Spirit". What I found is that Holy Spirit is in the Word from Genesis to Revelation. Holy Spirit plays a vital part in the work of God on earth.

Bill Bright, who was the President of Campus Crusade for Christ and a leading evangelical speaker, wrote of the Spirit's ministry: "He guides us (John 16:13), empowers us (Micah 3:8) and makes us holy (Romans 15:15). He bears witness in our lives (Romans 8:16), comforts us (John 14:16-26), gives us joy (Romans 14:17). As our teacher of spiritual truths, the Holy Spirit illuminates our minds with insights into the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:12,13) and reveals to us the hidden things of God (Isaiah 40:13,14). As you are filled with the Holy Spirit, the Bible becomes alive, prayer becomes vital, your witness becomes effective and obedience becomes a joy. Then, as a result of your obedience in these areas, your faith grows and you become more mature in your spiritual life." WOW!! No wonder Jesus told His disciples to "wait in the city until they were clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:49)

Dr. Heidler presents so much in his book but here is just a sampling: "The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He has intellect (1 Cor. 2:10, 11), a full range of emotions (Romans 15:30; Hebrews 10:29), He teaches (John 14:26); He speaks (Galatians 4:6), He prays (Romans 8:26). We can grieve Him (Ephesians 4:30) and He can be disobeyed (Act. 7:51)."

Today I invite you to seek a deeper "knowing" of Holy Spirit. Take a fresh look with me and review the scriptures listed above. Perhaps it is the time God will use us to be the generation that will partner with our almighty God and see the restoration of the ministry of Holy Spirit.

Patricia L. Wenzel
WOC Graduate

Bill Bright, The Holy Spirit: The Key to Supernatural Living (San Bernardino: Here's Life Publishers, Inc. 1980) pp116, 121

Robert Heidler, Experiencing the Spirit (Regal, 1998) Chapter 1