1. MARY OF BETHANY:
Knowing God is the only needful thing for Christian service; Lk. 10:38-42; Mk. 3:13-15; Hos. 6:6.
It is the basis of effective and lasting service in the kingdom of God. Knowing God comes by revelation. It enables one to know what to do in serving God at any particular point in time as it happened to Mary of Bethany. Our Lord Jesus Christ rebuked Martha for placing service over and above this one thing that is needful, but commended Mary for choosing it. That later became the springboard of Mary’s spiritual breakthrough and her influence for all the years.
2. ELIJAH – 1 Kings 17:1; 18:15.
Elijah’s authority and power was a direct result of his intimate, functional relationship with the Lord. “As the Lord lives, before Whom I stand...” was always his declaration. Looking through the scriptures, Elisha and Micaiah took after his steps in this regard. (1 Kings 22:14).
They were men who always stood before the presence of the Lord. When you pursue the knowledge of God, you have access into God’s message for men. The knowledge of God brings authority into a man’s life and through him; it brings punishment upon backsliding people around. Boldness also comes through the knowledge of the Lord.
3. JOHN THE BAPTIST – Lk. 1:80; Lk. 3:1-2.
John lived thirty years and six months altogether on earth and He spent the first thirty out of those years seeking the Lord and waiting on Him.
The only six months he spent in public ministry turned his own generation upside right for the Lord. What a thing to consider as servants of God in these days of hustling and bustling with activities.
It is a man who knows God that God will use. Living a “desert life” as Moses and John did in pursuit of God will enhance our knowledge of God. The knowledge of God in turns brings revival in a short time. The need for revival in our lives and society should compel us to seek to know Him.
CONCLUSION
Before conclusion, Read KNOWING GOD PART 1 HERERead KNOWING GOD PART 2 HERE
Read KNOWING GOD PART 3 HERE
We must seek the Lord first for our own lives. Knowing Him and becoming intimate with Him will give to us all we need to prosper in life and in the work of the ministry. The knowledge of God is the channel through which we receive all things that pertain to life and godliness. Peace of life, protection and divine favour (grace) also comes through this channel. In Christ is hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Knowing Him progressively and deeply will release all these things.
The worth of knowing God is simply unquantifiable. Paul discovered this and threw away all things that were gain to him in order to be empty and free enough to pursue the knowledge of the Lord. Our power and effectiveness in ministry depends solely on how much of God we know. The scripture assures us that “then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord.” (Hos. 6:3). Our boast must not be in the Jebusites, the Amorites we pushed down in our ministries, the prosperity message that is working for us, or the great crowd that attend our meetings. The only true parameter of measuring any man’s life in his personal knowledge of the Lord (Jer. 9:23-24). May you not be found wanting in this one thing that is needful.
QUESTIONS
1. What do you understand by the phrase “Knowing God comes by revelation” as it concerns our teaching?2. What was the remarkable attitude Jesus commended Mary of Bethany in the spiritual sense against her sister Martha attitude. Relate this to our individual lives.
3. For one to possess authority and power from God, what are the essential things to be done with Elijah as an example?
4. Does being used by God depend on your activities in the church or ones consecration to God first as John the Baptist did? Answer yes or No and discuss your answer.
5. What are our lessons towards this teaching of knowing God from part 1 till part 4?
N/B: Teachers should endeavor to make sure that the people can explain all the understood in our previous classes on this topic.
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