How can i KNOW Jesus

This is not a question of how can i become a Christian. But rather it goes beyond that. How can we truly and really know Christ? He is the center of everything and if we do not know who He actually is how can we as christians expect anything else to be right, motivations, theology, salvation, etc.?I, or we, hear of people all the time who seem like they are bursting with the Joy of the Lord and have connected on such an intimate level with the Savior, HOW!?Right now its hard for me to distinguish between what is my Faith and what is just what i grew up with being raised in a Christian home. So how can we truly KNOW Christ, and at what point does it truly have to be faith seeking understanding? Please tell me how you have such a close intimate relationship with Jesus and how you actually KNOW Him and not follow Him and live right but KNOW Him

This is certainly a question that I have asked myself often. How can we know Christ? The disciples knew Him by being with Him and witnessing his acts and every day life. We have not this benefit although possibly something greater ... the witness of the Spirit. Yet even the apostle Paul proclaims in Philipians "that I may know Him..." I think that the key word here is "know". Knowing comes from knowledge of a subject and surely for us as believers it must come through prayer and reading the word. God's word reveals His attributes and promises to us. Promises upon which our faith may rest. Promises which we may find "rest for our souls".I am interested to hear what others may have to say because it opens up another question...How is Knowing Christ different from Abiding in Christ? (Or maybe they are the same thing).

Hello Tyrone. I hear the desperate cry of your heart and I so relate. I am 47 years old and I was raised in a religious home, always in church, etc., but I believe I have only truly been born again about 3 years. Since my true conversion, I have been growing in my relationship with Christ, and the best thing I can tell you, as far as actual things I have done that have made the difference, is...to humble myself and repent. I've made repentance a lifestyle. The Bible says, God resists the proud, but he gives grace to the humble. I try to always come into the presence of God bowed very low, and I have found that he is slowly revealing himself to me. To know God is a priviledge extended only to those who seek with their whole heart. I've repented of my half-heartedness on a regular basis and asked God to teach me and do whatever it takes to make me a woman of single purpose...to know God. His word is true. He will not fail to reward those who diligently seek him. Love, Dian.

This may be of some help to you. One night I was reading a book and came across the verse where Jesus said to the Pharisees, "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me, but you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life." (John 5:39-40) When I read that I had a revelation and in a moment I realized that I had the same problem as the Pharisees. I thought that I would get to know Jesus just by reading the Scriptures. But I now realize that some people do that like all day every day and they are totally blind and don't have a relationship with God. The Pharisees memorized the whole Bible of their times and prayed constantly but they didn't recognize God right in front of them. It's a heart thing. I was struck to my heart at this revelation and repented and simply asked the Father to touch me. Shortly after this I actually drifted into unconsciousness. I awoke to the actual feeling of God'd manifest presence. It was so wonderful. I felt like I was really knowing God in that moment. So there's one aspect of this vast subject of knowing Jesus. The basic principle I've learned is don't be religious. Don't put faith in religious traditions and formulas such as "you have to read the Bible every day", "you have to speak in tongues for at least a half hour every day", "you have to evangelize at least once a month", "you have to pray at least an hour a day", etc., etc. These types of things bring death and shut us out from God. They are usually good ideas and often good principles but when they become rules there's a problem. Don't let any man steal your joy. Just come to the living God as a child and recognize that He loves, accepts, and wants to bless you even in your weakness and immaturity. Receive His love and grace.

This is a wonderful question. Thanks for asking it and making us think. One of the earliest statement we hear from Jesus is in John's gospel; "come and see". Jesus is the faithful and true witness. Listen to Him and think about what He says. Respond to the things He says in your own heart. Don't be just a hearer but put into practise what you hear Him saying to you.How do you hear Him? He Himself prayed for just two kinds of people; Joh 17:20 KJV Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; Those who heard him with their own ears and those who 'heard' him through the testimony of the first hand witnesses. In other words, read the scriptures. Slowly, thoughtfully, prayerfully, keeping in mind the 'virgin' Mary's only commandment; "whatever He says to you; do it".I would heartily recommend to you this article by Denis Clark, written some decades ago, but still very relevant; Bible MeditationThis is a single paragraph from that article:The apostle Paul instructed us, "Fill your minds with those things that are good and deserve praise, things that are true, noble, right, pure lovely and honourable. Put into practice what you learned and received from me", and he said that in Philippians 4:8-9. Where better to find these things than in the Scriptures. They are to be received in the inner being and the route is, of course, through the mind. The mind should not become a container, storing up mere knowledge of these things, but a filter, trying and testing all thoughts against the Word of Truth, and then letting them go down into our heart, or inner being. Once there, knowledge turns into truth, and if allowed to thoroughly occupy our subconscious becomes our very life. Once the Word takes over our behaviour, it becomes Christ in us, the living word, the hope of glory.I first heard Denis Clark preach these things 40 years ago while I was at Bible College. 95% of what I preach and teach comes as a result of following the counsel contained in this article. What I receive from books is my equivalent of going to the 'elders in Jerusalem'. (the article will explain that) If I was asked to give a single 'block' of advice to a young Christian I would put this article into their hands.Denis Clark was called home in the 1970's but his testimony lives on. I am trying to get permission to publish this article in the SermonIndex articles; I'll keep you in touch.

Good article bro. Ron, also your article on Abraham My Friend, very useful, that needs to be published.

Thank you for your replies so far. But so far it seems like i keep hearing the typical cliche answers that we always give to young or seeking believers, read your bible more, pray etc. I understand that alot of the time the cliche answer is the only one, like before you go on a road trip you must put gas in the car, before you go to the market one must put gas in the car. The idea is simple and "cliche" but it is the truth, one that no one can deny. The more and more i am in the Word, and i have been in the word for a number of years and am a student at Moody Bibile Institute, the more questions that are raised and can only be answered through speculation. I don't want touchy feely answers, such as i can feel Him inside of me, or after years of trying to find Christ i can remember waking up and just feeling Him. Emotions are passing and can not be trusted nor can they have anything built upon them because of how unstable they are.It is very confusing and i hope as this post continues i can clarify myself better and that answers can be found.It is just a very confusing thing as i think about how i have grown up. Being in a christian home its hard to look back and think about what has changed since i became a christian, and how much of my life or faith is caught up in the "christian culture" i've grown up in and what is truly personal?Please continue with your answers and advice, i just ask for solid biblical references and support for your advice or answer. Thanks

Ok , you really want to know Jesus? I mean really draw close and know Him? Beyond the typical beyond the cliche' of reading more and praying more? The Answer------ Matt25:40 God Bless, Bro. Daryl

Someone once asked Duke Ellington "can you you give me a definition of 'rythmn'?" And he replied "if you have rythmn, you don't need a definition.And if you don't have rythmn, ain't no definition gonna help."If you are hungry for the Lord, you don't need a defintion, you are just hungry for Him, to know Him and be with Him- and if you're not hungry for the Lord- ain't no definition gonna help.(this is taken from Chip Brogden's "Vanity, or Spirit and Truth" :)In other words,if you get hungry enough for Him, to know Him and be with Him in the secret place- He will reveal Himself to you. He has to do it. And you have to want it. Nobody else can do it for you or explain it for you.Keep seeking Him, ask Him to reveal Himself to you. In His perfect love, Chanin

Being in a christian home its hard to look back and think about what has changed since i became a christian, and how much of my life or faith is caught up in the "christian culture" i've grown up in and what is truly personal?Tyrone, I had this exact same problem. I'm telling you, Man, what you are going to have to do is get desperate with God alone in prayer. There is no "secret". I kept thinking there was some secret that others had found but I hadn't found yet. The "secret" is humbling yourself in desperation, because what you need is a divine revelation that only God himself can give, and he only gives it to the desperate seeker. Art Katz (one of the speakers available on this website), always says, you don't love something until your heart palpitates over it, until you drool from the corners of your mouth. If you don't have this kind of love for God, you can't fake it. You can't make it happen. You must go to God and wait and beg for it till it comes. Refuse to give up until you get what you came for. When God sees that you're serious, he will answer by fire.Something that helped me to stir up my heart was listening to messages by Leonard Ravenhill. That man made me jealous to know God. A desperate cry began to come from my heart as he preached. Just some thoughts. Love, Dian.

Hi Tyrone,From the peanut gallery...Think all these responses here are worthy of consideration, especially that for one there are no secrets as expressed and the admonishment to 'ponder', slowly, especially regarding scripture, but if anything the word that jumps out to me is; letting.Give yourself permission to shut off the brain for awhile in the sense of hurried activity, it will likely prove to be an effort to do so, can attest to that. There is freedom to let go into God's thought if that is your aim and He certainly has the ability and the desire to protect that within you... Cliché, gobbledygook? Certainly hope not, but maybe we can turn the tables on you here a bit.Has it ever dawned on you where this desire stemmed from? Did you 'choose' to become hungry or did it come from somewhere else? Wouldn't it seem a bit odd that this hasn't grown old or stale yet, that despite this particular season of confusion, past history, present study here you are asking this searching question?For what it's worth I see a couple of things going on and reading this brought out a sense of joy, not of your confusion but just in similarities. It seems to me that you are being purged and it is a blessed thing though that won't come till this particular kiln experience has the work accomplished that God wants accomplished...whew, you have no idea how much of a limb I feel I am going out on here. The reason being that if I have learned anything whatsoever it's that the Lord doesn't stamp out exact duplicates from ourselves of ourselves... A recent line towards that thought:"God grant we may get to the place where the only thing we take seriously is the place God has put us in, watching, waiting stedfastly for God’s goings. Never take anything that is said by any man or woman, or in any book, without waiting and watching before God. “Try the spirits,” test them, see if they be of God. I want you to beware of a mistake I have made over and over again in days gone by, of trying to interpret God’s plan for other lives along the way He has led me. Never! Keep open-eyed in wonder. My brother, my sister, can God do what He likes in your life? Can He help Himself liberally to you? Can He take you up and put you down? Can He introduce His schemes through you, and never tell you the reason why? Can He make you a spectacle to men and angels, as He did Job, without giving you any explanation? Can He make you a wonder to yourself and to others, while He gives you the implicit child-like understanding that somehow or other things are working out all right?"Chambers, O.Would never give a false sense of enthusiasm to anyone, but I tell you I am excited for you just by way of your own expression here. There will be an 'end' to this particular season and then there will be another altogether different, sometimes wonderful and beyond words and other times back into the purging fire, count on it and let yourself be refined by it, it is precisely what James meant when he stated: Jam 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Jam 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. Jam 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. For all intents and purposes it is impossible to trick your brain into something in and of yourself and usually it will be a case of looking back upon it, perhaps that's what he meant by "count it all joy", as in chalk it up to the fact that in hindsight it will be worth everything that it may 'cost' you.Brother, just went through another shorter season of this purging, which ultimately is the process of becoming 'conformed into' that image, you surely know which and certainly your own expression is to know Him:2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Think about Paul near the end of his days, still stating: Phi 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; Phi 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Phi 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Phi 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, Phi 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phi 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Another that has taken root of late:Joh 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. For your encouragement:1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 1Co 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.You have, present tense. You may not understand it, I certainly don't and can confide with you, that in some ways feel that I don't know Him at all and would defer right back to Paul again, that I might know Him, what, after all these years Paul? You, that man struck blind and hearing His voice? How can you say that?Let mystery and wonder be a part of this brother. Be assured He knows you and it shows that you do indeed know Him, perhaps not in the way that you or I may like, to our own satisfaction. But do let this also be brought to bear in your musings:Joh 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; Joh 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. Will He not answer that prayer? Absurd! Of course He will! Ask the Lord to help you let go of everything that hinders and to glean what is necessary from everything you hear, read, listen to or get 'advice' from, including and especially your own thought's, those can be the greatest snares of all.Be encouraged brother, you are without a doubt, growing.You have my prayers, today especially. Wish I could explain it better, but you have tremendously encouraged me by all this, the paradox of it all! 8-)

Brethren,There is just so, so much here to explore.A little exercise in frustration this morning trying to recall just where it was that I had begun reading a great article that our dear friend Ron (Philologos) had linked to.For the life of me couldn't recall but a few words here and there that would bring back the reference to it. Using the 'advanced' search function and 'exact match' box, tried various words and maybe a helpful bit;When the search results page comes up found it helpful to right click on a particular result and select "Open In New Window" this way if you don't find what you are looking for you can close it, return back to the search results and try again. If you click on a link within the results and try to return using the "back" button you get the "The page cannot be displayed" response.In this case, trying to find said article it took a number of tries using different words pulled from memory (faulty!) and kept coming up empty. Wasn't until I tried "95%" that Bingo! Found it! The article from this thread, Bible Meditation is a great read and with everything that has been going on around here of late it certainly speaks to our condition, hope it might be given some consideration, very, very helpful. Thanks Ron, you have blessed us time and time again with these things.The other point of this little exercise is in just exploring. Pick a word and do a search, even if you don't find what you are searching after, guaranteed you will find something, something to encourage, something to challenge, something to ponder, someone to pray for, someone to encourage, someone to help out in this life of faith.