I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. — Ephesians 1:17
It’s interesting that the word for this kind of knowing that the apostle Paul prays for us to experience, in the original language of the New Testament, means “to know intimately.” It literally means to get right up on the object of our attention and get as close as possible and examine it from every angle. One word study reference says, “it refers to a knowledge laying claim to personal involvement.”¹
Charles H. Kraft, in his challenging book, Confronting Powerless Christianity, reminds us that “There are at least three kinds of knowledge: intellectual, observational and experiential.”²
In order to receive truth, especially when it comes to God, our goal should be all three. It’s like a three-legged stool; it’s more stable, functional, and reliable than one with only one leg—or two. Here’s why.
When I read or hear a promise from the Bible, I have been trained to believe it— intellectually. In my head I know it’s true because other scriptures tell me God’s word is true. But being in my mind doesn’t prove to me that it’s always accurate because that’s only one leg of knowledge. That’s intellectual truth.
However, when I observe that promise from God’s word happening in someone else’s life, through their testimony and the resulting spiritual fruit, that confirms for me what I have learned intellectually. Now I know it’s true—at least for someone else, as well. That’s observational truth.
But, when I personally experience that intellectual truth that I have observed in others—then I know it’s absolute and I don’t care what anybody else says about it ever again. It’s a done deal. That’s experiential truth.
I want to personally get involved with God like that. I want to know about Him, not only as He has revealed Himself in His creation and in His word, but I want to experience Him and His power intimately—and it’s going to take more than one more Bible study, or one more memory verse, or one more theological doctrine, as good as all of these may be. It means I will have to get up close and personal with the King and Creator of the universe—but isn’t that what He promises when we draw closer to Him (James 4:8)? I want to personally experience God that way—in everything. That’s my goal for the rest of my life. How about you?
Maranatha! — Pastor Don
¹ Spiros Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study Dictionary, World Bible Publishers, p. 624.
² Charles H. Kraft, Confronting Powerless Christianity, Evangelicals And The Missing Dimension, Chosen Books, p. 71.
To help us walk closer with God and to know Him better.
