Taking the MYSTERY out of KNOWING GOD
1 Chronicles 28:9 (ESV): "And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever."
In today’s world, many teachings distort the concept of knowing God, making it seem like a mystical, esoteric pursuit. The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement, in particular, has redefined “knowing God” in unbiblical ways, emphasizing personal revelations, spiritual impressions, and subjective experiences over biblical truth.
However, Scripture provides a clear, practical, and profound framework for understanding what it truly means to know God. By examining the biblical perspective, we can remove the mystery surrounding this vital concept and ground our relationship with God in truth.
Misconceptions About Knowing God
1. Mystical Experiences as the Primary Avenue
Many believe that knowing God is primarily achieved through supernatural experiences, visions, or prophetic revelations. While God can and does interact with His people, elevating mystical experiences above Scripture leads to deception. The Bible warns against seeking spiritual experiences outside of God’s revealed truth.
Colossians 2:18 (NKJV): Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind
2. Equating Knowledge About God with Knowing God
While theology and doctrine are essential, intellectual knowledge alone does not equate to a relationship with God. The Pharisees knew Scripture well but failed to recognize Jesus (John 5:39-40). Knowing God involves both understanding who He is and living in faithful obedience to Him.
3. The NAR’s Distorted View
The NAR emphasizes direct, personal revelations and new apostolic authority, often placing subjective experiences above Scripture. They claim that knowing God requires receiving new prophecies, hearing His voice in a mystical way, and operating in supernatural signs. This undermines the sufficiency of Scripture and leads many into unbiblical practices that prioritize experience over sound doctrine.
The Biblical Meaning of Knowing God
1 Chronicles 28:9 provides a foundation for understanding what it means to know God. David instructs Solomon to “know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind.” This verse highlights several key aspects of knowing God:
1. Knowing God Is a Lifelong Process
As Christians, we will always be in the process of knowing God while we are on this earth. Our knowledge of Him grows as we walk with Him, study His Word, and are transformed by His Spirit. However, we will only fully know Him after the resurrection when we see Him face to face. Paul affirms this in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” Until that day, we grow in our knowledge of Him, but we remain finite beings learning about an infinite God.
2. Knowing God Is Not Merely Knowing Facts About Him
Many assume that to know God means to “know everything about Him”, but Scripture presents a different perspective. Deuteronomy 29:29 states, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” While God has revealed Himself in Scripture, there are aspects of His nature that remain beyond our understanding. However, knowing God is not about possessing all knowledge but about being in a righteous relationship with Him. John 10:14 states, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.” This knowledge is relational—marked by love, obedience, and inner transformation brought on by the Holy Spirit in the Christian.
3. Knowing God Means Being Acknowledged by Him
When God speaks of people knowing Him, it is not merely about possessing information about Him; it is about belonging to Him, being His, and being favorably recognized by Him. Those who truly know God are those who love Him and obey His commandments. John 14:21 states, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Knowing God means living in a way that reflects His character and serving as His representatives in the world. 2 Corinthians 5:20 describes believers as ambassadors for Christ, displaying His truth through their lives.
This relationship with God is possible because believers are spiritually reborn by the Holy Spirit, becoming true children of God—the closest form of belonging to and deep personal association with the Father (John 1:12). Furthermore, they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of sonship (Romans 8:15), affirming their adoption into God’s family. This “knowing” therefore transcends mere factual knowledge; it is a deep, spirit-level acquaintance with God, made possible by His indwelling presence. It is not just about knowing God but also about being known by Him.
4. Biblical Knowledge Must Be Illuminated by the Holy Spirit
While studying Scripture is crucial, true understanding comes when the Holy Spirit opens our hearts and minds. 1 Corinthians 2:12-14 explains that spiritual truths are revealed by the Spirit: “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” This means that knowing God is not just about academic study but about spiritual revelation, where the truth of Scripture becomes real and transformative in our lives. The psalmist described this process as follows:
Psalm 119:130 (NKJV): "The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple."
5. Knowing God Is Relational but Not Mystical
Knowing God is about having a personal relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ, not through mystical encounters. John 17:3 states, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” This relationship is defined by truth and obedience, not feelings or subjective experiences.
6. Knowing God Is Rooted in His Word
The Bible is the primary means through which we know God. Psalm 119:105 declares, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” The NAR often diminishes the role of Scripture, encouraging believers to seek “fresh revelations.” However, biblical knowledge of God comes from His revealed Word, which is complete and sufficient (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
7. Knowing God Is Demonstrated Through Obedience
1 John 2:3 affirms, “By this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.” True knowledge of God leads to obedience, not just emotional experiences! This aligns with David’s instruction to Solomon to serve God with a willing heart and mind.
8. Knowing God Involves a Transformed Life
When we truly know God, our lives change. 2 Corinthians 3:18 states, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” Therefore, knowing God leads to holiness, love, and faithfulness (the character of Christ).
What Knowing God Meant for Solomon
David’s command to Solomon in 1 Chronicles 28:9 was not just theoretical—it had profound implications for his life and reign. Solomon’s knowledge of God was expected to manifest in several ways:
1. Seeking God’s Wisdom in Leadership
Solomon’s request for wisdom in 1 Kings 3:3-14 demonstrated his desire to lead according to God’s will. He understood that knowing God meant ruling with justice, humility, and discernment. His wisdom, famously displayed in cases like the two women disputing over a child (1 Kings 3:16-28), was a direct result of his seeking God.
2. Commitment to God’s Law
As Israel’s king, Solomon was to uphold the law of Moses. Deuteronomy 17:18-20 instructed kings to write a copy of the law and read it daily, ensuring they feared God and ruled righteously. Knowing God meant aligning his governance with God’s commandments, promoting justice, and eliminating idolatry from the land.
3. Leading Israel in True Worship
Solomon’s knowledge of God was to be reflected in national worship. This was seen in his construction of the Temple (1 Chronicles 28:10; 2 Chronicles 2-7), which became the central place of worship. The dedication prayer in 1 Kings 8 highlighted his understanding of God’s holiness, justice, faithfulness, sovereignty, and grace.
4. Wholehearted Devotion and Avoiding Idolatry
David warned Solomon to serve God with a “whole heart and willing mind.” This meant exclusive devotion to Yahweh, rejecting foreign influences that could lead to spiritual compromise. Unfortunately, Solomon later disregarded this by marrying foreign wives, which led him into idolatry (1 Kings 11:1-13), showing that merely knowing about God was insufficient—he needed to remain faithful in obedience.
5. Seeking God Through Prayer
Solomon’s prayer life was another mark of knowing God. His prayer at the temple’s dedication (1 Kings 8:22-53) reflected a deep understanding of God’s covenant and promises. However, as he drifted from obedience, his spiritual discernment weakened, emphasizing the need for continuous faithfulness in seeking God.
Practical Steps to Know God
1. Seek Him Through Prayer
Prayer is vital in cultivating a relationship with God. Unlike the NAR’s emphasis on waiting for supernatural voices, biblical prayer is about aligning our hearts with God’s will (Matthew 6:9-13).
2. Study and Meditate on Scripture
Knowing God requires engaging deeply with His Word. The Bible reveals His character, His will, and His promises. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that “the word of God is living and active.” God does a refining and transformative work in the serious student of the Bible.
3. Worship and Serve Him with a Whole Heart
David’s instruction to Solomon emphasized wholehearted devotion. Worship is not about emotional highs but about a life surrendered to God (Romans 12:1).
4. Walk in Obedience and Faithfulness
True knowledge of God results in righteous living. John 14:15 states, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Faithfulness in small and large matters reflects genuine knowledge of God.
5. Avoid Deceptive Teachings
The NAR and other movements introduce confusion by prioritizing emotions and supernatural encounters over biblical truth. Discernment is crucial in ensuring that our knowledge of God remains grounded in Scripture (1 John 4:1).
Conclusion
Knowing God is not a mystical, elusive experience but a tangible, relational journey with God grounded in Scripture, obedience, and transformation. It is an ongoing process that will only be completed when we see Him face to face. It is not about knowing everything about God but about being known by Him, loving Him, and living in a way that glorifies Him through the Holy Spirit’s enablement Who dwells in us.
Unlike the NAR’s distorted teachings, which emphasize subjective experiences, the Bible teaches that knowing God is rooted in His Word, revealed by the Holy Spirit, and demonstrated in obedience. As we seek Him through prayer, study His Word, and walk in His ways, we will grow in our knowledge of God, reflecting His truth and character to the world.
We’d Love to Hear From You!
Knowing God is a lifelong journey, and we grow best when we learn together. Have you encountered teachings that confuse the idea of knowing God? How has your understanding of Him been shaped by Scripture?
We invite you to share your thoughts, questions, or personal experiences in the comments. If this article has been helpful, consider sharing it with others who may benefit from a biblical perspective on knowing God. Let’s continue seeking Him in truth, encouraging one another to grow in faith, wisdom, and obedience!
