M a t u r i n g   in   C h r i s t   II

                                                        b y   m i n i s t e r i n g   t o   o n e   a n o t h e r



            And this is eternal life,

            that they may know You,

            the only true God,
            and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

            John 17:3     NKJV


        G O A L

        • on becoming His shining light, reflecting His likeness?!
          Matthew 5:14     NKJV
          "The light, and love, and power of the indwelling Christ shone out
          through [you], so that men, beholding, 'marveled: and they took
          knowledge of [you], that [you] have been with Jesus.'"
          Acts 4:13     NKJV     SC 75

              = O R =

        • on becoming the salt of the earth, where people, after having been with
          you are thirsting after Christ, wanting what you have?!
          Matthew 5:13     NKJV

              = O R =

        • on becoming like a tree, planted by the rivers of water, which brings
          forth its fruit in its season?!       Psalm 1:3

        • "When the earth lies bare, a line of verdue [= verdure - 'the lush
          greeness of flourishing conditions' *]" marks the river's course; ... "
          TMB   81
              = A N D =

        • "Behold, I will do a new thing,...
          I will even make a road in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert ...."
          Isaiah 43:19-21

            • "And the Lord shall guide you continually,
              and satisfy your soul in drought,
              and strengthen your bones;
              you shall be like a watered garden,
              and like a spring of water
              whose waters do not fail
              ."     Isaiah 58:11     NKJV



        I n t r o d u c t i o n

          • Eternal Life [ are you sure of your Salvation?!!! ]
          • Results in My Desire to Bear the Fruit of the Spirit
            [ = Becoming Fruitful in Life ]
          • Responding in Knowing God
            Provides Opportunity for Jesus to Get to Know Me
            [ = Taking Care of My Needs ]
          • Provides Opportunity for Me to find Jesus
            [ = Taking Care of Other's Needs ]



        T h e   B e n e f i t   o f   K n o w i n g   G O D

          A. Eternal Life [ are you sure of your Salvation?!!! ]

            And this is eternal life,
            that they may know You,
            the only true God,
            and Jesus Christ
            Whom You have sent.     John 17:3     NKJV

            These things have I written to you
            who believe in the name of the Son of God,
            that you may know that you have eternal life.
            1 John 5:13     NKJV

          B. Results in My Desire to Bear the Fruit of the Spirit
            [ = Becoming Fruitful in Life ]

            9 ...and to ask that you may be filled
            with the knowledge of His will
            in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

            10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord,
            fully pleasing Him,
            being fruitful in every good work
            and increasing in the knowledge of God;

            11 strengthened with all might
            according to His glorious power,
            for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

            12 giving thanks of the Father
            who has qualified us to be
            partakers of the inheritance
            of the saints in the light.     Col 1:9-12     NKJV

            ...that you may walk worthy of the Lord,
            fully pleasing Him,
            being [ genuine Christian ] fruitful in every good work
            and increasing in the knowledge of God
            [ may grow deeper ].     Col 1:9,10     Phillips

            We pray that you may bear fruit,
            in active goodness of every kind,
            and grow in the knowledge of God.
            Col 1:9,10     TNEB

            ...so that you will always be doing good,
            kind things for others,
            while all the time you are
            learning to know God better and better.
            Col 1:9,10     TLB

            ...and you may be fruitful
            in all kinds of good deeds,
            and may grow into fuller knowledge of God.
            Col 1:9,10     GDSP

            ...and desiring to please Him in all things,
            bearing fruit in every good work
            and steadily growing and increasing
            in [ and by ] the knowledge of God
            with fuller, deeper and clearer insight,
            acquaintance and recognition.
            Col 1:10     TAB

            [ asking ] that you may be filled
            with the full [ deep and clear ]
            knowledge of His will
            in all spiritual wisdom
            [ that is, in comprehensive insight
            into the ways and purposes of God ],
            and in understanding and discernment of
            spiritual things; v9

            For if these things are yours and abound,
            you will be neither barren nor unfruitful
            in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ
            2 Peter 1:5     NKJV

            [ for = v4 - context ]


        R e s p o n d i n g   I n   K n o w i n g   G O D

          A. Provides Opportunity for Jesus to Get to Know Me
              [ = Taking Care of My Needs ]

            Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins     Matthew 25:1-13
            "I do not know you"

          B. Provides Opportunity for Me to find Jesus
              [ = Taking Care of Other's Needs ]

            Parable of the Sheep and the Goats     Matthew 25:31-46

            6 To loose the bonds of wickedness,
            to undo the heave burdens,
            to let the oppressed go free,
            to break every yoke?

            7 ...to share your bread with the hungry,
            ...you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
            ...you see the naked, that you cover him,
            and not hide yourself from your own flesh?

            8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
            your healing shall spring forth speedily,
            your righteousness shall go before you;
            the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
            Isaiah 58:6-8     NKJV


      M y   R e s p o n s e




      G o i n g   D e e p e r   /   S o u r c e s   =   R e a d i n g s

        • White, Ellen G. Steps to Christ - Pacific Press, any edition
          chapter 10 "A Knowledge of God" pages 85 - 91

      Wolfhard Touchard, M.L.S.   Retired Reference & Database Librarian
      Andrews University - February 2014