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[0:00] Psalm chapter 9. Psalm chapter 9.

[1:00] Psalm chapter 9.

[1:30] The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug. Their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. The Lord is known by his justice, and the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.

[1:43] The wicked return to the grave, all the nations that forget God. But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.

[1:55] Arise, O Lord, let not man triumph. Let the nations be judged in your presence. Strike them with terror, O Lord. Let the nations know they are but men.

[2:06] One year ago this month, we began our series of studying the attributes of God with a question.

[2:17] It was the question, what is God? And God is interested in your answer to that question.

[2:28] Jeremiah knew it and said in chapter 12, verse 3, You know me, O God. You see me and test my thoughts about you.

[2:41] The Lord is testing our thoughts about him. In here. Right here as he presents himself to us week by week in his word.

[2:54] He's watching to see if you believe him when he tells you what he's like. When you hear that he's sovereign in salvation. When you hear that he's good and just.

[3:08] A God of wrath. A God of grace. What do you think of him then? He tests our thoughts about him. But not just in here.

[3:19] Where his word is preached. Also out there. Out there on Monday afternoon when we are met with disappointment. And some trial.

[3:31] Our God is testing our thoughts about him. To see whether we will complain. Or whether we'll really believe. That he knows what is best for me.

[3:42] And that what has happened is not happened by chance. But has been decreed by this great sovereign God. Whose wisdom and power are infinite. And whose goodness to his own never fails.

[3:55] God's testing our thoughts about him. What does she think of me now? And so always one of the most significant things about you.

[4:07] Is your thoughts about God. So we've been at this study for a year now. I wonder do you know God any better today than you knew him a year ago.

[4:21] Now when the object of our study is the infinite God. This much is true. That the more we come to know him.

[4:33] The more we see that there is to know. The more we see that we haven't got to the end of knowing him. Some of you have studied the human body.

[4:46] And you found this true in your studies. Doctors and scientists who give their whole lives to the study of the human body. Find this.

[4:56] That the more they know. The more they see that they do not know. That they do not understand. And if that's the case with one little created thing. A human body.

[5:08] What must it be of the creator of the body. And indeed the creator of all things. Knowing God is like mountain climbing.

[5:20] The higher you go. The more you see. And the more you see. That there is more to see. At each step higher.

[5:35] New vistas and views of glory and splendor are opened up to you. That you've never seen before. That you didn't even know was there to see.

[5:46] So it is. With knowing our God. So as we finish our study. On the attributes of God. This week and next week. Lord willing.

[5:57] We're not pretending to come to the end of studying God. We're just taking another step. Into the lifetime discipline and pleasure. Of knowing God.

[6:10] There's no end to it. Even eternity is too short. For our finite minds to fully comprehend the infinite God. Who exists. There's always more to know of him.

[6:22] And there's always room. To know him better. Than we do today. May it be our hunger and our thirst. To know our God better. And with God.

[6:34] The more we know him. The more we want to know him. Better. That's not true of everything. It's not true of everybody. That the better you come to know them.

[6:45] The more you want to know about them. But it's true of God. The deeper in we go. The sweeter. The exercise. We hunger and thirst to know him.

[6:56] And then he reveals more of himself to us. And we are at one and the same time. Both satisfied. And left. Hungering and thirsting. To know more of him.

[7:09] And if our study has done that for us. Well then. May God be praised. And. May we. This morning. Come to know him better.

[7:21] Now it's the conviction of the Bible. That your view of God. Determines much about. How you live. And how you live. Reveals a lot.

[7:32] About your view of God. Turn to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. Your view of God.

[7:43] Determines how much. Reveals much about how. You live. And how you live. Reveals. A lot about your view of God. Now here in 1 Thessalonians 4.

[7:57] When telling us to avoid sexual immorality. We're told. To learn to control our way. Our body in a way that is holy.

[8:08] And honorable. Verse 5. Verse 4. That each of you should learn to control. His own body in a way that is holy.

[8:18] And honorable. Not in passionate lust. Like the heathen. Who do not know God. God. In other words.

[8:30] Their sexual immorality reveals. That they do not know God. They don't know his holiness. They don't know his judgment. They don't know his power. They don't know his grace.

[8:41] They don't know God. And it shows in their sex life. Now you control your body. In a way that is holy and honorable. Not like people who don't know God.

[8:52] Your view of God determines much about how you live. And how you live reveals a lot about your view of God. A couple books further in to the New Testament.

[9:07] Titus chapter 1 and verse 16. I'll read 15 and 16. To the pure all things are pure. But to those who are corrupted and do not believe.

[9:19] Nothing is pure. In fact both their minds and consciences are corrupted. Verse 16 now. They claim to know God. But by their actions they deny him.

[9:32] They are detestable. Disobedient. And unfit for doing anything good. You see your actions reveal. Whether or not your claim to know God is true.

[9:46] Here were some people who claim to know God. But their actions denied him. And showed the real story. That they didn't know God after all.

[9:58] To really know God is to live in the light of who God is. It's to treat him as if he actually were God. Which he is.

[10:09] And you show whether you know him. By the way that you live before him. Now there may be a great difference. Between our theoretical view of God. And our functional view of God.

[10:22] Remember when we started this study. We drew that contrast. There is our theoretical view of God. It's what we say we believe about God.

[10:35] And then there's our functional view of God. It's what we really believe at the moment. That God is like. Right now. Sunday morning.

[10:46] What I think God is like. Tomorrow morning. When I face some problem. Right then. What I think my God is like. That's my functional view of God.

[10:58] It's my operating view of him. It holds sway over my thoughts and actions. My attitudes. My emotions. My decisions. It's God as we think of him.

[11:12] In the push and pull of life. And what we're after here in our study. Is to have the view of God given to us in the Bible. Not only be our theoretical view of God.

[11:24] Our statement of faith view of God. But also to be our functional view of God. That this view of God would cast out every wrong thought of mine about him.

[11:36] Every small thought of him would be squashed by this view. And that this view would dominate my thinking. My choosing. My living.

[11:48] Every day. Every waking moment of my life. So there might be a great difference between. Our theoretical view. And our functional view. There's also a great difference between knowing God.

[12:02] And just knowing about him. You've got to know about God. In order to know him. But you can know a lot about God. Without ever really knowing him.

[12:13] And we need to appreciate that reality. Some of you young men know a lot about your favorite baseball players. And you keep up with their stats.

[12:23] You could tell us their batting average. Current batting average. You could tell us what they did last night. In the game. You know a lot about him.

[12:36] Maybe even go on Facebook. If he's got one. And you learn what his favorite food is. His favorite music. His favorite movies. You could even buy the latest book.

[12:47] That's written about him. If he's really a superstar. You know all sorts of things. About him. But you don't really know him. You know how I know.

[12:57] Because if I called him up. And I said. Nathan Lady wants to come over tonight. Just hang out. Maybe watch the fireworks with you. He'd say. Nathan who?

[13:09] I don't know him. From Adam. Oh but. But he knows everything about you. He knows all the stats. He's been following. In the papers.

[13:19] He's been watching you on TV. I don't know him. And in the same way. It is possible to know. All sorts of statistics. About God.

[13:31] Without knowing him. To have sat through a year. Of sermons. Where we just. Dive into scripture. And see what God has said to us. About himself. And you can know he's holy.

[13:41] And he's just. And he's righteous. And he's gracious. And loving. And sovereign. And you can spill these things out. With a proof text from scripture. In fact the Bible says.

[13:54] There'll be many. In the last day. Who will be able to do just that. There'll even be people there. Who preached. On the attributes of God. To whom he will say.

[14:06] Depart from me. I never. Knew you. You see. We never. Had that. Relationship. With each other. Which is.

[14:17] To know someone. Just as Nathan. Doesn't know. His superstar. So. You. Do not. Know me.

[14:27] I do not. Know you. You. We have no. Relationship. There's a great. Difference. Between knowing. About God. And knowing. Him. Personally. Have you.

[14:39] Come to know God. God. Or do you just know. About him. The difference. Between the two. Will be the difference. Between heaven. And hell. My friend. Be sure. You know him.

[14:50] Whom to know. Is life eternal. The one true God. And Jesus Christ. Whom he. Has sent. Christ. I wonder. If you can say that.

[15:01] With many here today. That you know God. As your heavenly father. And you treat him. As your heavenly father. And he treats you. As his son. And you know.

[15:12] Jesus Christ. As your prophet. And he teaches you. The will of God. You know him. As your priest. And he died for you. And he's always.

[15:24] Interceding for you. You know him. As your mediator. As your advocate. The one who speaks. To the father. On your defense. Who represents you. To the father. You know him.

[15:35] As your gracious king. Who rules over you. With his law. And who defends you. With his might. You know him. As your satisfying bread. And water of life. As we've sung.

[15:46] This morning. You know him. As your most valuable treasure. You know him. As your best friend. Whom you have fellowship with. Every day. You talk to him. In prayer.

[15:56] And he talks to you. In his word. You hold communion. With him. Yes. You know God the father. You know God the son. And you know God the spirit. He is to you.

[16:08] The spirit of wisdom. And understanding. You know him. As the spirit of counsel. And of power. The spirit of knowledge. And of the fear of the Lord. You know him. As your comforter.

[16:20] Who comes alongside of you. With encouragement. When you are down. You read. With him. He reads with you. The holy scriptures. And reveals.

[16:30] Your risen Lord. In the scriptures. He's there with you. And he's teaching you. And opening your eyes. To wonderful things. In his law. He's convincing you of sin.

[16:42] And he's leading you. To Jesus blood. And the peace. That flows. From a conscience. Washed. In his blood. He lives within you. To sanctify you.

[16:53] He. He wars against your flesh. He powerfully produces. His fruit. The fruit of the spirit. Yes. You know God. And you're known by him.

[17:06] It's a vital relationship. In which you can say. I am his. And he is mine. I know God. Oh. I trust every one of you.

[17:17] If you don't know God. We'll know him. Before. This service is out. It is always our greatest need.

[17:27] To know God. It's always our greatest need. Whoever we are. Whatever the circumstance of life. Our greatest need. Is always to know God.

[17:42] Israel was undergoing discipline. And so they were taken away. Into Babylon. As captives. And things are so bad. Nothing's going their way. They're found complaining. And these are the words.

[17:55] Pouring out of their hearts. My way is hidden from the Lord. My cause is disregarded by my God. Isaiah 40 verse 27. He doesn't know.

[18:05] He doesn't care. I'm on my own here. I must fend for myself. And they're losing heart. They're losing hope. They're ready to give up. What do these people need? A change in circumstances.

[18:20] A message to pump up their self-esteem. A message on how to succeed in life. Three easy steps. To a better marriage. To a better job. To better finances.

[18:33] Entertaining worship for one hour. So that they can just forget. About their problems. And feel better. For an hour a week. No, none of these. The God who knows their greatest need.

[18:46] Sends his messenger. To announce it. In Isaiah 40 and verse 9. You who bring good tidings to Zion. Go up on a high mountain. Where your voice will be heard.

[18:58] You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem. Lift up your voice. Lift it up. With a shout. Do not be afraid. Say to the towns of Judah. Behold your God.

[19:10] That's what you need. You need to look at your God. To consider him again. Do you not know? Have you not heard?

[19:22] Stop and look. They needed theology. They needed the study of God. They need to see him.

[19:33] And to know him. As he really is. That was their greatest need. Now. This is not what people think they need. It's surely not what church growth experts.

[19:44] Think that they need. But it's what God says we need. You need to know me. You need to behold my glory. And so the rest of chapter 40 of Isaiah.

[19:58] Sets God before them. In the greatness. And supremacy. And majesty of his being. And it compares him with the creation. And creation is seen to be just a tiny thing.

[20:09] Compared to him. And it compares him to the nations. The great powerful nations. That were bantering and knocking Israel about. Like a little flea. These powerful nations are compared to God.

[20:22] And then it compares the idols. To God. And the greatness of God is set before them. Behold your God.

[20:38] Now perhaps you're wondering. Is this really what I need? I don't know what all you're going through. I know some of the struggles some of you face. And you might say. You know. Is this really what I need?

[20:48] More theology. More truth about God. His person. His character. Who he is. A more God focused life. Years ago.

[20:59] John Piper. The minister of Bethlehem Baptist Church. In Minneapolis, Minnesota. Determined to preach. On that exalted view of God. And his holiness. Found in Isaiah 6. 1 through 4.

[21:10] A short passage. That climaxes in that glorious pronouncement of the angels. That they never stop crying. Holy. Holy.

[21:21] Holy. Is the Lord God Almighty. The whole earth. Is full of his glory. The Lord God Almighty. And Piper says.

[21:32] I did my best to display the majesty and glory of such a great and holy God. I gave not one word of application to the lives of the people. Now application is essential to the normal course of preaching.

[21:44] But I felt led that day to make a test. Would the passionate portrayal of the greatness of God in and of itself meet the needs of the people? You see the test?

[21:57] Is God himself in his being. And who he is. Enough to meet the needs. Whatever they be. In these 200 people that sit before me this morning. Piper says.

[22:11] I didn't realize that not long before this Sunday. One of the young families of our church. Discovered that their child was being sexually abused by a close relative. It was incredibly traumatic.

[22:21] They were there that Sunday morning and sat under that message. I wonder how many advisors to us pastors today would have said. Pastor Piper.

[22:33] Can't you see your people are hurting? Can't you come down out of your heaven? And get practical. Don't you realize what kind of people sit in front of you on Sunday?

[22:46] Some weeks later I learned the story. The husband took me aside one Sunday after a service. John, he said. These have been the hardest months of our lives.

[22:58] Do you know what has gotten me through? The vision of the greatness of God's holiness that you gave me the first week of January. It has been a rock we could stand on.

[23:13] God is a rock. And if we will know him. We will find him to be sufficient for us.

[23:23] Whatever our problem. We will find him to be solid ground beneath our feet. The greatness. The glory. The being of God.

[23:34] It's relevant. It's practical. It is our deepest need to see God for who he is. And all application is. Is bringing us and our problem into the atmosphere of God.

[23:49] And who he is. And seeing our problem in light of who he is. Because nothing looks the same when God is in the center of the picture. There's my problem. And God's nowhere in sight.

[24:00] But when I turn to the word of God. And see him for who he is. And plant him in the center of my panorama. Then nothing looks the same.

[24:12] He is himself sufficient. Oh that we would set the Lord always before us. Because the Lord is at my right hand. I will not be shaken.

[24:24] Many think the study of God is impractical and irrelevant for life. J.I. Packer says it is the most practical project anyone can engage in. And I trust we've learned something of that this past year.

[24:40] That was the conviction behind Packer's book Knowing God. It is the most practical project anyone can engage in. So let's give ourselves to the lifelong challenge and pleasure.

[24:57] Of getting to know this God. Now we've been trying to show all along the way with each attribute. What a difference knowing God makes. But I want to conclude on such a note this morning.

[25:10] And I see we're not going to get done. So we'll hold the second point for next week. God willing. Two points. People who know their God.

[25:22] Trust him. And do exploits. For this morning. People who know their God will trust in him. Turn in your Bibles to Psalm 9.

[25:34] This was the passage read for us. Psalm of David. The currency on... The currency of our nation bears upon it these words.

[25:47] In God we trust. Now that's no doubt the leftovers of a better day for our country. And I don't know how many Americans today truly trust in God.

[26:00] But I know this. There is a segment of our population of whom that is true. It is true of all those who know God. They trust in God.

[26:13] Notice what David says to God in verse 10 of Psalm 9. Those who know your name will trust in you. For you Lord have never forsaken those who seek you.

[26:28] Do you see the point? Those who know their God will trust in him. It's true. It's true. It's the principle. There's the principle. And some of you are living proof of it.

[26:40] That the people who know their God trust in him. And there's a reason they trust in him. It's because they know him. They have a relationship with him.

[26:51] They know his heart. They know how he thinks. They know how he acts. How he responds. They've seen him in action.

[27:02] They have a history with him. A personal history. And they found him to be absolutely consistent. Unchanging. The same. Yesterday.

[27:12] Today. And forever. Those who know your name will trust in you. For you Lord have never forsaken those who seek you. Now here's a man.

[27:24] Writing these words who knows God. This man knows God. He knows his history. And he has learned from it.

[27:34] I'm talking about biblical history. He knows history. And he's learned from it. That God has never forsaken those who seek him. Those who take refuge in him in times of trouble.

[27:47] The scriptures had recorded many before David. Who in their times of trouble sought the Lord. And found him to be an ever present help in their troubles. He knew God from the Bible.

[28:02] Do we know God from the Bible? It's the only way we know him. We will not know him truly apart from the Bible. But David also knew God from personal experience.

[28:14] It's what he tells us in this chapter. Chapter 9. He's a man himself who has been in trouble. He's had many enemies out to get him.

[28:25] To kill him. To take his life. But in the midst of such life-threatening circumstances. He's met his God. He's seen him. He's seen him at work.

[28:36] In his life. He's seen him for who he is. And he's come to know his name better. And if you just read through the psalm. And notice what David knows about this God.

[28:50] It's incredible. I can just summarize. He knows him to be the most high. Who's over everything. Who reigns forever. He knows that he's a wonder-working God.

[29:04] That he's the one who saves. Who delivers. He knows that he's a righteous and a just judge. Who governs the earth in justice. He's known for his justice. He knows that God is the one who does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.

[29:20] And on and on. And because he knows him to be such. He has trusted in him. He has taken refuge in him. As a stronghold in time of trouble.

[29:32] And what has David found? He's found what everyone before him. And everyone after him. Has found. And will find. That the Lord has never forsaken those who seek him.

[29:46] Never. Do you think this morning you're going to be the first one to break the rule? But the Lord. Has never forsaken those who seek him.

[30:02] Until you sought him. In the midst of your need. And then he forsook you. No. You know God. You know him from scripture.

[30:12] You know him from your own experience. And you found him to be this faithful God. Who comes to the aid of those who trust in him. And you see every episode of trust.

[30:24] Deepened David's knowledge of his God. He comes to know God better. Because he's been through the trial with him. And he's learned of him.

[30:35] There's a sailboat. And it's for sale. And there's a guarantee with it. That it's guaranteed not to capsize. And there's all the technical.

[30:50] Material. Tests that have been done. And engineering. Specs all laid out. Uncapsizable.

[31:03] But we will know the trustworthiness of that boat far better if we get in it. And take it out on the high seas. And find it lifting us up. From the crests of the waves. And pounding us down to the bottom.

[31:15] It's still popping up. Not capsizing. And we'll know in a far deeper. In a far better way. That that boat is uncapsizable.

[31:27] Because we've been through the storm in it. And it's the same way with God. We read of him in the scriptures. And we see that he is trustworthy. And he's never forsaken the soul that seeks him.

[31:40] But then. In the midst of our life. When the bad news comes. And we cast ourselves upon him. We seek him. And we find him.

[31:52] And he helps us. We come out on the other side of the storm. Knowing far better. That our God is faithful. Knowing far better. How merciful and kind.

[32:04] And how powerful he is. We leaned on him. We put all the weight upon him. And we found him to be a rock. That didn't move.

[32:15] These things happen. These storms. These trials. Paul says these things happen. That we might not rely on ourselves. But on God.

[32:26] Who raises the dead. So we're meant to see the storms and trials of life. As opportunities to get to know him better. To grow in our knowledge of God.

[32:37] And so to exercise our faith. Someone has said. Your faith can rise no higher than your concept of God. What is your view of God? Your faith can rise that high.

[32:49] But it can't surpass it. Because faith stands on God. Faith is resting on God. So. Your concept of God is very important. How well you know God will be seen.

[33:02] And how much you trust him. David knew his God. And so he trusted him. Ever wonder why Psalm 23 is such a comfort to people in trial?

[33:13] Even the very valley of the shadow of death. Why do people find such strength to their faith from Psalm 23? Well because it was written by a man who knew God.

[33:25] It was written by a sheep who knew his shepherd. And he tells us all about this wonderful shepherd. And therefore he says.

[33:36] I cannot be left in want. I cannot be in need. He will meet all my needs. He knew God. He trusted God. In several of the Psalms.

[33:49] David cries. In you oh Lord. I put my trust. Psalm 7. Psalm 31. Psalm 71. In you oh Lord. I put my trust. But if you read those Psalms.

[34:01] You see how well David knew the Lord. That's why he trusted in him. When I am afraid. I will trust in you. Not in an unknown God.

[34:12] But in God whose word I praise. In God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? You see faith doesn't grow on. A foundation of an unknown God.

[34:26] It grows on the knowledge of God. And that faith can rise no higher than your concept of God. God. When you turn to Hebrews 11. And find those people known for their faith.

[34:39] Doing all sorts of exploits. One thing that's true of them all is they knew God. They knew God. When Noah was told to build an ark.

[34:50] It wasn't a stranger they met that day that told him to build the ark. Because a flood was coming. It was his God. The God who'd revealed himself to him. The God he knew had relationship with.

[35:02] And so by faith Noah built the ark. Abraham knew God. Like the Bible says that. He's the friend of God.

[35:13] Intimate. Relationship with God. So when the word from God came. Leave this. Your homeland. And go to a place that I will show you. That will later be your inheritance. He went.

[35:25] Not even knowing where he was going. He didn't know where he was going. But he knew the God. Who was leading him there. And. The people that know their God.

[35:37] Will trust in him. Will trust in him. Moses knew God face to face. So he trusted God. It's true of Job. They. Though he slay me.

[35:48] Yet will I trust him. Indeed your faith can rise no higher than. Your concept of God. God. When we come to the New Testament. How many times do we find Jesus saying to the twelve.

[36:01] Oh you of little faith. You little faith men. Well they were just getting to know Jesus. Weren't they. There isn't a boat with them one day. And a storm comes up.

[36:13] And he's sleeping. And they cry Lord. Shake him. Lord don't you care that we're. We're going to drown. Come. Oh you of little faith.

[36:26] And he rebukes the wind. Rebukes the waves. And they're calm. Now they're terrified. And they say. What manner of man is this?

[36:36] Who is this? That even the winds and the waves obey him. They're just getting to know him. But the more their faith. The more their knowledge of Christ grows.

[36:48] The better they come to know him. The more their faith in him grows. These are these little faith men. And Jesus continues to reveal his glory to them.

[37:00] The glory of the one and only. The son of God. And he rises from the dead. And they see him for who he is. The eternal everlasting Lord of life.

[37:11] And their eyes are open. So that they can understand the scriptures. And they see him in the scriptures. For who he is. God's Messiah. The one without beginning or ending.

[37:21] The one who was promised to save his people. From their sins. And their knowledge of Christ is growing. And then what do you see. Throughout the New Testament. From Acts on.

[37:31] What do you see? You see. These men. Becoming large faith men. And we find them trusting God. Trusting God with their lives.

[37:45] Willing to obey the hardest commands. To take this very gospel back into Jerusalem. Where Jesus of Nazareth was crucified. And to start there. With their evangelism. And then to go out to Samaria.

[37:57] And all Judea. And to the ends of the earth. And they trust this God. They trust their lives into his hands. So that even on the night. When Peter. Before Peter. Is to be brought out and tried.

[38:08] Like Herod. Who had just beheaded James. He's sleeping. He's found sleeping. Between two soldiers. The people that know their God. Will trust in him.

[38:20] It's true of you. It's true of me. That the deeper our knowledge of him. The more we will trust him. Now we have everything that we need to know God.

[38:33] What do you need to know God? Well you need a Bible. Because this is where he reveals himself. Yes the creation will tell you something about him. He is awesome. In power.

[38:43] He's eternal. He's good. He's creative. But here. In words. That you can read.

[38:54] He tells you what he's like. And folks. We have so much more of our Bibles. Than David ever had. Than most of those men. Listed in Hebrews 11. Those men of faith had.

[39:06] They had a little light. In which they knew God. And they took the light. In which they knew God. And they trusted in the God. That they knew. Now here we are. All the scriptures.

[39:17] All 66 books. All shining out to us. This brilliant light. Of who God is. And we have the Lord Jesus.

[39:28] Having already come from heaven. Having lived his life. Having died. Having risen. And he's portrayed. His acts. And what he's done.

[39:38] Throughout the New Testament. There you are. You can read it. In the past. God spoke to our fathers. In many ways. But in these last days. He's spoken to us.

[39:49] Through his son. So that Jesus can say. If you've seen me. You've seen the father. Have I been so long with you. And you still don't know the father. Well. I and the father are one.

[39:59] And it's in Christ. That we come to know. God. He. He is God. And so in seeing him. We come to know God. But he also. Brings us into right relationship.

[40:12] With God. For it's only through him. That we come. To know God. I am the way. The truth. And the life. No one comes to the father. But by me. So read your Bibles.

[40:26] Looking to know God. Make that the end goal. Of your reading. Of your hearing. Of the preach work. To know God better.

[40:36] To have personal dealings. With him. Don't stop short of that. Read with the heart of Paul.

[40:46] I want to know Christ. Read with the heart of Moses. Show me your glory. And when you see it.

[40:58] Worship. If you see his attribute of love. Expressed in the scriptures. Then praise him for his love. If you see your sin. In the scripture.

[41:09] Before him. Then confess it. To him. Always personal dealings. With the one who is speaking to you. You're seeking to know God.

[41:21] Better. Bring your whole life. Into the light. Of this God. God who is for you. See your.

[41:32] Your. Your trials. Then as opportunities. To grow in your knowledge of God. To behold him. What do I need. To remember about God. In this trial. And act faith.

[41:46] In who he is. In his introduction. To his book. Trusting God. Even when life hurts. Jerry Bridges. Confesses. That he finds it harder. To trust God.

[41:56] Than to obey God. Trusting God. Is no easy task. Especially in a fallen world. Where our faith. Is attacked on every side. And where circumstances.

[42:08] Sometimes can seem to be. At cross purposes. With the promises of God. God says this. But this is what's happening. And life seems to mock. The promises of God.

[42:19] And we find it no easy thing. To trust God. He says he'll take care of me. And meet my needs. But look what I'm facing now. He says he'll not let me be tempted.

[42:30] Beyond what I can bear. But this is more than I can take. He promises to provide. A way of escape. So I can stand up under it. But I don't see any way.

[42:41] Out of this one. He says he'll never leave me. Nor forsake me. But where is he when I need him. And I need him now. And I can't see him anywhere.

[42:53] And I sure feel like he has forgotten me. The principle is still true. The people that know their God. Will trust in him. And it's precisely in such circumstances.

[43:06] That our faith must fall back. On what we know of God. Get back to basics. What do you know about God? That's what Isaiah 40 is all about. Read it.

[43:16] Memorize it. Meditate on it. Preach it to yourself. Do you not know John? Have you not heard John? That the Lord is the everlasting God.

[43:28] The creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary. And his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary. He gives power to the weak.

[43:42] Even youths grow tired and weary. And young men stumble and fall. But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.

[43:52] They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not grow faint. Behold your God. Behold your God. So with more layoffs and higher prices at the pump.

[44:06] And the grocery store. And many other places. With all the strains and pressures. Coming upon you. The test that comes back from the lab positive.

[44:17] You need surgery. The people who know their God will trust in him. A God who is for me. For me in all his attributes. Not a little God.

[44:31] Not a little God with his hands tied. Just waiting to see what men will do. And whether his plan will be frustrated. But this sovereign God. Who ordains all things. For my good.

[44:43] Whose power and wisdom are for me. Whose love is so strong. That nothing can separate me from his love. This God is enough.

[44:57] And that means that all worry and discontent. Become indicators. Revealing my unbelief. My lack of trust. Showing how inadequate is my present view of God.

[45:10] God. Let worry. Let complaining. Let discontent. Be the sign on the dashboard. That says your God is too small.

[45:23] Time for a God check. Time. To stop and remember who he is. So this morning. Measure your knowledge of God. How well you know God.

[45:34] By how well you trust him. How much you trust him. Because the people who know their God. God. Will trust in him. What a privilege.

[45:45] To have this God as our God. To be our refuge. In time of need. To know he'll never forsake us. As we seek him. Is he your God?

[45:56] Do you know him? Or just know about him? Have you dethroned yourself as God? Or are you still God in your life? That's how we all start. We're gods of ourselves.

[46:08] Do you know him? If he's to come in. Then all the other gods must. Be driven out.

[46:20] Come in repentance. And. Trust in this savior. I will give them a heart to know me. That's the promise. I will give them a heart.

[46:31] To know me. He can change that heart. And make it one. To know him. You know. Knowing God is not an option. It's not an extra.

[46:42] That you can get on with. In time and eternity without. First. Second. Thessalonians 1. 8. God will punish those who do not know God. He will punish those who do not know God.

[46:56] And do not obey the gospel. Of our Lord Jesus. You know. To not know God. Is a serious crime. Hard to know of a. Of a higher crime in the universe. To not know God.

[47:08] It's not for lack of information. It's because your heart. Does not consider the knowledge of God. Worth retaining. Romans 1. 28. Says. You see.

[47:21] You're judging God. As being unworthy. Of your thought. Unworthy. Of hanging on to. Unworthy. Of getting to know. His invitation. Lies ignored. His Bible.

[47:32] In which he's portrayed. Lies shut. Oh. How. Little you make. Of this great. God. No crime.

[47:42] Is higher. You only show. That you've not come to know. The true and living God. Because he's the one. Who ravishes the hearts. Of all who know him.

[47:54] Through faith in Jesus Christ. Cast yourself. Upon his mercy. He says. Whoever comes to me. I will. No wise.

[48:04] Cast out. Well. All of our. Bible reading. All of our. Sermon. Hearing. Hearing. Is meant. To bring us. To God. Let's turn to him.

[48:15] Now. In private prayer. As we. Each one. Respond to. His word. To us. This morning. If you need. To know this. Christ. Come to him.

[48:26] Through faith. In Jesus. Let's. Let's all pray. Indulgent. God. How kind. Are all your ways. To me.

[48:37] When we think. That the knowledge. Of God. That we had. Was such. That we didn't want. To know you. It's a mercy. That any of us. Know you. That you would have. Still come in grace.

[48:47] And revealed. Yourself. To us. In the Lord Jesus. Showing us. Our need of him. Bringing us. To know you. Whom to know.

[48:58] Is eternal life. Thank you. For such mercy. Thank you. For the way. Knowing you. Has changed. Our lives. Thank you. That in our trials.

[49:09] It has lifted us up. To know you. For who you are. Oh. Would you strengthen. Our faith. Then. Would you help us. Jesus.

[49:20] Jesus. How. I trust him. How I've proved him. O'er and o'er. Jesus. Jesus. Precious Jesus. Oh. For strength. To trust him more.

[49:32] Do help us. To honor him. By trusting him. Lead us to him. And then lead us in triumph. Triumphing faith.

[49:43]  We ask in Jesus name. Amen. Amen.