How can we know God?

How can we know the color of White? or Black? or Green? Red? .....


When we have different colors.

How can we know Good? when we have Bad.

How can we know light? when we are in darkness.

Jesus said:

John 8:12 (ESV)

I Am the Light of the World
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Why do we have different ways if the destination is the same?

No, that is why Jesus said:

John 14:6 NIV
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

If only the way is right the destination that leads will be right. There is no other way that can lead to everlasting life, to the Father in Heaven. Since Jesus is the Way, When we follow him, his footsteps, we can be sure of the destination.

Why did not he appear to everyone, make miracles and clear all the doubts for those who stumble and doesn't believe? Why doesn't he show his power over those who persecute his people?

Faith made it possible for us to believe in him though we could not see him, for we walk not by sight but by faith says Paul.

If we were to live a Godly life it has to be the one God has planned, as according to this generation he reveals to us through his spirit, John 14:26 NIV But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Moreover it is a blessing to believe in God without seeing him: John 20:29 NIV
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Moreover we become his children by doing his will: Matthew 12:50 NIV

For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

We are wise if we chose to follow him, his commands and we become his disciples if we love each other:
Matthew 7:24 NIV
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

John 14:21 NIV

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."

John 13:35 NIV

By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."


When the whole creation represents the mighty work of God,
Romans 1:20 NIV
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

And the creation represents the creator - Jesus Christ, not that God created him, but he is God himself, he was God and he will be the God forever. If we were to look at God who is from the beginning in him there is no limitation for his existence and no limitation for his presence as he lives forever.

Colossians 1:15-18New American Standard Bible (NASB)


15 [a]He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For [b]by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He [c]is before all things, and in Him all things [d]hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

God Made everything simple, we make it complicated

Why God made it difficult to believe in him?

Relationship without trust is meaningless, to have trust one should be both trustworthy and able. God in order to find the true seeker of him, his love, his character allows it difficult to find him. The other reason is God made everything very simple we made it complicated. The Israelite made God in an image of Idol at the time when Moses went to mt. Sinai.

This is the main problem with the people, when God allows us to be free to act we take advantage, God by his true love towards us never forces us to believe in him, that would make us just like robots following the commands, but God wants to act because of our love towards him, that is the reason why he forgave us our sins, he gave us life.

The problem is we does't know how much God loves us, we with our finite mind and ability can think and act according to our limitations set by our mind. We cant think if there was time before the time began. We cant understand if there was any space before there was any space. What is the end of universe? if the universe is bound with such boundary what is outside it?

We doubt if he really exists, even after numerous miracles we forget the God and we fear about the future, we compare and envy others, we murmur and find ways to escape our God given tasks. Israelite did that people of all generations did that, we are also doing the same. We think that by our prayers we can ask anything we needed, if God provides us something else we regard it as unfaithfulness, we worry about tomorrows, we struggle with our plans and future.

Luke 13:24 NIV
"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.

We turn our tests to failures and disobedience: In fact those were the means to find if we are really trusting God or leaning on our own understanding:

Proverbs 3:5 NIV
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

Cares of the world:
1 Peter 5:7 NIV
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

One of the seed that Jesus spoke about in the parable of the Sower:

Mark 4:18-19 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

18 And others are the ones on whom seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, 19 but the worries of the[a]world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Jesus' call for the heavy-laden:
Matthew 11:28-30 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

28 “Come to Me, all [a]who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is [b]easy and My burden is light.”

Jesus' instruction to stop worry:

Matthew 6:25-34 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Cure for Anxiety
25 “For this reason I say to you, [a]do not be worried about your [b]life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the [c]air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single [d]hour to his [e]life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But [f]seek first [g]His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be [h]added to you.

34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will [i]care for itself. [j]Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Jesus' call for burdened:

Isaiah 61:3 New King James Version (NKJV)

3 To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

Jesus' call for sinners:

Mark 2:17 NIV
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

What is Sin? and why we need a Savior?

The morality of Good and Bad is not scientific but the concept of moral duties and negligence is punishable under the law.

If we have rules and regulations that we need to follow, how much more will God should have?



James 5:20 NIV
remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.


Luke 15:7 NIV
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

God's Will

God's will for our life.

Romans 12:1-2New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Dedicated Service

12 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, [a]acceptable to God, which is your [b]spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this[c]world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may [d]prove what the will of God is, that which is good and [e]acceptable and perfect.

Understanding God's will for our life is the greatest achievement. Doing it with the help of God is the other part of it.

Sooner we realize in life that God's will for our life is a life that he intended for our good, we can be sure of his providence.

It is very important to note that its not just the destiny but the way, process our walk is as much as important as the destiny itself.

John 17:3New American Standard Bible (NASB)

3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

One verse that could sum it up is in  - 1 Timothy 2:4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

First thing that we need to understand regarding the God's will is that he wants all people to be saved.

Second aligning our will to that of God'sLuke 22:42 NIV

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

Finally - Our future, our goal, our aim

Philippians 3:13-14New American Standard Bible (NASB)

13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what liesahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Prayer is a powerful tool to enable us to know what God's will for our life is: It is not only to know his will, but submitting ourselves to do as according to his will.

There will always be this two ways in front of us, doing it our way or doing it God's way. How will we know? by prayer - he watches over us every moment, every second. If we are willing he is more nearer than we can think about. Will he not hear? will he not answer? It is our faith, trust in him that matters. We can be sure of his calling by discerning what is good. But we can't know what is good for us until we submit and surrender ourselves to him. The best of our plans can never be even smaller of what God has thought for us. So, if things are not going right, we have to set our life right in him, who alone can give us hope. His plans will never go weary, his promise is "I will never leave you, nor forsake you". 

Matthew 6:9-13English Standard Version (ESV)

9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.[a]
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,[b]
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,[c]
12 and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,

    but deliver us from evil.[d] 

Rejoice in Sufferings

James 1New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Testing Your Faith

1 [a]James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes who are [b]dispersed abroad: Greetings.

2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various [c]trials,3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [d]endurance. 4 And let[e]endurance have its perfect [f]result, so that you may be [g]perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and [h]without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a[i]double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

9 But the [j]brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10 and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like[k]flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with [l]a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has [m]been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted [n]by God”; for God cannot be tempted [o]by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin [p]is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be [q]deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or [r]shifting shadow.18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be [s]a kind of first fruits [t]among His creatures.

19 [u]This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all [v]that remains of wickedness, in [w]humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his [x]natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, [y]he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the lawof liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but[z]an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in [aa]what he does.

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not [ab]bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained [ac]by the world.

God turn our fears into faith, turn our anger into love, turn our sins to righteousness.

Give us hope, confidence and conviction in you, you are in center of everything, in our life and in everything that we do. We love you with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. We love our neighbor as we love ourselves. We seek your kingdom first, We share you word to the world.

Romans 8:31-39New Living Translation (NLT)

Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love

31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”[a]) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Once Saved Always Saved?

There is always a doubt in some of us, where we are really saved? because some of our carnal and acts still continue even though we believe in the saving power of Jesus.

Will God forgive sins which I do after knowing him?

The answer is our knowledge of the saving power of Jesus is limited. We sin because of many reasons, but once we are dead in our sinful nature - Spiritually we are to leave such things as we don't belong to that nature anymore.

Some of us think God forgives no matter what I do, this is again carnal thinking.

Paul says:

Romans 6:1 NIV
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?



Then who will enter into the kingdom of Heaven?

Matthew 7:21 NIV
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.


Who will be saved?

Matthew 24:12-13 (NASB)
12 Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.


Paul when he says about the new creation, what the new man / new creation

Colossians 3:5 NIV
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

John 10:8 NIV
All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.

Luke 22:70 NIV
They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied, "You say that I am."

Matthew 24:5 NIV
For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many.

IS ONLY PRAYER ENOUGH, OR DO WE ALSO NEED TO TAKE ACTION?

First we need to understand the meaning of Prayer, Prayer is not just giving the list of needs and requirements to God, but it is an act of overflowing Joy for who God is and what he has done for us.

Jesus says how not to pray and he thought us the Lord's prayer Matthew 6:6-13
.
Jesus healing the paralytic is a classic example of what one has to do with their Faith, Matthew 9:1-8

Prayer is not wishful thinking, it is not even a positive attitude. It is the very foundation of a Christian life, it is to have conversation with the living God. Aligning our thoughts with that of God's to do his will. This is how David says in Ps 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. 

Requirement of Prayer: Faith, Being Persistence.

James says James 2:14-26

Faith Without Works Is Dead

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your[a] works, and I will show you my faith by my[b]works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?[c] 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says,“Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”[d] And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

IS ONLY PRAYER ENOUGH, OR DO WE ALSO NEED TO TAKE ACTION

We need to first analyze the need and the object of Prayer (Mat 6:5-6). What we pray for and why or how we pray.

Do we pray to Glorify God for who he is, or pray for needs or healing or praying for other’s need?

We can further divide the Prayer into two components, Prayers in which my part of doing is more (Prayer for the areas of influence) like that of Neh 1:5-11, and the other component in which my part of doing is less (Prayer for the areas of concern). Prayer is not a wishful thinking, it is aligning our will to that of God’s.