You Don't Know Me

My wife and I were talking over coffee recently. As we talked I realized this special time together was one way in which we build our relationship with each other. I felt inspired to write the April (oops, now May) article about knowing God in a relational way.

In early 1990, the Lord used HP, the company I was working for, to move us to Stratham, NH. We didn't want to move. We loved living in Colorado where we have family close by and the beauty of the mountains, just minutes from home, to enjoy. We also loved our church and all the benefits of being part of a life-giving community of Jesus followers.

The move to NH was nothing short of supernatural. I cannot list all the details. I can say this, by the time we got to NH, we were all very excited to be there and to see what God had for us. I moved first in late December. I spent my spare time looking at homes to purchase. Debby joined me in March to decide on the home we would finally buy for our family. We had numerous confirmations from the Lord that guided us to the right home and neighborhood where our family flourished. We quickly found a church to attend. It was a very exciting time in our lives.

Shortly after the family joined me in April, I was drawn by the Spirit to get up one night at 3:33 am and join Him for a conversation. I felt awkward. I had no training in this. I knew lots of people who were always saying things like, "The Lord told me..." or "The Lord showed me..." It never occurred to me that Jesus' words in John 10:27 spoke of relational knowing.

As I responded to the early morning wake up calls, I learned the Holy Spirit was "showing me things to come." It was an amazing thing to know how a meeting at work was going to go before it happened. The pattern, if you want to call it that, went like this; I'd suddenly be wide awake in the middle of the night, it wasn't always 3:33 am, sometimes it was 4:44, 5:55 or even earlier like 10:10 p.m. after I'd gone to bed around 9 p.m. which was early for me.

I'd get out of bed and go to the living room which we never used. There on the sofa I had my Bible, Strong's Concordance and notebook. I'd sit down and say, "Lord, I'm here to hear Your voice." I had remembered that from 1 Samuel 3. The Voice would usually give me Scriptures to look up. I'd look them up, write them in my notes and then discuss them with the Lord. This would be followed by instructions for my day ahead. Often I would know in advance how a meeting at work was going to go and what I was to do in the meeting.

This went on for weeks. It was so personal and so energizing. I came to realize this kind of two-way conversational relationship is what the Lord wants with all His kids.

One morning, I got out of bed and went to the living room excited to know what the Lord had for me. I sat down and said, "Lord, I am here to hear Your voice." Immediately I heard, "Bill, I love You."

"Yes, Lord, I know. Do You have a Scripture for me?"

"Bill, I love you," came His soft reply.

Feeling very uncomfortable and not knowing what to do, I said, "Do you want to show me anything about the day?"

A third time, He simply said, "Bill, I love you."

My heart melted and tears flooded my eyes. I sat sobbing for a long time. I realized for the first time in my life that I was unconditionally loved. It didn't matter how the day was going ahead. I knew He was with me and for me.

As we build a relationship with another human, we do the same thing as I have described above. We meet regularly, talk and share. Eventually, we have learned about the other's character and nature enough to trust him, or her. The relationship grows and we look forward to seeing our friend. If we are looking for a marriage partner, hopefully we take enough time to fully get to now the other's nature and character so that trust is built upon solid "experiential knowing." I also believe we must avoid sexual activity before marriage because the Word says so and because the bonds we form before marriage in sexual activity are not blessed.

Experiential Knowing is 'ginosko' knowing. It speaks of relationally knowing someone. It's used in the Word to speak of the intimacy a husband and wife have. Jesus used the word here:

Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you have known (ginosko) me, you will also know (ginosko) my Father. From now on you know (ginosko) him and have seen him." John 14:6-7 ISV

Jesus and the Father are one. They have only one Holy Spirit. The Father is not the Son, but He is God. The Son is not the Father, but He is God. The Holy Spirit is not the Father or the son, but He is God. The Lord our Elohim is one Lord (Dt 6:2). When you get the Trinity all figured out, please write a book about it so we can all understand. This is a mystery. (Prov 25:2).

If you have never started a two-way relational conversation with members of the Godhead and would like help, please consider setting up a Sozo session. You can go to our website and click on Book a Sozo - or click here to be redirected to our booking calendar.

It is our honor to serve Jesus, and you, in facilitating a meeting between you and the Creator who made you.