ACQUAINTANCE WITH GOD


A. "ACQUAINT NOW THYSELF WITH HIM, AND BE AT PEACE: THEREBY GOOD SHALL COME UNTO THEE." - Job 22:21
  1. This counsel came from Eliphaz the Temanite:
    1. It was directed to Job, under the allusion that Job did not know God.
    2. But Eliphaz was mistaken because Job knew the Lord far better than Eliphaz did - Job 19:25
  2. But the suggestion of Eliphaz is timely just the same:
    1. Because it is a great honor to get to know the King of kings and Lord of lords - Ps. 95:3; 1 Tim. 6:15, 16
    2. He is our Creator and our wonderful Redeemer - Ps. 111:1-9; Isa. 40:28; 43:15
B. "ACQUAINT NOW THYSELF WITH HIM"
  1. Meaning of the word ACQUAINT:
    1. To take personal knowledge of God by communing with Him.
    2. To learn to know His ways, His likes, and His dislikes.
  2. Some of the God provided channels or means whereby we may get to know God:
    1. We may learn to know Him through observation, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father." - John 14:9
    2. His wisdom and majesty can be seen in His works -- creation and redemption - Ps. 19:1-6; Rom. 1:20; John 3:16
    3. Every book in the Bible gives us some information about our God - John 5:39
    4. Every sacred scripture leads us to Jesus Christ, who is the express image of His person - Heb. 1:3
    5. Prayer is still another channel through which we may get to know our heavenly Father.
    6. That is what Jesus taught us - Luke 11:1; Matt. 6:9-11
    7. Those who frequent the prayer room often become very well acquainted with God.
    8. To me, personally, prayer is the gateway to the knowledge of God which is in itself life everlasting - John 17:3
C. TIME TO GET ACQUAINTED WITH GOD AND THE BLESSING THAT FOLLOWS SUCH ACQUAINTANCE
  1. The time:
    1. Is now - 2 Cor. 6:1-3; Heb. 3:7-9
    2. He who procrastinates, struggles with ruin; he kills them.
  2. Before mercy ends:
    1. Prov. 1:24; Amos 8:11
    2. Rev. 6:15; Phil. 2:10
  3. The blessing of becoming acquainted with God:
    1. "And be at peace"
      1. Peace is one of the sweetest words in our vocabulary.
      2. It is the peace bought for us through the great sacrifice of our Lord - Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:11-16
      3. It is said that Gladstone had on his wall this motto: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon thee."
    2. True and heavenly peace comes to those who keep God's law. That is what the prophets said. Ps. 119:165; Isa. 48:18, 19
    3. "Thereby good shall come unto thee" -
      1. For to know God is, according to Jesus, life everlasting - John 17:3
      2. Enoch was translated after he had walked with God three hundred years - Gen. 5:22-24
  4. Perhaps the best way to get to know God is to accept the wonderful invitation of Jesus Christ:
    1. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." - Matt. 11:28-30
    2. The saddest words the Lord ever spoke were when he said, "And ye will not come to me that ye may have life." - John 5:40
    3. The Psalmist sums up the result of being acquainted with the Lord, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." - Ps. 23:6


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