5 Stages of Knowing God: Experience

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?

John 11:40

Have you ever heard the saying, “Seeing is believing”? Yes, me too. In fact, I heard it so many times that I almost thought it was a statement of fact; the only problem is that it’s not! How can seeing be believing when there are so many things we believe without seeing? When the wind blows in my direction, I believe it is blowing, but can I see it? Absolutely not. Of course, I can feel it because I feel the effect of what it’s doing to me, but I can’t see it.

There is an anonymous quote that states, “If all we think exists is limited to all that we can see, then we are indeed deeply lost.” I couldn’t agree less because Jesus’ position is that if we believe, we will see the glory of God. This was exactly what happened to Peter in Luke 5. Yesterday, we saw how Peter was commanded by Jesus, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4). We also examined several reasons why this instruction of Jesus might not have made any sense to Peter. However, because he trusted him, he obeyed. What happened when he obeyed?

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So, they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats, so full that they began to sink (Luke 5:6-7). Notice that this happened only when they had done so. What did they do? Casting their nets in the direction instructed by Jesus even when it was against professional protocol. The reward for our obedience is that we will experience God both in essence and in action.

What’s more? As we experience God and this progression, we receive grace to come into higher knowledge and deeper love that makes us prioritize the desire to know God more than just dwell on the experience. In Peter’s case, “…Jesus said to him, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything, and followed him” (Luke 5:10-11).

How can a man who spent his entire night looking for fish finally run into abundance only to abandon it all? That brings us to the next level of knowledge which we will discuss tomorrow. As we experience God, we are enabled to love Him deeper. 

PRAYER