Know and Show
Greetings, Wayne, a servant of God, by the grace of God, teaching truth under the authority of Jesus Christ to any who are willing to receive it, or as Jesus put it, to any who have ears to hear (Mat 11:15).
I will be the words in green. Purple Highlights will be key words or phrases of truth.
To know the Lord is to follow on learning of Him continually:
Hos_6:3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
There are descendants of God's inheritance, Israel, scattered among the nations (Eze 12:15) who will one day soon know the Lord:
Hos 8:2 Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know you.
Truth is mentioned over 200 times in the Holy Bible. So, anyone truly seeking truth with all the heart (Jer 29:13) will find it there. What matters to God is whether or not we choose to accept the truth and come out of the evil ways of the world and turn to His ways:
2Co 6:16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? for you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be you separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
"Touch not the unclean thing"? What does that mean? Well, aside from God's food laws (Lev 11), it could mean touching on anything unclean or unholy that we know God would not approve of:
Lev 10:10 And that you may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;
If we are truly seeking to please God and sincerely want to be in His camp, His Kingdom (Mat 6:33), then we ought to be diligently seeking His will from His word - the Holy Bible.
Now, many speak in His name, and so, how do you know who knows the truth of God? A servant of God will always put the truth of God first above everything else. What they say in God's name will always be backed up by His word:
2Co 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
Here, while Jesus is being set up for a trap concerning taxing, some key truths are revealed about they who rightfully handle the word of God:
Mar 12:14 And when they were come, they said unto him, Master, we know that you are true, and cares for no man: for you regard not the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?
Some know the truth of God, but rather than subject themselves to the power of God, they choose to remain under the fear and respect of the power of men who corrupt the word of God. We see an example here from one of the Pharisees during the time of Christ's teachings:
Joh 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
Joh 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him.
Yet, Nicodemus remained complicit with the High Priest and others who sought to kill Jesus Christ:
Joh 8:37 I know that you are Abraham's seed; but you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you.
Joh 8:40 But now you seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
Mat 26:2 You know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.
Confirming the conspiracy to have Jesus killed and by who:
Mat 26:3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,
Mat 26:4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.
A true servant of God knows that he knows God and worships Him in spirit and in truth. Notice, from Jesus, explaining the difference between the ones who know not what they worship and the ones who do:
Joh 4:22 You worship you know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
Because Jesus was born of the Jews, fulfilling a prophecy from Jeremiah (Jer 23:5,6), and also because the Jews, along with Levite priests, were placed in charge of the oracles, or word of God (Rom 3:1,2).
Concerning worshipping God in spirit and in truth:
Joh 4:23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him.
Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.
To any who have dismissed God because He never seems to answer their prayers, something to consider from a truth revealed by a man who was literally blind but could now see:
Joh 9:31 Now we know that God hears not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and does His will, him He hears.
And then, concerning the know, there are witnesses who recorded the words and deeds of Jesus Christ for future generations of believers:
Joh 21:24 This is the disciple which testifies of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that His testimony is true.
Joh 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
A true servant knows that he is expected to endure hardness for the truth of God (2Ti 2:3) and can not be bought by the comforts of the world. We wait for the comforts that come from God:
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
A true servant of God knows that an idol representing faith in God is nothing and that a true worshipper will be worshipping God in spirit and in truth:
1Co 8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
1Co 8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by Him.
We know that God is not contained in any earthly house:
2Co 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2Co 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
We know brave men have suffered before us for the truth of God, and we strive to be counted worthy to be among them by the will of God:
1Th 2:1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
1Th 2:2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as you know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the [true] gospel of God with much contention.
1Th 2:3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
1Th 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which tries our hearts.
We also know that vengeance belongs to God, and that He will judge them who have shamefully entreated us:
Heb 10:30 For we know Him that has said, Vengeance belongs unto me, I will recompense, says the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
We know that we know God because we keep His commandments:
1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:4 He that says, I know Him, and keeps not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1Jn 2:5 But whoso keeps His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.
1Jn 3:24 And he that keeps His commandments dwells in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit which He has given us.
We know that we are in the final age of man's dominion over the earth due the increase of violence by man being brought about by Satan's antichrists because he knows that he has but a short time left to weaken the nations:
1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as you have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
And the orchestrator of all the violence:
Rev 12:12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens, and you that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.
And continues to weaken the nations:
Isa 14:12 How are you fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how are you cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations!
We know that we have life waiting in a resurrection after death because, in obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ, we love and accept all who have been baptized into the truth of God:
1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death.
And, from Jesus, while speaking to the called and baptized of God the Father:
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Confirmed and taught by the apostle John:
1Jn 3:23 And this is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments.
A servant of God knows that God has heard his prayer and waits patiently for God's will in answering it:
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him [the petitions or prayers have been received by God].
Patience:
Luk 21:19 In your patience possess you your souls.
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Jas 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
God's will:
Mat 6:10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Mat 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, your will be done.
We know that we are of God while the whole world lies in the wickedness of Satan the devil:
1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness.
Rev 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Satan is presently the god of this world:
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
And being of God, we are able to discern whether or not others are of God:
1Jn 4:6 We are of God: he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God hears not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
By our faith and willingness to believe through baptism, we know that Jesus Christ came as the Son of God, and that we have received a spirit of truth, a Holy Spirit essence that has given us understanding from God the Father:
1Jn 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
The Holy Spirit essence of truth from God the Father:
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees Him not, neither knows Him: but you know Him; for He dwells with you, and shall be in you.
I have shown but of a few of the many things a true servant of God will know. Let us now look at some of the things a true servant of God will show:
We will show the word of God and only the word of the one true God:
Deu 5:5 (I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to show you the word of the LORD: for you were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying,
Deu 5:6 I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
Deu 5:7 You shall have no other gods before me.
Always speaking on God's behalf:
Job 36:2 Suffer me a little, and I will show you that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.
We stand ready, by the will of God and by our own willing hearts, to show forth praises unto Him:
Psa 51:15 O Lord, open you my lips; and my mouth shall show forth your praise.
Pre-ordained by God for such a purpose:
Isa 43:21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise.
1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light:
We will show forth God's righteousness and the truth of His salvation:
Psa 71:15 My mouth shall show forth your righteousness and your salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
Psa 92:15 To show that the LORD is upright: He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
We will show the descendants of the house of Jacob (Israel), who are scattered among the nations, the transgressions and sins they continue to take part in from generation to generation:
Isa 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
His will from generation to generation:
Lam 5:19 You, O LORD, remain for ever; your throne from generation to generation.
We will speak of the great signs and wonders God has shown in our own lives:
Dan 4:2 I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God has wrought toward me.
Dan 4:3 How great are His signs! and how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.
As commanded by our Lord:
Luk 8:39 Return to your own house, and show how great things God has done unto you. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
We will hold fast to true judgement and show mercy and compassion to our fellow man:
Zec 7:9 Thus speaks the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
As often as we do, and every year in the evening of the Passover, we will eat the unleavened bread representing the body of Jesus Christ and drink the wine representing the blood of Jesus Christ in the remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ until He returns:
1Co 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you do show the Lord's death till he come.
We will study the word of God for the sole purpose of freely dividing the word of truth to all who would receive it:
2Ti 2:15 Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Mat 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give.
We will show diligence to our hope in God unto the end of our lives, following the examples of faith of them who walked with God before us:
Heb 6:11 And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
Heb 6:12 That you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
We will speak of the soon returning Jesus Christ and of all the things which will occur leading up to His return:
Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto His servants the things which must shortly be done.
Freely I have received, freely I have given.
Farewell,
Servanthood