When you pray, to whom do you pray? A simple question, one most people answer without a thought. To God, of course, is the answer. Take a minute before you answer this time. To whom do you pray? A. W. Pink has written, “…an unknown God can neither be trusted, served, nor worshipped.” This may come as a shock to some, God is worthy to be trusted, served and worshiped; He is God! But you miss the point of the question, do you pray to an unknown god? Not that God is not who He is, but do you know Him. Many people never know Him, they only know of Him from rumors and hearsay. You scoff at this notion; you say of course I know Him, I pray to him every day, but do you know Him?
Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NKJV)
Paul wrote to Timothy explaining that he knew whom he believed. Paul had become acquainted with Jesus Christ. It was not a theory or belief system, but the person Jesus Christ. Paul was willing and able to endure great hardship, because he knew this person. He had committed everything to this person.
For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. 2 Timothy 1:12 (NKJV)
If we are to go beyond just superficial prayers, if we are to pray powerful prayers, we must be acquainted with God. We must be like Paul; we must know the one we have believed. We must know the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and have a relationship that is close and complete. A.W. Pink writes, “Something more than a theoretical knowledge of God is needed by us. God is only truly known in the soul as we yield ourselves to Him, submit to His authority, and regulate all the details of our lives by His holy precepts and commandments.
Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. Daniel 11:32 (NKJV)
The key is to go beyond theoretical knowledge. It is not enough to speak or even write about Him, to be successful we must know Him. We must go beyond the opinions and hearsay, we must really know Him. The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. And today is desperate for exploits.
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:2 (NKJV)
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, Philippians 3:10 (NKJV)
The road to exploits is the path of obedience. To know God, we must obey Him.
They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. Titus 1:16 (NKJV)
Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 1 John 2:3-5 (NKJV)
To whom do you pray? To know Him is more a journey than a decision, but it begins with a decision. The nation of Israel decided to have Moses talk to God while they stay away. A God of many attributes and facets, to get to know Him is a life time pursuit, but it is far better to draw near instead of standing far off?