Does GOD Know You ?

by: Bishop Jonathan Ferriol


People typically seek to know more about famous, influential and powerful figures. Many even take pride that they know the life stories of these celebrities individuals in entertainment, politics, sports and society, in general. This is also true in religion and in spirituality circle too. There are so many people today who are saying that they know God and that they are even close to Him. Certainly, it is necessary to know God but I think that it is more important to know God knows us in return.

The million dollar question, therefore is this: DOES GOD KNOW US?

In Hebrews 11:16, it states that "instead, they were longing for a better country a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." It is one thing to call upon God but it is another think to be able to say with full assurance that our God equally recognize us when we call upon Him!

Jesus has made it clear that there are people whom He denies knowing. Not all people who claim to know God or who profess that they have knowledge of God are actually known by God. In the book of Matthew 7:23, we read that there are people whom God will reject when they eventually come before Him in His presence. "Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" This is a very scary thought to ponder! Being rejected by our fellow men can be hurtful all the more being rejected by God is surely damning. A time come when all men will stand before God and most assuredly, not everyone will be acknowledge by God. Definitely there are those who will be received by God but there are those who will also be denied by God.

There are so many people today who have this misconception that because they are engage in religion and rhetoric they already have God's favor and recognition on their side. However, Jesus Christ pointed out that being religious and being very vocal about it, doesn't necessarily mean that God will accept them. Furthermore, neither strong piety and religious performance, even if they are miraculous and seemingly spectacular in nature, are enough to gain God's favor or acceptance. Jesus brought this out in Matthew 7:21-22, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?" Apostle Paul also added, "they claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him..."(Titus 1:16).

Yet on the other hand, there are people today whom God knows and is pleased with. These people actually know God and God knows them as well! Simply put, these are the people who have relationships with God and have access to His presence. In the book of Galatians 4:9, "But now that you know God or rather are known by God how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?"

Those who genuinely know God is known by God Himself. And this is what I would like to submit to you, that it is more important to be known by God ultimately.

So who then are these people who know God and God knows also? There are 5 characteristics that identify who these people are.


1. Those who have the spirit of God.
           The spirit of God is the very power of God that enables us to realize who we are as far as our connection with God is concerned. How can one tell he is a child of God? When he has the spirit of God. "You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the spirit, if indeed the spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. For those who are led by the spirit of God are the children of God. The spirit you received does not to make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the spirit you received brought about your adoption to son-ship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children (Romans 8:9, 15,16). As God's children, we are no longer under the control of the sinful nature, we are now controlled by the spirit of God. If you do not have the spirit of God, there is no way you can validate your claim that you are a child of God or as somebody who knows God.

           It is the spirit of God who will testify to your spirit that you are God's child. Not all people have the spirit of God. The Holy Spirit can only be received if you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and be baptized. In John 1:12, "Yet to all who did received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God"

           Who is he who is known by God? He who has the spirit of God and received the seal of ownership (2 Corinthians 1:22). The spirit of God will be the one who will reveal more about our Father in heaven. No amount of religious education can ever equal the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit in your life.

2. Those who have the love of God.
           In 1 Corinthians 8:3. it says, "But the man who loves God is known by God." There are two questions that we need to answer to determine if one really do have the love of God. First is "Do you love God?" and second "Do you love God more than yourself, work, pleasure, family or worldly ambitions?" If you answer yes in the first but cannot answer the second one with a straight face and clear conscience, then you don't have the love of God yet in your life.

           Because to love God is to love Him and Him alone! Deuteronomy 6:5 makes it plainly clear, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and your soul and with all your strength." Jesus says you cannot love two masters; because you will end up loving one and hating the other (Matthew 6:24).

           That is why the most grievous sin in the Bible is adultery, both in moral and spiritual sense. When you love your passions, pleasure, and sins more than you love God, then you actually commit the sin of spiritual adultery! God's love is surely something you won't be able to prove in you. That is what Apostle John points to us so clearly, "Do not love the world or anything is the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not them" (1 John 2:15). You cannot love God halfheartedly.  This is the reason why many so-called believers in our country today are carnal and worldly. Because they love God and are part of the Church but at the same time they cannot let go of the world. But God wants us to love Him and Him alone.

           Do you know God? If you do, then you must love Him. Because the one who loves God is known by God. And to love God is actually to love the things He love. You must love the commands of God. In fact, the most powerful expression of love for God is to obey His commands. "This is love for God: to obey his commandments and his commands are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3). His commands are not impossible to do and obey.

3. Those who have the words of God.
           God can be known because God is self-revealing God. He has shown himself through His creation (Psalm 19:1). He has revealed himself through human events (Acts 17:24-27). Most of all, He has revealed himself through Christ Jesus (Matthew 11:27). Jesus Christ is the greatest revelation of who God is. Christ is the exact representation of the Father whom we cannot see and has revealed Himself through His written words. Those who follow God's words as they are preached by the true sent ones of God in the teaching of Christ do have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the son" (2 John 1:9). This truth was actually first taught by Jesus when He said, "Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God" (John 8:47).  

            You could tell a lot about a person by how he responds to the words of God. Like what Jesus said, those who belong to Him will embrace His words but those who are against God, will surely go against His words and teachings (1 John 4:6). Tragically, more and more people choose unbiblical and at times, demonic teaching over the pure teaching from God's words, the Bible (Matthew 15:16).

            But in God's true Church, we simply preach the word of God. Because the word of God will be the one that will set us free (John 8:32). It will set you free from your ignorance, sins and vice. Those who have the words of God and do them are those who know God.

4. Those who have the will of God.
            Jesus Christ makes no equivocation in Matthew 7:21 as to who God knows, "not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Those who do the will of God will enter heaven and those who do not will be rejected. We may have plans for ourselves but ultimately, God's plan and will alone will remain forever. Hence, people especially, believers must also make plans in conformity to the will of God (James 4:13-15). Don't be satisfied that you have plans and that you are intentional to bring it to pass. We must ask ourselves always this question, "is this really God's will for me?" "is this really what God wants for me to do?" Jesus wants us to understand His will. And ultimately the will of God will take over and it will be supreme over the rest of our lives. Jesus prayed "your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!" You cannot go against the will of God. That's why God said to the patriarchs He was not ashamed to be called their God because they did the will of God.

5. Those who are in the true Church of God.
              In the books of John 10:16., God wants people in His church which is His flock. Jesus Christ said, "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." Having cited this, we could now conclude that not all so called believers who are a part of religious denomination or Church are in the flock of God. Because if they were, then why would Jesus want them to be a part of His flock? the truth of the matter is this; not all churches today are founded by Christ and are sustained by the very teaching of Christ or headed by Christ's true representatives. There are false churches just as there are also true churches of Christ. Praise the Lord because the Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th watch) is one such true church!.

               Only those who belong to the right church built by Christ through His genuine apostles could truly claim that they know God and that He also knows them! Why is that? Because it takes the Lord Jesus Himself for someone to be put in the true Church. One cannot just waltz in into the right flock on his own volition or choice; he must be supernaturally added no less than by the Savior Himself (Acts 2:47). But how could one be added if the Lord Jesus Christ doesn't know the person in the first place? That's why only those who are in the true Church of the living God could prove that they are really known by God. We praise God because we are in God's true Church and we know God, and better yet, God knows us! And the more we know God, the more we understand how blessed we are.