God is Real

[Steve Jaynes]

We need to believe that God is real and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. I am going to show you the best place to get started. That is from the words that God has spoken Himself. These words of God are written in the Bible. So let’s read some of what God has said.Proverbs 1:7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.It says, ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge’. We want to get an understanding of God we go to the Bible. The Word of God says here the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. When you see that word ‘fear’ in the Bible there is two meanings of the word. One is to be afraid like you could see a snake or something dangerous. You would back up from that. The other way the word fear is used in the Bible is to have respect for God, an awe of God, or reverence. The reverence for God is what this word ‘fear’ means in this verse. The fear or the reverence for God is the beginning of knowledge. The second part of the verse says, “but fools despise with them instruction”. We don’t want be the fools. We want to have that reverence for God. If you want to know God it starts with a respect and reverence for God. There is a desire, that’s the beginning of knowledge. You have to want to know and if you do continue to read. Go to Proverbs chapter 9, and read verse 10.Proverbs 9:10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.The fear once again in this verse means the respect and the reverence for God. The reverence for God is the beginning of wisdom. You want to have wisdom; it starts with that respect for God. We should have great respect for God. He created the heavens and the earth. He put the stars in their places. He sent his Son Jesus Christ. We should have that great respect for God, and it says this is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge which is holy understands. Can you imagine understanding the holy? God is Holy. Let’s go back to the Proverbs to chapter 2, verse 1. I love this section of the Bible because it demonstrates to us how close God is to us. It teaches us what we need to do to get Knowledge and how to get understanding.Proverbs 2:1My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;You can read God’s Word and you can keep those words. You keep them in your mind. You hide them in your mind by thinking about them.Proverbs 2:2-6So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.I love these verses here because; if you want to know about God it tells you how do it. Just look at these words. It says, ‘incline thy ear unto wisdom’. It also says, ‘apply thy heart to understand’, meaning your mind. “If thou criest after knowledge”, sounds a little bit like prayer, “God I need some understanding. I need some knowledge. Can you help me, God?” Whenever you are reading God’s Word and searching the scriptures you should say a prayer to God asking for help and understanding. God is always there with you. God will give you what you need and ask for. Look, criest after knowledge, lifted up your voice for understanding. Say, “God I need the understanding, show me what I need to do in this situations” Then read God’s Word. If thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as hidden treasure that someone dug in the ground and put in a hole. In the lands and times of the Bible they didn’t have banks. If someone had a great treasure one of the things they would do is bury it. You could dig and search for a buried treasure. It says searches for understanding as hidden treasure; it says then shall thou understand the fear or the respect of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. It says ‘then shall’, puts in the absolute; you will absolutely understand the reverence of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. If you want to find it you will find it. But it tells you what to do. Apply thy heart to understanding. Cry after knowledge, lifted up thy voice, “God help”, and searches for it as you read and search the scriptures. Then you will absolutely know. It’s in God’s Word. God’s Word really is our contact point with God. As you we read the Words of God, you get the thoughts of God, the understanding of God. Than as you have opportunities, needs and situations that come up in your lives, you can pick up the scriptures and read it asking God for help and God will absolutely help. It’s a promise from God. Go to chapter 3 of Proverbs and we are going to go to verse 13.Proverbs 3:13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.Once you find it then you are blessed. Happy is the men that finds wisdom and gets understanding.Proverbs 3:14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.Once you understand the scripture you are blessed. It says it is better than the merchandise of silver and the gain of fine gold.Proverbs 3:15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.To understand God’s Word is better than rubies and all that you can desire are not compared to her. Look at verse 16.Proverbs 3:16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.All scripture is profitable. It says ‘length of days’ meaning you get a lot done in a day. In verse 17 it says.Proverbs 3:17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.‘Her ways are ways of pleasantness’; wouldn’t you like to live a pleasant life? That’s what it says. ‘All her paths are peace’, that’s a profit. What do you want in life? Would you like to have pleasant times and live in peace? I would. It is available in God’s Word. Verse 18 says.Proverbs 3:18 -19She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.God made it all available. He put it all together so that we could understand and know. This Word of God is so vitally and very important to us. It is very profitable to us. All scripture is profitable.In closing lets look at Hebrews.Hebrews 11:6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.A better way to translate the word ‘faith’ is ‘believe’. We need to believe that God is real and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. The best way to do that is to search the Scriptures in the Bible and ask God to help us. It is that simple. God wants to help and reward us. The Bible is full of tips on how to understanding God and His power for us. The Bible teaches us how to live the more abundant life that Jesus came to make available to us in the Bible.I teach in a class and book the keys and sign post that can unlock the Bible so that you can understand the Bible when you read it and tap into the power of God. You are invited to take the class and/or read the book “How to Read the Bible for Understanding and Power” to learn more keys of how the bible interprets itself. Both are available from Steve Jaynes at his home or on the internet at www.howtoreadthebible.net