Knowing God Together, Part 1

When we live in Christian isolation. Dr. Tony Evans talks about the relationship between our connection with other people in our connection to Christ. Just because your questions because your this is the alternative Dr. Tony speaker, senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, president of the alternative pieces of firewood burn much harder when they burn together today. Dr. Evans explains that believers who want to be on fire for the Lord work the same way. Let's join them as he explains today about experiencing God together you know about God's nature, you know.

But sometimes it's practical implication is often left out, God exist in both the one and the many we believe there is only one God, but we believe that the one God consists in three coequal persons, God the father, God the son God the Holy Spirit you in their personhood and personality.

Yet unified in their essence, and their purpose. They function as one even though they are distinct in their personhood.

The popular name for that is the Trinity, but God exist both as one and as maybe the greatness of God is not merely singularity is one God, the greatness of God is in his collectivity to try humanist or tri-unity of God. Trinity God not only that way.

God not only functions that way.

But when God wants to work in history class history to work that way. I don't have time during this series, it's worthy of a series of its own, but I was noticing all the time in Scripture where God talks about things becoming one connected to his movement in America because one flesh. Because the church one body in the passage that he talks about it being one new man because you bring up one and for a very important reason is the phases of what I want to share with you today as an actual Christian, you can experience God to appoint to a certain level. God expects you. God expects me to grow in our faith and our maturity as individual people. However, there are some aspects of experiencing God you will ever experience individually. It is only as you are to his people and his purposes that he will let you see things you will never see in your private Christian experience. Don't misunderstand me certain things you experience just because you individually on a child of God, but all things greater things that God never limits individual relationship. If you have children certain things your children experience because they are your children so John will experience this world will experience this. Betty will experience that because the children are all individual children certain things they experience individually unless there attached to the group family vacation. You only get family vacation if you whip the family with the family you will experience family vacations you can go outside and have a good time though because I have a good time but what you can vacation without being a test. One of the things we have missed any shown up in a multiplicity of ways is experiencing God collectively, that such an emphasis on individuality and individualism. Not bad, not all patrol but is such an emphasis on it that you could only forget God's collective program and your participation or lack thereof, and the implications of being disconnected. I want to talk to you for a few moments today about experiencing God together.

Paul wrote the book of Ephesians in the book of Ephesians is a book about the church is my favorite New Testament book blooms that Paul had to address when writing the church at Ephesus was a racial conflict in the church that was a racial divide in the church between Jews and Gentiles that was racial that was religious numbers of nomenclature and numbers of aspects to it, but it was basically two groups who couldn't get all the couldn't stand each other basically. But Jesus Christ gracelessly called church and call us, and explain at least two groups of people don't bring any. I know we all hate each other how I know before you were converted, you didn't get along. I know you live.

I know that was a split in a relationship but you part of something, don't bring that this in here.

For example, in Ephesians chapter 2 says in verse 14 for he himself is our peace, made both groups into one see this one again and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall in the temple that was a division.

The Gentiles couldn't go any further for Jews only as a division. The railroad tracks so to speak.

You could not cross places you could not go if you were a Gentile and Jesus Christ comes on the scene and he says people down that wall don't bring that mess in here in verse 16 that he might reconcile them both into one body is one again to God through the cross by having put the enmity all the conflict between you two groups of people don't bring that mess in here verse 18 for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the father that I work one again to continue. So they knew no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place in the spirit together. I tell you this but you are not an only child never got my daddy with you of something bigger and bigger in the name of my own personal Christian experience is to limit your personal Christian experience. You will get more God by what God's purposes through his people, then you can ever get your private experience with God should accept before the Bible says they came together God's people came together on one accord, and when they come out with one voice building where they were standing shook the couldn't handle that much presence of God. The collective gathering of God's people in one place. Building shook you I want to be a Christian. But lately of such magnitude of such implication that you today to experience God.

We need to experience God together.

That's why Jesus said something just because you pray for something because you fasted and prayed that different to this thing and something just because your questions something to happen because you're an attached Christian, you may not be able to appreciate this principle the day you may not need it right now, but you can bet your bottom dollar that is if you were a betting person you can match your bottom dollar your life you're going to need big and you can pull off no, something bigger than your skills, resources, relationships, friendship, they won't be able to fix all of God's level, and on that day to be attached to what you can do is say God made but don't you take care of anybody else you can do that far too many Christians alike teenager living in Houston with Bill. They want their own television and I probably want their own phone and then they will shut and locked the door. The last was for them.

In other words, they want convenience when it comes to the corporate but they don't want to be disturbed until his something one is convenience when it comes to the King� May God help me got me funny for me but now don't ask me to be a vehicle to minister to anybody you expect that only blessedly, when I believe you, you, we limit high limit our experience with God.

When we live in Christian isolation. Dr. Evans will have more to say about leaving those limitations behind when he continues her message just a moment. Stay with us you want to experience God's deliverance about gain his wisdom.

Maybe you want to have a greater impact for his kingdom. Or perhaps you just want to know who you really are in God's eyes.

These are just some of the blessings that come from pursuing God and knowing him intimately and you can discover how to do that with Dr. Tony Evans newest book knowing God, along with DVD Bible study and study.

Get yours today Tony Evans.org and tomorrow is the last day to take advantage of our special offer on the knowing God packet that includes the resources you just heard about the power of knowing God book interactive study guide and resource DVD as well as all eight full-length messages on CD and digital download from Tony's current teaching series. Knowing God, let one of our resource team members help you make the arrangements today by calling 1-800-800-3222 day or night. Again, that's 1-800-800-3222, or make your contribution and request online@tonyevans.org that's Tony Evans.org.

I have all of the contact information for you, once again, after part two of today's message and this is her doctor having study Bible and commentary have continued to pouring Eileen Road absolutely allows a study Bible kingdom living sections provide relevance to our day-to-day living with practical examples.

Q&A sections help us to pick Dr. Evans brain on certain topics without being in front of an copy of Dr. Tony having study Bible and commentary today for established leaders in verse 11 passes prophets as fast as teachers to eat the saints for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ. He says leaders tweak members to make Christ bigger, stronger and more effective. He brings people together. Jews and Gentiles. We might say today black and whites and Hispanics and Asians off for the middle class and the rich people from different backgrounds different histories different stations, together to get law in experiencing God's being a part about to be one flesh because you can get law as one that you can ever get being too, one from God even bother to pray to until you become one God, not listening, so the absence or the presence this increases your experience and God giving us knowledge or a knowledge of him because were not attached.

Notice verse 13 keepers until we all attain notice is not about you to the unity of the faith and knowledge of the son of God, to a singular tool to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. Notice what he said we all experience God together.

The Greek word for knowledge is goodepic analysis means full knowledge, complete knowledge or even the word when using experiential knowledge want to experience God. I don't know about you but I don't need more theology we can always learn more. What I mean is to see him for myself. I need to see a movie about to talk about when he used to move a long time ago in somebody else's life until we all attain all of God's pretty impact not merely visual impact. But with make you somebody else. He's trying to make you he made you beneficial to the whole 11 players on the field in any given time efficient different operating on one play headed toward one goal. Unity is in the play called and the goals you would not disturb the individual unique roles on the field but what God wants to do all the same go because you know since the experiencing of the knowledge of the son of God to one man.

Once you're growing and not the person next to you not want to learn something that you THAT THE WHOLE IS FOCUSED.

THIS WAY THE PEOPLE OF GOD MOVING SINGULAR DIRECTION MOVING TOWARD A COMMON DESTINATION AND COMMON GOAL SO THAT VERSE 14, WE ARE NO LONGER CHILDREN.

HE WANTS US TO BE STABLE.

WHY BECAUSE WERE CONNECTED.

SEE MY CAN ONLY GO SO FAR OVER HERE BECAUSE IT'S BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY MY BODY. MY BODY WON'T ALLOW MY HAND, BUT THE GOAL SO FAR RIGHT ALSO FOUND BECAUSE IT'S CONNECTIVITY HAS LIMITED ITS INDEPENDENCE.

THIS CAN DO SOME THINGS RIGHT NOW THAT IS NOT DOING AND CAN DO SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO IT. THIS IS NO JEWISH FAITH, BUT ONLY SO FAR IT CAN GO WITHOUT DRAGON THE REST OF THE WOMEN WHY BECAUSE THE LIMITED INDEPENDENCE. IT HAS NOT MCDAVID BECAUSE IT'S CONNECTED TO KNOW.

I BELIEVE IT CAN GO LEFT AND STAY CONNECTED TO CONNECTED ON A PIECE OF PAPER CALLED MEMBERSHIP BUT DID NOT CONNECT ON A RELATIONSHIP. THAT'S WHY WE CAN ALSO BE DRAWBACKS BECAUSE THERE IS NO CONNECTIVITY UNTIL WE ALL ATTAIN.

HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN HERE IS A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE VERSE BUT INTO ME SO WE GOTTA TALK ABOUT VERSE 15 BUT SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, WE OUGHT TO GROW UP IN ALL ASPECTS UNDER HIM WITH THE HEAD, EVEN CHRIST. HE SAYS IN THE FAMILY OF GOD. IF YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE GOD AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN YOU COULD EVER EXPERIENCE INDIVIDUALLY AS A CHRISTIAN YOU MUST BE MET.

IS HE REALLY IS WHERE USE IN LOVE WHERE USE THE TRUTH IN LOVE, ONE MORE TIME SHOULD LOCK THE CHILD THAT WANTS TO EXPERIENCE GOD IS USE IN LOVE. NOW WHY IS THIS CRITICAL TO EXPERIENCING GOD BECAUSE WHEN WE CAME IN THE CHARGE THIS MORNING WITH US. SOME OF THOSE ALL THAT WE KNOW ABOUT, AND SOME THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT HIS ATTEMPT WAS SO LONG WE DON'T KNOW RAISED THAT WAY, WAS THAT WAY. MY DADDY WAS THAT WAY. MANY PEOPLE GREW UP BELIEVING IN SLAVERY WAS WRONG. THIS IS OKAY BECAUSE CERTAIN PEOPLE GET CERTAIN BENEFITS. PEOPLE DON'T WAY THEY WERE RAISED WAS THE PHRASE THAT EXCUSE THEM, BUT IT MEANS THAT THERE VIEW IN WHICH THEY WERE READY THAT WAY WHEN YOU ARE WRITING YOU ARE LIKELY CANCEL GOD THE GOD OF TRUTH. SO GOD WILL NOT MIX IT UP.

I GOT A TRUE SLEEP AND PRAY ABOUT IT.

COUNSEL ABOUT THE BOOK UNTIL YOU FACE THE TRUTH THE WHOLE TRUTH ABOUT THE TRUTH SO HELP YOU GOD IS NOT INVOLVED SHOULD BE IN THE CHURCH IS NOT TRUE, I KNOW MY TRUTH IS THE TRUTH OR IT IS A LIE. I OKAY SO THAT RAISES THE QUESTION WHAT'S TRUTH. THE TRUTH IS ALWAYS AND ONLY WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT TRUTH IS ALWAYS AND ONLY WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT MANY TIMES WHEN YOU FACE HOW GOD FEELS ABOUT A MATTER YOU WILL BE HAPPY TO GO AGAINST OUR HISTORY, BACKGROUND PERSPECTIVE, EVEN PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL COLLEGE OR WHATEVER WILL GO AGAINST THE GRAIN. IF YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE GOD AND IF YOU WANT THE PEOPLE YOU KNOW WHERE TO EXPERIENCE GOD'S REIGN WHEN CONFRONTING MY SIN YOUR CONFRONTING YOUR SIN.

WE HAVE TO CONFRONT THE TRUTH. THAT'S NOT PRETTY BUT THAT'S THE PLACE WHERE YOU EXPERIENCE GOD, WHICH MEANS THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST TO SPEAK.

DR. TONY EVAN TALKING TO US ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING GOD TOGETHER AND THAT ALL STARTS WITH ACKNOWLEDGING AND ACCEPTING THE FREE GIFT THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. TO LEARN MORE, VISIT TONY EVANS.ORG AND CLICK ON THE LINK THAT SIMPLY SAYS JESUS YOU FIND A STRAIGHTFORWARD PRESENTATION FROM TONY ON WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN, YOU LEARN TO KNOW GOD DEEPLY. AS YOU BEGIN A BRAND-NEW ETERNAL LIFE AGAIN. THAT'S IT.

2011 START OR AND WHILE YOU'RE THERE, DON'T FORGET, TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE POWERFUL PACKAGE OF RESOURCES I MENTIONED EARLIER INCLUDES ALL EIGHT MESSAGES FROM OUR CURRENT SERIES. KNOWING GOD, AS WELL AS TONY'S NEWLY RELEASED BOOK, THE POWER OF KNOWING GOD AND WILL EVEN INCLUDE THE INTERACTIVE STUDY GUIDE AND RESOURCE DVD CONTAINING CUSTOM MATERIAL RECORDED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS STUDY.

THEY'RE ALL YOURS WHEN YOU MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO HELP US KEEP TONY'S TEACHING ON THE STATION SO BE SURE TO DROP BY 20 OF.ORG TODAY TO MAKE THE ARRANGEMENTS BEFORE THIS OFFER RUNS OUT TOMORROW. THAT'S 2011'S.ORG OR REACH OUT TO OUR RESOURCE CENTER AT 1-800-800-3222 WERE TEAM MEMBERS ARE STANDING BY AROUND-THE-CLOCK TO HELP YOU.

AGAIN, THAT'S 1-800-800-3222 ONE TOMORROW. MORE FROM DR. EVANS ON WHY THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS LIKE A CLASSICAL CONCERTO IS INTENDED FOR AN ORCHESTRA JUST A BUNCH OF SOLOISTS. I HOPE YOU WILL BE WITH US, THE ALTERNATIVE WITH DR. TONY HAVE YOU FIGHTING URBAN ALTERNATIVE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS CONFUSION OF LISTENERS LIKE