5854 experience, of God
Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5760 Human attitudes and behaviour  »  5852 experience  »  5854 experience, of God

Scripture stresses the importance and also the possibility of a true experience of the living God. This is contrasted with the more academic knowledge about him. Experiential knowledge of God comes through personal encounter, through the witness of the Holy Spirit, through reflection on his past goodness and through the shared experiences of others.

Personal experience of God

Contrasted with academic knowledge

Job 42:5 See also Jeremiah 31:34; John 4:42; John 5:39-40; James 2:19

Experience of God's blessing

Psalm 34:8 See also 1 Peter 2:3; Hebrews 6:4-5

Experiencing God through Scripture

Matthew 22:29; John 5:39-40; Acts 17:11-12; 2 Timothy 3:15-17

Knowing God through the Spirit

Romans 8:15-16 See also John 14:16-17,26; John 16:14-15; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10; Isaiah 64:4

Examples of personal encounter with God

Deuteronomy 11:2-7 See also Deuteronomy 5:3-4; Genesis 32:30 Jacob; Exodus 3:3-4 Moses; Isaiah 6:1 Isaiah; Acts 9:3-6 Saul of Tarsus; 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 Paul; Revelation 1:17 John

Sharing experience of God

Experience of God through his people

Zechariah 8:23 See also Isaiah 45:14; 1 Corinthians 14:24-25

Leaders with experience of God

Joshua 24:31 See also Numbers 12:8; Judges 6:22; Acts 1:21-22; 1 Corinthians 15:3-7; 2 Peter 1:16-18

Speaking to future generations

Deuteronomy 4:9-10 See also Exodus 10:2; Deuteronomy 6:20-21; Job 8:8-9; Psalm 71:18

Speaking from personal experience: OT

Deuteronomy 7:18-19 See also 1 Samuel 17:34-37 David's experience teaches him to trust God.

The exiles' confidence is based upon God's deliverance in the past:

Isaiah 43:14-17; Isaiah 51:9-11 Jeremiah 16:14-15

Speaking from personal experience: NT

John 3:11 See also John 20:18; Acts 4:13; 1 John 1:1-3

John 9:25 See also Mark 5:19-20 pp Luke 8:39; John 4:28-29

Confidence based on past experience

Matthew 16:9-10 pp Mark 8:18-20 The disciples' experience of Jesus Christ's provision should have taught them not to worry about food; 2 Timothy 4:17-18

See also

1040  God, fatherhood
1050  God, goodness of
1613  Scripture, purpose
3278  Holy Spirit, indwelling
5017  heart, renewal
6647  eternal life, experience
6671  grace & Christian life
6705  peace, experience
8031  trust, importance
8120  following Christ
8134  knowing God
8496  witnessing, importance



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