Victory Church Providence

Knowing God for Yourself


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Introduction and Throwback Sunday
  • Recaps “Throwback Sunday” and encourages bringing physical Bibles to church as a nod to tradition.​

  • Expresses gratitude for recent church events and blessings, such as water baptism and picnic.​

  • Calls for prayer and open hearts to receive from God, especially after a time of fasting.​

    The Battle in Modern Life
    • Recognizes the challenges of modern life: evil, temptation, spiritual warfare, and demonic activity, especially in the end times.​

    • Emphasizes the need for spiritual strength and victory amidst adversity.​

      Theme: Knowing God for Yourself
      • Offers exhortation rather than a traditional sermon, aiming to stir faith and personal encounter with God.​

      • Draws on the passage from Judges 2, focusing on generational changes in faith after Joshua’s time.​

      • Warns of the danger when one generation knows God but the next only knows about God and not personally.​

        The Difference Between Knowing About God and Knowing God
        • Illustrates with personal stories (e.g., travel and experiences in Africa) the gap between theoretical and experiential knowledge.​

        • Stresses the importance of firsthand experience, not just secondhand stories or head knowledge.​

          Head Knowledge vs. Heart Knowledge
          • Uses the metaphor of missing heaven by 18 inches (distance from head to heart).​

          • Endorses experiential faith using biblical phrases like “taste and see that the Lord is good”.​

            Biblical Examples and Discipleship
            • References Jesus’ teaching in John 6 about the cost of discipleship and how it sifts followers.​

            • Explains that true discipleship demands personal commitment and will cause offense or discomfort, but steadfastness comes from knowing God personally.​

              Three Essentials to Knowing God
              1. Desire:

                • Hunger and thirst for God are essential; desire moves mountains (example of Helen Keller’s determination).​

                • Illustrates how other desires can compete with spiritual pursuit (e.g., gym vs. church attendance).​

                • Learning:

                  • Importance of learning from older generations and maintaining humility to be taught.​

                  • Describes mutual mentoring – older generation sharing wisdom, younger generation teaching new things (e.g., technology).​

                  • References biblical examples and personal mentors who inspired and taught about God’s miracles.​

                  • Pressing In:

                    • Encourages persistent pursuit of God; spiritual growth involves pressing in, waiting, and preparing for God’s timing.​

                    • Story of receiving the Holy Spirit’s touch during times of seeking, both in personal and church settings.​

                      Generational Breakdown and Restoration
                      • Addresses the breakdown between generations in passing on spiritual experience and faith.​

                      • Calls for bridging generational gaps in church; both young and old must value each other's strengths and contributions.​

                        Call to Consecration and Closing
                        • Invites the congregation to prayer, worship, and pressing in for personal encounters with God.​

                        • Encourages leaders and young people to seek fresh encounters; asks everyone to create space for seeking God without distraction.​

                        • Concludes with a challenge for ongoing spiritual hunger, continual learning, and pursuing God’s presence in the model of biblical figures like Caleb and Joshua.

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                          Victory Church ProvidenceBy Victory Church Providence, RI

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