Experiencing the God We Believe In
Matthew 6:33
God has revealed Himself through the prophets in the Bible. Therefore, we can understand and believe in God through Scripture. The God revealed in the Bible is not just an idea or philosophy; He is a living God who acts on His word. When we trust and obey the words God has given us in the Bible, we experience Him. Through this experience, we come to confess that the God revealed in Scripture is the Creator of the universe, the One who sustains all things, forgives sins, and judges righteously.
Most importantly, Jesus died on the cross for our sins, rose again to declare us righteous, and now serves as our great High Priest in heaven. He is the Lord of lords, the King of kings, and the ultimate Judge. These truths become real to us as we experience Him.
We can personally experience God.
First, to experience God, we must seek His kingdom and His righteousness as written in the Bible.
Second, we must invite Jesus into our hearts to experience God fully.
Third, God gives everyone the opportunity to receive Jesus and experience Him.
Today, I will share more about these truths and how we can experience God in our lives.
First, to Experience God, We Must Seek His Kingdom and Righteousness
God is Spirit, and we cannot see Him with our physical eyes. However, God is perfect love and truth, and there is no falsehood in Him. Because of His character, we can sense and experience Him. God has even taught us how to pray so that we can encounter Him. When we pray as Jesus taught us, we experience the very nature of God.
In life, we constantly face challenges—health problems, financial struggles, issues with our children, difficulties in relationships, or challenges in business. Yet, Jesus reminds us that our Heavenly Father already knows what we need. That’s why He tells us not to focus on these things but to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). This doesn’t mean ignoring our problems; it means aligning our prayers with God’s kingdom and His righteousness. When we do this, we will experience God working to solve our problems.
So, what does it mean to seek God’s kingdom? The Bible says, “The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). The kingdom of God is where Jesus reigns as King—in our hearts and lives. Seeking God’s kingdom means praying for Jesus to rule in our hearts.
To experience this, we must open our hearts and welcome Jesus as our Lord and King. When we do, God, as our all-powerful King, begins to rule in our hearts, making our hearts His kingdom. With God reigning over every part of our lives, He ensures that “all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28).
This is the promise of experiencing God: when we seek His kingdom and righteousness first, we discover the peace, joy, and guidance that only He can provide.
Next, We Must Seek God’s Righteousness
God’s righteousness is fulfilled in our hearts when the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us. When the Holy Spirit lives in us, the spirit of the world—bringing worry, anxiety, and fear—must leave, and God’s kingdom is established in our hearts. However, the Holy Spirit only dwells in a clean heart. So, how can our hearts be made clean?
Our hearts can only be cleansed by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross. As the hymn beautifully declares:
“What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh, precious is the flow that makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.” Amen!
God’s righteousness is this: He declares righteous those who believe in the grace of Jesus’ atonement. This means that instead of holding our sins against us, God placed our sins upon His sinless Son, Jesus Christ. This is the righteousness of God.
When we seek this righteousness, our hearts are cleansed, becoming temples where the Holy Spirit dwells. And in that temple, King Jesus comes to reside. If you desire for Jesus to reign as King in your heart, let us proclaim together, “Amen!”
Second, To Experience God, We Must Welcome Jesus Into Our Hearts
When we invite Jesus into our hearts, a transformation takes place. Just as a mother knows she is carrying a new life even before others notice, because of symptoms like morning sickness and a growing belly, we too will notice signs of change when the life of Jesus comes into us. These signs are evident and impossible to hide—they manifest as changes in our lives.
Before receiving Jesus, we were the masters of our own lives. But when we accept Jesus as our Lord, our master changes, and with a new master, everything begins to change. For example, if the ownership of a house changes, the outward structure may remain the same, but the way the house is managed will be completely different. In the same way, when Jesus becomes the Lord of our hearts, the outward appearance of our lives may look the same, but our hearts undergo a transformation. We no longer live according to our own will but according to the will of Jesus.
This change is so significant that others will notice. How? They will see a new perspective on material possessions, a new purpose in life, a transformed worldview, and even a change in hobbies and the songs we sing. And with these changes comes true happiness. Why? Because God, who loved us so much that He gave Himself for us on the cross, promises to provide everything for us by His grace. When God becomes the master of our lives, He leads us in ways far better than we could ever manage on our own. Our lives prosper under His guidance, and both we and the people around us experience joy and blessing.
Do you feel a desire in your heart to welcome Jesus as your Lord today? Jesus is not someone who rules over us with force or disregards us. Instead, He is the One who loves us and desires to make us truly happy. He demonstrated this love by humbly coming to us on a donkey, as the Bible tells us.
Those who welcome Jesus share a common trait: they willingly humble themselves. They recognize that if they remain strong, wise, or proud in their own eyes, they cannot allow Jesus to truly reign as King in their hearts. A proud or self-reliant heart leaves no room for Jesus to rule. But when we humble ourselves and acknowledge our weakness, like King David, God can use us mightily.
When we surrender ourselves before the King, He fills us with the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome the forces of evil. He gives us courage, wisdom, and strength to resist any temptation. He equips us with the full armor of God to rescue souls that are more precious than the entire world.
Will you open your heart to Jesus as your King today? Let us surrender to Him and allow Him to reign in every part of our lives.
Third, God Gives Everyone the Opportunity to Experience Him by Receiving Jesus
When does God give us the opportunity to receive Jesus? Often, it happens when we face problems beyond our ability to solve. What challenges are you facing right now? These difficulties have a spiritual purpose: to lead us to experience God, who resolves our problems.
For example, when the Israelites left Egypt and journeyed toward the Promised Land, they found themselves trapped at the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army pursuing them. It was a hopeless situation. But their leader, Moses, said:
“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13-14).
Similarly, the Apostle Paul endured severe hardships, to the point of losing all hope of survival. He even felt like he had received a death sentence. In that moment, what could he do? He realized that this was to teach him not to rely on himself but on God, who raises the dead. Paul waited patiently in prayer, trusting God’s sovereign will until He revealed His good purpose (2 Corinthians 1:8-9). The Apostle James also said, “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray” (James 5:13).
We must seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness in these moments. As James writes, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). My own experience in immigrant ministry has been full of challenges, but through those trials, I sought God’s kingdom and His righteousness. As a result, I drew closer to the Lord, walked in His light, and experienced His overwhelming love.
When we face overwhelming hardships, we are reminded of our weakness, foolishness, and humility. These moments should become opportunities to receive Jesus sincerely. When we do, Jesus will reign in our hearts as King and Lord, actively working in our lives. The result is experiencing God’s grace as He works all things together for good (Romans 8:28), leading us to true happiness.
When you face difficult problems, don’t just focus on finding solutions. Instead, as the Bible promises, seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness. This is my prayer for you.
John 1:12 says, “To all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” When we receive Jesus, the Son of God, we also become children of God. Just as a father takes responsibility for and protects his children, God cares for His children in the same way.
That’s why believers, including myself, often sing praises in the midst of life’s difficulties:
“Though worries fill my life with trials and fears,
And hardships press on every side,
The precious blood of Jesus conquers all.
Trusting in His merits, I shall always overcome.” Amen!
This is the evidence of receiving Jesus: we overcome through the blood of Jesus. His blood cleanses our hearts of worry and anxiety. Ultimately, the Lord gives us the strength to overcome hardships, blessing us with the experience of His power and presence. If you believe this, let’s say, “Amen!”
In Conclusion
God loves us, and His love is meant for us to experience Him and bring glory to His name. Jesus is our King and Lord. When we welcome Jesus into our hearts, He reigns over us, and everything works together for our good. This brings us true happiness. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, worry, fear, and anxiety are driven away.
However, for us to be truly happy with Jesus in our hearts, we must humble ourselves and become weak, foolish, and lowly for His sake. God allows us to face hardships in life to bring us to this point. These moments of difficulty are opportunities to believe in Jesus and receive Him into our lives. When we accept Jesus, the Son of God, we become God’s children. As our Father, God takes responsibility for us, protects us, and faithfully watches over us.
I pray in the name of the Lord that we will all experience this grace. Let us remember today’s message and offer this prayer of commitment to our Heavenly Father:
A Prayer of Commitment
Heavenly Father, thank You for allowing us to hear Your Word through Your servant today. We are struggling with the hardships of life, but as we heard in today’s message, we seek Your kingdom and Your righteousness.
We welcome Jesus into our hearts as our King and Lord. Please come and reign in us. We repent for the prideful hearts we had, trying to live wisely, strongly, and selfishly to stand out in this world. We acknowledge that we did not fully follow Your Word because of our worldly judgments.
Cleanse our hearts with Your precious blood and fill us with the Holy Spirit. Let our hearts be filled with righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit so that we may live in true happiness. Please guide all our circumstances according to Your will so that our transformed lives reflect Your glory. Let those who see us come to revere and worship You.
We pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.