Appendix 4: Experiencing God<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Excerpts from Appendix 4 of…<\/b>
\nImmanuel: A Practicum by Patricia A. Velotta<\/p>\n
Experiencing God<\/b><\/p>\n
Knowledge<\/b>
\nWe can know God intellectually, in our minds, and experientially, in our hearts and lives.
\nWords used in the original languages of Scripture tell us this. In Old Testament Hebrew the word\u00a0yadah<\/i>denotes an encounter with the five senses.\u00a0 We can encounter God with our senses in both the physical and supernatural world.\u00a0 In New Testament Greek,\u00a0gnosis<\/i>, refers to intellectual knowledge, but\u00a0epignosis<\/i>refers to experiential knowledge gained through our senses.\u00a0\u00a0Epignosis<\/i>\u00a0makes a distinction between knowledge of the mind and what I call knowledge the heart.\u00a0 Vine explains the difference this way:<\/p>\n
\u201cepiginosko<\/i>\u00a0[verb] signifies (a) to know thoroughly (epi,<\/i>\u00a0intensive,\u00a0ginosko<\/i>, to know); (b) to recognize a thing to be what it really is, to acknowledge\u2026epignosis<\/i>\u00a0[noun] full and thorough knowledge, discernment, recognition\u2026\u201d\u00a0Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words,<\/i>\u00a0W. E. Vine, p. 27<\/p>\n
\u201c(a) to observe, fully perceive, notice attentively, discern, recognize (epi<\/i>, upon, and\u00a0ginosko<\/i>); it suggests generally a directive, a more special, recognition of the object known than does\u00a0ginosko<\/i>; it also may suggest advanced knowledge or special appreciation\u2026(b) to discover, ascertain, determine\u2026to take knowledge\u2026epignosis<\/i>\u00a0is knowledge directed towards a particular object, perceiving, discerning, whereas gnosis is knowledge in the abstract.\u201d\u00a0Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words,\u00a0<\/i>W. E. Vine, p. 299\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here are a few Scriptures with\u00a0epignosis<\/i>, experiential knowledge.<\/b><\/p>\n Romans 1:28\u00a0 \u00a0As they did not like to retain God in\u00a0their<\/i>\u00a0knowledge<\/b>, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;<\/p>\n Ephesians 1:17\u00a0 \u00a0I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the\u00a0knowledge<\/b>\u00a0of Him,<\/p>\n Ephesians 4:13 \u00a0\u00a0Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the\u00a0knowledge<\/b>\u00a0of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;<\/p>\n Philippians 1:9 I pray that your love may abound still more and more in\u00a0knowledge<\/b>\u00a0and all discernment,<\/p>\n Colossians 1:9-10 We do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the\u00a0knowledge<\/b>\u00a0of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing\u00a0Him<\/i>, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the\u00a0knowledge\u00a0<\/b>of God;<\/p>\n Colossians 2:2\u00a0 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, andattaining<\/i>\u00a0to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the\u00a0knowledge<\/b>\u00a0of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,<\/p>\n Colossians 3:10\u00a0 \u00a0and have put on the new\u00a0man<\/i>\u00a0who is renewed in\u00a0knowledge\u00a0<\/b>according to the image of Him who created him,<\/p>\n 2 Timothy 3:7\u00a0 \u00a0always learning and never able to come to the\u00a0knowledge\u00a0<\/b>of the truth.<\/p>\n Hebrews 10:26\u00a0 \u00a0For if we sin willfully after we have received the\u00a0knowledge\u00a0<\/b>of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,<\/p>\n 2 Peter 1:2-3\u00a0 \u00a0Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the\u00a0knowledge<\/b>\u00a0of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that\u00a0pertain<\/i>\u00a0to life and godliness, through the\u00a0knowledge<\/b>\u00a0of Him who called us by glory and virtue.<\/p>\n 2 Peter 1:8\u00a0\u00a0 For if these things are yours and abound,\u00a0you<\/i>\u00a0will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the\u00a0knowledge<\/b>\u00a0of our Lord Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n For\u00a0epignosis<\/i>\u00a0I like to substitute the word\u00a0encounter<\/i>\u00a0because it suggests knowing through the senses, experiential knowledge.\u00a0 In an encounter, I experience \u00a0by seeing, hearing, touching, smelling and tasting.\u00a0 Try reading these passages with\u00a0encounter<\/i>\u00a0for a better understanding of what the authors were trying to say.\u00a0 Let\u2019s take Paul\u2019s prayer for every believer in Ephesus:<\/p>\n \u201cI do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:\u00a0 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the\u00a0encounter<\/i>\u00a0(knowledge)\u00a0<\/b>of Him,\u00a0the eyes of your understanding being enlightened<\/span>; that you may know …\u201d Ephesians 1:16-18 NKJV<\/p>\n Here are other translations and paraphrases of\u00a0epignosis<\/i>\u00a0in this passage: Imagination<\/b> The Greek word Paul uses for understanding is\u00a0dianoia\u00a0<\/i>meaning imagination, mind, and understanding.\u00a0 \u00a0Dainoia<\/i> Because imagination can be negative, often denoting fabrication and fantasy, I refer to the positive and godly use of\u00a0dianoia<\/i>\u00a0as \u201csanctified imagination.\u201d<\/p>\n Through the Spirit, the eyes of our imagination connect with the spiritual realm.\u00a0 Paul\u2019s use of\u00a0dianoia<\/i>, translated as\u00a0imagination<\/i>, in Ephesians 1:16-18, suggests that dianoia\/imagination, \u00a0is the word used in scripture for that part of us that receives revelation; perhaps it is even the bridge between soul and spirit<\/p>\n Imagination can be used for good or evil.\u00a0\u00a0Dianoia<\/i>\u00a0appears in thirteen passages:\u00a0 Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 1:51, 10:27; Ephesians 1:18, 2:3, 4:18; Colossians 1:21; Hebrews 8:10, 10:16, 1 Peter 1:13; 2 Peter 3:1; 1 John 5:20.\u00a0 In nine of these passages, including Ephesians 1:16-18, \u00a0it is positive.\u00a0 The other four have negative connotations.<\/p>\n One positive use is Jesus command, to love God.\u00a0Luke 10:27\u00a0 So he answered and said, “\u2018You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and\u00a0with<\/span>\u00a0all<\/span>\u00a0your<\/span>\u00a0mind (dianoia<\/i>)<\/span>.,\u2019 and \u2018your neighbor as yourself.\u2019”\u00a0 (See also Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30)<\/p>\n Jesus wording seems redundant if soul is defined as intellect, will and emotions.\u00a0 Yet it isn\u2019t redundant if the meaning of\u00a0mind<\/i>\u00a0 or\u00a0dianoia<\/i>\u00a0is\u00a0imagination<\/i>,\u00a0 If it is imagination,\u00a0 it makes complete sense to love the Lord with everything you are: heart\/spirit; soul or intellect, will and emotions; mind\/understanding\/imagination and strength\/body.<\/p>\n Vain, empty, evil imaginations, out of an evil heart block the knowledge of God. Luke 1:51\u00a0 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered\u00a0the<\/i>\u00a0proud in the imagination (dianoia<\/i>) of their hearts.\u00a0Romans 1:21b …became\u00a0vain in their imaginations<\/span>\u00a0(dialogismos) and their foolish hearts were darkened. (AV)Romans 1:21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify\u00a0Him<\/i>\u00a0as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. \u00a0We are to reject these vain imaginations.<\/p>\n 2 Corinthians 10:5 …casting down\u00a0vain imaginations<\/span>\u00a0(logismos) and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…(AV) A good, positive, sanctified imagination out of a pure heart has inspired thoughts.\u00a0 If imagination actually may be the bridge we use to receive revelation, when a sanctified imagination pictures God, it may be seeing God by the Spirit of Revelation. Matthew 5: 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shallsee<\/b>\u00a0God.<\/p>\n Paul prays that our spiritual eyes or imagination be \u201cenlightened.\u201d\u00a0 Our word for photograph comes from this Greek word,\u00a0photizo<\/i>is .<\/p>\n Photizo<\/i>\u00a0from\u00a0phos<\/i>, light\u2026(b) used transitively, to enlighten, illumine. Seeing with spiritual eyes may include seeing a picture by means of imagination.\u00a0 Jesus says that we must be born again (born of the Spirit) to see the kingdom of God. Yetser<\/i>\u00a0comes from the root\u00a0yatsar<\/i>.\u00a0\u00a0Yatsar<\/i>\u00a0means to fashion, form, frame or make.\u00a0\u00a0Yetser\u00a0<\/i>\u201ca form; (figurative) conception ( i.e. purpose):–frame, thing framed,<\/p>\n imagination, mind, work. \u2026This word also carries the connotation of something thought of in the mind, such as wickedness in people\u2019s hearts (Genesis 6:5); or something treasured or stored in the heart (1Chronicles 29:18).\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Hebrew and Greek Key Word Study Bible NASB<\/i>. p. 1893<\/p>\n God wants us to see into the supernatural with our spiritual eyes, that is, our sanctified imaginations, so that we might intimately know, experience, and encounter Him in our hearts and not just have head knowledge. God wants us to walk in the light, in the whole truth of who He is. We are to see the Son<\/span><\/b>.\u00a0<\/span> We are to see the Spirit.<\/span><\/b> Our birthright is to be like Jesus.\u00a0<\/span><\/b> 2 Peter 1:2, 3, 8 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that\u00a0pertain<\/i>\u00a0to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue…For if these things are yours and abound,\u00a0you<\/i>\u00a0will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.\u00a0Seeing God is normative Christianity.\u00a0 Paul prays for the whole congregation in Colosse as well as in Ephesus.<\/p>\n Colossians 1:10\u00a0 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the\u00a0knowledge<\/span>\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0God<\/span>; Jesus lived by the same Spirit that lives in us. While on earth he put down his transcendent God abilities of omnipresence, omniscience, and all power and lived in the Spirit as a human, \u00a0being. We are to live in the Spirit also. If you think seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, and smelling in the Spirit are only for The complete text for appendix 4 in Immanuel: A Practicum also discusses the following additional points:<\/b><\/p>\n Appendix 4: Experiencing God Excerpts from Appendix 4 of… Immanuel: A Practicum by Patricia A. Velotta Experiencing God Knowledge We can know God intellectually, in our minds, and experientially, in our hearts and lives. Words used in the original languages of Scripture tell us this. In Old Testament Hebrew the word\u00a0yadahdenotes an encounter with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"gallery","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nFuller knowledge\u00a0\u00a0 The Twentieth Century New Testament<\/i>
\nIntimate knowledge\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The Centenary Translation: The New Testament in Modern English<\/i>
\nTo know more of Him\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The New Testament in Modern English (J. B. Phillips)<\/i>
\nA growing knowledge\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The New Testament: A Translation in the Language of the People (C. B. Williams)<\/i>
\nIn knowing him personally\u00a0 The Message<\/i>
\nIn the recognition of him\u00a0 1898 Young\u2019s Literal Translation<\/i><\/p>\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>Paul is asking the Father of the Lord Jesus to give us the Holy Spirit for an encounter with Jesus. He links the Spirit of Wisdom who shows the heart with the Spirit of Revelation or Understanding who tells the mind. (See Endnote to Appendix 4)<\/p>\n
\n\u201cdenotes the faculty of thinking; then of knowing; hence, the understanding, and in general, the mind, and so moral reflection; it is rendered \u201cimagination\u201d in Luke 1:51\u00a0(negative)<\/i>\u00a0\u201cthe imagination of their heart\u201d signifying their thoughts and ideas.\u201d\u00a0Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words,<\/i>\u00a0W. E. Vine, pp. 248<\/p>\n
\n2 Corinthians 10:5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge (gnosis<\/i>)of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ\u2026<\/p>\n
\nExpository\u00a0Dictionary of New Testament Words,<\/i>\u00a0W. E. Vine, p. 31<\/p>\n
\nJohn 3:3\u00a0 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
\nThe Old Testament Hebrew word for mind in Isaiah 26:3 is\u00a0yetser<\/i>\u00a0which means form, frame, purpose or imagination.
\nIsaiah 26:3\u00a0 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose\u00a0mind<\/span>\u00a0is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.\u00a0 Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.<\/p>\n
\nIsaiah 2:5\u00a0 O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the LORD
\nJohn 8:12\u00a0 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
\nWe are to see the Father.<\/span><\/b>
\nHebrews 11:27 …for he (Moses) endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
\nActs 2:25, 28\u00a0 For David says concerning Him: \u2018I\u00a0fore<\/i>saw the LORD always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken…You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.
\nJohn 14:9 He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, \u201cShow us the Father?\u201d<\/p>\n
\nHebrews 12:2 …looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith\u2026
\nJohn 14:19 A little longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me.\u00a0 Because I live, you will live also.<\/p>\n
\nJohn 14:17 …even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.<\/p>\n
\nTo be like him, we must know him for who he is.
\nRomans 8:29\u00a0 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined\u00a0to be<\/i>\u00a0conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
\n1 John 3:2\u00a0 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.Therefore, we are to grow and to be fruitful in the experiential knowledge of God\u2014.<\/p>\n
\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>
\nAs followers of Jesus Christ, He is our model for living in the Spirit.
\nHe lived by imitating his Father who is in heaven.
\nJohn 5:19-20\u00a0\u00a0 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what\u00a0He sees<\/span>\u00a0the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.\u00a0\u00a0<\/b>For the Father loves the Son, and\u00a0shows Him<\/span>\u00a0all things that He Himself does; and He will\u00a0show Him<\/span>\u00a0greater works than these, that you may marvel.<\/p>\n
\nPhilippines 2:5-7\u00a0 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant,\u00a0and<\/i>\u00a0coming in the likeness of men.
\nRomans 8:11\u00a0 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.<\/p>\n
\nsuper stars, the Bible tells us that we are all alike.
\nJames 5:17\u00a0 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.
\nActs 10:34 Then Peter opened\u00a0his<\/i>\u00a0mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
\nknow, experience and encounter him.\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n