When Jesus was addressing the Samaritan woman at the well He told her that the Samaritans did not know what they worshipped. That statement is still true today for many. We have entire Christian denominations that teach on the historical account of Jesus but never on the ability to have a personal relationship with Him. Many know His name and His story, but they really don’t know Him on a personal level.

Really knowing someone is a lot different than knowing about someone. Probably the most intimate relationships we have on this earth are with our own spouses and our very close friends. We can recognize their voice, their handwriting, their touch, their unique sounds, and many other things that other people would never recognize. We can recognize their voice on a telephone even if we have not talked to them in a very long time. We can recognize that sort of thing because we have spent hours, days, and years with that particular person and we know them intimately.

Do you know Jesus that intimately? Can you recognize His voice when He’s speaking? Can you recognize and feel His presence when He’s in the room? Do you know the personal plans and purposes He has for your life? Do you know His promises for you? Do you know “The Promise” and the gifts that He has available for you? Consider the following scriptures:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27)

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (Jeremiah 33:3)

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. (John 15:14-15)

For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 9:11, Amplified Bible)

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (Acts 2:39)

Jesus told us in John 4 that the true worshippers would worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. It’s not either or. It’s a combination of both. What does He mean by that? The Greek word used for truth in John 10 is “aletheia” which means true and “not concealed”. In other words, it is something that we can see. We can see certain things in His Word that are part of the truth. It’s sort of like we can see the visible parts of a tree but we cannot see the roots. On the other hand, the Greek word for Spirit is “pneuma” which means breath, breeze, or wind. Those things cannot be seen. They are invisible to the natural eye. It takes the Spirit to reveal those type things. It takes the Spirit to see the entire tree.

Knowing the Word and the truth without the Spirit is impossible because Jesus told us that the Spirit would lead us into all truth.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13)

God wants us to know Him in Spirit and in truth. He wants us to hear His voice and have a personal relationship with Him. If you read His Word you will see that the Apostles were constantly striving and seeking for that type of relationship. As much as they knew Him, they wanted to know Him more. We need to have that same desire and thirst!