Is God Knowable?

By Kent R. Sturgis

In the upside-down world we live in today, our faith is tested on many levels. We may ask a wide range of questions: Does God exist? Does He hear my prayers? Does He even care about me? Is having religion the same as having God?

Within these pages you will find answers to these questions and many more. Be prepared! Is God Knowable? dares to expose the comfort zone and complacency of religiosity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490836126

Kent R. Sturgis

As an ordained evangelist through COAL, Inc, and cofounder of Salt and Light Outreach Ministries, I have a heartfelt desire to inform people that God can be and is knowable, no matter what your station is in life. God still forgives sins and loves his children more than we can imagine. In southeastern North Carolina, where my wife and I live, we endeavor to tell the good news of Jesus Christ to any and all who will listen. God is a God of many chances, and if we commit ourselves to Him, we can indeed know Him on a very personal level. Salt and Light Outreach Ministries works to educate, inform, and be a new voice in our community to give hope and encouragement to those who are searching for reassurance and stability in a topsy-turvey world. We are planting seeds of faith, hope, and love, the ministry of Jesus Christ as found in Luke 4:18. Kent and his wife, Pat, have been married for twenty years, have three adult children, and reside in Winnabow, North Carolina. Kent R. Sturgis, Salt and Light Outreach, PO Box 55, Winnabow, NC 28479, 910-253-0899, [e-mail]

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are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-3611-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-3613-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-3612-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014907911

WestBow Press rev. date: 07/02/2014

Contents

Foreword

1 Is God Knowable?

2 The Battle Of Good And Evil

3 Needs Vs. Wants

4 Does God Really Exist, And If So, Is He Knowable?

5 Grace

6 Themes On A Theme

7 Joseph, Joshua And Samson

8 The Perils Of A Divided Heart

Acknowledgements

This book is dedicated to Nancy Sturgis,

Who gave me a most precious gift.

FOREWORD

W hile writing this book I have attempted, as much as possible, to rely entirely on scripture and my interpretation (through the Holy Spirit) of God’s word. Therefore, any errors are solely mine and I take complete responsibi lity.

My purpose in writing this book as well as my mission statement may be found in John 10:10. There will be more on the thief and much more on Jesus in the chapters to follow. As ambassadors for Christ, and the only Jesus some will ever see, we need a spiritual uplink. We need a Holy Ghost infusion and transfusion. Why we let the thief continue to rob us cannot be understated. Billy Graham during one of his many interviews was asked, Did you ever have a moment of doubt or unbelief? He immediately answered, NO! Two thoughts came instantly to my mind. Let your yea be yea and your nay be nay. The second, WOW! is that even possible? I must confess I’m not there yet. Or perhaps more pointedly, will I ever get there? I do not doubt the veracity of his statement nor in any way impugn his dignity, in fact, that No should be a war cry to all those who have not gotten there yet. Mr. Graham’s reply is a challenge to my soul and my heart. I think of the hit the principalities and powers of darkness took that moment. Perhaps the very question was designed for impeding the truth of the gospel. I wasn’t there so I may not presume to say. However, the evil spirits of doubt and unbelief were emphatically rejected that day. Imagine the overwhelming, powerful, victorious faith it took to proclaim that word, No. Would that all of our spirit man could rise up in us, Satan would be dealt a blow he would never recover.

John 10:10 is integral to the question, Is God Knowable? It is integral to the believer. Metaphorically speaking it is a hinge gate in which our faith swings forward and back. Peter, to his dismay, realized this when he stepped out of the boat (Matthew 14:28). Lord I believe, help my unbelief (Mark 9:24).

While the title of this book expresses the points I hope to drive home for the believer, I would be derelict if I were not an advocate for the unbeliever. Just as Peter was undone by his fear, the unsaved look at us for any signs of weakness and then pounce. When Paul was touched by the Lord on the Damascus Road, he knew immediately what the Lord had imparted to him. Oh, that such were some of us. Paul spent the rest of his life humbly and yet powerfully preaching the gospel (the Good News) everywhere God sent him. The point I want to make is that Paul had already worked out his salvation in fear and trembling. It was evident in everything he did and everything he said. Everywhere Paul put his feet was Holy ground and he was totally sold out and in submission to the Lord Jesus Christ. He was a mentor for the gospel in every sense of the word. Mentorship is not practiced in the church today nor has it been for some time. Just as mentorship is no longer relevant, neither is working and walking out your salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12) relevant or popular to Christians today. Salvation has been marginalized and trivialized. How can I make this claim? Because there is no mentorship. I am working out my own salvation, now you do the same. While any believer or even false converts have probably never stated such, it does not have to be. It is empirically evident in the church today. Therefore, Christians are only consistent in their inconsistency (James 1:6). So how can we as a body of believers expect to impact the world for Christ? Allow me to return to my point about ambassadors and the only Jesus some will ever see. For him to become a reality for the unsaved to be compelled to come into the kingdom they must, they must, they must see Jesus in us. The thief who in many instances and occasions is one step ahead of us, merely has to say Has God indeed said (Gen 3:11) and instantly doubt and unbelief, an unholy harbinger of our souls, comes flooding in. As one who has been redeemed by the blood, give yourself to God as his purchased possession – a vessel ready for him to use, a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit.

Let me make a few comments about the two new commandments Jesus gave us (Matt 22:37-40). As to the first commandment, I am striving mightily. This book would not be possible if that were not the case. Indeed, the only way I can be that new creation in Christ Jesus is to love the Lord, my God with all that is within me. As to the second commandment, which is no less important than the first, Love your neighbor as you love yourself, I confess this commandment often leaves me shaking my head. Conversation with God: But Lord, they are unlovable. Silence. They are a drain on my soul (mind, will and emotions). Silence. They never believe anything I tell them for their own benefit. Silence. When I preach a word you gave me, they don’t receive it. Silence. Can’t I just like them instead? Can’t somebody else go the extra mile for them? Finally, God speaks and says, Just as you were uniquely created so were they. Their flaws are your flaws. Go look in the mirror. I love them in spite of their flaws. The more they see me in you the closer they will be drawn to me. So don’t be afraid to go the extra mile. Love them as I love you. One day soon all my children will be home with me."

The advent of the Industrial Revolution brought many socioeconomic changes to the world system. Many of these changes were for the greater good, but not all. Labor was still labor. It just went in a new direction from agricultural to factories. With this change great numbers of men, women and children were exploited. Labor laws, if they existed at all, were not in evidence. Evil had found a new threshold and Satan, never one to miss an opportunity, became a player.

The rich and poor have existed since the birth of man. With this change sweeping across the world, the balance began to tip. To say this revolution was the economic boom that sent America and England into uncharted waters would not be far off the mark. Unfortunately, greed and