BARRIERS TO KNOWING GOD

Title: BARRIERS TO KNOWING GOD

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: Hosea 4:6
Supporting Texts: Jeremiah 9:23-24, Isaiah 59:1-2, Romans 1:21-23

INTRODUCTION:
Many people desire to know God but often face barriers that hinder them from deepening their relationship with Him. These barriers can prevent a person from experiencing the fullness of God’s presence, power, and love. To truly know God, we must identify and overcome these obstacles. This Bible study explores some common barriers to knowing God and how to break through them.

1. IGNORANCE OF GOD’S WORD

a) Lack of Study and Meditation:
Many believers do not spend enough time studying the Word of God, which is the primary way He reveals Himself to us (2 Timothy 2:15).

b) Misinterpretation of Scripture:
Incorrect understanding of the Bible can lead to false beliefs about God, keeping us from truly knowing Him (2 Peter 3:16).

c) Spiritual Blindness:
Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers, preventing them from seeing the truth about God (2 Corinthians 4:4).

d) Indifference to Biblical Knowledge:
Some are indifferent to seeking God’s knowledge, thinking they already know enough (Proverbs 1:7).

Biblical Example:
The Pharisees, though knowledgeable in the law, failed to truly know God because they misunderstood the heart of Scripture (John 5:39-40).

2. SIN AND DISOBEDIENCE

a) Sin Separates Us from God:
Sin creates a barrier between us and God, blocking our ability to know Him intimately (Isaiah 59:1-2).

b) Disobedience to God’s Commands:
When we disobey God, we cannot walk in close fellowship with Him (John 14:21).

c) Unconfessed Sin:
Unrepented and unconfessed sin keeps us in spiritual darkness and hinders our relationship with God (Psalm 32:3-5).

d) Pride and Self-sufficiency:
Pride makes us think we don’t need God, which distances us from Him (James 4:6).

Biblical Example:
Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden led to separation from God (Genesis 3:6-8).

3. WORLDLY DISTRACTIONS

a) Love for the World:
Attachment to worldly pleasures and pursuits can choke out our desire to know God (1 John 2:15-16).

b) Busyness and Prioritising Other Things:
Many people are too busy with work, entertainment, and other pursuits to spend time with God (Luke 10:40-42).

c) Worry and Anxiety:
Constant worry can distract us from focusing on God and His promises (Matthew 6:31-33).

d) Materialism:
Pursuit of wealth and material gain can take our hearts away from God (Matthew 6:24).

Biblical Example:
The rich young ruler was hindered by his attachment to wealth and could not fully follow Jesus (Mark 10:17-22).

4. UNFORGIVENESS AND BITTERNESS

a) Holding Grudges:
Unforgiveness blocks us from experiencing God’s love and grace fully (Matthew 6:14-15).

b) Bitterness in the Heart:
Bitterness corrupts the heart, making it difficult to draw near to God (Hebrews 12:15).

c) Resentment towards Others:
Resentment causes emotional and spiritual separation from God (Ephesians 4:31-32).

d) Unresolved Conflicts:
Unresolved conflicts hinder us from approaching God with a pure heart (Matthew 5:23-24).

Biblical Example:
Cain’s jealousy and bitterness towards Abel led him to murder and caused separation from God (Genesis 4:3-16).

5. FEAR AND DOUBT

a) Fear of Surrendering Fully to God:
Fear of losing control or giving up certain habits can prevent us from fully surrendering to God (Matthew 16:24).

b) Doubting God’s Goodness:
When we doubt God’s love, promises, or plans for us, it creates a barrier to knowing Him intimately (James 1:6-8).

c) Fear of Failure:
Fear of failure can prevent us from stepping out in faith and trusting God’s leading (2 Timothy 1:7).

d) Fear of Rejection:
Some fear that they are unworthy of God’s love, and this insecurity keeps them distant from Him (Romans 8:15).

Biblical Example:
The Israelites doubted God’s ability to lead them into the Promised Land due to fear, preventing them from entering it (Numbers 13:31-33, 14:1-4).

CONCLUSION:
Knowing God deeply requires intentionality and the removal of every barrier that hinders our relationship with Him. Ignorance, sin, worldly distractions, unforgiveness, and fear are common barriers, but by God’s grace, we can overcome them and press into a deeper knowledge of God. As we break through these barriers, we will experience more of His presence, guidance, and transformation in our lives.

PRAYER POINTS:

1. Lord, remove every barrier of ignorance that keeps me from knowing You.

2. Father, cleanse me from all sin and disobedience that separates me from You.

3. Lord, deliver me from worldly distractions that draw my attention away from You.

4. Father, help me to forgive and let go of any bitterness in my heart.

5. Lord, strengthen my faith and remove every doubt and fear hindering my walk with You.

6. Father, grant me a hunger to study and meditate on Your Word daily.

7. Lord, give me the grace to surrender every area of my life fully to You.

8. Father, help me to prioritise my relationship with You above all else.

9. Lord, fill my heart with love and grace, so I can live in harmony with others.

10. Father, draw me closer to You every day as I seek to know You more.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS:

1. I declare that every barrier between me and God is broken today in Jesus’ name.

2. I decree that ignorance will not keep me from experiencing the fullness of God.

3. I declare that sin and disobedience will no longer hinder my relationship with God.

4. I decree that the love of God will rule in my heart, removing every trace of unforgiveness.

5. I declare that worldly distractions will not draw me away from my walk with God.

6. I speak that my faith will rise above every doubt and fear, and I will trust God fully.

7. I declare that my heart is free from bitterness, and I will walk in love and grace.

8. I decree that I will grow daily in the knowledge of God and His Word.

9. I declare that I will live a life of obedience, fully surrendered to God’s will.

10. I decree that no fear or doubt will keep me from knowing God intimately.