Beloved brothers and sisters, it is a joy to be together in the house of the Lord. Today, I want to talk about something fundamental in our faith journey: The difference between knowing about God and experiencing God.
Imagine, for a moment, someone who has never tried swimming. This person can read all the books about swimming. They can watch videos of professional swimmers, understand the biomechanics of each stroke and kick, memorise the water safety rules, and even know the depth of all the swimming pools in the city. They can become a true ‘swimming theoretician’ and know everything there is to know about swimming.
But, let’s face it, nothing compares to actually getting in the water. To feel the water on your body, to propel yourself, to breathe to the rhythm of movement, to float and move in the water. It’s a completely different, unique, and personal experience. It’s only when you get in the water and swim that you truly know what swimming is.
Or think about eating. You can have the recipe for a beautiful, gourmet dish. You can read the long list of ingredients, read about the steps of the preparation, know the origin of the spices and the history of the chef. But true knowledge, the true appreciation, only comes when you actually taste the dish. When the aroma fills your senses, when the flavours explode in your mouth, when feel the texture… only then do you know what that dish truly is. And let’s face it, flavour is something we can’t fully convey with just words, can we? You need to taste it.
In spiritual life, something very similar happens. Many of us, perhaps most of us here, grew up in church. We’ve known biblical stories since we were children. We know the commandments, the songs. We can quote verses. We have a faith that was taught to us, that is familiar, that is part of our identity. But the big question is: Have we ever truly tasted God? Have we had such a real and transformative personal encounter that He became not just the God of our parents, of our church, but your God, through a living and tangible experience?”
- The Biblical Call to Experience
The Bible challenges us to go beyond knowledge. It invites us to a deep and personal experience with the Creator. Psalm 34, verse 8, challenges us with a powerful truth:
‘Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.’
Psalm 34:8
It doesn’t say ‘read and know,’ or ‘hear and learn,’ but ‘Taste and See’! This shows us that God desires an intimate relationship where we can experience His Power, His Goodness, and His Faithfulness in our own lives.
Beloved brothers and sisters, as the pastor and leader of this church, something has been weighing on my heart as I observe the lives of many of you. I see that there is a great deal of theoretical knowledge; we talk a lot about God, we spend years within the four walls of the church. Yet, at times, I notice the absence of a truly transformative experience.
Many live a life that, on the surface, seems ‘too normal’ – there is no touch of the supernatural that the Bible clearly teaches and promises. The struggles, challenges, and even victories seem to happen in the same way as for anyone who does not yet know God, without the evident distinction of divine power working in their lives.
However, I firmly believe that when we have a genuine and living experience with God – one that truly marks us, that transforms us from the inside out – that experience becomes our most powerful testimony. It is this lived reality, this proof of what God has done in us, that compels and draws people to the vibrant reality of Jesus and His Kingdom.
Let’s look at some Biblical Examples of Experience:
Let’s think about Jacob. He was a cunning man, a deceiver. He knew the God of his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac. But he had not yet had his own experience. It was only after a night of wrestling with God, where his hip was dislocated and his name changed to Israel (which means ‘he who struggles with God’), that Jacob could say: ‘I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared’ (Genesis 32:30).
Jacob experienced God in a way that changed his identity and his destiny.
Or Peter. He was a simple fisherman, an impulsive man. He lived with Jesus for three years, saw miracles, heard profound teachings. He knew Jesus was the Christ. But even then Peter failed, denying Jesus three times.
However, after the resurrection, and especially on the day of Pentecost, Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Peter went from simply knowing about God’s power to experiencing God’s power for himself.
From a fearful man, he became a bold preacher, transforming thousands of lives with a single message. His faith was no longer theory; it was a living experience, full of the power of the Holy Spirit.
These men, and so many others in the Bible, did not live a secondhand faith. They lived a faith of tasting and seeing. They had encounters that were turning points, experiences that marked them forever and impelled them to live a life of purpose and power in God.
- The Challenge for a Full Life in God
It is possible to be in church for years, to be an active member, a dedicated servant, and still not have had your own experience of new birth or of being filled with the Holy Spirit. It is possible to know everything about God, but still not have tasted Him in your daily life.
Perhaps you are thinking: ‘I am a good Christian. Why do I need an ‘experience’?‘ Because God calls us to a life of fullness, of power, of intimacy that goes far beyond rituals or traditions.
While the Bible presents us with a gallery of lives marked by supernatural experiences with God, a painful contrast emerges: many of our churches, today, seem filled with individuals who, unfortunately, have not yet tasted that same transformative power.
He wants you to feel His love in a tangible way, to hear His voice, to experience His peace that surpasses all understanding, to see His power working through you.
How can we ‘taste’ God today?
1- With a Thirsty Heart: There is no true experience without desire.
‘For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.’ (Isaiah 44:3 NIV)
In the same way that you only taste a new food if you go out of our way to cook it or buy it, in the spiritual realm, it is our longing that propels us. God knows those who seek Him with all their heart. He does not hide from those who long for Him.
2- Surrendering Completely to Jesus: To be born again, you need to surrender control of your life to Him. It means recognising Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, repenting of your sins, and inviting Him to make His home in your heart.
It is a conscious decision to allow Him to renew your mind, your spirit, and your life.
3- Seeking Him in Genuine Prayer:
‘Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’ (Jeremiah 29:12-13 NIV)
It’s not about repetitive ‘prayers,’ but a sincere, transparent conversation, where you pour out your heart before Him, expressing your joys, your sorrows, your doubts, and your longings.
Allowing God’s Word to Speak to You: Do not read the Bible merely as a book, but as God’s voice for your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth and application of each text to your daily life.
4- Asking for the Filling of the Holy Spirit:
‘Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,’ (Ephesians 5:18 NIV)
Jesus promised He would send the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, to guide us, empower us, and give us power. The Holy Spirit is the one who reveals Christ to us, who helps us pray, who gives us discernment, who enables us to live a life that pleases God and to be effective witnesses of His love.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit is not an event for a select few, but a promise for all who believe and ask!
God does not want a passive faith, a ‘hearsay’ faith. He wants a ‘taste and see’ faith. He wants you to experience His goodness, His power, His presence in a personal and transformative way.
Conclusion: The Invitation to Fullness
Today, God’s invitation is for you to go beyond knowledge and immerse yourself in experience. It doesn’t matter how old you are, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in church. God’s call is always fresh, always new, always for a deeper intimacy.
Do you want to taste God in a new and deeper way? Do you want to be sure you are born again? Do you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit and experience God’s power and presence in your life like never before?
At this moment, I want to invite you to present yourself before God. If you feel that you need to take this step of surrender, of renewal, of seeking the filling of the Holy Spirit. It is an act of faith, a sign that your heart is open to what God wants to do in your life.
If you wish to taste and see the goodness of the Lord, if you wish to have this genuine experience, to be born again or to be filled with the Holy Spirit, raise your hand now, as a sign that your heart is totally open to Him.
God bless you.