Chuck Smith emphasizes the importance of knowing God in order to serve Him effectively. He explains that true knowledge of God leads to love and trust, and that many people only have a superficial understanding of Him. Smith encourages believers to serve God with a perfect heart and a willing mind, as God examines our motivations. He also highlights the need to seek God Himself rather than just His gifts, assuring that those who seek Him wholeheartedly will find Him.

"SERVING GOD" I. "KNOW THE GOD OF THY FATHER." A. The need of knowing God. 1. To serve God you must know Him. 2. To love God you must know Him. a. The more you know Him the more you love Him. 3. To trust God you must know Him. a. He is able to keep you. b. He is willing to keep you. c. He wants to help you. 1. Not a matter of begging God. 2. Nor talking God into it. 3. It's letting God do it. B. How can we know God? 1. Many people know of God. a. They are certain He exists, somewhere, somehow. 2. Many think they know Him. a. Their information comes from the wrong sources. 1. Satan is one of the most vociferous teachers of theology. a. Spreads false concepts of God. b. He is the only teacher many people have had. 2. They gather with their friends and pool their ignorance. b. God is not discovered by intellectual quest - "Who by searching can find God? 3. God has revealed Himself in His Word. a. The Bible is the source book of information. b. You do not read math books to learn philosophy, nor do you read philosophy books to learn theology. c. Jesus is the perfect representation of God. 1. He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. 2. "No man hath seen God at any time. 3. To know Jesus is to know the Father. To honor Jesus " " " " " To serve Jesus " " " " " II. "SERVE HIM." A. How are we to serve Him? 1. With a perfect heart. a. Word perfect means complete. b. Some serve God half heartedly. c. Some serve God conditionally. 2. With a willing mind. a. Some people have to be pushed. b. My wife used to say to me: "Honey, why are you mowing the lawn when you have two strong boys?" 1. Easier to push the mower than them. B. Why serve Him this way? 1. For the Lord searches the heart. a. God is interested in motivations. b. What may appear to be great service for God may be great glory for flesh. 2. He understands all the imaginations of the mind. a. If you can't serve Him that way, no use trying to force it. b. You may fool your friends, but you're not fooling God. III. "SEEK HIM." A. So many seek the gifts of God, the benefits. 1. They seek healing. 2. They seek power. 3. They seek peace. B. He will be found of Thee. 1. In Jeremiah, God said "In the day they seek Me with their whole heart. 2. Jesus said "seek and ye shall find." 3. God can be known.