Knowledge of God
161 Knowledge of God II And while I have seen many people since then in many countries on all continents, the world in fact, because I do a lot of traveling nowadays especially during the summer. Gradually your faces begin to reappear out of the midst. I’ve been sitting here looking you over and I thought I saw this one before and that one. Gradually you are emerging.
It’s really a delight to see you again. You may wonder, but I’m especially glad because this is an Italian Assembly. I’ve always had a great liking for the Italian folk. I say that sincerely and used to have a very great burden for their assemblies.
That has lifted, I must confess to be honest, but not without interest. I used to have a great concern for teaching among the Italian Assemblies that I said to Wife once, “If I have to change my name to an Italian name to be accepted, I’ll do it.” I mean that. I was ready to plunge wholeheartedly into the Italian work, but then certain things developed that changed that, but I’m indeed very glad to have this opportunity with you tonight. Since I’ve seen you last a lot of water has gone down over the dam as they say.
Much has transpired, some of it bitter, some of it sweet, but the Lord has been faithful all the way through. I felt the Lord put it upon my heart to chat with you during these 3 meetings along the line of knowing God. I must admit I do use this subject all over the world. It’s usually the first topic on which I speak when I get to a new country, of which I have now covered 54.
Aside from that as I was contemplating the studies for our weekend, I felt in my spirit to chat with you along this line of Knowing God. I do know that God is very much concerned about this. By saying that I do not in the least suggest that you folk don’t know God. In fact, one preacher quite reproached me one year.
He said, “Brother Beuttler, how can you talk to Christians about knowing God when they already know Him or they wouldn’t be Christians?” What are you going to say to a person like that? The idea is not that we don’t know Him already; the idea is that we want to know Him better; we want to know Him some more. If President Eisenhower walked down the street and I happened to pass, I could say, “Why I know that man!” Sure I know him; I recognize him and that’s about all, but you don’t really know a person that way.
My older daughter Myra used to be quite a fan of the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth. She had books, still has them, I guess a stack this high. I used to read in those books; I liked them; they were interesting. I suppose I could you give a number of facts about that queen, my daughter could give you more.
Perhaps I would recognize her on the street, I assume so, but I don’t know her. Do you see what I mean? There’s something more intimate to knowing a person, an intimacy that comes through fellowship. On several occasions I stood in front of Buckingham Palace in London where usually there are 200-300 people, maybe to a thousand, are gathered around hoping to get a glimpse of the Queen.
She never opened the window and said, “Hi Brother Beuttler, come in for a cup of tea.” She never gave me the change to get acquainted, therefore I only know a few facts, but I don’t know her. Friends, we don’t simply want to know about God; we want to know God. Before I proceed from this point, I thought I’ll call to your attention that I have these studies in print. They are complete in outline form, and whenever I teach on this subject, I take a number of copies with me.
Sister Corvine is going to put them in somebody’s hand. You can have them: 2 for $.25 or 1 for $.15, that’s about 30% less than they normally sell for. For any of you who may be interested so you’d like to have all the
scriptures, all the principle points to take it home and feast upon it. They do that in other assemblies and I thought in case you’re interested, I’ll make it available at least to you.
This message is one of the sixty-six surviving transcripts of Walter Beuttler's teaching. To hear his voice, visit the Messages page. To read the story of his life — from the Brooklyn Bridge to the school of the Spirit — see Who Was Walter Beuttler? The True Story of the Man Who Knew God.
The Man Who Knew God
Walter Beuttler was never famous, yet he carried God's presence to more than a hundred countries. His students said that when he walked into a room, the air changed. This is the first full account of a friendship with God that was specific, sustained, and costly. Read the story of his life →