“We can study God, and gain a historical and intellectual knowledge of Him.  But we don’t know Him until we personally experience Him,” says David Crone in his book The Power of a Life Message.” 
        I have mentioned in several of my articles that you can know the Word of God and not know the God of the Word.
        Here is what A. W. Tozer wrote in his book The Pursuit of God in 1948.  “Sound Bible exposition is an imperative must in the church of the Living God.  Without it no church can be a New Testament church in any strict meaning of that term.  But exposition may be carried on in such a way as to leave the hearers devoid of any true spiritual nourishment whatever.   For it is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience they are not the better for having heard the truth.  The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts.”
        Quoting David Crone again, he says, “I am thoroughly convinced that you cannot know God unless you experience Him.  To experience means to ‘participate in personally’.  The word most often translated “to know” in Scripture (Hebrew word ‘ginosko’ ~ italics mine) is a Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse and refers to knowledge by experience.  Jesus used this word when He made the statement, “You shall know (ginosko) the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  John 8:32.  Many people intellectually know truth, but it is not libertaing until they know that truth experientially.”
        If you are having difficulty truly experiencing the unconditional love of your Heavenly Father, prayer ministry at Places In The Father’s Heart is designed to help identify and remove root issues and wounding that may be hindering you from the experience I am speaking of here.  We encourage you to visit our website and click on the Prayer Ministry link to learn more.   https://placesinthefathersheart.org/ 
Blessings,
Roger