Who Is God to You?Part 1: The Foundation of Revelation

In December 2024, my husband asked a question that shook me to my core. It was simple, yet profound: Who is God to you? My sister and I, full of love for God, almost rushed into giving our usual responses. But then he said, “I need you to think deeply.” And just like that, we were speechless.  

For two people who could talk for hours about God, we had no words. My sister, Feyi, hesitated before saying, I know my dad says God is faithful all the time, and I’ve seen it repeatedly… but I need to know for myself.

That moment changed everything for me. I realized that until we have a personal revelation of who God is to us, we cannot fully understand Him (nor ourselves) or walk in our purpose.  

Jesus Asked the Same Question  

In Matthew 16:15, Jesus asked His disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” Before this, they were quick to tell Him what others thought; some said John the Baptist, some said Elijah, some said a prophet. But Jesus wasn’t concerned about public opinion; He wanted to know their personal revelation. Peter, by divine revelation, answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus then declared, “Upon this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)  

This scripture reveals something powerful: the enemy prevails where there is no knowledge of Jesus. You can have the name of Jesus, the blood of Jesus, and yet be powerless in battle if you do not know who He truly is to you.  

Knowledge Is the Foundation  

Jesus said He would build His church on revelation; on the rock of knowing who He is. That means the church (which is you and me) can only stand firm when we are grounded in the truth of who God is to us personally. Without this revelation, the storms of life will shake us. We will hear testimonies of others but struggle to walk in victory ourselves. But when we know God for ourselves, we can wield His Word effectively.  

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” That knowing makes all the difference. In the face of Goliath, David declared God’s power:  

You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. (1 Samuel 17:45)  

David did not see God as distant but as the mighty Deliverer who fights for His people. His faith in God’s identity led to victory. In his psalms, David consistently declared who God is:  

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”(Psalm 23:1)  

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. (Psalm 18:2)  

David’s life exemplified that our understanding of who God is shapes our actions, trust, and worship.  

Before We Continue, I Ask You… Who Is God to You?