Knowledge
The word “know” or “knowledge” occurs more than 1600 times in the Bible. The
different meanings of the word provide insight into the basic message of both the Old
Testament and the New Testament. “To know” thus involves the whole being and is
not simply an action of the mind. The heart is sometimes identified as the organ of
knowledge. The implication is that knowledge involves both will and emotions. The
person who does not respond in obedience obviously has an incomplete knowledge of
the Lord. “To know God” involves relationship, fellowship, concern, and experience.
In the Gospel of John the knowledge of God is mediated through Jesus as the Logos
(word). Jesus has perfect knowledge of God’s purpose and nature, and reveals it to
his followers. The identification of Jesus’ own relationship with the Father as a model
for the relationship of the disciples indicates that knowledge signifies a personal
relationship that is intimate and mutual.
Hosea tells the children of Israel “hear the word of the Lord Yahweh, you children of
Israel for the Lord Yahweh has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.
Because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land” (Hosea 4:1).
The Lord Yahweh speaks in Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of
Knowledge, because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall
be no priest to Me, seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget
your children”. You see that knowledge is the law of your God. I think the main thing
is as Hebrews 11:6 says “he that comes to God, must believe that He is, and He is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek Him”.
How do we get knowledge? Solomon asked for it (II Chronicles 1:10) he prayed “give
me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for
who can judge this Your people, that is so great?”. As you continue in verse 11-12 we
see God’s response “and God said to Solomon, because this was in your heart, and
you have not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of your enemies, neither yet
have asked long life, but have asked wisdom, and knowledge for yourself, that you
may judge My people, over, whom I have made you king. Wisdom and knowledge is
granted to you, and I will give you riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the
kings have had that have been before you, neither shall there any after you have the
like”.
People that reverence the Lord Yahweh are given knowledge (Proverbs 1:7) “the fear
(reverence) of the Lord Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge”. Isaiah 28:9 says
“whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall He make to understand doctrine?
Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.” Daniel and the
three other Hebrew children received knowledge from God (Daniel 1:17) “as for these
four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, and
Daniel had understanding in al visions and dreams”. Proverbs 2:3-6 says “if you seek
after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding. If you seek her as silver,
and search for her as for hid treasures. Then shall you understand the fear of the
Lord Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord Yahweh gives wisdom out
of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding”.
It is God’s desire that all would come to the knowledge of the truth (I Timothy 2:4).
The word is truth. Only about 25% of Christians read their Bibles. We are told to
“grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:
18). In Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Luke 1:77,
Colossians 2:3). The new man, is renewed in knowledge (Colossians 3:10), and we
are told to put him on. The greatest truth that a person can poses with the mind or
learn through experience is truth about God (John 8:31-32) “if you continue in My
word, then you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free.” It is acquired only as God shows Himself to people, in nature,
and conscience. Mental knowledge by itself, as good as it may be, is inadequate; it is
capable only of producing pride. Moral knowledge affects a person’s will. It is
knowledge of the heart, not the mind alone.
The result of knowledge is having a personal relationship with God through His Son.
Paul also places the revelation of God in Christ as the source of knowledge. God has
made known the “mystery of his will” to the one who is “in Christ.” The spiritual person
is taught by the Spirit of God and responds to the truth as it is revealed in Jesus
Christ. There is emphasis on relationship and encounter as essential elements in
concept of knowledge. Knowledge, then, is the whole person standing in relationship
with God through Christ (Ephesians 4:13).
Proper knowledge leads to purpose. Knowledge in Jesus changes our purpose in
life. If you are struggling with your purpose in life, spend time studying and getting to
know God’s word and He will reveal His purpose to you. Learn to fear (reverence) the
Lord Yahweh. This is not the cowering kind of fear, but a fear that shows utmost
knowledge and respect of who God is, why He created you, and what He wants you to
accomplish with your knowledge.
Knowledge vanishes away without “love” (I Corinthians 13:2,8) “and though I have the
gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and though I have
all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing”;
“charity never fails, but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail, whether there be
tongues, they shall cease, whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away”.
Remember “Jesus said to him, you shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first, and great
commandment. And the second is like to it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
On these two commandments hand all the law and the prophets”.
Paul prayed for the churches (Ephesians 1:17-19; Philippians 1:9; Colossians 1:9-10)
and you can pray these prayers over yourselves or someone you want to get to know
God.
Daniel 11:32 says “but the people who know their God shall be strong, and do
exploits”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: December 28, 2007
The word “know” or “knowledge” occurs more than 1600 times in the Bible. The
different meanings of the word provide insight into the basic message of both the Old
Testament and the New Testament. “To know” thus involves the whole being and is
not simply an action of the mind. The heart is sometimes identified as the organ of
knowledge. The implication is that knowledge involves both will and emotions. The
person who does not respond in obedience obviously has an incomplete knowledge of
the Lord. “To know God” involves relationship, fellowship, concern, and experience.
In the Gospel of John the knowledge of God is mediated through Jesus as the Logos
(word). Jesus has perfect knowledge of God’s purpose and nature, and reveals it to
his followers. The identification of Jesus’ own relationship with the Father as a model
for the relationship of the disciples indicates that knowledge signifies a personal
relationship that is intimate and mutual.
Hosea tells the children of Israel “hear the word of the Lord Yahweh, you children of
Israel for the Lord Yahweh has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.
Because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land” (Hosea 4:1).
The Lord Yahweh speaks in Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of
Knowledge, because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall
be no priest to Me, seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget
your children”. You see that knowledge is the law of your God. I think the main thing
is as Hebrews 11:6 says “he that comes to God, must believe that He is, and He is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek Him”.
How do we get knowledge? Solomon asked for it (II Chronicles 1:10) he prayed “give
me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for
who can judge this Your people, that is so great?”. As you continue in verse 11-12 we
see God’s response “and God said to Solomon, because this was in your heart, and
you have not asked riches, wealth, or honor, nor the life of your enemies, neither yet
have asked long life, but have asked wisdom, and knowledge for yourself, that you
may judge My people, over, whom I have made you king. Wisdom and knowledge is
granted to you, and I will give you riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the
kings have had that have been before you, neither shall there any after you have the
like”.
People that reverence the Lord Yahweh are given knowledge (Proverbs 1:7) “the fear
(reverence) of the Lord Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge”. Isaiah 28:9 says
“whom shall He teach knowledge? And whom shall He make to understand doctrine?
Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.” Daniel and the
three other Hebrew children received knowledge from God (Daniel 1:17) “as for these
four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, and
Daniel had understanding in al visions and dreams”. Proverbs 2:3-6 says “if you seek
after knowledge, and lift up your voice for understanding. If you seek her as silver,
and search for her as for hid treasures. Then shall you understand the fear of the
Lord Yahweh, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord Yahweh gives wisdom out
of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding”.
It is God’s desire that all would come to the knowledge of the truth (I Timothy 2:4).
The word is truth. Only about 25% of Christians read their Bibles. We are told to
“grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:
18). In Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Luke 1:77,
Colossians 2:3). The new man, is renewed in knowledge (Colossians 3:10), and we
are told to put him on. The greatest truth that a person can poses with the mind or
learn through experience is truth about God (John 8:31-32) “if you continue in My
word, then you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free.” It is acquired only as God shows Himself to people, in nature,
and conscience. Mental knowledge by itself, as good as it may be, is inadequate; it is
capable only of producing pride. Moral knowledge affects a person’s will. It is
knowledge of the heart, not the mind alone.
The result of knowledge is having a personal relationship with God through His Son.
Paul also places the revelation of God in Christ as the source of knowledge. God has
made known the “mystery of his will” to the one who is “in Christ.” The spiritual person
is taught by the Spirit of God and responds to the truth as it is revealed in Jesus
Christ. There is emphasis on relationship and encounter as essential elements in
concept of knowledge. Knowledge, then, is the whole person standing in relationship
with God through Christ (Ephesians 4:13).
Proper knowledge leads to purpose. Knowledge in Jesus changes our purpose in
life. If you are struggling with your purpose in life, spend time studying and getting to
know God’s word and He will reveal His purpose to you. Learn to fear (reverence) the
Lord Yahweh. This is not the cowering kind of fear, but a fear that shows utmost
knowledge and respect of who God is, why He created you, and what He wants you to
accomplish with your knowledge.
Knowledge vanishes away without “love” (I Corinthians 13:2,8) “and though I have the
gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and though I have
all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing”;
“charity never fails, but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail, whether there be
tongues, they shall cease, whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away”.
Remember “Jesus said to him, you shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first, and great
commandment. And the second is like to it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
On these two commandments hand all the law and the prophets”.
Paul prayed for the churches (Ephesians 1:17-19; Philippians 1:9; Colossians 1:9-10)
and you can pray these prayers over yourselves or someone you want to get to know
God.
Daniel 11:32 says “but the people who know their God shall be strong, and do
exploits”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: December 28, 2007
