KNOWLEDGE DISTINGUISHES YOU

KNOWLEDGE IS THE KEY

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou has rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, ….. (Hosea 4:6).

Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free (John 8:32). (NIV)

We have tried in the chapters before to define what ignorance is, its destructive power and the various manifestations of ignorance among believers in our time. Having made this analysis, the question that would readily come to mind is “Is there not a total remedy for this deadly disease?”

And if there is a cure, how can one obtain it? One passage of scripture which has featured throughout the different chapters is Hosea 4:6. Not only does this passage reveal the dangers of ignorance, it also unfolds the reasons why God’s people are destroyed. Another passage we have to consider is John 8:31-32. “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”

There is one central truth in the two passages quoted above. And that is that the rejection of the knowledge of God’s truth by God’s people is responsible for their destruction and at the same time, the passage provides answers to the problem of ignorance. Whilst Hosea states a real problem pressing God’s people, John’s report of the Master’s words

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”, beautifully proclaims the ending of this problem forever. He acknowledged “knowledge” as a sure answer to this problem. The knowledge of the truth sets man free from all kinds of bondage – the bondage of sin, guilt, fear, poverty, sickness and demonic oppression.

To further illustrate this point, we shall look at the following statement and experience of Apostle Paul
And he, trembling and astonished, said,

Lord what wilt thou have me to do? (Acts 9:6a).

This statement is not just an ordinary everyday sing song, It is an appeal and plea of one who had come to the end of the road, and now convinced that there was nothing else he could do anymore except it was revealed to him by God. Most of us need to come to this point because of our ignorance of whom God is and what He can do. But we can be spared the agony of coming to this point, if we seek and accept the knowledge of God has freely provided for us in His Word.

It is very important that one has good knowledge about God and His will. This is in order that one could live a meaningful life and accomplish the purpose for his creation. It is important to know who God is, how He operates and the basic principles and guidelines within which He operates. Knowledge is the key. Wisdom is the Door. There are various kinds of wisdom and knowledge which this chapter will address.

WHAT IS KNOWLEDGE?

Knowledge has been defined by the dictionary in various ways, such as:

• Understanding gained by experience

• The state of being aware of something or having a range of information

• The act of understanding or clear perception of the truth and

• Something learned and kept in mind.

These various definitions suggest to some extent various types of knowledge. There are four basic types of knowledge.

• HUMAN KNOWLEDGE:

This is innate knowledge (1 Cor. 2:19), given to man to know the basic things of life and how to react to them, eg, when he is hungry, sleepy, cold, sick and other things that pertain to human existence. This is given by God to all normal human beings.

• ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE:

This is the knowledge of the world and things in it, eg, the seasons, the study of plants and animals, the study of stars and the planets and the study of science, history and religion. These all fall within the category of worldly or acquired knowledge.

• DIVINE KNOWLEDGE:

This is the knowledge imparted to man by the spirit of God. It is the knowledge given to man to know the things pertaining to God, His principles and mode of operation (1 Cor. 2:11b). Only those who have had a personal knowledge of Christ can operate in this realm of knowledge.

• THE VILE OR DEVILISH KNOWLEDGE:

This is a warped knowledge given to men who are depraved or have reprobate minds. These persons worship the creature rather than the Creator (Rom. 2:21 -32). They possess the spirit of divination and occultism.

Their operations are destructive and dark in nature.

Wisdom: Knowledge and wisdom move hand in hand. Wisdom is the ability to use accumulated knowledge and apply it with a good sense of judgment to situations, at the right time and place. Like knowledge, wisdom is described in terms of its origin. For the purpose of this chapter, we shall use both interchangeably.

As our text rightly pointed out, it is only when a man is endowed with the knowledge and wisdom of God that he can appreciate God and His will for his life. This knowledge can only come when its seeker gets into close contact with God, the giver of true knowledge God the Creator of all things. He knows the secrets behind all that He has created. For one to have a good knowledge of the things God had created, he must have a close relationship with his Maker.

Our text (Acts 6:9) was written by Apostle Paul. He was trained both in human and worldly knowledge. He however, did not subject to the knowledge of God, he lacked wisdom. Had he inquired of God from the beginning, he would have known that Christianity is God’s infinite wisdom.

He submitted himself to vile affection and devilish wisdom. He began to oppose God. He, thinking in his own worldly wisdom that he was pleasing God, began to murder Christians from city to city. Saul, as he was called then, should have had the common sense to ask God, whom he thought he was working for. He should have asked whether it was His wisdom.

Rather than do that, he depended on the conceit and envy of the rabbis to persecute the church. He continued in this way unrestricted and by his testimonies, he hauled many into prison, dismembered many and gave approval for their death. God is certainly a good God. He patiently watched Saul, gave him opportunities to repent but he did not. On his way to continue his onslaught against the church, he met with Jesus.

Again, I want to say, God is a good God. He does not judge by appearances or actions. He judges by the intent of the heart, which still does not excuse ignorance. Saul got the fight of his life. When he heard the word of God, he held tightly to it. The word was his last hope of survival and he knew it. He clutched unto it like a drowning man desperate for life. Of course, he was. As a psalmist said, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalms 119:105).

The word of God became paramount in the ministry of Saul now turned Paul. It did not matter what the situation may be whatever God said, that was what Paul did. He knew it was his chance to prove to the world the supremacy of God and His Word in his life.

Against every opposition, Paul took the Word of God because he knew it never fails. The Word of God became his daily guide in all matters of life and godliness. The Word of God became the answer and solution to his ignorance. The Word of God became to him the key and answer to human problems. He depended on it. He lived by it.

From the day of Paul’s conversion, his life was governed by the Word of God. The much he accomplished was as a result of his dependence on God’s Word. Paul became mighty in th Hands of God because of the knowledge he know had in God.

God Bless you real good for reading, upvoting and commenting

IMAGES CREDITED TO GOOGLE SEARCH