The Importance of Knowing – Lesson

Knowledge Gained


Lesson 1 – The Importance of Knowing


Introduction

Reading Assignment
Read today’s devotion and write down what you learnt from it along with any other notes you wish to make about the devotion. Make note of the date and title of the devotion

The things we learn through interaction and experience we know personally but things we are told about we only know of. Many know of God but have never interacted with Him personally and so have never experienced Him.  

Though nature, our conscience and life’s experiences points to God the number one bases and point of reference to understanding God is His word. All the above must be judged by it and anything that does not conform to it cannot be used as a means for knowing or understanding Him.

As we look at the importance of ‘knowing’ let us remember that knowledge must never be gained simply for knowledge sake. Our quest for knowledge must always be driven by:
love for others, because we so desire for God’s sheep to be well nourished on truth.
love for God – because we want to please Him and to do that we need to know His will. 

Knowledge is key

You may have heard it said before that ‘knowing is half the battle’ and it is true. Did you realise that Jesus was killed out of ignorance. As He hung dying on the cross He said this, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

God said this to His people Israel in Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” 
He said this through His prophet Jeremiah, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; 24 But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me…” (Jeremiah 9:23)

Faith, freedom and even Eternal Life is Knowledge based

Do you wish to know what eternal life is? Jesus gave us the answer. John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

You may often hear people say ‘the truth shall set us free’ but that is not all of what Jesus said. Jesus said, John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” So truth that is not known does not set anyone free. It is knowledge of the truth that sets us free. 

There is a similar fact about faith. Many do not realise that faith is knowledge based. Faith is based on what we know about God and is primarily based on what God has said about Himself, us and the universe we live in etc. We cannot trust a God that we know nothing about.

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Knowledge Gained


Lesson 2 – Ignorance is not bliss


Introduction 

Reading Assignment
Read today’s devotion and write down what you learnt from it along with any other notes you wish to make about the devotion. Make note of the date and title of the devotion

You may have heard it said ‘ignorance is bliss’ but do not believe it. What you do not know is much more likely to harm you. An ignorant person is at a great disadvantage. Ignorance is also tied in with foly because wisdom is the correct use of knowledge. Without knowledge a person cannot be wise so fools are usually ignorant or stubborn. 

The debate as to which is more important knowing Scriptures or experiencing God need not be. Is it not clear to see that they must both walk hand in hand? If our experience begins to go ahead of our knowledge of God’s word how will we be able to judge these experiences. On the contrary, if our knowledge of God’s word starts to go well ahead of our experience of Him we run the risk of becoming puffed up like the religious leaders of Jesus day. I am persuaded that if we obey, even the little we may know of the written word, we will experience the majesty and power of the living word. The two must never be separated.

“Truth that is not experienced is no better than error, and may be fully as dangerous. The scribes who sat in Mosses’ seat were not the victims of error; they were the victims of their failure to experience the truth they taught.” The Root of the Righteous by A. W. Tozer

God expresses His surprise at His people’s ignorance

There are somethings that are worth knowing and some that are not worth knowing. Knowing, understanding and being wise towards God and His ways are vital. Quite often our motives for studying beyond college is selfish and comes at a high price to our time spent with God. We often waste a lot of time studying earthly things when our time would have been better used seeking God in prayer and His word. 

In the Old Testament God’s people Israel seems to have had this very same problem. God speaking through His prophet Isaiah exclaimed, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning?” This was said in verse 21 of Isaiah 40 but God seems so disappointed at their ignorance that He had to ask them again in verse 28. “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary…” It’s as if God is saying, ‘Where have you been, how could it be that you do not know this?’

Paul expresses His surprise at our ignorance

Ignorance of God’s ways and will is a shameful thing. Paul did not mince words when rebuking the Corinthian Church about their ignorance of God. He said, “Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.” (1 Corinthians 15:34) Do we know what God thinks about sin? Are we aware of His intolerance for sin? Such ignorance is not just shameful but is also dangerous. 

Earlier in this very letter Paul expressed his astonishment at the Corinthian’s ignorance on vital issues. Six times in one chapter Paul exclaimed “Do you not know…?”  These are found in 1 Corinthians 6 and are as follows. 
Verse 2. “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?”
Verse 3. “Do you not know that we shall judge angels?”
Verse 9. “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?”
Verse 15. “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?”
Verse 16. “…do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her?”
Verse 19. “…do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you…”

He also made this statement once in chapter 5 when he asked, “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?” (1 Corinthians 5:6)

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Knowledge Confirmed


Lesson 1 – Discernment


Introduction

Reading Assignment
Read today’s devotion and write down what you learnt from it along with any other notes you wish to make about the devotion. Make note of the date and title of the devotion

Too many Christians today lack discernment and is therefore unable to tell the difference between good and evil. Discernment means: the ability to judge people and things well. Discernment is knowledge based so to tell things apart we need to know these things. The reason we can tell cats and squirrels apart is because we know cats and we know squirrels. In a similar way if we never learnt the difference between right and wrong we would struggle to tell them apart. Today people are calling good evil and evil good. Why? Because on the main they are ignorant.

Know This

We would develop very good discerning skills if we are diligent to study scriptures and to depend on the Holy Spirit to reveal it to us, the same Holy Spirit who inspired it. Scriptures are clear on all the issues that pertain to life and godliness but the ignorant continue to confuse others who are also ignorant. 

A look at just one book of the bible will demonstrate the efforts these writers put into clarifying issues. The book of 1 John often described as the letter about love is really dedicated to helping us tell the difference between those who belong to God and those who do not, ourselves included (and we judge ourselves first). After reading through this letter one should be much better able to identify antichrists, the liars and the deceivers who mix themselves in among us.  

Approximately 22 times John in his first letter makes the statement ‘this is how we know’ or a derivative of this statement. For this small, 5 chapter letter to have this statement as much as 22 times is something to take note of. What excuse could we have after being taught so carefully how to know. John is not just telling us what we should know but how we should know, which makes this letter a lesson in discernment. 

A lesson in Discernment

Let us now sit in John’s class and learn how to tell the difference between the genuine and the counterfeit. 
1 John 2:5 “…if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him.”
1 John 2:18 “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.”
1 John 3:10 “This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.”
1 John 3:16 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
1 John 3:18-19 “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. 19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence.”
1 John 4:2 “This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.”
1 John 5:2 “This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.”
John has given us the tools for discernment now go and use it. 

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Knowledge Confirmed


Lesson 2 – Wisdom


Introduction

Reading Assignment
Read today’s devotion and write down what you learnt from it along with any other notes you wish to make about the devotion. Make note of the date and title of the devotion

One of the wisest man that ever lived wrote. “How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.” (Proverbs 16:16) Knowledge plus understanding equals wisdom. A person can be full of knowledge but still foolish because they do not understand how to apply their knowledge. Many people know God’s word but are described as fools because they do not understand how important it is to obey it. This therefore is wisdom, to know God’s will, to understand it and to do it. Anything less is folly. 

Earthly vs heavenly wisdom

As you do this course and work to increase your knowledge remember to seek God for understanding. A person with a loaded firearm who does not understand how to use it could do great damage to himself or to others. The same goes for someone who knows God word but does not understand its application. 

James in chapter three speaks of two kinds of wisdom. One that is earthly and unspiritual and the other that is from heaven. We often encounter people who boast about the earthly education/wisdom they have achieved. They consider themselves wise because they have degrees and doctorates that they studied out of selfish ambitions and personal greed and envy. They do it, not because God led them that way but because they want to live and have the nice things they see others with. The puffed up pride that results from their achievements are of the devil, unspiritual, carnal and antichrist. 

The wisdom that is from above is different. Those of us who learn the ways of God behaves differently. It transforms us into people who are considerate, sincere, humble and submissive etc.

Experiential knowledge

As we study the topic of knowledge we need to realise that knowledge is not just gained from reading books or watching a documentary etc. but is also picked up in our daily experiences. Every human being knows something. In fact we know a lot of things most of which we learn from experience or from others. 
The things we learn through interaction and experience we know personally but things we are told about we only know of. Many know of God but has never interacted with Him personally and so has never experienced Him. The aim of these lessons is not that you stop at knowing about God but that you will go on to know Him experientially. To know Him personally as friend, father, master and God. 
The story is told of two singers who were booked to perform at the same concert who unknowingly planned to sing the same song i.e. ‘The Lord’s My Shepherd’. One of the singers was late and was not present at the concert when the first singer performed his song. He arrived shortly after and was invited up to do his piece. Not knowing that someone had already performed that song he went on to sing the same song again. The master of ceremonies commented after and said, ‘The first singer knows the song but the second singer, no doubt, knows the Shepherd’.
If we are wise we will be able to discern the difference between those who only know of God and those who personally know Him. 
Knowledge of God that is only head knowledge produces pride but personal, intimate knowledge of Him humbles us. 

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Knowledge Affirmed


Lesson 1 – A Foundation of Truth


Introduction

In the last module we were taught by John the beloved from his first letter how to discern the difference between the genuine and the counterfeit. In this lesson we will look at the things we can affirm as truth. These are the things we have come to know beyond doubt to be true.

Beyond Dispute

Reading Assignment
Read today’s devotion and write down what you learnt from it along with any other notes you wish to make about the devotion. Make note of the date and title of the devotion

So far we have learned in this course that ignorance is not bliss. There are things we ought to know and not knowing them is not just shameful but dangerous. While there are some things about the Christian faith we may argue about, because we may not clearly understand them, there are others that are indisputable. These are called the doctrines of the Christian faith the foundations upon which our faith rest. Here are some of them.

Essential Doctrines of Christianity
“The Bible itself reveals those doctrines that are essential to the Christian faith.  They are:
 
1) the Deity of Christ, 
2) Salvation by Grace, 
3) Resurrection of Christ, 
4) the gospel, (Scripture is God breathed and is the only authority for understanding God and His message)
5) monotheism (There is only one God)  

These are the doctrines the Bible says are necessary.  Though there are many other important doctrines, these five are the ones that are declared by Scripture to be essential (I call them primary essentials since the Bible declares them as essential).  A non-regenerate person (i.e., Mormon or Jehovah’s Witness, atheist, Muslim), will deny one or more of these essential doctrines.   Please note that there are other derivative doctrines of scripture that become necessary also and the Trinity being one.” 
Quoted from Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry, www.carm.org written by Matt Slick and accessed on May 28th 2015

To understand more about these 5 doctrines go to www.carm.org

As Paul came to know and understand the depth of God’s love he said this in Romans 8:38 “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Again he says this, “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” (1 Timothy 1:15) In other words Paul is saying, of this we can be sure… “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” We will see Paul make other such statements in scriptures. This other one is a good example “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness…” (1 Timothy 3:16) Again, Paul is here saying that there is no point arguing about this issue because the emphatic truth is that it is a mystery. There is no point trying to solve it because we will never fully understand it. 
Emphatic Truths

Just as how Paul declared some emphatic truths, in a similar way John did as well. Let us go again to be taught by John. In the module before we looked at John’s ‘This is how we know’ statements. Now let us look at some of his more direct statements. 

Without question…
1 John 1:5 “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”
1 John 3:11 “…this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another…”
1 John 4:3 “…this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
1 John 5:3 “…this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.”
1 John 5:4 “…this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
1 John 5:6 “This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ…”
1 John 5:11 “…this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.”
1 John 5:18 “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin…”
1 John 5:19 “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.”
1 John 5:20 “…we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.”

These are all bold and emphatic statements spoken clearly and pointedly. 

We need to go through these scriptures and others like them to continue to reaffirm our knowledge of the truth that we may become strong and immovable. This also is true, you will benefit greatly “…if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard…” (Colossians 1:23) and which we have come to know to be truth. 

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End of lesson and course. Thank you and please see to it that all your assignments are completed.