1. In fact, given the choice between wisdom and material wealth, they opted for wisdom, hands down. And, when we step into eternity, there will be a grand welcome! How much more can God deliver you and lift your burdens knowing His incredible love for you. Psa 86:17. Unwillingness was the case in a sober passage about knowledge, Hosea 4:6: My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Gods people rejected knowledge of His laws. 19:27), Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us? Jesus replied (Matt. Know that wisdom is thus for your soul;If you find it, then there will be a future,And your hope will not be cut off. Your faith will hold you and sustain you. In the same way, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (this designation of Christ is only used in 2 Peter [here], 2:20; 3:2 [Lord and Savior], 18) will welcome those who have been diligent to grow in godliness into the eternal city. Years later, in my thirties, I went over to her house and thanked her for being such a great teacher. And by knowledge the rooms are filledWith all precious and pleasant riches. In light of all this knowledge of the Holy One, which is also understanding, we see that Wisdom is Jesus Christ, who is God. 3:18). When Satan questioned Gods commandment in Eves presence, she chose to disobey God, as did Adam (Genesis 3:1-6). In Hosea, God harshly admonished and punished the Israelites for not paying any attention to Him and forgetting His law. Verse 23 tells us this. Verse 23 tells us this. One of the most practical, yet powerful benefits of reading the Bible is that it releases our chains and lifts our burdens. 3:5, 22; Deuteronomy 1:39; Isaiah 7:15), an ability that little ones lack. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. In Isaiah 1:18, people are urged to reason or consider with Him concerning sin and how to be forgiven. (2:11), The lips of the righteous feed many,But fools die for lack of understanding. (10:21), Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,But the discipline of fools is folly. A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. Proverbs 24:5 KJV. The words of a mans mouth are deep waters; The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. The Hebrew root yada [ [;d"y ],translated "know"/"knowledge, " appears almost 950 times in the Hebrew Bible. Reading his Word can embolden you to be set free from those chains. Its easy to be busy in the Lords work, but I dont want to be just busyI want to be useful and fruitful. Rather, in the context of the false teachers who had turned away from the faith, Peter means that if you are diligent to grow in godliness and thus confirm your calling and election, you will not turn away from God and commit apostasy as the false teachers had done (Thomas Schreiner, The New American Commentary, 1, 2 Peter, Jude [Broadman & Holman Publishers], p. 305). In Jesus mighty name, I have prayed, Amen. I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that Jesus Christ died for my sins and was resurrected from the dead. (16:16), Discretion will guard you,Understanding will watch over you. Without keeping the cross in view, you will drift into ungodly living and will waste your life in light of eternity. You Dont Know What You Dont Know: Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom. Amazing benefits of having wisdom and knowledge When you embrace, promote, and exalt wisdom, you will get the amazing benefits of having wisdom and knowledge, which are: Honor but before honor is humility (Proverbs 15:33) Grace Glory Promotion Your steps will not be hindered You will not stumble (Proverbs 4:8-13) Therefore knowledge is emphasized in the Bible as the highest priority. There are also many more benefits when you do. But God also offers plenty of opportunities to gain knowledge about Him. The Bible has so much to say about knowledge, both good and bad. (2 Chronicles 9:1-8), 2 Chronicles 9:23 says, And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.. One reason for this view is that Peter changes from the second person in verse 8 to the more impersonal third person in verse 9, but then reverts back to the second person, along with the warm brethren (the only time Peter uses that word) in verse 10. In the future, the Lord will welcome us into His eternal kingdom, where we will dwell with Him in indescribable blessedness forever. Our salvation is totally from God. Thank you for being here. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. You can gain knowledge by reading a book on becoming a better homemaker or how to cook the best apple pie, but when you read the Bible, you gain wisdom that will strengthen you, give you peace, give you joy and equip you to face lifes difficulties. What motivates you to keep at it? Proverbs 24:4 Verse Concepts Learn how your comment data is processed. Most evangelicals think that if you prayed to receive Christ, you are eternally secure and should never doubt that fact. Those with understanding can extract the meaning out of informationseeing the what, how, and whyenabling a person to produce life principles. They had become virtually blind to what Christ had done for them in cleansing them from their sins. 30 Bible Verses about Knowledge Most Relevant Verses Proverbs 1:7 Verse Concepts The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. 3. Peter later talks about growing to know Christ more deeply (2 Pet. Why say no to temptation when yielding would feel so good? He actually outlived his famous son. Spiritual gifts are often complemented by other gifts. For I have never eaten anything common or unclean. And a voice spoke to him again the second time, What God has cleansed you must not call common. This was done three times. teaching of a personal God who is holy and just and who expects those who know him to exhibit his character in the many practical affairs of life.1. ", Key Verse: Submit to God and be at peace with Him; in this way prosperity will come to you. (Job 22:21). You read in Romans 15:5-6 of Gods design that we are to work together as one for His glory. Yet God commands all people to repent of their ignorance and foolish idolatries (Acts 17:22-30). There are many benefits of knowledge in the bible. Swindoll's Living Insights Bible Commentaries. We cant do that if our minds and hearts arent full of knowledge and wisdom from reading His Word often enough. 1 Timothy 6:20-21 (NIV) . Suffering sometimes opens hearts to greater knowledge of and intimacy with Christ. In 1962 and 1963, when the U.S. Supreme Court removed Bible reading from American public schools, social conservatives were overwhelmingly concerned about the moral effects. God has a feast for us. Bible study is vital to our spiritual growth and maturity. Bible study brings strength and guidance for life. If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. So, if winning in life is what is important to you, then youve come to the right place, because our ministry and this website, is designed to help you do just that. 1. They have two married sons and three granddaughters. What biblical criteria are there? What happens when people are ignorant of the knowledge of God, and why is knowledge important for Christ-followers? We might call this experiential wisdom, the kind of savvy that older people gain from the school of hard knocks. Paul goes on to say that the Holy Spirit imparts gifts to Believers as He wills. True, good knowledge comes from God as a giftfrom His own mouthto those who have understanding (Daniel 2:21; Proverbs 2:6). And this is why we must continually add the knowledge of Gods Word to our life without fail. John 14:1 "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Verses 24 and 25 tell us this. Lord continue to bless you and your ministry and family. There is no need to be a weak, anaemic Christian. The Hebrew term for knowledge is based on the verb yada, to know. This is understanding with insight. To act as a witness within and outside the Body. Wisdom belongs to God. Real knowledge, Sanford says, is from God the Father (James 1:16-18), Gods Son Jesus Christ (John 14:6), and Gods Holy Spirit (1 John 2:20-27).. but hisdelight is in the law of theLord,and on hislaw he meditates day and night. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all understanding. If we really know God and are working according to His gracious will, none of our work will be lost look up Mark 14:8-9; 1 Corinthians 15:58; and Galatians 6:9. You may enjoy this brief video on the benefits of reading the Bible: What else would you add to the list? There could be some of both here. How can we know whether our lives are truly fruitful for Gods kingdom? If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. Proverbs 24:10 KJV. Gods Instructions for Life Are Housed in His Word. Totaling 269 verses, Aramaic is key language students of the Old Testament will need to master. Additionally, knowledge can help us make wise choices in life. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. Believers hold to the Lords teachings so they can live in the truth (John 8:31-32). The gift of knowledge is the supernatural ability to impart a specific word of wisdom into a situation. But, to put it positively, how can I be useful and fruitful in my Christian life? Our Humor pageinvites you take an exit ramp from the rat race, relax a little, and get a good dose of the best medicine: laughter! This first couple knew intellectually about good and evil because of Gods command, but they understood good and evil experientiallyas well as the devastating consequences of their choicein disobedience. New American Standard Bible Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. God placeda tree of the knowledge of good and evil in Eden, and commanded Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree. It equips us to share our faith and invest in others. What you dont know can kill you! And, He has cleansed us from all our sins (1:9). This gift encourages action through intercessory prayer and serves as a witness of Gods eternal knowledge to the world. 15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. John Calvin observes (Calvins Commentaries [Baker], on 2 Peter 1:8, p. 374), For the knowledge of Christ is an efficacious thing and a living root, which brings forth fruit. In other words, if God has opened your eyes to the glory of the gospel of Christ (2 Cor. She knew that motivation is a key to learning and she was a master motivator! But it is also clear that simply being aware of God's existence is not sufficient; the knowledge of God must encompass the deep appreciation for and relationship with Him. To be sure, in the aftermath . One cannot understand the fight against slavery, the women's suffrage movement, or the Civil Rights movement without knowledge of the Bible. And Moses blessed them. for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he isa child. Evil knowledge is what Satan wants us to know, believe, and heed. In You Dont Know What You Dont Know: Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom, Hugh Whelchel charts the differences between the three terms. There are at least five reasons why knowledge and understanding are important for Christ-followers. Paul said God showed him great mercy before he turned to Christ, because he had acted in ignorance and unbelief (Acts 3:17; 1 Timothy 1:13). So she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with hard questions. Whelchel says that at first glance the terms seem almost interchangeable, but there are differences. If you are a true believer, you are an heir of God and a co-heir with Christ (Romans 8:16-17). One of the spiritual disciplines and a sign of spiritual maturity is daily time reading and studying Gods Word. The word of knowledge is a spiritual gift given to Believers by the Holy Spirit. Understanding, Whelchel says, is the ability to translate meaning from the facts. Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,But the discipline of fools is folly. To gain this kind of Maybe, like those in verse 9, you have forgotten what Christ did for you at the cross. This is part of our inheritance as Believers in Christ. Please get in touch with me so I can celebrate with you. As a Believer, you have access to the spiritual gift of the word of knowledge. Discover How God Wants to Use Your Weakness for Good! The more I read the Bible, the more I realized the meaning of these powerful words and that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. In chronological order for us, Gods calling comes first. Verses 28 and 29 tell us this. She also used the words in sentences with students names. We can rejoice in our salvation and in the fact that we have a God Who loves us unconditionally more than we can fathom. Knowledge and understanding will help Christians train others. What distinguished these faithful saints to God and made them fruitful was that they devoted themselves to growing in godliness. One blessing of good knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of those who have it (Ecclesiastes 7:12b). Of all of the benefits of reading the Bible, this is one of the most personal. She used several methods. To carry out the work of the Holy Spirit, Believers must be willing to surrender to walking by the Spirit and not by the flesh. As we get to know God, our delight increases in His gifts, His service, His house, but most of all, in Himself! But solid food is forthe mature, for those who have their powersof discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.. But if his word of warning applied to some, they should take heed. Digging deeper into the Word and comparing Scripture with Scripturebeing careful not to take passages out of contextoften reveals truth that is missed with casual reading. Believers need to know the tactics of the enemySatan's wicked schemes ( 2 Corinthians 2:11 ). We should want this knowledge so that our lives can be more like Him and live according to his will. Knowledge is neither ethically nor morally neutral. Hello, my name is Kenny Gatlin. Believers who desire to operate in the gifts of the Spirit can have confidence knowing God will distribute multiple gifts to those that steward them well. To know is not to be intellectually informed about some abstract principle, but to apprehend and . Peter further explains the idea from 1:10a: for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble. These things refers back to verses 5-7. Please refer to the image below these scriptures for a summary. Additionally, you will need to put away a deceitful mouth and focus straight on the path of goodness, avoiding evil. If you find it, then there will be a future. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. Sofaith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.. then look up Colossians 2:6-7 and 2 Peter 3:18. Like every spiritual gift, the word of knowledge is imparted to . This kind of wisdom describes perception with discernment. 2023 Words of Life Ministries - an independent evangelical Registered Charitable Trust (no.269381) Cookie Policy | Privacy Policy Website by: TEKOA Creative, Study 3 MAKING IT OUR AMBITION TO PLEASE HIM. 2023 Curt Landry Ministries Inc. All rights reserved | Designed by Viral Solutions. Knowledge and understanding of the scriptures is one way God transforms believers, through the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2). Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition The Lockman Foundation, Related Topics: Spiritual Life, Sanctification, Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. You desire to please and obey the Lord who gave Himself on the cross to rescue you from judgment. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Jesus also said in John 14: 23, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him., Wisdom is life. It starts out by sharing the truth that all wisdom comes from God. To enjoy the amazing benefit from having wisdom and knowledge, once you have acquired them, you need to do the following: Wisdom is God, and He desires for you to know and understand Him. Seek counsel from God-fearing people that already possess Gods wisdom. In light of these great benefits, be diligent to grow in godliness. Check here for a detailed article on how you can begin a relationship with Jesus Christ. Andit shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life,that he may learn to fear theLordhis God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them,Deuteronomy 17:19 (ESV), This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, butyou shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. So the first benefit of growing in godliness is fruitfulness in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Photo credit: Getty Images/Prostock-Studio. The Hebrew term for understanding is tebuna, which denotes intelligence or discernment. Also, the word blind seems to fit the unbelieving, but not true believers. I think I could score 100 on a test on those words today, almost fifty years later! I still know the meaning of sesquipedalian (a person who uses long words), erudite (scholarly), osculate (to kiss), pensive (thoughtful), and many more. However, the reason so many Christians are weak is because they have not pursued diligently the knowledge of God and His Word. A person can be knowledgeable without being wise. Ask the Spirit to reveal any roadblocks that may be standing in the way of you operating in a word of knowledge. In Patavodah, you will find articles and resources to help you live a satisfying life in Jesus Christ. Used by permission. You may hear the voice of God. Seek wisdom, understanding, and knowledge by searching the Bible. 4:6), so that you have come to know Him, your life will show it. Before Moses died, Joshua has been filled with the spirit of wisdom; therefore, the children of Israel listened to Joshua and did what the LORD had commanded Moses because of the spirit of wisdom imparted on him. Church leaders like John Calvin and Martin Luther promoted education so people could understand Gods Word. Find guidance on how to proceed with your life in Jesus HERE. As 1 John 2:3 says, By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. And, you take none of the credit for your salvation. is beneath the surface. Sanctify them in the truth;your word is truth. We saw earlier in this article that understanding is the knowledge of the Holy One. look up 2 Chronicles 29:16-17, and compare Psalm 51:6. I pray that you are blessed by being here. Does the prospect of heaven motivate you to live for Christ now? These are just a few benefits of Bible study, friend, but there are many more (keep an eye out for more in an upcoming post)! It is written in His word that we are saved when we put our hope in Him. That emphasis continued through the Sunday school movement and the establishment of universities as religious institutions. The abundant entrance into the eternal kingdom (this is the only time eternal is used with kingdom) may have behind it the picture of a returning war hero who is welcomed into the city with great fanfare. The benefits of reading the Bible. I prayed, Lord, use me as You used Spurgeon! I didnt hear any voice, but almost instantly the thought popped into my mind, which I believe was from the Lord, Which Spurgeon? For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success., Oh howI love your law! In John 3:16, we are told, For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life., We also saw that wisdom and understanding dwell in the heart and mind. Of course, there is a great difference between knowing God and simply knowing about Him. As you learn more about His character, His promises and His plan for salvation of mankind, you will grow in your spiritual maturity. She is the founder and director of Heart Choices Today, publishes Upgrade with Dawn, and writes for Crosswalk.com. You see, only a fool thinks ignorance is bliss! 1 Peter 3:7ESV / 203 helpful votes HelpfulNot Helpful I plan to live so selfishly and with such disregard for others that I will shred all of my relationships. As you learn what He has taught and how to conduct yourself and your business and daily affairs and as you see How to conduct your business in an ethical, God-ordained manner, you will become more successful. Delight yourself in theLord,and he willgive you the desires of your heart.. If not, why not? Many Believers operate within a word of knowledge without even realizing it. 2. Paul said, everything that was written in the past was written to teach us (Romans 15:4). A pastor is called by God to feed you the Word of God in such a way that you will increase in knowledge. mental capability, we do our homework, investigate, seek multiple perspectives, use logic, and formulate ideas. Some understand verse 9 to be referring to those who are not truly saved, who may have been following the false teachers. From Living the Proverbs by Charles R. Swindoll, copyright 2012. I think, rather, that Peter was talking about some in the church who truly had been purified from their sins, but now they were drifting. Jesus in. 2. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Dont waste it living for selfish pursuits or for things that will perish. And it is these things that not only cause us to grow spiritually, but also allows us to truly enjoy the blessings that God has for us. Sign up to receive Chuck Swindoll's Daily Devotional in your inbox seven days a week. John Spurgeon was the father of the famous Charles. It is a supernatural knowledge that manifests as a vision, dream, thought, voice, or feeling. The Lords Prayer tells us to ask forgiveness for our sins often. While there are numerous ways that reading the Bible brings us closer to God and benefits us daily. Peter encouraged believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. The people who are effective witnesses for the Lord, by life or by lip, are the people who really know Him. God says to love Him with our whole being, including the mind. Biblical knowledge helps Christiansespecially leadersteach, reprove, correct, and train in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:17). No doubt His growth in wisdom as a child was based on the spiritual training He had at home (Luke 2:52). Christians cannot trust their deceitful hearts to point them in the direction of good knowledge, and Satan always tries to trick people (Jeremiah 17:9; John 10:10). . The words return and receive, in verses 22 and 23 in the Authorised Version, give us the answer. When we should rest, how to pray and fast. My soul melts away for sorrow;strengthen me according to your word!. 1:3). He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;He who keeps understanding will find good. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Please note, our website requires JavaScript to be supported. Verse 26 tells us this. We believe that Gods truth has the power to set people free, and we do everything in our power to remain faithful to His truth, in thought, in word, and in deed. The benefits of Bible study are incredible. that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeedour fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.. The benefits of growing in godliness are fruitfulness, Live so as to grow in godliness so that you will be a clean vessel, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work (2 Tim. in a secular home. Nor can it be exchanged for articles of fine gold. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. Your email address will not be published. We have hope in God and His son and one of the benefits of reading the Bible is to gain hope from Him and His Word. It has a wider sweep than our English word "know, " including perceiving, learning, understanding, willing, performing, and experiencing. In this section, we will see how Scripture teaches that knowing God is the highest good above all other good things. Christians are instructed to grow in knowledge of Jesus (2 Peter 3:18); and they will find that godly knowledge will be pleasant to their soul (Proverbs 2:10). Peter explains why (For) we should apply all diligence to supply these qualities (1:8): For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then he explains further and warns (1:9), For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Note three things: Peter states his point negatively to call attention to what happens if you do not grow in godliness: you will live a useless, unfruitful life. Joshua and the children of Israel had a smooth and peaceful transition. Andthe tempter came and said to him, If you arethe Son of God, commandthese stones to become loaves of bread.But he answered,It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone,but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.. She is more precious than jewels;And nothing you desire compares with her. Knowledge and understanding can help Christians fight spiritual battles. In other words, by knowing Him we become spiritually strong, virile, robust men and women look up Ephesians 6:10. When a Christian asks God for wisdom and turns to the Word of God and the truth of the Gospel, God reveals His perspective about mans condition and His purposes in and through the believer. If youre not applying all diligence to grow in godliness, you need to examine yourself. How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver. Tools. Solomon and the wise men of Israel prized wisdom, understanding, and knowledge as crucial to living prosperously, safely, and effectively. Instead, it started with everything the Serpent saidthat Eve decided to believe., The battle of people choosing between good and bad knowledge continues throughout Scripture and to our present day. By His divine power, He has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness (1:3). Therefore, we must align ourselves with the Word and our spiritual assignments. All that said, the Bible warns about a danger of knowledge. Also, we begin to find a new desire for the things which give Him pleasure look up Psalm 37:4. That speaks of His good pleasure, of His guidance, of His blessing look up Numbers 6:24-26; Psalm 90:17; Proverbs 4:18 and 10:22. For wisdom is protection just as money is protection. Why be patient, kind, gentle, and self-sacrificing towards others, especially when they dont seem to appreciate your efforts? In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. And the level of peace you experience in your life is all determined by how much you know of God and His Word.