benefits of knowledge in the bible benefits of knowledge in the bible

Proverbs 1:7 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge," while Psalm 111:10 declares that "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (emphasis added throughout). The context of that verse is Christians who had knowledge about the problem of food sacrificed to idolsmaking it ceremoniously uncleanbut new believers didnt have that knowledge yet. Required fields are marked *. How can we know whether our lives are truly fruitful for Gods kingdom? It will keep us from stumbling and falling away from the Lord. We cannot even begin to discuss the wonders of King Solomon after God gave him wisdom and understanding in 1 Kings 3: 12. It has a wider sweep than our English word "know, " including perceiving, learning, understanding, willing, performing, and experiencing. The answer is, God changed your heart so that now you desire to grow in godliness so that you will grow to know Him better. Repent for anything that He shows to stand in your way of moving into new levels of faith, such as doubt and unbelief. 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. Your email address will not be published. Benefits of cold therapy & positive mindset (beginners start with 15 seconds cold shower after hot daily and increase the time up to 2-3 min daily. I hope this doesnt describe you, because diligence in the things of God is of critical importance. If youre not living with a view to how God can use you to bear fruit for His kingdom, then youre wasting your life. A word of knowledge is when God supernaturally imparts comprehension of a current or past situation to you that you would not otherwise know. And, when we step into eternity, there will be a grand welcome! Possess your possession (Obadiah 17), and you will experience perfect peace (John 14:27); fullness of joy (John 15:11); power to witness (Acts 1:8); and grace sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). The Bible actually says to let them be an ornament to grace your neck. Then, after believing in Christ, through His Word we come to understand that the reason God called us to salvation is that He first chose us before the foundation of the world (Eph. Bible study is vital to our spiritual growth and maturity. Paul said, everything that was written in the past was written to teach us (Romans 15:4). Wisdom along with an inheritance is goodAnd an advantage to those who see the sun. In Hosea, God harshly admonished and punished the Israelites for not paying any attention to Him and forgetting His law. So, the benefits of being diligent to grow in godliness are fruitfulnessyou wont waste your life; and, assurance that God called and chose you to eternal life, as confirmed by your desire to be diligent to grow in godliness. In 1 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul lists nine gifts of the Spirit. Years later, in my thirties, I went over to her house and thanked her for being such a great teacher. Education has been an important factor in church history. Sheand her husband Bob live in Southern California. We become better equipped at reacting and find peace in the midst of chaos and strife. and takethe helmet of salvation, andthe sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Whats in it for us? Verse 10 follows from and applies verses 8 & 9: Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you. Brethren shows that Peter is talking to Christians here. Pure gold cannot be given in exchange for it,Nor can silver be weighed as its price. 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. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. Reading the news too much? Sofaith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.. Seeking and gaining biblically based knowledge. Learning to walk in the Spirityielding to His controlwill also enable growth in knowledge and understanding, because the Holy Spirit is the Christians greatest teacher. If you've been wondering why your experiences haven't been as . All I knew was that God wanted me to have them. Why expend the energy and discipline to set your alarm early enough to get out of bed and spend time with the Lord each morning? If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. Related: 11 Benefits That Come From Reading The Bible. SourcesChristianity.com, What Is Knowledge, According to the Bible?GotQuestions.com, What Does the Bible Say about Knowledge?. 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). 19:27), Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us? Jesus replied (Matt. How wonderful! But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors. The One New Man Network acts as a voice to the Nations, walking out the instructions of Mark 16:15, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature. With the vision to preach and to publish openly the good news, The One New Man Network brings a message of salvation that can be heard throughout the Nations of the World! She is more precious than jewels;And nothing you desire compares with her. Compare John 14:9 with what Paul said thirty years later look up Acts 9:4-6 and Philippians 3:10. Paul goes on to say that the Holy Spirit imparts gifts to Believers as He wills. If youre not applying all diligence to grow in godliness, you need to examine yourself. It's also the ability to speak wisely and knowingly about a situation with truth from the Bible. in all areas of life. How blessed is the man who finds wisdomAnd the man who gains understanding. You Dont Know What You Dont Know: Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom. In light of these great benefits, be diligent to grow in godliness. D.L. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 2 Peter 1:5 KJV. However, if we give up and quit during these battles, it is because our strength is small. 3. When we put on the armor of God, through reading scripture, we become enabled to battle and are strengthened through God and His Word. The more believers know of Gods Word, will and ways, the better they can instruct, mentor, and counsel. They are seeking to know Him better and to please Him every day. We learn who God is. Thomas Schreiner explains (ibid., p. 306, italics his), Peter was not concerned here about rewards but whether people will enter the kingdom at all. 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. How can I use the time, talents, and treasure that God has entrusted to me so that one day I will hear, Well done, good and faithful servant? We believe that the Bible and all the scriptures within both Old and New Testaments are the infallible and inspired Word of God. They willfully chose to ignore it. One cannot understand the fight against slavery, the women's suffrage movement, or the Civil Rights movement without knowledge of the Bible. The Bible teaches that creation reveals the knowledge of God (Psalm 19:1-2), which is infinite. If we claim to follow Christ, then its important for us not only know the character of God but also how He has worked His plan through history. In chronological order for us, Gods calling comes first. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. The Hebrew term for knowledge is based on the verb yada, to know. This is understanding with insight. Your browser does not support JavaScript. This means that we heard the gospel and God opened the eyes of our darkened understanding and imparted new life to us so that we believed in Christ (1 Pet. 2 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou c The word of knowledge is one of the revelatory gifts and has been known to manifest with a sense of urgency. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My names sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.. But they overlook the clear biblical truth that new life in Christ always manifests itself in the fruit of godliness. It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir,In precious onyx, or sapphire. 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. My prayer is that you will search them out as you continually seek to add knowledge in your life. The mission of The One New Man Network is to be a bridge of unity and restoration between Israel and the Church, releasing Gods fullness throughout the earth. Also, she had the equivalent of a contest, where we had to find all 120 words in print, cut the sentences out (this was before the copy machine was invented! Jesus reminds us inJohn 17:17that it is Gods word is truth. Bible study brings strength and guidance for life. About. In Hosea, God harshly admonished and punished the Israelites for not paying any attention to Him and forgetting His law. In Isaiah 1:18, people are urged to reason or consider with Him concerning sin and how to be forgiven. Learning more about Him and his commands will help us mature as believers. Some understand verse 9 to be referring to those who are not truly saved, who may have been following the false teachers. Look at verse 28. Wisdom comes from God Almighty. Why be patient, kind, gentle, and self-sacrificing towards others, especially when they dont seem to appreciate your efforts? He was an amazing man whom God used mightily. When we understand more about who God is and what He desires for our lives, we can develop a deeper relationship with Him. We know from Scripture that knowledge is a gift from God. 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). Our salvation is totally from God. Before we see how having wisdom, knowledge, and understanding will benefit you, let us look at how some people in the Bible already enjoyed these benefits. 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. 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. Discipline and correct your children so that they too can get wisdom. Knowledge and understanding can help Christians fight spiritual battles. I had read about wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in the Bible but never given it much thought previously. Then begin to ACT. The highest good is not helping people, it is not attaining great wealth, it not attaining tremendous knowledge. The world encourages knowledge of all things, but not all knowledge is good. Parents are also encouraged to nurture their children in the Lord, which in the original language carries the meaning of training and instruction. Without keeping the cross in view, you will drift into ungodly living and will waste your life in light of eternity. Lets review the definitions of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. God gives wisdom, and we see in Daniel 1:17-20 that the king found Daniel and his friends to have wisdom and understanding that were ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers in his entire realm. But God also offers plenty of opportunities to gain knowledge about Him. For wisdom is protection just as money is protection. He is likea treeplanted bystreams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and itsleaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.. But, does Peter mean that if you are diligent to practice these qualities you will never sin? To act as a witness within and outside the Body. Verse 10 also teaches us that moral failure is almost always at the heart of false teaching. Believers who are cultivating the godly qualities listed in verses 5-7 are walking closely with the Lord. Our bodies are the temples (tabernacles) of God (1 Corinthians 6:19), and when and as we really know God we shall share His hatred of sin and we shall deal with it look up 2 Corinthians 7:1. We receive salvation and the gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ and we mature in sanctification and holiness through grace. I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that Jesus Christ died for my sins and was resurrected from the dead. Your email address will not be published. Like every spiritual gift, the word of knowledge is imparted to Believers so that the tent of Gods Kingdom extends and enlarges. Have you returned to God by receiving Christ as your own personal Saviour? Knowledge and understanding are part of spiritual character building (2 Peter 1:5-9). Here are some other sources and articles on the benefits of reading the Bible: Unlocking the Bible, and Bible Gateway. So Peter does not mean that we can attain to sinless perfection if we practice these things. He shed His blood on the cross to purify you from your sins. If youve said the prayer asking Jesus to be your Lord and Saviour, congratulations! Knowledge, therefore, is learning with perception. Verse Concepts. As a deer pants for flowing streams,so pants my soul for you, O God., Howsweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!. Evil knowledge is what Satan wants us to know, believe, and heed. It is a supernatural knowledge that manifests as a vision, dream, thought, voice, or feeling. Please note, our website requires JavaScript to be supported. The Hebrew term for understanding is tebuna, which denotes intelligence or discernment. For more detailed information, please visit ourAffiliate Disclaimerpage. That leads me to ask, why would anyone want to spend significant time and effort in this New Year to read and study Gods Word? But if you can shrug off the cross, then you arent headed for heaven. Guard your heart. 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. First, let's check out what Proverbs 3 says about what wisdom is. This kind of wisdom describes perception with discernment. For more in-depth reading on the benefits of reading the Bible, consider these recommended books: Top 10 Reasons to Read the Bible Today: The Life-Changing Benefits of Daily Bible Reading by Wayne Davies, Living By the Book: The Art and Science of Reading the BibleHoward G. Hendricks. Second, how do you know that your repentance and faith were genuine? then look up Colossians 2:6-7 and 2 Peter 3:18. 2023 Insight for Living Ministries. All rights reserved., Posted on Published: December 27, 2021- Last updated: January 10, 2023, Reuben in the Bible: The Lost Tribe & Lessons From His Life, Who was Simeon in the Bible? 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. As a result, there are thousands of professing Christians who are not growing in godliness, but they think that they are eternally secure in Christ. Knowledge is important to know God and what He expects of us. I think I could score 100 on a test on those words today, almost fifty years later! . Yet many Christians are being destroyed because they have a lack of knowledge of God and His Word. (16:22). Promises that He will be our rock, our refuge and stronghold. Verse 23 tells us this. The knowledge of God's Word will build you up, and deliver your God-given inheritance into your hands (Acts 20:32). 2:21b). Taking life too seriously? 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. When we add knowledge in our lives, we will increase in strength. The unfolding of your words gives light;it impartsunderstanding to the simple.. WE SHALL BE BUILT UP Verse 23 tells us this. familiarity with each individual and his or her mannerisms (Genesis 18:19; Deuteronomy 34:10; Isaiah 48:8; Psalms 1:6; 37:18). Answer: Remember what Christ did for you! Therefore, forgiveme of all my sins and come into my heart as my Lord and Saviour. As a pastor, its easy to fall into the trap of thinking that fruitfulness is measured in terms of numbers: If I can pastor a large, growing church, write best-selling books, and travel all over the world to influence thousands of other Christian leaders, I will be fruitful. Ministering to large numbers may indicate success in human terms, but we need to measure fruitfulness by Gods criteria. Even if you are already a believer, rereading the words reminds us that He gave His only son for us to live in Him. You realize that it is all due to Gods sovereign grace in calling and choosing you while you were still in your sins. Its a good reminder that He wants us to know whats written in scripture. Notice that we return once that is a crisis; but we go on receiving continually that is a process. One of the benefits of reading scripture is that we mature as we grow in fellowship with Him and learn His commands. The devil loves to blind the minds of people so they will be easy prey. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all understanding. The Lord, however, grants knowledge to those who have an honest relationship with him. But to say that those in verse 9 are not truly saved, you must say that they were never really purified from their former sins; they only claimed to be purified, perhaps through baptism. In other words, by knowing Him we become spiritually strong, virile, robust men and women look up Ephesians 6:10. Millions of people know about Him who do not really know Him. They had become virtually blind to what Christ had done for them in cleansing them from their sins. Human intellect needs to be redeemed so believers will have the mind of Christ and have their thoughts transformed (1 Corinthians 2:16; Romans 12:2). Knowledge forever pursues the truth. Church leaders like John Calvin and Martin Luther promoted education so people could understand Gods Word. Certainly, daily Bible reading, study, and meditation are a good starting point. In Jesus mighty name, I have prayed, Amen. For wisdom is protection just as money is protection,But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors. 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. What biblical criteria are there? If so, confess your sin and take steps to grow in godliness. Here are a few benefits of reading the Bible that I keep close to my heart and serve as reminders for me to stay in the Word daily. Keep your heart from getting hurt and from hurting others; from being defiled by sin; from being disturbed by trouble; keep out destructive emotions, thoughts, and intentions. Does the prospect of heaven motivate you to live for Christ now? 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. Briefly, wisdom has three basic componentsknowledge, understanding and application: 1. Can a true Christian fall away from the faith permanently? Please get in touch with me so I can celebrate with you. Why? Author and spiritual coach David Sanford wrote, Good knowledge is what God wants us to know, believe, and heed. What motivates you to keep at it? I help to develop spiritual champions for end-time living. What distinguished these faithful saints to God and made them fruitful was that they devoted themselves to growing in godliness. in a secular home. When something in the Bible doesnt make sense, Christians can test statements and arguments, and hold fast to what is good knowledge and biblical practice. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. (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.. Wisdom belongs to God. 3. Benefits of Reading the Bible Daily. The words return and receive, in verses 22 and 23 in the Authorised Version, give us the answer. One benefit is that knowledge can help us grow closer to God. She also used the words in sentences with students names. (3:57). Bible Verses about Knowledge and Wisdom. Seek wisdom, understanding, and knowledge by searching the Bible. The measure in which we know God is determined by the measure we receive from Him. 5) Simple academic knowledge of God is not the goal but is the means to the goal. If she used your name, you wanted to know what she was saying about you: I saw erudite Steve osculating with pensive Pam. Steve and Pam (and the rest of the class) wanted to know what that meant! God also empowered the artisans to teach others how to do these beautiful works while building the Tabernacle. What you dont know can kill you! There are several ways that a word of knowledge can manifest in Believers. I hope this doesn't describe you, because diligence in the things of God is of critical importance. (2 Peter 3:15). 1 Corinthians 12:8 Verse Concepts For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; Philippians 3:8 When you embrace, promote, and exalt wisdom, you will get the amazing benefits of having wisdom and knowledge, which are: Therefore, eternal life is the knowledge of God, the Holy One. 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.. For wisdom is better than jewels;And all desirable things cannot compare with her. Have we dealt drastically with all sin and every doubtful thing in these tents? 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. Paul desired that believers love would keep on abounding and growing in knowledge and discernment (Philippians 1:9). Solomon said, Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body; but that doesnt mean education is useless. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. Finally, Peter gives us an eternal benefit: Verse 11 explains (for) verse 10: for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. Supplied is the same word that we saw in verse 5, which meant to richly supply as a philanthropist would supply the chorus or theater. 6 Benefits of Bible Study Bible study grows our faith. In many contexts, it denotes the ability to discern, based on past experience, the difference between two things (Genesis 2:9; 2 Pet. He created human intellect, giving mankind the ability to think, comprehend, reason, and remember. 5. Therefore, we must align ourselves with the Word and our spiritual assignments. First, we must understand that the Holy Spirit is our Counselor, distributing His gifts into our lives. Lets look at a few scriptures that confirm that fact: Proverbs 2:6 says, For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.. We will not fall away from the faith. We can rejoice in our salvation and in the fact that we have a God Who loves us unconditionally more than we can fathom. Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned; And the acquisition of wisdom is above that of pearls. Jesus was saying that the eternal benefits should motivate us to endure whatever hardship we now encounter in following Him. A well-guarded heart will glorify God and edify others. This is to be our testimony in these last days. Ask the Spirit to reveal any roadblocks that may be standing in the way of you operating in a word of knowledge. (10:21), Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,But the discipline of fools is folly. 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. She is the founder and director of Heart Choices Today, publishes Upgrade with Dawn, and writes for Crosswalk.com. My ninth-grade English teacher pulled off a phenomenal feat: she motivated a bunch of teenagers, who at first couldnt care less about expanding their vocabularies, to learn 120 vocabulary words. With so much foolishness in the world, Lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel (Proverbs 20:15b). It is through the Holy Spirit that we can repent of sin. People who are ignorant are uninformed, unaware, or unwilling to learn. Mans thoughts need to be filled with the knowledge of his will (Colossians 1:9). . Knowledge and understanding can help Christians fight spiritual battles. In verses 1-4, Peter sets before us the resources that God has graciously provided for us: He has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness through knowing Christ and through His precious and magnificent promises. Most of the Bible's verses that occur in Aramaic are in Ezra and Nehemiah, a linguistic occurrence that developed as a result of Israel's exile in Babylon. Q. You read in Romans 15:5-6 of Gods design that we are to work together as one for His glory. Hes saying. If youre cruising on spiritual autopilot, then take heed to Peters exhortation to be all the more diligent to make certain about Gods calling and choosing you. The wisdom of the OT, however, is quite distinct from other ancient world views. Even so, they recognized the limits of human thinking: Trust in the LORD with all your heartAnd do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge Him,And He will make your paths straight.Do not be wise in your own eyes;Fear the LORD and turn away from evil. What Does It Mean That There Is No One Holy Like God? In verse 10, Peter brings together two things that we often separate: Gods sovereignty in calling and choosing us and our responsibility to be diligent to grow in godliness so that we grow in assurance about Gods calling and choosing us. Basics of Biblical Aramaic, Second Edition by Miles V. Van Pelt is designed for students who are already familiar with biblical Hebrew and . Proverbs 16:16 Verse Concepts How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! 11 Bible Verses about Drawbacks To Knowledge 1 Corinthians 8:1 Verse Concepts Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. All rights reserved. The Bible is clear that the knowledge of God is the most valuable knowledge a human being can possess. Additionally, you will need to put away a deceitful mouth and focus straight on the path of goodness, avoiding evil. Growing in godliness requires diligence and results in assurance of salvation (1:10a). He insisted that people cannot enter it without living in a godly way.. This gift can manifest as a vision, dream, thought, voice, or feeling. Because human knowledge is limited, and without God the intellect is darkened, humans are unable to grasp truths about God (1 Corinthians 2:14) without Him. That seems unrealistic, in that we all stumble in many ways (James 3:2). However, God has blessed Believers with a word of knowledge for a couple of specific reasons within that purpose. It can become a point of pride or arrogance (1 Corinthians 8:1b). Where understanding is, there also you will find wisdom because wisdom rests in the heart of him that has understanding. Being strengthened by the Father to face whatever life has before you. 15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. And Moses blessed them. Without keeping the cross in view, you will drift into ungodly living and will waste your life in light of eternity. Biblical knowledge helps Christiansespecially leadersteach, reprove, correct, and train in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:17). As we see Gods love for people and that He doesnt want anyone to perish, we come to understand that winning hearts and minds for God is so important.