Habits Of Holiness: Knowledge Series

HOLY HABIT #2: KNOWLEDGE

Introduction

Imagine that you have an ice cube sitting on a table in front of you. The room is cold and you can see your breath. It is currently 25 degrees. Ever so slowly the room begins to warm up. 26 … 27 … 28 degrees. The ice cube is still sitting on the table in front you. 29 degrees. 30. 31. Still, nothing happening. Then, 32 degrees. The ice begins to melt. A one-degree shift, seemingly no different from the temperature increases before it, has unlocked a huge change. Breakthrough moments are often the result of many previous actions, which build up the potential required to unleash a major change. Developing Holy Habits can be challenging because we think of them as gigantic shifts in behavior and thought, but instead they are made up of many tiny decisions and advances. Along the way we reach the Plateau of Latent Potential. We want to make BIG changes in our lives and we set out to develop new habits, but get discouraged along the way when we do not see the big changes we we expected right away.

James Clear: “The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger. Roots entrench themselves and branches grow.”

Last week we talked about adding the habit of Goodness to our faith. This week the habit we want to develop is the habit of knowledge. Knowledge is not something we gain overnight, but in a lifetime of small progressive steps. Like the ice cube that melts with one degree of difference, the habit of knowledge is acquired in small but meaningful steps.

1 Peter 1:5-7 NIV  For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

1. WHAT KNOWLEDGE IS....(In 2 Peter, Knowledge is associated with ….)

Grace and Peace - two things we all need. 1:2 "Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord Grace - the unearned freely-given favor of God. Peace - a profound sense of well-being and wholeness that comes from a right relationship with God. Peter Prays that this would be “in abundance” - many translations say ‘multiplied’.

Guidance for daily Living. 1:3 "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." This divine power tells us that God, who knows everything we need to live a godly life, can give it to us! Comes through knowledge about Jesus who calls us!

We are called and empowered to live the Jesus life!

Blessings and Warnings. 2:20 “If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.” Blessing - escape from the corruption of the world. Warning - don’t get caught up in it again. Knowing Jesus is key: As Lord - we submit to Him; As Savior - rescued us from the corruption of world.

Growth in Christ. 3:18 "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior JesusChrist. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." This knowledge is the ever-deepening experience of Christ and understanding of His truth that should characterize the entire course of the believer’s life.

2. WHY KNOWLEDGE MATTERS

Barclay: Knowledge is practical, it is the knowledge what to do in any given situation; it is the knowledge to apply to particular situations the ultimate knowledge which wisdom gives. 

This pursuit of knowledge isn’t just intellectual—it’s deeply spiritual. Proverbs lays the foundation. What the Proverbs tell us about Knowledge:

-Knowledge begins with a respect and submission to God. Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." When we despise the wisdom of the Scriptures we are

in trouble.

-Disinterest in Knowledge is an offense to God. Proverbs 1:28-30 “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord. Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke."

-Knowledge is more valuable than Gold! Proverbs 8:10-11 "Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her."

-Knowledge is the life-goal of believers. Proverbs 23:12 "Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of