BE IN THE KNOW
Last week, in my sermon on having a fresh restart, I talked about being refreshed. I went to 2nd Pet. 1:3-13 and we did some audience participation and highlighted all the refreshing things in that passage. Peter said God's power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him. Then, listing some very important and refreshing qualities, he said that if we possess these qualities in increasing measure they will keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This made me think about the importance of knowledge; especially the importance of knowing the Lord. Quote: "We will not believe more than we know and we will not live higher than our beliefs." In one sense that just states the obvious since one cannot believe something they don't know. But think about that reality; especially from a spiritual perspective.
From there we think of it in light of what we are striving for. What are we convinced of? That is as far as you can go unless you strive for more. More learning; more understanding-which will lead to more capabilities and more achievements. I've said before that simply knowing is not enough, we have to be doers. While that's true, we can't minimize the importance of knowledge. Knowledge is the first step. We can't act on what we don't know.
The word know and its variations occurs 1,263 times in the NIV. That's a lot of focus on knowing.
1) We need to know how little we know.
Remember when we were teenagers and thought we knew everything? We knew what we were doing, we knew better than our parents; all that. Now that we are parents we laugh when our kids behave that way. We try to educate them and tell them that they don't know it all and that they need to listen to the ones who have been there, done that and learned the hard way.
Sometimes we grow up and we still think we know everything. That can happen through having intellectual knowledge. We study hard and gain a wealth of information. We may be skilled in math or science, we may know multiple languages or know a lot about computers or a certain trade. While having this vast knowledge is beneficial in many ways, it can also be a downfall.
We can actually be too smart of our own good. We can get prideful and think we're superior to others. We can get bogged down by logic and reason and excuse the miracles of God, keeping us from a knowledge of the truth about God.
We need to get to the place that says God knows better than we do. We might not say outright that we're smarter than God but when we reject his word and do it our way that's pretty much what we're saying.
Rom. 10:1-3, "Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness."
The Jews had passion but it wasn't based in having a right understanding. People can believe in God and even be zealous in going to church and whatnot, but if they haven't submitted to God's way of righteousness and instead have established their own way based on what makes sense to them then they don't really know what it's all about.
Perhaps they don't want to know what it's all about. Perhaps the key word in that passage is submit. If I'm not willing to submit in humility then I will not accept what God said will establish my righteousness and I will continue to think I know better and stay established in my own idea of what makes me righteous.
If you read the book of Job, you will see that Job was a righteous man who persevered through the most painful trial anyone could ever go through. But along the way, with no help from his friends, Job got a little big for his britches. He thought he could demand an audience with God to plead his case. He put himself on a level he shouldn't have and God dealt with that.
Job 38:1-5, "Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?"
And God went on from there. If we think we know what we're talking about when we don't God will not hesitate in putting us in our place. If we think we can tell God a thing or two we've got another thing coming. Thankfully, at the end of God's discourse, Job had the right response.
Job 42:1-6, "Then Job replied to the LORD: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”
I have a feeling Job didn't do that again. Part of being in the know is knowing we're not as smart as we think we are. Part of being in the know is knowing when to be quiet. Part of being in the know is to know better than to test God. We need to get to the point where God is the ultimate teacher; the ultimate authority and provider when it comes to knowledge.
Isa 40:13-14, "Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?"
The answer is no one. God said in chpt. 55 that his ways and thoughts are higher than ours. God explains that there is a vast difference between what he knows and what we know; what we practice and what he practices. It makes sense. If we could attain the level of knowledge, wisdom and understanding God has then we wouldn't need to look to him for insight and direction.
But accepting this fact takes humility and reverence. In fact, that's the starting point. Prov. 1:7, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." If I don't respect God as the source of all wisdom and knowledge then I won't be in the know. Sure, I can learn things but I won't know and understand spiritual things.
A fool turns away from true wisdom; a foolish person shuns godly knowledge and develops his own truth. But hopefully we get to the place where we understand that we don't know as much as we think we do and conclude that God is the know it all; not us. Quote: "It's strange how much you've got to know before you can know how little you know."
2) Knowledge of the truth.
God wants everyone to have it.
1st Tim. 2:1-4, "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."
Paul instructs Timothy to promote prayers for all so that there may be peace, godliness and holiness. He goes on to highlight that God's will is for everyone to be saved and come to know what Timothy and the other believers knew. But what did they know? What is the knowledge of the truth Paul mentions?
Pilate asked Jesus, 'what is truth'. That's what people are searching for, right-the truth? Technically speaking, yes, but are we duped into looking for our own version of it? Are we only looking for the truth that satisfies what we want to hear and not the truth that fulfills what we need to hear?
When Paul says God wants everyone to come to a knowledge of the truth he means knowing the truth of salvation through Christ. And within that truth is the truth that we are all sinners in need of salvation because our sin has spiritually separated us from God. And if we don't come to a knowledge of this truth before we physically die we will be eternally separated from God.
God wants everyone to escape this fate. That's why Paul said prayers and requests be made for everyone because no one should spend eternity in hell. Everyone can hear the truth but that doesn't mean they will accept it as such. God wants everyone to come to an acceptance, a belief, an affirmation in their hearts and minds that Jesus is the only way that my sins can be forgiven so I can spend eternity in heaven.
But in order for me to come to a knowledge of that being true I have to first conclude that all else is false. I have to dismiss the supposed truth that being a good person is good enough. I have to renounce all the other religious teachings that tell me what I must do in order to be right with God. I need to reject the idea that it doesn't really matter what religion you follow because all roads lead to God.
In order to come to a knowledge of the truth then you need to accept the bible as the only divine, authoritative, voice of God on paper. Jesus said in John 8 that if we held to his teachings we would know the truth and the truth would set us free. If we are to come to a knowledge of the truth then we need to become convinced that the bible is where we find the truth about God, us and everything else he has communicated to the world.
Repentance leads to it.
2nd Tim. 2:23-26, "Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will."
In Paul's second letter to Timothy we see him reiterating the importance of our focus on others. In the previous passage it was about making sure we were praying for everyone; including our enemies, which most of the kings and authority figures in the area were then. Here, he instructs Timothy on going from beyond just praying to how they were to interact with people. All for the same purpose-to lead people to a knowledge of the truth.
And here we see what needs to precede it-repentance. Once I become willing to believe that the gospel is true I need to repent. I need to turn away from all the lies I've believed up to this point. Once I learn the truth as spoken in God's word I have a choice to make-will I continue to subscribe to what I have been taught or will I humbly accept that I have believed a lie all this time and that the real truth is found in the bible?
Pride gets in the way of accepting the truth; pride will keep me from denouncing my own version of truth. Paul knew Timothy would come up against people who would be deeply rooted in their version of the truth. Paul knew that evangelizing someone could easily turn sour and develop into an argument and heated debate.
Paul said let it not be; if someone opposes you keep calm and continue to gently instruct them. If they're not open just end the conversation and keep it moving. In doing so, you may give them something to think about later. We can be passionate but if we become obnoxious we will lose our listeners. But if we keep a level head about ourselves we will give them an opportunity to hear and remember the truth of our words, not the venomous way we presented it.
But if we are going to come to a knowledge of the truth we need humility that leads to repentance. This is true for all of us; even those of us who have been in the faith for a while. No matter how long we have been believers we will always be coming to a knowledge of the truth in some way, shape or form.
What will we do when we are presented with a truth we didn't understand previously? We can still make a decision to hold onto a doctrine of our own understanding but when challenged to look at and study the scriptures in a different way will we entertain it? Will we continue to be humble that we would be teachable?
Will we repent (turn away) from what we once believed to be true, even about the bible, when the more accurate truth is presented to us? Next week we'll see that a man named Apollos did just that. Repentance leads to a knowledge of the truth.
It leads to godliness.
Titus 1:1-2, "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time."
John Wesley has said these two verses are the sum of Christianity. We see a reality that shows the importance of coming to a knowledge of the truth and continuing to grow in that knowledge-godliness. The more we know and do the more we grow. Our continuation of our pursuit of knowledge rests on this goal-to become like Jesus.
And Paul said we have a faith and knowledge that rests on the hope of eternal life. That's a big part of what we need to know and be convinced of-eternal hope.
Paul said in Eph. 1:17-18, "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."
Paul wanted them to continue to grow in their knowledge of God which would lead to godliness. He also prayed that they would know-be sure of-the hope to which they were called-their glorious, heavenly inheritance. Part of attaining a knowledge of the truth is being sure of the hope we have in Jesus. When we persist in that hope we will grow in our knowledge of the truth and we will increase in godliness when we put that knowledge into action.
And it's good to keep in mind another important aspect that Paul mentioned in Titus-'God-who does not lie'. Again, that gets back to accepting truth. If I have concluded that God never lies then I can be more readily accepting of his truth.
That doesn't mean I will understand it all right away but I proceed with enthusiasm, knowing God wants to reveal more to me. No one can know everything right away-we wouldn't be able to handle it. So, we grow-we start on baby food and mature to more solid food as time goes on. Obtaining a knowledge of the truth that leads to more and more godliness.
A young university graduate crossed a large river on a barge. An elderly gentleman was driving the barge. The university student, a little full of himself, asked the old man three questions. “Do you know anything about physics?” “Nope”, replied the old man. The student just shook his head. “Do you know anything about philosophy?” “Nope”, replied the old man. “Do you know anything about social sciences?” “Nope”, replied the old man. “Wow", said the student, "your life has been wasted!”
Suddenly, the barge hit a large object, took on water rapidly, and overturned. Both men were thrown into the water. The old man cried out to the young student, “Do you know anything about swimming?” The young man replied “No.” “Then it's your life that's been wasted!”
Likewise, we can have a tremendous amount of knowledge, but if we don't know Jesus, what does it really matter in the whole scheme of things? In the end, all that knowledge will amount to nothing and our lives will be wasted.
When it comes to gaining a knowledge of the truth of the things of God we need to do what it says in Proverbs 23:12, "Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge." This is what we need to do in order to be in the know.
