Zeal Without Knowledge

I. EXORDIUM:

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

III. OBJECTIVES:

IV. TEXT:

Romans 10:2 (King James Version)

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

Romans 10:2 (Amplified Bible)

I bear them witness that they have a [certain] zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to [correct and vital] knowledge.

V. THESIS:

Praise, worship, glorify, adore, bless, honor, acknowledge and thank You very much LORD JESUS for You have given me knowledge of You so I know that all things needed in this life are already bestowed upon me with all godliness.

2 Peter 1:3 (Amplified Bible)

For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).

VI. TITLE:

Zeal without knowledge

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Apostle Paul

B. Date written: 57 A.D.

C. Place written: From Corinth

D. Purpose: To prepare Roman believers for his long awaited visit.

E. To whom written: Roman Christians

VIII. MAIN BODY:

Romans 10:2 (King James Version)

For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

Romans 10:2 (Amplified Bible)

I bear them witness that they have a [certain] zeal and enthusiasm for God, but it is not enlightened and according to [correct and vital] knowledge.

A. Jews have zeal and enthusiasm for GOD

"I bear them witness that they have a [certain] zeal and enthusiasm for God,"

Galatians 4:17-18 (Amplified Bible)

These men [the Judaizing teachers] are zealously trying to dazzle you [paying court to you, making much of you], but their purpose is not honorable or worthy or for any good. What they want to do is to isolate you [from us who oppose them], so that they may win you over to their side and get you to court their favor.

It is always a fine thing [of course] to be zealously sought after [as you are, provided that it is] for a good purpose and done by reason of purity of heart and life, and not just when I am present with you!

Philippians 3:6 (Amplified Bible)

As to my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church, and by the Law’s standard of righteousness (supposed justice, uprightness, and right standing with God) I was proven to be blameless and no fault was found with me.

John 16:2 (Amplified Bible)

They will put you out of (expel you from) the synagogues; but an hour is coming when whoever kills you will think and claim that he has offered service to God.

2 Kings 10:16 (Amplified Bible)

And he said, Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord. So they made [the Rechabite] ride in Jehu’s chariot.

EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE WITH KNOWLEDGE BUT NO ZEAL:

1. JEPHTHAH - whose name means "he will open" forgot that the LORD JESUS opened a way for him to defeat his enemies, but never checked or learned by knowledge who is the one that opens first his door to meet him and he sacrificed his daughter because of zeal without knowledge.

Judges 11:30-31 (Amplified Bible)

And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, If You will indeed give the Ammonites into my hand,

Then whatever or whoever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites, it shall be the Lord’s, and I will offer it or him up as a burnt offering.

Judges 11:34-36 (Amplified Bible)

Then Jephthah came to Mizpah to his home, and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances! And she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

And when he saw her, he rent his clothes and said, Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are the cause of great trouble to me; for I have opened my mouth [in a vow] to the Lord, and I cannot take it back.

And she said to him, My father, if you have opened your mouth to the Lord, do to me according to what you have vowed, since the Lord has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, the Ammonites.

Psalms 50:14 (Amplified Bible)

Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High,

Ecclesiastes 5:2 (Amplified Bible)

Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter a word before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few.

He forgot to be silent before GOD and made rush vows not to fulfill it.