Learn of Jesus – Part 6, How Does God Give Us Knowledge?

davidwpalmer

Aug 31

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5PhQzQknHgCqI7okPUoWBC?si=I-G0LhcOS3SK8QzOVL6yPw

David W Palmer

(Ecclesiastes 2:26 NKJV) "For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; ... "

Next, how does God give knowledge? What is his process for transferring it to us?

He gives knowledge through his word

(Romans 2:20 NKJV) "An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law."

We see first that God gives "the form of knowledge" to us through the law, or through the written word of God. As we read and study God's word, we position ourselves to grasp intelligibly what it contains, and to receive revelation about it from the Holy Spirit. For example, we receive the knowledge of sin:

(Romans 3:20 NKJV) "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

This Scripture shows that the knowledge of sin comes through the law. As we study the written word of God, we intellectually understand what sin is. The Holy Spirit can then apply it to us personally, convicting us if the sin is present in our lives.

Of course, knowing what is sin in God's eyes does not necessarily give us the ability to be free of its addictive power. That takes: a new birth; faith, which comes by revelation; and grace, which is appropriated by faith—all releasing the Holy Spirit's infinite holy power to operate through us:

(Romans 8:13 NKJV) "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."

2. He gives Knowledge from the Spirit of God.

(Isaiah 11:2 NKJV) "The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD."

The next thing we see is that God's Spirit is the "Spirit of knowledge." In other words, knowledge comes from the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, Jesus corroborates this by referring to him as the "Spirit of truth," who guides us into all truth.

(John 16:13 NKJV) "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; ... ."

Next we must ask how does the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth and bring his knowledge to us?

By Revelation

(1 Corinthians 2:9–10 NKJV) "But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.' {10} But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God."

The true knowledge from God does not come by study alone; it takes an element of God's supernatural revelation to bring it alive to us personally. It is like light shining into our understanding; revelation suddenly illuminates what would otherwise be dark with ignorance:

(2 Corinthians 4:6 NKJV) "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

The phrase, "In the face of Jesus Christ," speaks of right relationship and intimacy with Jesus. Someone turns their face away from you when they don't want to relate closely to you. Why would they do that? Because they feel that the relationship is hurt or offended. If they turn their face to you, it's an indication of open invitation to relate and converse. The revelation of the knowledge that we need comes from the Living Word of God, Jesus—through intimate and right relationship with him.

The following verse further underlines the fact that we need to receive revelation from God to have true knowledge. We see here that one could be "always learning," yet never understanding God's knowledge, "the knowledge of the truth."

(2 Timothy 3:7 NKJV) "Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."

Today, I encourage you to seek a close, intimate, right relationship with Jesus through repentance, love, respect, and humble study of his word. Ask God for revelation, and trust that the Holy Spirit will enlighten it to you as you read and mediate. When the light comes, faith will come—along with life, creativity, keys, and boldness. Your life will never be the same.