They had continual, active ignorance to the law of God. The Bible uses this of Gods all-knowing Seeking and gaining biblically based knowledge. 1. But here, Peter again is emphasizing that growth in godliness requires diligence. 2. In Proverbs 1:27-29, God warned His people that in times of calamity, they would call out to Him, but He would not answer, because they hated knowledge and did not fear Him. God says to love Him with our whole being, including the mind. My youngest, now in college, also is amazed at the nuggets of truth gained in such a short time listening. Reflected in OT wisdom is the The people who are effective witnesses for the Lord, by life or by lip, are the people who really know Him. 6) The Bible as the Word of God touches on every dimension of human experience. Suffering sometimes opens hearts to greater knowledge of and intimacy with Christ. I also find that writing scripture helps me to memorize more of the Bible and draws me to Him in a deeper way. Instead, it started with everything the Serpent saidthat Eve decided to believe., The battle of people choosing between good and bad knowledge continues throughout Scripture and to our present day. Just as spending time with any friend or family member. The Hebrew term for understanding is tebuna, which denotes intelligence or discernment. This does not mean that you must go into so-called full time Christian ministry. Rather, it means that in whatever situation you find yourself, whether at home, at school, or at work, you have the mindset that you want to be useful and fruitful for the Lord Jesus Christ. I hope this doesnt describe you, because diligence in the things of God is of critical importance. My prayer is that you will search them out as you continually seek to add knowledge in your life. Basically, knowledge is information we gain through reasoning, experience, or people, and wisdom is the ability to judge what is right and true. This virtue represents a manner of thinking and an attitude that result in prudent, sensible living. and takethe helmet of salvation, andthe sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. One of these things, as we see in the verse above, is that we are to add the knowledge of Gods Word to our lives. Then in verses 5-7, he shows our responsibility to grow in godliness, as summarized by seven qualities that we are to add to our faith. Fearing the Lord is not a fear of fright but a reverence to God. Second, how do you know that your repentance and faith were genuine? 1. So Peter is motivating us to be diligent to grow in godliness by showing us the benefits. In Patavodah, you will find articles and resources to help you live a satisfying life in Jesus Christ. Can a true Christian fall away from the faith permanently? But they overlook the clear biblical truth that new life in Christ always manifests itself in the fruit of godliness. Please contact us or click here to learn more about how to enable JavaScript on your browser. This kind of knowledge is based on personal experience with a matter. The unfolding of your words gives light;it impartsunderstanding to the simple.. If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength. A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. Proverbs 24:5 KJV. 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? This is part of our inheritance as Believers in Christ. 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). Hes saying. 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. 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. In our text, Peter is spelling out the benefits of growing in godliness to motivate us to persevere in the process. To embrace wisdom, knowledge, and understanding is to accept and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You may hear the voice of God. First, we must understand that the Holy Spirit is our Counselor, distributing His gifts into our lives. He makes the pursuit of an understanding of Gods Word a chief business of his life.. 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. then look up Colossians 2:6-7 and 2 Peter 3:18. in all areas of life. Visit the about page for more info! (I Corinthians 3:19) The best part is that there are amazing ways to benefit from having wisdom and knowledge. Perhaps you think that its wrong to ask those questions. Well, go back to the fifth verse in this twenty fourth chapter of Proverbs and you will see. Only then can you enjoy the amazing benefits of having wisdom and knowledge. 4. In other words, by knowing Him we become spiritually strong, virile, robust men and women look up Ephesians 6:10. I had read about wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in the Bible but never given it much thought previously. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. 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.. In the same way, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (this designation of Christ is only used in 2 Peter [here], 2:20; 3:2 [Lord and Savior], 18) will welcome those who have been diligent to grow in godliness into the eternal city. And all desirable things cannot compare with her. This kind of wisdom describes perception with discernment. 3. One day as I was jogging in the woods, I asked the Lord one of those far beyond all you can ask or think prayers. It will keep us from stumbling and falling away from the Lord. Although copies and translations of Bibles are readily available, they often gather dust. We might call this experiential wisdom, the kind of savvy that older people gain from the school of hard knocks. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all understanding. Additionally, knowledge can help us make wise choices in life. Nobody in their right mind would set out at age 20 and say, Id like to waste my life! Nobody writes out a plan for a wasted life: I think Ill devote three hours per day, 21 hours per week, to watching television! (That is the national average!) In many contexts, it denotes the ability to discern, based on past experience, the difference between two things (Genesis Diligence means to get after something quickly and not hesitate. And, when we step into eternity, there will be a grand welcome! With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor,But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. (16:16), Discretion will guard you,Understanding will watch over you. It's also the ability to speak wisely and knowingly about a situation with truth from the Bible. Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned; And the acquisition of wisdom is above that of pearls. Maybe, like those in verse 9, you have forgotten what Christ did for you at the cross. How we should act or react in situations. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. The more intimate your relationship with Jesus, the better youre your life will become. He who keeps understanding will find good. that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeedour fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.. Therefore, the Spirit guides you as you accept the power and authority you have been given through Christ. The word of knowledge is a revelatory gift and often works in unison with other gifts of the Spirit. I still know the meaning of sesquipedalian (a person who uses long words), erudite (scholarly), osculate (to kiss), pensive (thoughtful), and many more. 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. 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.. He began to comprehend a revelation that was released through Christs blood. In fact, given the choice between wisdom and material wealth, they opted for wisdom, hands down. Seeking the Gospel in Malachi, the Last Book of the Old Testament. When we read the Bible and see so many of the promises of God, we are comforted to know how very much He loves us and will see us through. One of the benefits of reading scripture is that we mature as we grow in fellowship with Him and learn His commands. When we put on the armor of God, through reading scripture, we become enabled to battle and are strengthened through God and His Word. While Peter ponders the vision, God imparts another word of knowledge to him through a voice. Why? Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,But the discipline of fools is folly. Knowledge forever pursues the truth. Proverbs 11:9 Verse Concepts With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. If you need more convincing on why you should embrace this wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, please read Proverbs, chapters 8 and 9. 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. Whats in it for us? When a Christian asks God for wisdom and turns to the Word of God and the truth of the Gospel, God reveals His perspective about mans condition and His purposes in and through the believer. As a young busy mom, I grew in the Lord via Chuck's radio ministry. I prayed, Lord, use me as You used Spurgeon! I didnt hear any voice, but almost instantly the thought popped into my mind, which I believe was from the Lord, Which Spurgeon? Spiritual gifts are often complemented by other gifts. Solomon and the wise men of Israel regarded wisdom, understanding, and knowledge as worthy pursuits in life. 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. In Jesus mighty name, I have prayed, Amen. But Peter said, Not so, Lord! You may already have a different definition of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, and now you are wondering why you need to know about this one. in a secular home. 2:21b). Like every spiritual gift, the word of knowledge is imparted to . She used several methods. Lets review the definitions of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. Discipline and correct your children so that they too can get wisdom. 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. . If so, confess your sin and take steps to grow in godliness. Copyright 2015-2017 Kenny Gatlin Ministries, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Verse 23 tells us this. Wisdom, then, is knowing what to do next, given an understanding of the facts and circumstances. A person with wisdom knows which principle to apply in a given context and do the right thing. False teachers come up with their wrong doctrine to justify their immoral lifestyles. Why be patient, kind, gentle, and self-sacrificing towards others, especially when they dont seem to appreciate your efforts? If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8). I plan to live so selfishly and with such disregard for others that I will shred all of my relationships. what happened to brit on crime junkie, alabama agricultural sales tax exemption form,