This way, not only can He help guide our lives but also teach us about Himself through the scriptures. Take a close look at this verse below, as an example of this. How blessed is the man who finds wisdomAnd the man who gains understanding. look up 2 Chronicles 29:16-17, and compare Psalm 51:6. Proverbs 24:4 Verse Concepts (16:22). Reflected in OT wisdom is the Alternatively, you could say the prayer at the end of this article then find guidance on what to do after saying the prayer from HERE. We adhere to biblically based moral and ethical principles, and maintain these principles both in public and in private. of (. In church history, there are a few well known men like Martin Luther, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, and Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Psa 103:2. Whelchel says that at first glance the terms seem almost interchangeable, but there are differences. Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge are Spirits. 16 And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the Lord. Jerehiam 3:15-16a KJV. I think, rather, that Peter was talking about some in the church who truly had been purified from their sins, but now they were drifting. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Our Lord calls for a continued application of the mind to His Word. Whatever method you use, . Nearly any situation that you face, you will find instructions on how to respond. (2:11), The lips of the righteous feed many,But fools die for lack of understanding. Benefits of Reading the Bible Daily. Jesus reminds us inJohn 17:17that it is Gods word is truth. God placeda tree of the knowledge of good and evil in Eden, and commanded Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree. and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.. Evil knowledge is what Satan wants us to know, believe, and heed. One blessing of good knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of those who have it (Ecclesiastes 7:12b). Q. Solomons point was that accumulation of knowledge isnt as important as fearing and obeying God (Ecclesiastes 12:12-13). R.C. Taking life too seriously? Check here for a detailed article on how you can begin a relationship with Jesus Christ. Promises that He will be our rock, our refuge and stronghold. 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. Verse 10 also teaches us that moral failure is almost always at the heart of false teaching. Yet, he and thousands of others like him were godly, fruitful servants of the Lord. . 3. You may hear the voice of God. There are many benefits of knowledge in the bible. Finally, Peter gives us an eternal benefit: Verse 11 explains (for) verse 10: for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. Supplied is the same word that we saw in verse 5, which meant to richly supply as a philanthropist would supply the chorus or theater. The benefits of reading the Bible include this incredible joy that we receive only from Him. Knowledge and understanding of the scriptures is one way God transforms believers, through the renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2). 2023 Insight for Living Ministries. 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. Church leaders like John Calvin and Martin Luther promoted education so people could understand Gods Word. First, we must understand that the Holy Spirit is our Counselor, distributing His gifts into our lives. It doesnt happen without deliberate, concentrated effort. When we understand more about who God is and what He desires for our lives, we can develop a deeper relationship with Him. Swindoll's Living Insights Bible Commentaries. Wisdom has the advantage of giving success. The Bible is filled with Gods promises. 5. Whenever someone starts teaching weird doctrine, almost always something is wrong morally in his life. We cant do that if our minds and hearts arent full of knowledge and wisdom from reading His Word often enough. This means that we shall be weaned away from earthly and temporal things, for which we may be very grateful but which will always disappoint, and we shall find our true satisfaction in the Lord Himself, who never changes and who will never disappoint (Hebrews 13:8). This forgetful and willful blindness, due to their temporal focus, quenched their motivation to be diligent to grow in godliness. To enjoy the amazing benefit from having wisdom and knowledge, once you have acquired them, you need to do the following: Wisdom is God, and He desires for you to know and understand Him. The word of knowledge is a revelatory gift and often works in unison with other gifts of the Spirit. 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. And this is why we must continually add the knowledge of Gods Word to our life without fail. Andthe tempter came and said to him, If you arethe Son of God, commandthese stones to become loaves of bread.But he answered,It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone,but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.. The children of Israel listened to Joshua and did as the LORD commanded Moses. Billy Graham describes the gift of knowledge in his book "The Holy Spirit" as, "That knowledge which is the gift of the Spirit is based on . How do we know God? If she used your name, you wanted to know what she was saying about you: I saw erudite Steve osculating with pensive Pam. Steve and Pam (and the rest of the class) wanted to know what that meant! and takethe helmet of salvation, andthe sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,. Believers need to know the tactics of the enemySatan's wicked schemes ( 2 Corinthians 2:11 ). Many Believers operate within a word of knowledge without even realizing it. What are the benefits of knowing God? 6) The Bible as the Word of God touches on every dimension of human experience. Believers hold to the Lords teachings so they can live in the truth (John 8:31-32). If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8). As a deer pants for flowing streams,so pants my soul for you, O God., Howsweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!. Praying with and over scripture is incredibly effective and sometimes gives us the words when our own mind and heart fail us. Notice verse 25, then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you, so to know Him is to become enriched indeed gold and silver in abundance look up Colossians 2:9, and verse 10! As we begin to understand what is important to God, it also shapes our understanding of what is important for His kingdom and what He wants us to do. Also, she had the equivalent of a contest, where we had to find all 120 words in print, cut the sentences out (this was before the copy machine was invented! We become better equipped at reacting and find peace in the midst of chaos and strife. We receive salvation and the gift of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ and we mature in sanctification and holiness through grace. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. The literal translation is, they are blind, being short-sighted. These people were so focused on their present circumstances that they were not growing in the qualities mentioned in verses 5-7. With so much foolishness in the world, Lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel (Proverbs 20:15b). Joshua and the children of Israel had a smooth and peaceful transition. Andit shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life,that he may learn to fear theLordhis God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them,Deuteronomy 17:19 (ESV), This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, butyou shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. SourcesChristianity.com, What Is Knowledge, According to the Bible?GotQuestions.com, What Does the Bible Say about Knowledge?. Sign up to receive e-mail from Insight for Living Ministries. We absolutely need our pastor sowing the Word of God into us continually, so that our knowledge of God is always increasing. The devil loves to blind the minds of people so they will be easy prey. True, good knowledge comes from God as a giftfrom His own mouthto those who have understanding (Daniel 2:21; Proverbs 2:6). We have hope in God and His son and one of the benefits of reading the Bible is to gain hope from Him and His Word. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? Used by permission. Proverbs 24:14 Verse Concepts In verses 1-4, Peter sets before us the resources that God has graciously provided for us: He has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness through knowing Christ and through His precious and magnificent promises. I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart that Jesus Christ died for my sins and was resurrected from the dead. The Bible brings us peace and joy. Paul said, everything that was written in the past was written to teach us (Romans 15:4). 30 Bible Verses about Knowledge Most Relevant Verses Proverbs 1:7 Verse Concepts The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Just as spending time with any friend or family member. Yes. Peter encouraged believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. LEB. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. Proud member The importance of the Bible in our daily life. So, if winning in life is what is important to you, then youve come to the right place, because our ministry and this website, is designed to help you do just that. But what exactly does this have to do with knowledge, youre probably asking? 2023 Curt Landry Ministries Inc. All rights reserved | Designed by Viral Solutions. Lets review the definitions of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. John Calvin observes (Calvins Commentaries [Baker], on 2 Peter 1:8, p. 374), For the knowledge of Christ is an efficacious thing and a living root, which brings forth fruit. In other words, if God has opened your eyes to the glory of the gospel of Christ (2 Cor. but hisdelight is in the law of theLord,and on hislaw he meditates day and night. The Bible actually says to let them be an ornament to grace your neck. Keep your heart from getting hurt and from hurting others; from being defiled by sin; from being disturbed by trouble; keep out destructive emotions, thoughts, and intentions. Just as in biblical days, there is a crisis of the Word of God in homes, communities, and places of worship today. In Jesus mighty name, I have prayed, Amen. For wisdom is protection just as money is protection. You realize that it is all due to Gods sovereign grace in calling and choosing you while you were still in your sins. She could only worship God. As promised, here is a suggested prayer for you to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ and obtain everlasting life: I acknowledge that I am a sinner. As a Believer, you have access to the spiritual gift of the word of knowledge. Shouldnt we do those things apart from any benefit to us because theyre the right thing to do? Do a sign [that] benefits me, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame, because you, O Yahweh, have helped me and comforted me. And, He has cleansed us from all our sins (1:9). We believe that honor is a force and we treat each person with a level of value and respect that allows us to take the role of a servant in the relationship. In light of all this knowledge of the Holy One, which is also understanding, we see that Wisdom is Jesus Christ, who is God. Knowledge and understanding can help Christians fight spiritual battles. The context of that verse is Christians who had knowledge about the problem of food sacrificed to idolsmaking it ceremoniously uncleanbut new believers didnt have that knowledge yet. That emphasis continued through the Sunday school movement and the establishment of universities as religious institutions. The word of knowledge is one of the revelatory gifts and has been known to manifest with a sense of urgency. You Dont Know What You Dont Know: Knowledge, Understanding, and Wisdom. Also, I plan to spend far more than I earn so that I will run up huge debts. No one plans to be useless and unfruitful! There are degrees of knowing God. Believers can ask God for more knowledge (Psalm 119:66). It includes things like a teachable spirit, a willingness to listen, a desire to discover what is really there. I still know the meaning of sesquipedalian (a person who uses long words), erudite (scholarly), osculate (to kiss), pensive (thoughtful), and many more. We will enjoy the assurance of knowing that God has called and chosen us as His own. So the first benefit of growing in godliness is fruitfulness in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Nor can it be exchanged for articles of fine gold. A Christian who has light views of sin certainly does not know God very intimately. She is the founder and director of Heart Choices Today, publishes Upgrade with Dawn, and writes for Crosswalk.com. Jesus says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. Our salvation is totally from God. This first couple knew intellectually about good and evil because of Gods command, but they understood good and evil experientiallyas well as the devastating consequences of their choicein disobedience. Notice that we return once that is a crisis; but we go on receiving continually that is a process. It will give us assurance of salvation. and takethe helmet of salvation, andthe sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. But they overlook the clear biblical truth that new life in Christ always manifests itself in the fruit of godliness. A disciple does not dabble in learning. 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.. Promises to save us. My youngest, now in college, also is amazed at the nuggets of truth gained in such a short time listening. Your testimonies aremy heritage forever,for they arethe joy of my heart. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. Look at verse 28. By His divine power, He has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness (1:3). As believers learn to fear God, the knowledge of the Holy One brings understanding (Proverbs 9:10). Peter shifts from you to he so as not directly to accuse the majority of his readers. When we add knowledge in our lives, we will increase in strength. The word of knowledge is a spiritual gift given to Believers by the Holy Spirit. I hope this doesn't describe you, because diligence in the things of God is of critical importance. Deepens intimacy with Him. These qualities refers back to the seven qualities that we are diligently to supply on the foundation of our faith in Christ (1:5-7): moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. Reading his Word can embolden you to be set free from those chains. Compare John 14:9 with what Paul said thirty years later look up Acts 9:4-6 and Philippians 3:10. 4:6), so that you have come to know Him, your life will show it. 2. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:23 Gods word is truth. Your faith will hold you and sustain you. Matthew 4:4reminds us that physical food isnt all we need, but we also need Gods words to survive. But God also offers plenty of opportunities to gain knowledge about Him. Rather, in the context of the false teachers who had turned away from the faith, Peter means that if you are diligent to grow in godliness and thus confirm your calling and election, you will not turn away from God and commit apostasy as the false teachers had done (Thomas Schreiner, The New American Commentary, 1, 2 Peter, Jude [Broadman & Holman Publishers], p. 305). They willfully chose to ignore it. If youve said the prayer asking Jesus to be your Lord and Saviour, congratulations! As a Christians knowledge grows, love and understanding are needed toward those who may not have as much training. in all areas of life. Forwhatever was written in former days was written for ourinstruction, that through endurance and throughthe encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.. This is one of the most impactful and important benefits of reading the Bible. Dawn Wilsonhas served in revival ministry and missions for more than 50 years. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Life is a vapor (James 4:14)! Blind and short-sighted are used somewhat synonymously. 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. Christ-followers desperately need solid biblical teaching in the church and through personal Bible study. But if his word of warning applied to some, they should take heed. Most evangelicals think that if you prayed to receive Christ, you are eternally secure and should never doubt that fact. One cannot understand the fight against slavery, the women's suffrage movement, or the Civil Rights movement without knowledge of the Bible. Because human knowledge is limited, and without God the intellect is darkened, humans are unable to grasp truths about God (1 Corinthians 2:14) without Him. Promise to never leave or forsake us. Discipline and correct your children so that they too can get wisdom. - then look up Colossians 2:6-7 and 2 Peter 3:18. 2. Additional Scripture on the Benefits of Reading the Bible, Scripture Releases our Chains and Lifts Our Burdens, His Word Enables Us to Battle and Defeat the Devil, You will Enjoy a Greater Fellowship with Him, You will be More Prosperous and Successful, Woman of Noble Character Affiliate Program, God deliver you and lift your burdens knowing, Promises never to destroy the earth again by flood, Kneel before the Throne: Exploring Ephesians with Verse Mapping and Bible Study, spiritual disciplines and a sign of spiritual maturity, learn to fear theLordhis God by keeping all the words, verses that remind us of how we should be longing for God and His Word, Top 10 Reasons to Read the Bible Today: The Life-Changing Benefits of Daily Bible Reading by Wayne Davie. Have a great day! However, if we give up and quit during these battles, it is because our strength is small. Thomas Schreiner explains (ibid., p. 306, italics his), Peter was not concerned here about rewards but whether people will enter the kingdom at all. The gift of knowledge is the supernatural ability to impart a specific word of wisdom into a situation. Dawn assists author and radio host Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth with research and works with various departments at Revive Our Hearts. Wisdom is gained from God's Word. There are several ways that a word of knowledge can manifest in Believers. Idolatry grows in spiritual ignorance, but God does not want people to be ignorant about Him. Totaling 269 verses, Aramaic is key language students of the Old Testament will need to master. You read in Romans 15:5-6 of Gods design that we are to work together as one for His glory. Job shared that, as well as David in the Psalms. Verse Concepts. Please contact us or click here to learn more about how to enable JavaScript on your browser. For I have never eaten anything common or unclean. And a voice spoke to him again the second time, What God has cleansed you must not call common. This was done three times. We believe that the Bible and all the scriptures within both Old and New Testaments are the infallible and inspired Word of God. And it is these things that not only cause us to grow spiritually, but also allows us to truly enjoy the blessings that God has for us. All that said, the Bible warns about a danger of knowledge. If you need more convincing on why you should embrace this wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, please read Proverbs, chapters 8 and 9. How wonderful! familiarity with each individual and his or her mannerisms (Genesis 18:19; Deuteronomy 34:10; Isaiah 48:8; Psalms 1:6; 37:18). Verse Concepts For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors. We can rejoice in our salvation and in the fact that we have a God Who loves us unconditionally more than we can fathom. The Lords Prayer tells us to ask forgiveness for our sins often. Its all in there. Proverbs 11:9 Verse Concepts With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. Knowledge and understanding are part of spiritual character building (2 Peter 1:5-9). Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2010, All Rights Reserved. . The Bible has so much to say about knowledge, both good and bad. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, Behold, I stand at the door and knock. And fear of the Lord (reverence for Him) is the beginning of all wisdom. It means that you are earnest about something, and eager to inquire about what God has promised, and eager to acquire what He has promised. Education has been an important factor in church history. A word of knowledge is when God supernaturally imparts comprehension of a current or past situation to you that you would not otherwise know. You can gain knowledge by reading a book on becoming a better homemaker or how to cook the best apple pie, but when you read the Bible, you gain wisdom that will strengthen you, give you peace, give you joy and equip you to face lifes difficulties. Ask the Spirit to reveal any roadblocks that may be standing in the way of you operating in a word of knowledge. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. And Moses blessed them. May the Holy Spirit guide you as you read. And then, according to verse sixteen above, when you increase in knowledge, multiplication and increase in all of the other areas of your life are inevitable. And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver. It was as if the Lord was saying to me, You focus on being as faithful and godly as John Spurgeon and leave it to Me as to whether you become as influential as Charles Spurgeon! Peter is telling us, Focus on growing in godliness and you will be fruitful in your Christian life., When Peter says, in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, is he talking about growing to know Christ more deeply as you grow in godliness, or is he talking about coming to know Christ at the point of conversion as the basis for growing in godliness? Additionally, you will need to put away a deceitful mouth and focus straight on the path of goodness, avoiding evil. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture Quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition The Lockman Foundation, Related Topics: Spiritual Life, Sanctification, Steve served as the pastor of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship from May, 1992 through his retirement in December, 2018. Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned; And the acquisition of wisdom is above that of pearls. Parents are also encouraged to nurture their children in the Lord, which in the original language carries the meaning of training and instruction. in a secular home. And an advantage to those who see the sun. May the The more intimate your relationship with Jesus, the better youre your life will become. 2023 Words of Life Ministries - an independent evangelical Registered Charitable Trust (no.269381) Cookie Policy | Privacy Policy Website by: TEKOA Creative, Study 3 MAKING IT OUR AMBITION TO PLEASE HIM. Remembering Gods grace shown to you at the cross will motivate you to apply all diligence to keep growing in godliness. My soul melts away for sorrow;strengthen me according to your word!. Verse 23 tells us this. One benefit is that knowledge can help us grow closer to God. is beneath the surface. Therefore, the Spirit guides you as you accept the power and authority you have been given through Christ. It is important that we listen to God and His words. I plan to live so selfishly and with such disregard for others that I will shred all of my relationships. What biblical criteria are there? Whelchel noted that the word disciple literally means a learner. Christians are called to acquire knowledge of God in order to know what they are called to do. Peter further explains the idea from 1:10a: for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble. These things refers back to verses 5-7. For wisdom is better than jewels;And all desirable things cannot compare with her. Therefore knowledge is emphasized in the Bible as the highest priority. Curt Landry was born and raised in Los Angeles, C.A. So I said, Wisdom is better than strength. But the wisdom of the poor man is despised and his words are not heeded. Why? And all desirable things cannot compare with her. She is more precious than jewels;And nothing you desire compares with her. He was an amazing man whom God used mightily. If we really know God and are working according to His gracious will, none of our work will be lost look up Mark 14:8-9; 1 Corinthians 15:58; and Galatians 6:9. Look at verse 29. You desire to please and obey the Lord who gave Himself on the cross to rescue you from judgment. You will never experience any victories without also facing battles. Sheand her husband Bob live in Southern California. 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. He is likea treeplanted bystreams of waterthat yields its fruit in its season,and itsleaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.. Knowledge, therefore, is learning with perception. 1 Peter 3:7ESV / 203 helpful votes HelpfulNot Helpful My ninth-grade English teacher pulled off a phenomenal feat: she motivated a bunch of teenagers, who at first couldnt care less about expanding their vocabularies, to learn 120 vocabulary words. Peter said (Matt. Basically, knowledge is information we gain through reasoning, experience, or people, and wisdom is the ability to judge what is right and true. The Hebrew term for knowledge is based on the verb yada, to know. This is understanding with insight. It is mymeditation all the day.. God gives wisdom, and we see in Daniel 1:17-20 that the king found Daniel and his friends to have wisdom and understanding that were ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers in his entire realm. They had continual, active ignorance to the law of God. And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver. 4. In chronological order for us, Gods calling comes first. "But the plans of the LORD stand firm for ever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Will God forgive me for losing hope and the will to live? Find guidance on how to proceed with your life in Jesus HERE. The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it,Nor can it be valued in pure gold. He who keeps understanding will find good. Indeed, thoughts without God are hostile to Him and a reason for sinful pride (1 Corinthians 8:1b).