Peter is saying, One way to be certain that God has called and chosen you is to be diligent to grow in these godly character qualities. The same message sums up the book of First John, but is stated specifically in 1 John 2:28, Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming (see, also, 1 John 3:18-21). As you read His Word, you will be strengthened and fortified through God the Father. 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. Church leaders like John Calvin and Martin Luther promoted education so people could understand Gods Word. 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. If you need more convincing on why you should embrace this wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, please read Proverbs, chapters 8 and 9. Biblical knowledge helps Christiansespecially leadersteach, reprove, correct, and train in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:17). Perhaps you think that its wrong to ask those questions. He was a faithful pastor in England for many years. 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. 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. Education has been an important factor in church history. 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. But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. If so, confess your sin and take steps to grow in godliness. Jesus modeled this for us. Then begin to ACT. A word of knowledge is when God supernaturally imparts comprehension of a current or past situation to you that you would not otherwise know. 2. Dawn Wilsonhas served in revival ministry and missions for more than 50 years. 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. The words of a mans mouth are deep waters;The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook. Jesus reminds us inJohn 17:17that it is Gods word is truth. A poor yet wise lad is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction. Solomon and the wise men of Israel prized wisdom, understanding, and knowledge as crucial to living prosperously, safely, and effectively. If youre cruising on spiritual autopilot, then take heed to Peters exhortation to be all the more diligent to make certain about Gods calling and choosing you. Find guidance on how to proceed with your life in Jesus HERE. Matthew 4:4reminds us that physical food isnt all we need, but we also need Gods words to survive. Human knowledge can cause pride and grief (1 Corinthians 8:1b; Ecclesiastes 1:18), and worldly knowledge is often opposed to biblical truth (1 Timothy 6:20-21). In 1962 and 1963, when the U.S. Supreme Court removed Bible reading from American public schools, social conservatives were overwhelmingly concerned about the moral effects. Peter said (Matt. Remembering Gods grace shown to you at the cross will motivate you to apply all diligence to keep growing in godliness. One benefit is that knowledge can help us grow closer to God. 4:6), so that you have come to know Him, your life will show it. I also find that writing scripture helps me to memorize more of the Bible and draws me to Him in a deeper way. Parents are also encouraged to nurture their children in the Lord, which in the original language carries the meaning of training and instruction. It is written in His word that we are saved when we put our hope in Him. then look up Colossians 2:6-7 and 2 Peter 3:18. Whats in it for us? He shed His blood on the cross to purify you from your sins. Our purpose is to facilitate covenant restoration through the reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles coming together as the One New Man. In Latin, there is a phrase called summum bonum, which means "the highest good out of which all other good flows.". Ask the Spirit to reveal any roadblocks that may be standing in the way of you operating in a word of knowledge. First, we must understand that the Holy Spirit is our Counselor, distributing His gifts into our lives. There are also many more benefits when you do. In Exodus 35:30-35; 39:43 God called artisans and filled them with His Spirit, in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge and all manner of craft, to design artistic works, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of the creative craft. Therefore in some cases, we shall refer to all the three and in other instances only two, or one of them depending on the scripture reference. Solomon said, Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body; but that doesnt mean education is useless. Your faith will hold you and sustain you. Should we give assurance of salvation immediately after a person professes faith in Christ, or should that come later? You may enjoy this brief video on the benefits of reading the Bible: What else would you add to the list? She is the founder and director of Heart Choices Today, publishes Upgrade with Dawn, and writes for Crosswalk.com. What, then, is the good that comes by knowing God? Reading his Word can embolden you to be set free from those chains. Tools. Taking life too seriously? Bible study gives us wisdom and understanding. Be diligent is the verb related to the same noun in verse 5. 2. I am Patience Lancelot. That emphasis continued through the Sunday school movement and the establishment of universities as religious institutions. Knowledge is neither ethically nor morally neutral. What happens when people are ignorant of the knowledge of God, and why is knowledge important for Christ-followers? Dont waste it living for selfish pursuits or for things that will perish. Psalm 147:3 "He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.". He created human intellect, giving mankind the ability to think, comprehend, reason, and remember. Its all in there. All rights reserved. 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. Believers hold to the Lords teachings so they can live in the truth (John 8:31-32). Paul desired that believers love would keep on abounding and growing in knowledge and discernment (Philippians 1:9). And fear of the Lord (reverence for Him) is the beginning of all wisdom. How to deal with those who have hurt you. Know that wisdom is thus for your soul;If you find it, then there will be a future,And your hope will not be cut off. Sanctify them in the truth;your word is truth. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. (16:22). May we not pass it by, but pull our chair up to the table regularly to feed our soul. Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it,But the discipline of fools is folly. November 4, 2020 by Curt Landry Ministries, But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,1 Corinthians 12:7-8 (emphasis added). ", Key Verse: Submit to God and be at peace with Him; in this way prosperity will come to you. (Job 22:21). 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 answer is, God changed your heart so that now you desire to grow in godliness so that you will grow to know Him better. 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. The benefits of reading the Bible. Whelchel says that at first glance the terms seem almost interchangeable, but there are differences. of Proverbs 11:9 Verse Concepts With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. Godly knowledge comes from fearing the Lordbeing in awe of Him and submitting to Him (Proverbs 1:7). Thomas Schreiner explains (ibid., p. 306, italics his), Peter was not concerned here about rewards but whether people will enter the kingdom at all. It will keep us from stumbling and falling away from the Lord. A pastor is called by God to feed you the Word of God in such a way that you will increase in knowledge. and takethe helmet of salvation, andthe sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,. 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. 3. As a result, Daniel and his friends found favor and did extraordinary things. Blind and short-sighted are used somewhat synonymously. This virtue represents a manner of thinking and an attitude that result in prudent, sensible living. 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). The benefits of growing in godliness are fruitfulness, The proper . 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. As you learn more about His character, His promises and His plan for salvation of mankind, you will grow in your spiritual maturity. that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge. WE SHALL BE BUILT UP Verse 23 tells us this. God says to love Him with our whole being, including the mind. 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! Your testimonies aremy heritage forever,for they arethe joy of my heart. The Bible teaches that creation reveals the knowledge of God (Psalm 19:1-2), which is infinite. Effective written communication skills to . 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. Why? 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. The benefits of reading the Bible include this incredible joy that we receive only from Him. But, your tent may refer not only to the body but to the home and the business. For wisdom will enter your heartAnd knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; And I said,Hear now, heads of JacobAnd rulers of the house of Israel.Is it not for you to know justice? To learn more about my story and my walk with God, check out my story, ESVScripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Charles or John?, I stopped jogging and just stood there so I could think about the implications of that question. If youre not living with a view to how God can use you to bear fruit for His kingdom, then youre wasting your life. Benefits of cold therapy & positive mindset (beginners start with 15 seconds cold shower after hot daily and increase the time up to 2-3 min daily. Our vision is to bring revival to Israel, the Church, and the nations through a deeper understanding and revelation of the power of covenant. The devil loves to blind the minds of people so they will be easy prey. He has granted us His precious and magnificent promises so that by them we have become partakers of His divine nature (1:4). And this is why we must continually add the knowledge of Gods Word to our life without fail. Christians today can learn from the mistakes and victories of people in both testaments. Scripture is life and nourishment to us as believers, and meant to help us thrive as we walk out the life of faith. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all understanding. DILIGENCE = to search out; enquire; to seek after; to investigate; to crave. 1. You will be growing in the godly character qualities that Peter lists (1:5-7). But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 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. As a Christians knowledge grows, love and understanding are needed toward those who may not have as much training. 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! But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. Daniel 11:32b KJV. Sign up to receive Chuck Swindoll's Daily Devotional in your inbox seven days a week. We cant do that if our minds and hearts arent full of knowledge and wisdom from reading His Word often enough. 19:28-29), Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. It affirms how much God cares for you and brings supernatural peace and comfort to your soul. One cannot understand the fight against slavery, the women's suffrage movement, or the Civil Rights movement without knowledge of the Bible. In John 3:16, we are told, For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life., We also saw that wisdom and understanding dwell in the heart and mind. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. In Hosea, God harshly admonished and punished the Israelites for not paying any attention to Him and forgetting His law. And, He has cleansed us from all our sins (1:9). One blessing of good knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of those who have it (Ecclesiastes 7:12b). We saw earlier in this article that understanding is the knowledge of the Holy One. This is part of our inheritance as Believers in Christ. While there are numerous ways that reading the Bible brings us closer to God and benefits us daily. Sofaith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.. You cant find that anywhere but by reading scripture. Basically, knowledge is information we gain through reasoning, experience, or people, and wisdom is the ability to judge what is right and true. Just as spending time with any friend or family member. As we get to know God, our delight increases in His gifts, His service, His house, but most of all, in Himself! (. The word of knowledge is a spiritual gift given to Believers by the Holy Spirit. Good comes to those who are adding the knowledge of God to their life continually. One of the most practical, yet powerful benefits of reading the Bible is that it releases our chains and lifts our burdens. The same applies to the gifts of the Spirit; they work together for His glory and to build up His Kingdom. What you dont know can kill you! There are some things that we are to develop in in our Christian walk that helps us to grow strong in faith and to be pleasing unto the Lord. 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. The Lord, however, grants knowledge to those who have an honest relationship with him. Many Believers operate within a word of knowledge without even realizing it. 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. What Does It Really Mean That Your Body Is a Temple? Yet, he and thousands of others like him were godly, fruitful servants of the Lord. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. 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. Here are some other verses that remind us of how we should be longing for God and His Word. 1 Corinthians 8:2 Verse Concepts If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; 1 Corinthians 13:8 Proverbs 24:14 Verse Concepts To know is not to be intellectually informed about some abstract principle, but to apprehend and . Salem Media Group. My youngest, now in college, also is amazed at the nuggets of truth gained in such a short time listening. A person can be knowledgeable without being wise. We believe that Gods truth has the power to set people free, and we do everything in our power to remain faithful to His truth, in thought, in word, and in deed. - then look up Colossians 2:6-7 and 2 Peter 3:18. What biblical criteria are there? Knowledge, therefore, is learning with perception. What distinguished these faithful saints to God and made them fruitful was that they devoted themselves to growing in godliness. But if you can shrug off the cross, then you arent headed for heaven. Shouldnt we do those things apart from any benefit to us because theyre the right thing to do? Verses 24 and 25 tell us this. Does the prospect of heaven motivate you to live for Christ now? I still know the meaning of sesquipedalian (a person who uses long words), erudite (scholarly), osculate (to kiss), pensive (thoughtful), and many more. 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? How can you not feel hope when you read the Bible and see how God has won battles, saved lives and see His love written out in the pages of scripture? To act as a witness within and outside the Body. Paul said God showed him great mercy before he turned to Christ, because he had acted in ignorance and unbelief (Acts 3:17; 1 Timothy 1:13). But they overlook the clear biblical truth that new life in Christ always manifests itself in the fruit of godliness. He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;He who keeps understanding will find good. 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). God has a feast for us. We believe that the Bible and all the scriptures within both Old and New Testaments are the infallible and inspired Word of God. Believers need to know the tactics of the enemySatans wicked schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11). We might call this experiential wisdom, the kind of savvy that older people gain from the school of hard knocks. It is important that we listen to God and His words. The children of Israel listened to Joshua and did as the LORD commanded Moses. 3. As a pastor, its easy to fall into the trap of thinking that fruitfulness is measured in terms of numbers: If I can pastor a large, growing church, write best-selling books, and travel all over the world to influence thousands of other Christian leaders, I will be fruitful. Ministering to large numbers may indicate success in human terms, but we need to measure fruitfulness by Gods criteria.
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