KNOWLEDGE

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 – 2 Corinthians 4:6

KNOWLEDGE is LIGHT; Ignorance is darkness! Knowledge builds; ignorance destroys. God’s people “are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos.4:6). The Light of Knowledge exposes what darkness tends to conceal (Eph.5: 13). Knowledge is Power – in both its acquisition and application! The Bible consistently connects Knowledge with Power: “God's divine Power has granted all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the KNOWLEDGE of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence” (2Pet.1:3 ESV). This literally means that all the power available from God to live godly comes through the knowledge of Him! The Power that undergirds godliness is released through the knowledge of God. No knowledge; no power! We must place premium on Knowledge, because life and godliness are at stake! Strength and Exploits are also functions of Knowledge: “the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits” (Dan.11:32b).

Freedom is also tied to Knowledge: “you shall KNOW the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jh.8:32). It is not just the truth, but the Truth you KNOW that makes you free. We must however distinguish between different types of knowledge: intellectual, scientific, head or sense-knowledge; spiritual, heart or revelation knowledge; and demonic, occult or satanic knowledge. Intellectual knowledge is not necessarily evil or worthless; it actually enables problems to be solved in specific contexts. For example, if a car breaks down, mechanical knowledge is useful, otherwise it is redundant. However, what we need above all else is Revelation Knowledge of the Truth, God’s Word: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (Jh.17:17). This is Key to Liberty, Strength, and Exploits; and to handling most of life’s problems (Lk.11:52).

Knowledge is needed as a consequence of problems resulting from The Fall. God gives us knowledge to help fix negative situations, broken people, or protect ourselves from life’s difficulties. How then do we access this Knowledge of God? Psalm 19:1-2 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge” (Psa.19:1-2). The Knowledge of God however comes essentially as the Holy Spirit enlightens us in the Word (Pro.1:23). We must thus take time to read, study, confess, meditate on, and obey God’s Word. Faith is the knowledge of the spiritual; and the human heart is the powerful seat of knowledge and the launch pad of the decisions we make. Those who hate knowledge or are complacent towards seeking it, risk divine disaffection (Pro.1:28-33).

Paul, for example longed for the Knowledge of Christ and the Power of His Resurrection above all else (Phil.3:10). All knowledge has six key dimensions, as illustrated by Rudyard Kipling: “I had six honest serving men they taught me all I knew; their names were What and Why and When – and How and Where and Who”! God who in the beginning “commanded light to shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2Cor.4:6). He desires that we seek True knowledge in all its dimensions; that we add knowledge to zeal (Pro.19:2; Rom.10:2); and manifest the fragrance of His Knowledge in every place. He is the “God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His KNOWLEDGE in every place” (2Cor.2:14).

Concerning Knowledge, Isabel Burton wrote: “Men are four: He who knows not and knows not he knows not, he is a fool – shun him; He who knows not and knows he knows not, he is simple – teach him; He who knows and knows not he knows, he is asleep – wake him; He who knows and knows he knows, he is wise – follow him!” Where do you belong?