Category: Spirit

Thoughts On Knowledge

There is no separation of knowledge. There is no division of “rational” and “faith”. There is no division of science and God. There is harmony in all knowledge and wisdom and understanding. It is harmonized because it only comes from One source.¬†

All of the great philosophers and thinkers will be proved wrong if they think otherwise. It is not I who will prove them wrong; instead it will be the harmony of knowledge and wisdom and understanding itself. That which emanates from Almighty God, El Shaddai will stare them in the face both in this life and in the next. For many in this life see and yet they do not see, they hear but they do not hear or understand.

Job 28 ¬†”But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its value,¬†nor is it found in the land of the living.” vs. 12-13

“God understands its way, and He knows its place.” vs. 23

“And to man He said, Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.” vs. 28

How powerful is that.

God hides and reveals things. All sorts of things.

Nice thoughts. Think about the implications.

“I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so Father, for it seemed good in Your sight. All these things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” – Matthew 11:25-27

“To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the dispensation of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;” – Ephesians 3:8-9

“For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God” – Colossians 3:3

“I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.” – Matthew 13:35

“Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.” – Romans 16:25-27

“…and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” – Colossians 2:3

Did you see that last one? I like treasure. I think I will seek it. Yes, I think I will go on a treasure hunt and I know just where to start.

Being Compelled To Do What Is Right

Many people looking at Christianity, who do not understand it, just see rules that one must live by. The subject of the difference between legalism and grace can fill pages and pages, however, the quickest way to the heart of the truth is through the greatest commandment. Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind” (Luke 10:27).

Having faith in, and loving God, compels you. That’s the difference. When you believe that God ‘is’, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him, then the love of God grows in your heart. You realize His great love for you, and His great grace towards you, and His great mercy upon you. As you come to this realization it compels you to love Him. Loving Him compels you to listen to Him and obey Him.

Legalism is powerless, not only to save, but also to give power. After placing your faith, trust, and hope in Jesus’ death for your sins, He begins a work in your heart to live His life through you. It is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead that gives power to our mortal bodies and empowers us to live as He would.

Therefore, we are compelled to do right. We are compelled to see what the scripture says about praying, about spending money, about marrying, about government, about church, and all of the issues that pertain to life, because the Word of God speaks to all of them.

Through the ages many people have done things in the name of Jesus or God that have no start in God, and no claim on Him. Why? Because what He has revealed to us in His word is the standard. The infinite and personal God has spoken all the truth (not exhaustively, but truly) so that we can rationally understand what He requires of us. That is a gracious God. That is the beauty of grace.

that’s rubbish

What do we count as rubbish?

I have read Philippians 3 my whole life. Sometimes things hit with a different intensity at different times. Philippians 3:8-9 hit me recently. “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish that I may gain Christ.”

Paul goes on to say not having his own righteousness from the law and works, but that which is through faith in Christ.

What does this mean. This verse made me think of Matthew 10:37-39 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”…

Those verses are related. Paul knows that to gain his life he must lose it. Paul knows that the excellence of the treasure that is knowing Christ by faith is worth far more than any person or thing, so much so that everything is rubbish in comparison.

I have heard nice sermons on being good stewards of the things God has given us and while it is true that we do need to be good stewards of those things… too many times it makes us feel good about stuff. Worthless stuff. It makes us feel good about spending time, energy, and money on worthless stuff instead of being good stewards of the mystery of the gospel of the grace of God that was a secret since the world began and was made known through the church (Rom 16:25, Eph 3:19).

The cool thing is that we are urged to pursue reward. Jesus said to store up treasure in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. The Apostle Paul said that if anyone’s work was worthy they would receive reward (1 Cor. 3:14) (if the work is built on the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ). The writer of the book of Hebrews say that without faith it is impossible to please God for they must believe two things: that He (God) is and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. (Heb. 11:6)

So rubbish? What is rubbish and what is not. What aids us in gaining the excellence of the knowledge of Christ. What hinders us? What things will not last forever? What things will? What things can I “take with me” when I die?

I think the above verses help to greatly clarify those questions.

Jeremiah 2:13

“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns — broken cisterns that can hold no water.” Jeremiah 2:13

I think that verse is incredible in what it shows us about God and a relationship with Him. Speaking to Israel He indicts them with 2 evils that are just as evil for all of humanity in that, we reject Him the “Fountain of Living Water” and all of the perfect, soul satisfying refreshment that He is, and we try and get refreshment and satisfaction from broken cisterns, which we have made, and can’t even hold water. It is so foolish. It is evil to reject the greater pleasure.