Kingdom's Keys Fellowship
Where God's Kingdom Meets Man's Heart.
Lent 11 Knowledge
‘I just know that I know that I know, I know in my heart.’ That is an expression that indicates the kind of knowing that goes beyond the intellectual. It is an experiential, self-proclaiming conclusion that leapfrogs reason and explanation. It points to the first of three kinds of knowledge, heart knowledge or knowledge based on experience. The second is intellectual knowledge that fills our minds with information and concepts. The third is spiritual knowledge wherein we amass knowledge based on faith, faith-knowledge.
If we really look at knowledge from a perception point of view there is one thing we have to face immediately. No one perceives anything perfectly. Sin has flawed everyone’s perceptions. No one relates perfectly to anyone, no one thinks perfectly, no one has perfect faith and certainly no one feels perfectly. So Paul was absolutely right when he said ‘where there is knowledge it will pass away‘ and twice that ‘we know in part (1Cor.13:8,9,12).’ Jeremiah was even more pointedly honest when he observed, “The heart is deceitful above all things (17:9).”
So then with these discrepancies in knowledge how does one really know anything? Again Paul was right when he asked, “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age (1Cor.1:20)?” In other words nothing that man calls knowledge can be trusted as a standard of perfection. There is no ultimate truth in science, literature, philosophy, psychology or any other academic pursuit. They only know ‘in part.’ Can we really ever be right about anything? The very fact that man searches at all means he is incomplete in every area. That leaves man’s knowledge and perception struggling and yearning for some final assurance, some secure trusted measure.
The bottom line is that we are driven to the one final measuring rod every human being uses, faith. Since everyone has faith in something our task is to point to the One who has perfect faith, perfect knowledge, perfect relationship, perfect perception and is therefore, perfectly trustworthy. That leaves but one person who lays claim to that kind of perfection, the One who was crucified, died and rose from the dead, Jesus the Christ, God the Son.
What does that mean for our flawed nature? Jesus gives us His Holy Spirit to place Him as the One we can trust to find our mind, our heart and our spirit informed by ultimate truth, His knowledge of Himself, the universe and us. This means we shift our focus from man’s incomplete knowledge to the One through whom we believe to be perfect and that is the risen Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and makes necessary knowledge, that which is really necessary for a balanced life, available through faith in Jesus and His Word. All knowledge---heart, head and spirit---finds its resolution and experience as measured within the mind and heart of Jesus and His Word. All of man’s pursuits in mind, heart, spirit and body find their fulfillment in Jesus. Instead of processing what we observe based on flawed perception our need is to process it through Him and His Word. This is where real knowledge is given us not only about what we can’t see but also what we can see. Whether we are dealing with science and technology, the arts, emotionality, politics and how to live personally and socially, it comes down to letting God reveal the perfection He is through our mind, heart and spirit yielded to Him. Since He is the source of everything it follows logically that letting Him be who He is to each of us personally not only opens the door to what we think knowledge is but what He knows it really is.
Letting God be God is not only the beginning of wisdom and truth but also it is the only way a limited mind and heart can find its identity, meaning and purpose. As a beginning exercise read Job 38-42 as God answers Job’s and our ‘why me?’ Then ponder the gist of these chapters, apply them to where you are, we are and what our response is to be. This is the context for understanding the gift of knowledge.
Next…the spiritual gift of knowledge…stay tuned………
If we really look at knowledge from a perception point of view there is one thing we have to face immediately. No one perceives anything perfectly. Sin has flawed everyone’s perceptions. No one relates perfectly to anyone, no one thinks perfectly, no one has perfect faith and certainly no one feels perfectly. So Paul was absolutely right when he said ‘where there is knowledge it will pass away‘ and twice that ‘we know in part (1Cor.13:8,9,12).’ Jeremiah was even more pointedly honest when he observed, “The heart is deceitful above all things (17:9).”
So then with these discrepancies in knowledge how does one really know anything? Again Paul was right when he asked, “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age (1Cor.1:20)?” In other words nothing that man calls knowledge can be trusted as a standard of perfection. There is no ultimate truth in science, literature, philosophy, psychology or any other academic pursuit. They only know ‘in part.’ Can we really ever be right about anything? The very fact that man searches at all means he is incomplete in every area. That leaves man’s knowledge and perception struggling and yearning for some final assurance, some secure trusted measure.
The bottom line is that we are driven to the one final measuring rod every human being uses, faith. Since everyone has faith in something our task is to point to the One who has perfect faith, perfect knowledge, perfect relationship, perfect perception and is therefore, perfectly trustworthy. That leaves but one person who lays claim to that kind of perfection, the One who was crucified, died and rose from the dead, Jesus the Christ, God the Son.
What does that mean for our flawed nature? Jesus gives us His Holy Spirit to place Him as the One we can trust to find our mind, our heart and our spirit informed by ultimate truth, His knowledge of Himself, the universe and us. This means we shift our focus from man’s incomplete knowledge to the One through whom we believe to be perfect and that is the risen Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and makes necessary knowledge, that which is really necessary for a balanced life, available through faith in Jesus and His Word. All knowledge---heart, head and spirit---finds its resolution and experience as measured within the mind and heart of Jesus and His Word. All of man’s pursuits in mind, heart, spirit and body find their fulfillment in Jesus. Instead of processing what we observe based on flawed perception our need is to process it through Him and His Word. This is where real knowledge is given us not only about what we can’t see but also what we can see. Whether we are dealing with science and technology, the arts, emotionality, politics and how to live personally and socially, it comes down to letting God reveal the perfection He is through our mind, heart and spirit yielded to Him. Since He is the source of everything it follows logically that letting Him be who He is to each of us personally not only opens the door to what we think knowledge is but what He knows it really is.
Letting God be God is not only the beginning of wisdom and truth but also it is the only way a limited mind and heart can find its identity, meaning and purpose. As a beginning exercise read Job 38-42 as God answers Job’s and our ‘why me?’ Then ponder the gist of these chapters, apply them to where you are, we are and what our response is to be. This is the context for understanding the gift of knowledge.
Next…the spiritual gift of knowledge…stay tuned………
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