SPELLING EDITED G-13. HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE!
There are many ways to study the Bible. Some people study the Bible by “books” meaning that they focus on one book of the Bible studying it verse by verse. I have done this myself on occasion but I prefer to study the Bible by “subject”. Studying the Bible by subject means that you pick a KEY “word” that represents the subject you wish to study. For example, let us take the verses where God desires all people to be saved.
Please read 1 Timothy 2:4.
“Who will have ALL men to be SAVED, and to come unto the KNOWLEDGE of the TRUTH.”
Now from this verse, the main subject is God's Will that all of mankind be SAVED but the QUESTION is HOW does God save mankind? We see one key “phrase” with two key “words” which is coming to the “KNOWLEDGE of the TRUTH.” So basically, studying the Bible by “SUBJECT” involves doing “WORD” studies. Now, in this particular study, our focus will be on the “WORD” study of the word “KNOWLEDGE”. But just so that you know salvation comes not from just any kind of knowledge, but rather, salvation comes only from the knowledge of the TRUTH. And not just simply knowing the truth in our heads, but RECEIVING the truth in our hearts by faith and never letting go of the truth. Please consider the warning in God's word where some are ever LEARNING, but never really come to the knowledge of the TRUTH.
2 Timothy 3:7.
“Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Then after learning and coming to the knowledge of the TRUTH we must RECEIVE the TRUTH and hold fast to our faith unto the end where the end is when one dies or the second coming of Jesus whichever comes first. Also, this same verse means that after we are saved it is God's Will, as well, that we continue to come to the knowledge of the truth. In other words, God's will is that we all be saved AND come to the knowledge of the truth in that we all speak the same things and not have divisions in the body of Christ. But some Christians are ever learning and are not yet seeing the TRUTH of the whole word of God. We will cover some of the reasons why they are not seeing the truth even though they sincerely believe that they have the truth and everyone else is teaching false doctrine.
Please read Hebrews 10:26. “For if we sin willfully after that we have RECEIVED the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,”
This passage of Scripture is speaking to “HEBREW” Christians or Jews who became Christians and the warning is that if they go back to seek salvation under the Law of Moses under the Old Covenant then there remains no more sacrifice under the Old Covenant for them to be forgiven. Some Christians have interpreted this verse wrongly and the devil uses their incorrect interpretation to deceive them that they have committed the sin unto death and God no longer loves them. So you can see how important it is to have the CORRECT interpretation of the verses in the Bible. Let us now begin the word study of the word “knowledge”. To do word studies it is best to have a good exhaustive Bible concordance that was made specifically for the translation of the Bible in which you are using. Early on, years ago, the only translation that had an exhaustive concordance was the King James Version of the Bible. But now, some of the newer translations of the Bible also have exhaustive concordances. An exhaustive concordance means that every word in that translation of the Bible can be looked up like one would look up a word in a dictionary in alphabetical order. There are many online Bible concordances. I myself use Biblestudytools.com and I also have E-Sword downloaded on my computer. The download is free and fairly easy to learn and navigate. Some of my readers also suggest Blueletterbible.org which I find easy to use. These are just a few that I use. I also use an online Interlinear literal word-for-word translation called Online Greek Interlinear Bible that has been extremely helpful. If you use a printed book concordance then you should know that you need to look up the word you are searching for, as you would do in a printed dictionary. Once you find the word you are studying in the concordance you will find a list of all the verses in the Bible where that word is found. Now simply read ALL of those verses of Scripture in their CONTEXT and write down the verses that you feel relate directly to the study you are doing. For example, the word save also means except, and, therefore, you would not write those verses down. I myself then read them all together and many times they seem to fall into place in a certain order to tell their own story even without any comments added. The Holy Spirit will cause certain words to jump out at you so to speak that catch your attention so you can see the true meaning of those verses of Scripture. You can then write down what God is showing you in the Scriptures. Before you begin a study of God's word it is wise to always pray and ask God to teach you the truth by his Holy Spirit. Now I have done this word search on the word “knowledge” already and certain verses stood out to me so I have chosen to begin with the word “knowledge” found in Hosea chapter four. Please read Hosea chapter four, verses one through three, and then skipped down to verse six and we will focus on the KEY word “KNOWLEDGE” by highlighting it in green. We will read this passage of Scripture from both the New American Standard Version (NASB) and the Kings James Version (KJV). All verses used in this study will be from the King James Version unless otherwise stated. Also, please notice how the above underlines reference from the Bible is abbreviated. And I also highlighted three little dots in blue that I will explain later. For now, the pair of three dots each means that part of the CONTEXT of Scripture is not being quoted. Most of the time this is done to save space. But beware that missing context sometimes determines the true meaning of a verse of Scripture. We will talk more about the RULE of interpretation in other studies under the heading >>>HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE!<<< In each of those studies I show different examples of how I study the word of God. So they are a study in themselves on how to pray and at the same time they show you how to study God's word.
Hosea 4:1-3,6 from the New American Standard Version.
“LISTEN to the WORD of the LORD, O sons of Israel, (WHY? In other words, as you read the Bible ask yourself questions such as why as the children of Israel being told to LISTEN to the word of Yahweh?) For the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land, (WHY?) Because there is no faithfulness or kindness or KNOWLEDGE of God in the land. (So what happens when the people of the LAND or country lack the KNOWLEDGE of God?) 2. There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing, and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed. 3. THEREFORE, (Or for this REASON of the lack of KNOWLEDGE in the LAND) the land mourns, And everyone who lives in it languishes along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky, and also the fish of the sea disappear... ...6. MY PEOPLE are DESTROYED (WHY?) for (Or God’s people are destroyed BECAUSE OF) LACK of KNOWLEDGE. (WHY?) Because you have rejected KNOWLEDGE, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since (Or BECAUSE) you have FORGOTTEN the law of your God (Or since you have forgotten the KNOWLEDGE of the law), I also will forget your children.”
Remember that the law and the prophets prophesy of Jesus.
And here is Hosea 4:1-3,6 from the King James Version.
“HEAR the WORD of the LORD, you children of Israel: for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, (WHY?) because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor KNOWLEDGE of God in the land. 2. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood touches blood. 3. Therefore shall the land mourn, and everyone that dwells therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away... ...6. My people are DESTROYED (WHY?) for LACK of KNOWLEDGE: (WHY?) because you have REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God (Or since you have forgotten the KNOWLEDGE of the law), I will also forget your children.”
Before we get into studying this passage of Scripture I want to point out the three dots that I have highlighted in a light blue that is SEPARATING verse 3 from verse 6. Whenever you are reading a book or a Bible study and you see these three dots together, either before, between, or after a verse of Scripture, then you will know that a verse or some verses have been LEFT OUT for one reason or another. Sometimes this can be MISLEADING to the proper or correct UNDERSTANDING of the text. However, in this particular case, verses 4 and 5 are more of a distraction than a help to understanding the importance of KNOWLEDGE. It is always a good practice to go ahead and read the entire CONTEXT when studying the WORD of God. By context, I mean several verses before and after the verse you are studying. Sometimes even chapters before and after must be considered to understand the subject at hand. With that being said, let us get to the heart of the matter to gain understanding as to the vital importance of getting knowledge, particularly the KNOWLEDGE of God, or God's KNOWLEDGE the knowledge of the TRUTH. The very first thing we are told in this passage of Scripture is to LISTEN to the WORD of the Lord! Whenever we see words like LISTEN, HEARKEN, HEAR, BEHOLD, and THUS SAYS the Lord, then we need to TAKE HEED to what is being said. These are important words calling us to pay ATTENTION to God's WORD. The children of Israel were commanded to listen to Moses and we are commanded to hear the words of Jesus. You see, everything in the Old Testament under the old covenant does not apply to us as Christians who are under the New Covenant. Certainly, we can learn from Hosea that we are destroyed for lack of knowledge but we also must discern that God no longer deals with his people as a whole. In other words, God does not judge our children by the sins of the parents as he did in the Old Testament under the old covenant. The second thing we see is that the REASON WHY the Lord wants us to LISTEN to his WORD is that he has a case against the LAND. The word “case” here in the King James Version is “controversy”, which means that the Lord has a legal dispute or a point of contention, a grievance, or a cause against the land and his people. In other words, God has a CONTROVERSY with his people Israel and BECAUSE God and his people Israel are NOT in AGREEMENT, then Almighty God CANNOT BLESS his people, and THIS is the REASON that there is violence, swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery in the land and among God's people Israel. So then, the third thing we see is that BECAUSE God's people are NOT in AGREEMENT with him and his WORD, that this CONTROVERSY is the very REASON of WHY all these bad things are in the land stated in verse 2.
Hosea 4:1,2.
“Because there is no faithfulness or kindness, or KNOWLEDGE of God in the land. (So what happens when the LAND lacks the KNOWLEDGE of God?) 2. There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing, and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.”
Then the fourth thing we see is that BECAUSE there is NO FAITHFULNESS, NO KINDNESS, and NO KNOWLEDGE among God's people, then the result of this LACK of KNOWLEDGE produces all the VIOLENCE and bloodshed, which becomes the REASON of why the LAND MOURNS and shall LANGUISH. The word “LANGUISH” here means WEAK-WILLED, to wither, to fade away, to languish, to be feeble, and to be hot or feverish. When you think of hot or feverish you think of being sick, which is a weakened condition. So then, NOT being in AGREEMENT with Almighty God and his WORD causes us to become WEAKENED in our ability to RESIST the wiles of the enemy and causes us to be weak-willed in our pursuit to be STRONG in the Lord to walk in RIGHTEOUSNESS. The fifth thing we see is that because of this LACK of KNOWLEDGE of Almighty God and his WORD among God's people that NOT only are God's PEOPLE DESTROYED, but the WHOLE LAND suffers. And by the whole land, we see in verse 3 that along with God's PEOPLE being DESTROYED that EVERYONE in the LAND, ALONG with the beast of the field, the birds in the air, and the fish are DESTROYED as well. So then, HOW IMPORTANT or HOW CRITICAL is KNOWLEDGE? If you think about it, KNOWLEDGE is important in every aspect of our life. Think about NOT teaching or not giving a small child “KNOWLEDGE” to look both ways before crossing a street. Or for that matter NOT teaching our children anything that will BENEFIT them in life. So think about WHAT this LACK of KNOWLEDGE will bring about in their life! So then, KNOWLEDGE, in general, is of VITAL importance, but even more so is the KNOWLEDGE of Almighty God and His WORD of TRUTH, because life in this present world is only a vapor compared to ETERNITY. Why do I say this? Remember the words of Jesus found in Luke 10:17-20.
Luke 10:17-20.
“And the seventy returned again with JOY, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through your name. 18. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over (Or above) all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20. Notwithstanding in this (In this WHAT? In the fact that God has given you POWER and AUTHORITY over the enemy and even that the devils are subject unto you in the name of Jesus, in THIS) REJOICE NOT, that the spirits are subject unto you; but RATHER rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”
You see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, we can be destroyed by the enemy now in this life and still obtain ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come. And this is the MOST important thing. However, we do NOT have to be DESTROYED by the enemy in this PRESENT world. In other words, we do NOT have to choose one over the other. That is to say, we can have BOTH! We can know and understand our authority in the name of Jesus over the enemy Satan the devil AND also know that our names are written in heaven. So WHY are some CHILDREN of Almighty God DESTROYED or suffer things that they have been FREED from by the atonement and the WORD of Almighty God? Again, the answer is that they LACK the KNOWLEDGE of the TRUTH! So then, WHAT is the SOLUTION to this problem? If you answered this question with, GET KNOWLEDGE, then you are partly correct, but you see we need more than just getting KNOWLEDGE to solve the problem of being destroyed for LACK of KNOWLEDGE. We ALSO need to GET UNDERSTANDING. So then, with our GETTING KNOWLEDGE, we also need to GET UNDERSTANDING. But even having BOTH KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING is still not enough to solve the problem of being DESTROYED for LACK of KNOWLEDGE. For you see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, we ALSO need to GET WISDOM, because the WORD of God teaches us that WISDOM is the PRINCIPAL thing, which we will look at in a moment. But first I would like to explain a little about the DIFFERENCE between KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, and WISDOM. Now, one can have KNOWLEDGE but still LACK UNDERSTANDING. You see, one can have KNOWLEDGE about an automobile having an engine, but LACK UNDERSTANDING of HOW the combustion engine works. Also, one can even have the UNDERSTANDING of HOW the combustion engine works, but still LACKS the WISDOM or ABILITY of HOW to repair the engine, when it ceases to work properly. Can you not see that we need WISDOM in order to have the ABILITY to take KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING and APPLY them to our life? WISDOM is the PRINCIPAL thing as we see in Proverbs 4:7. The Bible teaches us in Proverbs 4:7 that WISDOM is the PRINCIPAL thing and THEREFORE we should get WISDOM and with our getting WISDOM we should also get UNDERSTANDING! So let us read Proverbs 4:7 in its context by reading the whole chapter of Proverbs chapter, verses 1-27.
Proverbs 4:1-27.
“HEAR, you children, the INSTRUCTION of a father, and ATTEND to KNOW UNDERSTANDING. 2. For I give you good doctrine, forsake you not my law. 3. For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let your heart RETAIN my words: keep my commandments and live. 5. GET WISDOM, get understanding: forget it NOT; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6. Forsake her not, (WHY?) and she shall preserve you: love her, and she shall keep you. 7. WISDOM is the PRINCIPAL thing; THEREFORE (Or for this REASON) GET WISDOM: AND (And WHAT? AND) with all your getting get UNDERSTANDING. 8. Exalt her, (WHY?) and she shall promote you: she shall bring you to honor when you do embrace her. 9. She shall give to your head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to you. 10. HEAR, O my son, and RECEIVE my sayings; and the years of your life shall be many. 11. I have taught you in the way of WISDOM; I have led you in the right paths. 12. When you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not stumble. 13. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; (WHY?) for (Or BECAUSE) she is your life. 14. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 15. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 16. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief, and their sleep is taken away unless they cause some to fall. 17. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. 18. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day. 19. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. 20. My son, ATTEND to my WORDS; incline your ear unto my SAYINGS. 21. Let them NOT depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart. (WHY?) 22. For (Or BECAUSE) they (God's WORD) are LIFE unto those that find them, AND (God’s words are) HEALTH to ALL their FLESH. 23. KEEP your heart with all diligence; (WHY?) for out of IT (Your HEART) are the issues of life. 24. Put away from you a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from you. 25. Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids look straight before you. 26. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. 27. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove your foot from evil.”
WOW! There is a lot in this passage of Scripture! But for now, I want to focus on GETTING WISDOM and with our GETTING WISDOM that we ALSO GET UNDERSTANDING of the KNOWLEDGE that we obtain from God’s word. Now you may have noticed that I EMPHASIZE quite a bit in the studies I write. I do this because these are the words that jump out at me, so to speak, as I did this study on coming to the knowledge of the TRUTH. I also add comments and questions like WHY? I do this wherever the word “FOR” or the word “BECAUSE” is used when the word “for” carries the same meaning of “because”. In other words, because WHY? Also, whenever you see the word “THEREFORE”, then find out why the word is there FOR or what is the REASON which comes either before or after the words “therefore” and “wherefore”? Asking God questions as you read helps bring the understanding of what you are reading in his word the way he intends us to understand. Also, get a good dictionary and look up the words even if you THINK you already know what they mean. I prefer the OLDER and usually out-of-print dictionaries because they have the OLD English meaning of the words. I myself use the American Heritage Dictionary, but an older Webster dictionary is also good. Any dictionary that gives the older English definitions that are no longer used in today's world. Also, when looking up words in the concordance you will find a number. Each verse may have a DIFFERENT number to let you know that the English translation was taken from a DIFFERENT Greek or Hebrew word. In other words, there is more than just one Greek word that is translated as knowledge. When this is the case and there is a CONTROVERSY over the true meaning of a verse in question then it is very important to understand that this DIFFERENCE in the original language can affect the CORRECT interpretation of the verse in question. We will get more into detail of what I mean by this as you continue this study in God's word on how to study the Bible. Let us begin by looking at WHAT the Bible itself calls WISDOM. We know that WISDOM in general simply means the ABILITY to APPLY the KNOWLEDGE that we have obtained. In the simplest term, this is what wisdom means, to APPLY what we have learned in our lives to our lives. However, the WORD of God reaches much deeper into the TRUE meaning of WISDOM. So then, let us see what the WORD of God has to say about WISDOM.
Please read Job 28:28, which says.
“And unto MAN (Or mankind) he said, BEHOLD, the FEAR of the Lord, THAT (Or so that, speaking of the FEAR of the Lord ) IS (To GET) WISDOM; and to DEPART from evil IS UNDERSTANDING.” Then in Psalm 111:10, we read.
“The FEAR of the LORD is the BEGINNING of WISDOM: a GOOD UNDERSTANDING do all they have that DO his commandments: his praise endures forever.”
So then, they that DEPART from evil and DO the COMMANDMENTS of Almighty God HAVE a GOOD UNDERSTANDING and possess the BEGINNING of WISDOM because they have the FEAR of the Lord. Now, when some Christians read the Old Testament they seem to forget that we, as Christians, are under the NEW COVENANT where the words of God for the NEW covenant are written in the New Testament. And by NOT rightly dividing the word of TRUTH some have become deceived by the enemy to be brought under the OLD covenant to keep all that is written in the Old Testament. This is NOT having a GOOD UNDERSTANDING of the WHOLE word of Almighty God. We read in Proverbs 1:7 that the FEAR of the Lord is the beginning of KNOWLEDGE rather than the fear of the Lord being WISDOM which some may see as if the Bible is contradicting itself, but in all actuality, KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING leads us to obtain WISDOM. Either way, the Bible is teaching us the vital importance of the FEAR of the Lord. For a deeper understanding of this subject please read the study called “WHY do we ALL NEED the FEAR of the LORD?”.
Proverbs 1:7.
“The FEAR of the LORD is the beginning of KNOWLEDGE: but fools despise wisdom AND instruction.”
There is no salvation under the old covenant. We must keep the New Covenant to be saved and receive eternal life in the world to come. On the surface, it seems like it is a vicious circle, so which comes FIRST? Well for me, I think KNOWLEDGE comes FIRST. And I say this because Romans 10:14-21 teaches us the question, how shall we know to believe in what we have not heard or learned concerning the knowledge of God’s so great a salvation.
Romans 10:14-21.
“HOW then shall they (KNOW to) call on him in whom they have not believed? And HOW shall they believe in him of whom they have NOT heard? And how shall they HEAR without a preacher (Or an INSTRUCTOR in the KNOWLEDGE of God’s righteousness)? 15. And HOW shall they preach, except they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16. But they have NOT all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias (Or Isaiah) says, Lord, who has BELIEVED our report? 17. So then faith COMES by HEARING, and hearing (Or more specifically, UNDERSTANDING COMES. Not just understanding, but understanding the TRUTH comes) by the WORD of God. 18. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their SOUND went into all the earth, and their WORDS unto the ends of the world. 19. But I say, Did NOT Israel KNOW? (Or have KNOWLEDGE. The children of Israel in the wilderness had HEAD knowledge, but they did not have TRUE UNDERSTANDING for if they did, then they would have RECEIVED God's word and they would have OBEYED God's word to go and POSSESS the land. And they would have understood that Moses spoke of another whom God would raise up among the people and that they were to obey that prophet's words?) First Moses says I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation, I will anger you. 20. But Esaias (Isaiah) is very bold, and says, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21. But to Israel he says, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.”
You see, KNOWING or just having KNOWLEDGE is NOT the SOLUTION to NOT being DESTROYED for LACK of KNOWLEDGE. One can KNOW that there is a God, but this KNOWLEDGE or KNOWING that there IS a God is NOT a solution for NOT being destroyed for LACK of KNOWLEDGE. Even most atheists have KNOWLEDGE that there is a God, but they do not RECEIVE this knowledge and being the TRUTH. The Jews believe in the true God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob but they are still destroyed for lack of knowledge. I know this may sound a bit confusing at first, but if you will stick with me it will all come together before this study is completed. I am showing you HOW I, myself, study the word of God. As you follow some of the BASIC rules of interpretation, you may find a better way that fits your style of studying. First, we see from Romans 10 that Israel did, in fact, KNOW or have KNOWLEDGE of God and his commandments, but yet God REJECTED them. WHY? BECAUSE they did NOT APPLY the KNOWLEDGE that they had been given by the INSTRUCTORS, the prophets, and priests, and judges, and so on. They did not KEEP the WORD of the Lord in their hearts to OBEY all that God had INSTRUCTED them to DO. In short, they did NOT BELIEVE! They searched the Scriptures for eternal life but they lack the knowledge or true understanding that the Scriptures speak of Jesus as being the Christ, the one PROPHESIED to come caused them to reject Jesus. They simply did NOT BELIEVE the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Again, FAITH comes by hearing. We can hear something that is false and still wrongly believe that which is false as being true. Unbelief is still faith in what is not the truth. This is why the Bible says that faith comes by hearing AND hearing comes by the WORD OF God. A better translation would be that faith comes by hearing and UNDERSTANDING or TRUE UNDERSTANDING of the truth comes by the word of God. This APPLYING the KNOWLEDGE of God's WORD is WISDOM. Having wisdom is having the ability to APPLY knowledge and understanding to produce a POSITIVE result.
Let us go to Hebrews 4:1,2 which says.
“Let us therefore FEAR, lest (Or for fear that), a PROMISE (Or that which has ALREADY been PROVIDED for us of Almighty God or) being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2. For unto us was the gospel PREACHED, (Or we were given KNOWLEDGE) as well as unto them (Or in other words, they HEARD that same WORD taught to them that is taught to us) but the WORD preached (Or the KNOWLEDGE that they obtained) did NOT profit them, (WHY?) NOT being MIXED with FAITH in them that HEARD it.”
So then, here we see the vital importance of BELIEVING or having FAITH in the WORD of God. For you see, it is through FAITH or BELIEVING the WORD of KNOWLEDGE that we have obtained through teaching and preaching that is APPLIED to our lives, which is WISDOM. Hebrews 11:6 teaches us that we must first believe that God IS and that he is the REWARDER of them that diligently seek him. And in this same verse, we also learn that it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God without FAITH.
Hebrews 11:6.
“But WITHOUT FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to PLEASE him: for he that comes to God MUST BELIEVE that he IS and that he is a REWARDER of them that DILIGENTLY SEEK him.”
From this verse, we see that God IS and that he IS a REWARDER of those who DILIGENTLY SEEK him, which teaches us that KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, and WISDOM do not come without some EFFORT on our part. With that being said, let us look at some of the verses of Scripture that implore us to SEEK after KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, and WISDOM. Please read Psalm 51:6 which teaches us that God not only desires that our hearts possess the word of TRUTH, but that God will GIVE or to make us know WISDOM.
Psalm 51:6.
“Behold, you desire TRUTH in the inward parts: (Or our hearts also called our spirit) and in the hidden part (Or in my heart or inner man) you shall make me to know WISDOM.”
So then, when the word of TRUTH gets into our HEARTS or in our INNER man, then God makes us to know WISDOM or how to APPLY this knowledge of the TRUTH to our lives. Just having HEAD knowledge about the things of God will not PRODUCE the positive result that we desire. So by reading and meditating on God's word brings us to a place where we make what I call a “QUALITY DECISION”. What I mean by this is that we reach a crossroad, so to speak, where we must decide if God is a liar or his word is TRUTH. When my daughter was born she was born with a defect and the doctor said that if she did not receive immediate surgery she would be dead in nine days. My wife was very fearful for our newborn four-week-old baby daughter to have surgery, so we agreed to BELIEVE God for our daughter's healing. Now, I had only just recently become a Christian less the two years and I was only still learning about divine healing but I knew enough to know in my HEAD that God's word is TRUE. I had already been healed of things like colds and the flu but this was a LIFE and death matter for our daughter. We were both in agreement and we began trusting God for our daughter's healing with our HEAD knowledge. I keep saying head knowledge because I want you to see HOW my head knowledge became HEART FAITH. The doctor gave us a list of things that would take place during these nine days. By a list of things, I mean that the doctor described a list of symptoms that would occur in our daughter, and by nine days she would be dead. In our HEADS we expected our daughter to be healed on day one or by day two at the latest. I began to fast and pray on day one taking authority of the sickness in the name of Jesus. We both had the understanding that healing was not always instant, but nothing tried my faith more than this trial. After seven full days and nights of fasting, I broke my fasting on day eight. This was the last day we had because ALL of the symptoms the doctor laid out before us, came to pass just like he said they would so we were within the last hours to receive our daughter's healing. I sat down that evening after work and read all the verses I knew at the time on healing and I took my Bible and held it up to God and said to him. “If words, mean anything at all, then according to YOUR WORDS, God, my daughter is healed. Now if she dies, then I will hold YOU ACCOUNTABLE on the Day of Judgment!” I mean I got right in God's face, so to speak, and then it hit me. A KNOWING came within me. Suddenly I KNEW that I would NOT have to hold God accountable on the day of judgment because I KNEW that my daughter was HEALED just like God's word states that with his stripes we ARE HEALED. I had PEACE even though nothing changed with our daughter's SYMPTOMS. I told my wife, as in, I FORETOLD to my wife exactly what would happen. I said to her that our daughter IS healed. I said I will go to work tomorrow, the NINTH day, and when I come home our daughter will be perfectly healed with NO MORE symptoms. I rejoiced all day at work that next day and when I came home it was just as I prophesied it would be. NO MORE symptoms. Our daughter was healed and today she has two daughters of her own. Some Christians have HEAD knowledge only and this is one of the reasons why some Christians are destroyed by the enemy. The lacking of knowledge goes DEEPER to mean lacking HEART FAITH. You see dear children of God, just TRYING to believe is not having heart knowledge, which is KNOWING that you KNOW that you know deep within you having a peace that passes all natural understanding. I am not sure one can understand what heart faith is until they have experienced it for themselves.
Psalm 90:12 says.
“So teach us to number our days, (WHY?) that (Or so that) we may APPLY our hearts unto WISDOM.”
Now in the context, this verse is speaking about APPLYING our hearts to WISDOM in KNOWING that the NUMBER of the days of man is 70 to 80 years of age so that the enemy will not steal or cut short our life through sickness and disease. For example, if a person is 40 years old and the doctor gives them no hope of turning 41 then they need to APPLY their heart unto WISDOM to know that the NUMBER of their days is no less than 70 years of age and they do NOT have to let the Devil steal that 30 years of life away from them. For a deeper understanding of this subject, please read the study entitled “OUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED” But for now, let us continue with reading the word of God that teaches us to DILIGENTLY SEEK after KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, and WISDOM. Please read Proverbs 2:1-22.
“My son, if you will RECEIVE my WORDS, and HIDE my commandments with you; (Or hide my commandments in your HEART) 2. So that you incline your ear unto WISDOM, and APPLY your heart to understanding; 3. Yea, if you cry after (Or pray for and seek after) KNOWLEDGE, and lift up your voice for UNDERSTANDING; (And this is what I did on that eighth day when our daughter only had one day left according to the doctor. In my dialog to God I was saying I do not understand why my daughter is not healed yet because if words mean ANYTHING at all, then according to your word she is healed, BUT she is still having all the symptoms and time is running out! In other words, I need to understand right NOW Lord and it cannot WAIT any longer! This is what the CRY of my heart was to God. And instantly the ANSWER came. God gave me a WITNESS in my HEART. My head knowledge BECAME HEART knowledge, a KNOWING, a PEACE, an assurance that cannot be explained in words, but must be EXPERIENCED personally) 4. If you SEEK her (Wisdom) as silver, and SEARCH for her (Wisdom) as for hid treasures; 5. Then shall you understand the fear of the LORD, and find the KNOWLEDGE of God. 6. For the LORD GIVES WISDOM: out of his mouth comes KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING. 7. He lays up SOUND WISDOM for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 8. He keeps the paths of judgment and preserves the way of his saints. 9. Then shall you UNDERSTAND righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. 10. When WISDOM ENTERS into your HEART, and KNOWLEDGE is pleasant unto your SOUL; 11. Discretion shall preserve you, (The word translated as discretion here means purpose, which stresses what God thinks to be he PURPOSES by his spoken word to be and it will be as God has spoken. I did not know this meaning at that time in my life, but now that I do know it I am blessed all the more to understand God's FAITHFULNESS to his WORD. God must produce what he has SPOKEN. In other words, not ALL of mankind will be saved even though it is God's WILL for all of mankind to be saved. God himself SPOKE in his WORD that it pleased him that BY the foolishness of PREACHING that men be saved who BELIEVE) UNDERSTANDING shall keep you: (So understanding that God's word must be BELIEVED before salvation comes or is RECEIVED shall keep you BELIEVING unto the END. The end in the case of healing is when one receives their healing in the physical and all symptoms are no more. The word translated as “saved” also means to be healed and made whole. Now the context here is speaking of God's word keeping us from sin. We must BELIEVE that we can and WILL live free from sin and this understanding will KEEP us from sinning) 12. To deliver you from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaks froward things; 13. Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; 14. Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; 15. Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: 16. To deliver you from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flatters with her words; 17. Which forsakes the guide of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God. 18. For her house inclines unto death and her paths unto the dead. 19. None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life. 20. That you may walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. 21. For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. 22. But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.”
Again, there is a lot in this passage of Scripture, but our focus, for now, is the SEEKING after KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, and WISDOM. Please read Proverbs 3:13-18, which teaches us that happy are those that FIND WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING. I have heard through the years where Christians ask WHY? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does God allow tragedy? Some even BLAME God for everything that happens. But for me, this never set very well in my spirit so I pursued a deeper UNDERSTANDING and the Holy Spirit showed me something that has truly blessed and help me UNDERSTAND the reason WHY God allows many things even though it is NOT his WILL for them to be. I encourage you to read the study that I have entitled “UNDERSTANDING WHY”, but for now, please read
Proverbs 3:13-18, which says.
“HAPPY is the man that FINDS WISDOM, and the man that GETS UNDERSTANDING. (WHY?) 14. For (Or because) the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15. She is more precious than rubies: and all the things you can desire are not to be compared unto her. 16. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left-hand riches and honor. 17. Ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18. She IS a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retains her.”
Now from this passage of Scripture, we can see that true WISDOM is speaking of JESUS, because one can only obtain eternal life through Jesus, and WISDOM is called a tree of life. And thus getting understanding with the knowledge of the truth brings us to Jesus the PRINCIPLE thing that the Scriptures intend us to get. God wants us to get JESUS. Now if you go back and read all these verses of Scripture KNOWING that wisdom is a hidden PROPHECY of Jesus then you will see a whole lot more that you did not see before you came to understand that getting wisdom speaks of getting Jesus. Please read Proverbs 8:1-36 which sheds more light on WISDOM being a type or shadow that speaks of Jesus. In other words, read Proverbs chapter 8 as PROPHECY and you will see things that you may not have seen before. So above all get WISDOM or ABOVE ALL get Jesus! WISDOM is the PRINCIPLE thing or Jesus is the PRINCIPLE thing!
Proverbs 8:1-36.
“Does not WISDOM cry? And UNDERSTANDING put forth her voice? 2. She stands at the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. 3. She cries at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. 4. Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man. 5. O you simple, understand WISDOM: and, you fools, be you of an understanding heart. 6. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things, the opening of my lips shall be right things. 7. For my mouth shall speak the truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. 9. They are all plain to him that understands, and right to them that find KNOWLEDGE. 10. RECEIVE my instruction, and not silver; and KNOWLEDGE rather than choice gold. (WHY?) 11. For (Or because) WISDOM is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. 12. I WISDOM dwell with prudence, and find out KNOWLEDGE of witty inventions. 13. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and being arrogant, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. 14. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am UNDERSTANDING; I have strength. 15. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 16. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. 17. I love them that love me, and those that SEEK me early shall FIND me. 18. Riches and honor are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. 19. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. 20. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: 21. That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. 22. The LORD (Speaking of Almighty God) possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 24. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills were I brought forth: 26. While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 28. When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29. When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 30. Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 31. Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights were with the sons of men. 32. Now, therefore, hearken unto me, O you children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. 33. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 34. Blessed is the man that hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 35. For whoso FINDS me FINDS life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD. 36. But he that sins against me, wrongs his own soul: all they that hate me love death.”
Verse 12 clearly shows us that WISDOM is speaking in the first person and if we follow the pronoun use all the way down through verse 35 we clearly see that whosoever finds WISDOM, which I believe is referring to those of us who come to the KNOWLEDGE of the TRUTH concerning JESUS, being the SON OF the living God, the Christ, who suffered and died for our sins finds LIFE, as in, ETERNAL life. That is to say, whosoever finds JESUS finds LIFE speaking of ETERNAL LIFE, which only comes through the knowledge of the TRUTH concerning JESUS the Christ, the SON of the living God. So then again, when the Bible teaches us that the PRINCIPAL thing is WISDOM it is actually speaking of the PRINCIPAL thing being JESUS. Rejoice that your name is written in the book of life is the PRINCIPAL thing; all else are blessings and benefits of salvation. Proverbs 7:4 teaches us the principle of calling the things that are not as though they were. In other words, this verse teaches us the importance of speaking the right words.
Proverbs 7:4.
“SAY unto WISDOM, You are my sister, and CALL UNDERSTANDING your kinswoman:”
For a deeper understanding of the vital importance of speaking RIGHT WORDS both in prayer and our everyday speech please read the study entitled “THE POWER OF OUR WORDS”. But for now, let us finish taking a look at some more verses that teach us to SEEK after KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, and above all FINDING JESUS which IS WISDOM. Please read the following verses:
Proverbs 9:10.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
Proverbs 15:33.
“The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.”
Proverbs 16:16.
“How much BETTER is it to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!”
Proverbs 17:16.
“Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he has no heart to it?”
Proverbs 17:24.
“Wisdom is before him that has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.”
Proverbs 18:1.
“Through DESIRE a man, having SEPARATED himself, SEEKS and intermeddles with all WISDOM.”
Proverbs 18:4.
“The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.”
We also know from Luke 2:52 that Jesus INCREASED in WISDOM and in favor with God and man. So we cannot always make the word wisdom to be a prophecy of Jesus. For example, the word water in the Bible can be referring to people but that does not mean that the word water in the Bible always refers to people. The meaning of the word wisdom is to APPLY knowledge and understanding. Wisdom also teaches us HOW to apply knowledge and understanding. And Jesus grew in wisdom being taught of God visiting him morning by morning giving him the tongue of the learned. And even at the young age of twelve the teachers of the law marveled at his understanding. How could he know such things without being taught? Little did they know that it was God Himself teaching the young child, Jesus, by His Holy Spirit morning by morning. Luke 2:52.
“And Jesus INCREASED in WISDOM and stature, and in FAVOR with God and man.
So if Jesus needed to increase in WISDOM and FAVOR with God and man, then how much more do we need to SEEK after, KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, and WISDOM? Luke 21:12-15 teaches us that when we are persecuted and brought before men to give an answer of our faith that we are not to take thought of what we are to say beforehand but that Jesus through the Holy Spirit will give us WISDOM and the words to speak, the moment we need them.
Luke 21:12-15.
“But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 13. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15. For I will GIVE you a MOUTH (Or words to speak) and WISDOM, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.”
And this is what God did for me when I cried out for understanding during that trial when my daughter was being OPPRESSED by Satan the enemy. God gave me words to speak out in FAITH to my wife as a way of calling things that were not yet manifested in the physical to be PROPHESIED. There is something about SPEAKING God's word by FAITH the things we desire to be in the WAY we want them to be. In other words, STOP praying what IS and SPEAK forth what you desire to BE exactly the way you want them to be. Some Christians remain in the NEGATIVE and continue to confess and believe what they SEE and FEEL, and therefore they RECEIVE what they are SAYING, and then they blame God for not answering their prayer. What if you were to preach the gospel to someone and they keep asking God to save them? You would say to them STOP ASKING God to save you and BELIEVE his WORD that he HAS ALREADY saved you! You would tell them to CONFESS that they ARE saved and that they must continue to BELIEVE that they ARE saved, and THEN God will give them that WITNESS deep in the heart where they will KNOW that they KNOW that they are saved. So how is BELIEVING God's word for physical healing any different? It is not any different! So GET UNDERSTANDING that we must call things that are not yet manifested in the physical just as IF they are already. When heart faith ENTERS then that peace will keep you and you will rejoice as IF you already HAVE what you are believing God to receive. So meditate on God's word until that KNOWING comes or ENTERS into your heart and you PROPHESY what you desire to BE.
Acts 6:10 says it like this.
“And they were not able to RESIST the WISDOM and the SPIRIT by which he spoke.”
When Jesus spoke he spoke in AUTHORITY. When I spoke those words to my wife in AUTHORITY she could not resist them and her faith rose in her. The devil cannot resist the words we speak in AUTHORITY when we are speaking in AGREEMENT with God's word. Now that we KNOW without a doubt that it is God's WILL for us to INCREASE in KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, and WISDOM, then let us use the following passages of Scripture to PRAY and ASK Almighty God for these things. Please read the following passages of Scripture and then put them in your own words as a PRAYER to Almighty God in SEEKING after KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, and WISDOM in every area of our life.
Ephesians 1:15-23.
“Wherefore, I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16. Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the SPIRIT of WISDOM and REVELATION in the KNOWLEDGE of him. 18. The eyes of your UNDERSTANDING being enlightened; that ye may KNOW what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20. Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21. Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come: 22. And has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23. Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all.”
Colossians 1:9-12.
“For this cause, we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the KNOWLEDGE of his will in all WISDOM and SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING; 10. That you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and INCREASING in the KNOWLEDGE of God; 11. Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness; 12. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:”
Colossians 3:12-17.
“PUT ON, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man has a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you. 14. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be you thankful. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all WISDOM; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17. And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
James 1:5-8.
“If ANY of you LACK WISDOM, let him ASK of God, that GIVES to ALL men liberally, and upbraids not; and it SHALL be GIVEN him. 6. BUT let him ask in FAITH, nothing wavering. (WHY?) For (Or because) he that WAVERS is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7. For let not, that man (The man or woman that WAVERS or DOUBTS when they pray, let not THAT person) think that he shall RECEIVE anything of the Lord. (WHY?) 8. A double-minded man (Or a person that WAVERS and DOUBTS) is unstable in all his ways.”
This is WHY we go to the very WORD of Almighty God in order to find out WHAT his WILL IS for us. For you see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, God's WORD IS God's WILL for us! Therefore if we find it written in his WORD, then we can be ASSURED that it IS his WILL, and then we can stand upon the PROMISE found is 1 John 5:14,15 as a “WRITTEN GUARANTEE”, so to speak, that our PRAYERS will not only be HEARD but also ANSWERED in the very way in which we PRAYED them.
1 John 5:14,15.
“And THIS is the CONFIDENCE that we have in him, THAT, if we ask ANY thing according to his WILL, he HEARS us: 15. And if we KNOW that he HEARS us, WHATSOEVER we ask, we KNOW that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
Therefore, since we KNOW that it IS God's WILL for us to come to the KNOWLEDGE of the TRUTH and to GET WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING, then all that is left for us to do is ASK. But let us ask in FAITH without WAVERING, and we SHALL HAVE the things that we have ASKED in prayer BELIEVING we shall RECEIVE them. Remember what we learned in the study “ALMIGHTY GOD LOVES YOU SO VERY MUCH!” that God is ALWAYS FAITHFUL and he will DO what he said he would DO! Then once the HEAD knowledge ENTERS into your HEART be bold to speak forth as PROPHECY what God is leading you to speak out in FAITH. Call what things are not yet manifested just as though they are already and REJOICE and praise God giving him thanks for ANSWERING your prayer even though you do not SEE or FEEL the answer has been given by any PHYSICAL evidence. Now that the BASICS are laid as to how to study the Bible let us move on to when Christians do NOT AGREE with each other on what a particular verse means. In other words, when some Christians say that they are teaching the truth and other Christians say that they are teaching the truth, but yet what each group of Christians is teaching CONTRADICT each other. To say this another way, we all know that there are MANY different church denominations, which have teachings that do NOT AGREE or say the SAME things. So HOW can we know what teachings are the TRUTH and which teachings are in error? As I say in many of the studies I have written that any verse when read ALONE and APART from the rest of God's word may SEEM or may be made to seem to teach something that it is NOT TRULY teaching when that verse is CORRECTLY interpreted by the CONTEXT and then compared with other Scripture to be rightly divided in the light of the WHOLE word of God. In other words, if so be that any interpretation you conclude that a particular verse or verses mean CONTRADICTS any other part of God's clear, plain and simple word of God, then that interpretation that was concluded is NOT the correct interpretation of that verse. As you read other studies that I have written you will find a little here and a little there of how to study the Bible more in-depth. But for now, this study will give you a SOUND foundation upon which you will GROW in knowledge, understanding, and the wisdom of God's word. Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to study his word. Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
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