THEME: TRUE KNOWLEDGE COMES ONLY THROUGH GOD’S SPIRIT 

The beginning of the fall and woes of man is the Quest for Knowledge.  Adam and Eve wanted knowledge so man could be equal to and fully independent of God.  This they obtained only to realize that the acquisition of knowledge meant not just disobedience and its consequence of death, but more serious still the fall in glory and exposure to Deception and Enmity of Satan, and a cursed physical environment. Knowledge is an open door of power, spirit power that enables man to engage, perform, establish, perpetuate and glorify himself. 

Yet whatever the attainment, whatever the joys, whatever the glory, all is but temporary, transitory and in fact short.  The glory of man is but grass.  Soon it is cut off, and withers.  The material world is passing away; the kingdoms of the world are surrendering unto God and His Christ. 

The second point we would want to remind ourselves about is that by knowledge no man can find God. By study of the scriptures no man can find God as such, much more the knowledge of Him. Reading and Knowing about God, His Ways, His Will and His Works is not repeat not knowing GOD.  

The gathering and internalization of information about God is good, and can be profitable, very profitable in fact.  But that does not and will not constitute true knowledge of God, much more lead unto promotion, perfection, elevation and/or translation into divine nature.  It cannot by itself lead unto transformation into the son, and the attainment of perfection in the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ and the fullness of God (Rom. 8:29; Eph. 4:12; 3:19). In any case, whatever profit one gains from such knowledge is but temporary and earthly, a non-essential as regards Life, Peace and Joy.  The Life, Peace and Joy of God are spiritual, heavenly and eternal. For example, one does not become a Christian by studying and knowing the scriptures.  Or for that matter by knowing, practicing and enjoying the workings and fruits of principles, religious rituals and the workings of the human spirit power and wisdom. Except a man is born again, he cannot see nor know the true nature of God, much less enter into the Divine Nature and the Heavenly Kingdom Order where God who is Spirit abides, reigns and rules supreme as God of both heaven and earth, all His creation that is.  

Beloved, to know God comes by revelation, the self-revelation of God Himself to the diligent seeker (Eph. 1: 17-18).  For by reason or knowledge no man can find or know God. Therefore, as the scriptures declare, he who seeks God must seek Him diligently, and with a humble heart and contrite spirit (Heb.11:5-6; Is. 57:15). Then will he find Him.  Nevertheless, God reserves the right and prerogative as to what level of diligence, to whom and by what level of response and revelation. God cannot be manipulated nor hamstrung with principles, theories, laws and all that. 

Man may indulge himself with human spirit power and wisdom, operate the laws of nature with astute skills and excellence and fill his table, belly and heart with the joys of goodies.  He may build and has in fact-built kingdoms and empires with treasures of God, stolen or that which was originally granted for God’s Kingdom Glory purposes (John 10:1-11).  Man may learn about and transfer the treasures of God pursuing earthly goals for his own glory (Math. 7:21-23). Man may soar and is soaring in the skies with some glory from the knowledge, power and authority of the one created in the image of God.  But soon, this man passes away with his earthly glory into the grave. For what shall it profit man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?  For what shall a man exchange for his soul? 

It is here that we will humbly request Christians to distinguish the knowledge of God from ordinary knowledge, which is but the compilation and assimilation of information on nature.  Christians should also desist from exulting knowledge for its sake instead of humble seeking after God to know, trust, obey, walk and work with the Holy Spirit and under the wings of the Most High. The fruit from human spirit power, knowledge and wisdom is nothing compared to the fruit from the workings of the Holy Spirit. What human knowledge, human wisdom and human spirit-power can do, boast and be proud of is essentially material, physical and tangible, earthly that is, not heavenly.  The glory of the catalogue of achievable by human spirit power, knowledge and wisdom ends at the grave.  Beyond the grave, the glory ends in death or eternal separation from God and hell, the rejection by GOD. 

It is true knowledge is good and profitable. It is necessary therefore that we learn of the environment, elemental, physical and social, of the possibilities and opportunities within human powers and natural forces, and even more so of the power of the scriptures, the will, light, way, purposes and glory of God, of the person and working power of the Holy Spirit and of the divine power that works within the believer.  

But the knowledge of all these things for us as Christians is not so much to pursue human goals making life pleasurable and joyful on this plane of life as to fulfill the goals and purposes for which God created, called, justified and is glorifying us into perfection in the image of His son. 

We are saved and created anew in Christ for works ordained in heaven and being ordered on earth (Eph. 2:8-10).  The vision, knowledge, purposes and glory of these works and the joy, praise and Glory of God therein are only attainable through prayer, for revelation, power, wisdom, counsel and direction by God.  We are expected to Seek, Find and Know these things so with the Holy Spirit’s direction and accompaniment we can do those things that please God (John 8:29; 16:12-15).  For he who is called and comes to God does not live any more by his spirit and his powers and for himself but by the Spirit and power of God for God (2nd Cor. 5:15; 1st Cor. 2). God has not abandoned His Throne as Creator and God of the Universe.  He shares His glory with no one. His Reign and Rule is written into nature and is permanent. The universe operates as He, the creator created it, set it in motion, and commanded it to go from the beginning.  He holds the world and all that therein is by the power of His word.  His Kingdom is An Everlasting Kingdom. May the children of God therefore know expressly in this direction that not only is corruption, futility and impermanence written in nature, but also that the inheritance of God’s Authority, Power and Glory goes far beyond the glory of the Tower of Babel. Thus, the confusion and pains of wars and rumours of wars, of religious, political and economic tempests can find their root causes in cultural and ethnic diversities, and as it is in the rejection of God that began with the Tower of Babel. 

Similarly, the tall order of famines, pestilences and quakes is the result of the promotion of human knowledge and its glory as against the Knowledge of God, and submission to His sovereignty. That is to say, the clash of civilizations and the confused world order of our day is because men want to build a kingdom order of human Knowledge, a city built with hands to the neglect of God and the rejection of His Kingdom Order on Earth. Therefore, let the people of God set their affections on things above (Col. 3:1-4) and if we should think of the earth/world, it should be to bring down and Build the Kingdom of God on Earth.  As Christians, we live on this plane working and waiting for the city not built with hands, the New Jerusalem, where CHRIST Reigns and Rules in Glory.  Jesus Soon Comes, His reward with Him. 

GOD BLESS YOU. Amen. 

Wednesday, January 14, 2004