When They Knew

I want to open with this statement ... "A believers faith will never operate beyond their knowledge of God's will."

After reading this statement the other day, I had to stop and think about it for a while.  I'll try to share my thoughts on how it spoke to me.  

Notice this statement doesn't say, "beyond their knowledge of God's Word."  You can read the Word of God, study the many subjects in it, memorize your favorite verses and become familiar with what it says ... and still not have a knowledge of God's will.  All  some people have, is a knowledge of what is printed.

Knowing God's will is totally different from knowing the words in the book.  But I do recommend reading and studying the Word of God.  Get to know what it says ... that's where we start. 

A very wise fellow named Solomon said this about knowledge in Proverbs 18:15 ... "The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge." 

Being prudent is a good thing.  It's acting with or showing care and thought for the future.  Being wise is a little more difficult to put into words.  Part of wisdom would be, having or showing good judgment through experience and knowledge.

So what is this thing called knowledge we are seeking?  I would say, facts and information, and the practical understanding of something.  It can also be an awareness, a true belief as opposed to opinion.  By definition, knowledge ... applies to any body of facts gathered by study, observation or experience.

I found two scriptures where Solomon speaks of his personal quest for wisdom ...

Ecclesiastes 1:3 ... "I gave my heart to seek and search out wisdom ..."

Ecclesiastes 7:25 ... "I applied my heart to know and to search and seek out wisdom ..."

Notice what Solomon did ... he didn't just open his mind and understanding mentally, he gave and applied his heart, the core of his being, and his soul to that search.  I believe he searched what little of the Word of God he had for this wisdom.

Even though knowledge and wisdom are different ... for my purpose today ... let me say that after we gain the knowledge I am speaking of, we need the wisdom to accept it and apply it to our lives.  And that knowledge is God's Word.   

In Hosea 4:6, God speaking through this prophet declares one of the saddest statements in scripture ... "My people are destroyed (perish) for lack of knowledge (awareness) ..."

We today, as believers and followers of the Lord ... for lack of awareness of God's will for us ... not only go through things, but suffer and stay in these things longer than we should.  By saying that, I am thinking like this ... I find it is easier to believe for divine health than trying to believe for divine healing after you're sick.

So I started believing 3rd John 2 ... "Beloved, (that's me) I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."  

God said that.  He just had John write the words.  Now, to be in health, you need to prosper in your soul.  To prosper in your soul, you need to apply your heart to know God's "Word" and "Will" for you.  They are ... one in the same.

So what are some of the things God wants (or wills) for you?  Let's start with ...

Jeremiah 29:11-13 ... "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil ... call upon me ... and you shall find me when you search for me with all your heart."  (edited)

Read that again if you have to.  God's thoughts for you can bring peace, love, health and yes, even healing to you.  That's His ... "will" ... for you. 

Okay ... how do we search for Him?  Read the Book.  Psalms 119:11 ... "Thy word have I hid in mine heart ..."

I opened with this statement ... "A believers faith will never operate beyond their knowledge of God's will."

Why do we study and seek after the knowledge of God?  To know His will for our lives.

How do we pray with faith for a need if we are unsure whether it's God's will for us?  You can't.  It's impossible.  And here is my key scripture ... I've purposely saved it for last.

Luke 9:11 ... "And the people, when they knew, followed Him: and He received them, and spoke unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing."

I cannot say this enough ... "when they knew ... when they KNEW ... WHEN THEY KNEW ..."  what was God's will, things changed.

The people, when they knew, followed Him and Jesus received them and spoke of the kingdom of God ... (what was available for them now, because the kingdom was wherever Jesus was) ... and to prove to the people that "the kingdom of God" did not include sickness and disease, He healed them that had need of healing.

Reading the Word of God and hiding it away in your heart is a good thing.  But ... when you know ... when you apply scripture to your heart and you become aware that His thoughts for health and healing toward you are literally His ... "will" ... for you, then and only then can you operate in the full potential of your faith. 

You must believe the things you ask for are ... His will for you.

"When they knew" ... Jesus received them and healed them. 

   
Comments welcome.