spiritual knowledge in the bible

MEMORY VERSE: Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39 BIBLE PASSAGE: Proverbs 2:1-11 INTRODUCTION In the previous lesson we learnt about the desire of every maturing Christian to know more about the mysteries of God. The mysteries of salvation, of the bride of Christ, of godliness, of future life and of the incarnation of Jesus Christ are not taught to babies. To know these mysteries and similar ones requires that one should develop a close intimate personal daily walk with Christ. The resultant effect of this is that one will love Him more and glorify Him alone. Today, we shall be studying on how to increase in our spiritual knowledge in some details. OUTLINES 1. SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES  2. SEEK AND STUDY THE TRUTH SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES How can we know the mysteries of eternal life? Jesus Christ Himself gives a clue: “Search the scriptures,” Jn. 5:39. Searching is indeed a way of obtaining spiritual knowledge since the scripture is the word of God 2 Tim.3:16. God has a purpose in causing His word to be put down in writing Ps.68:11. One of the reasons God caused His word to be written down is so that those who truly desire to know more about Him may search the scriptures and discover Him Rom.15:4. One of the things they will learn as they search the scriptures is that God is a consuming fire Heb. 12:29 and that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hand of the living God Heb. 10:31. Consequently, they will learn to fear Him Deut. 17:19. This will lead them to the path of wisdom, since the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Diligently searching the scriptures makes one wise 2Tim. 3:15. This in turn makes one become well equipped to bear spiritual fruits Jam. 3:17 which are necessary for abiding in Christ. Abiding in Christ enables c know Christ the more, and as we learnt last week, to know Christ is to know all. Moreover, those who search the scriptures will be one to protected from going astray from the truth Matt. 22:29. SEEK AND STUDY THE TRUTH A higher step than searching the scriptures is seeking after the truth. Searching may be done lightly, superficially, but seeking implies a very serious and determined search as if one is looking for a hidden treasure Prov. 2:3-5. Seeking surely brings good result. In fact, those seeking after spiritual knowledge cannot remain ignorant for long because the Bible says that only men of understanding e do any serious seeking Prov. 15:14. Many people of faith consider faith to be enough, but the scriptures encourage even those of ever faith to seek even much deeper knowledge in His word 2 Pet. 1:5. In fact, we are encouraged to spend not only our time but our money also in our quest for spiritual knowledge. We are to invest financial resources to obtain it if need be Prov. 23:23. The joy it brings is priceless Prov. 3:13. There are so much scriptural heresies and errors being circulated around the world today being paraded as truth 2Cor. 11:14. Even when you think that you have found the truth, it will be worth your while to study and search out the truth in order to be sure it is divine truth. Studying the Scriptures involves analysing it, comparing scriptures with scriptures, rightly dividing the word of truth. This may consume time, but its reward is ‘divine approval’ 2Tim 2:15. Also, the more you study the truth, the easier it will be for you to live holy day by day Ps. 119:9 because our souls are being constantly purified by obeying the truth 1 Pet. 1:22 CONCLUSION  In the search for spiritual knowledge, we begin to see why others failed and learn from their errors 1 Cor. 10:11.

MEMORY VERSE: “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by the reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” Hebrews 5:14 BIBLE PASSAGE: Hebrews 5:12-6:2 INTRODUCTION Every healthy Christian who is developing in their walk with God will soon reach a stage when they are no longer satisfied with basics but needs more spiritual knowledge. This is important to our Christian journey if we are to continue to mature in our faith and fulfil the ordained purpose of God for our existence. LESSON OUTLINES 1. HUNGER FOR SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE  2. PREREQUISITES FOR SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE 1. HUNGER FOR SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE Children love milk and the Bible encourages ‘newborn babes’ in the faith to desire the sincere ‘milk of the Word’ to grow 1 Pet.2:2. However, no healthy adult would like to exist merely on milk alone Heb. 5:13. As we increase in our knowledge of God’s word and will, we realise that there is much more to be learnt. The Bible refers to mysteries which are hidden knowledge, wisdom, understanding and certain things Col. 2:2-3; 1 Cor.2:7. The Christian is born again experience is a mysterious process no one can fully explain Jn.3:8. Next to the mystery of the new birth is the mystery of the Bride of Christ Eph. 5:32. How many people make a Bride? How does one head function as a husband to a body of many parts? Then there is the mystery of the Gospel Eph.6:19; the mystery of godliness 1 Tim. 3:16, the mystery of the kingdom of God Mk.4:11 and the mystery of future life 1 Cor. 15:51. Why do we have all these mysteries? What are they? Why are they hidden? These are some of the reasons to hunger for deeper spiritual knowledge in Christ. 2. PREREQUISITES FOR SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE Anyone who wants to know the mysteries of God must satisfy certain conditions Rev. 10:7. To know the mysteries of God, you must know Jesus Christ and be known by Him Hos. 6:3; Phil.3:10, Jn. 10:14. No one would reveal their deepest secret to a total stranger or mere acquaintance. The more we grow our intimate relationship with Christ, the more our knowledge of spiritual things will grow 2 Pet. 3:18. Christ will become our source of spiritual wisdom 1 Cor.1:30, every mystery of God is hidden in Christ Col. 1:17, 19. To know Christ fully is to know all there is to know. The second prerequisite for spiritual knowledge is to fully always commit to do God’s will Rom.12:2; Eph.6:6; 1 Jn.2:17. The more you do His will, the more of Himself He will reveal, because doing His will implies that you love Him Jn. 14:15. Absolute surrender is a third prerequisite for those who want to know the mysteries of God Phil. 3:7-10. No one can truly do the will of the Lord if they are not willing to surrender all. Furthermore, unquenchable, and insatiable thirst, hunger, desire, passion and yearning to know Him more than anything is another prerequisite Matt. 5:6; Jer. 29:13; Prov. 25:2. Few people have exemplified their desire to pursue the knowledge of God like Paul the Apostle Phil 3:7-10 Finally, if one possesses deep spiritual knowledge, they will become meek Jam.3:13, having discovered their own gross insignificance in the light of the vast schemes of God. They will become more like Christ in humility daily Eph.4: 13. The more you know of Christ the easier it will be for you to stop glorifying yourself and start glorifying Jesus Christ. CONCLUSION To know Jesus Christ is to know the Truth, the Way, and the Life Jn. 146. To know Jesus is to know all.