Growing in the Knowledge of God - Day 3 - Seeking God

King David tells us that we have to meditate on the word of God. To meditate does not mean to blank your mind out waiting for God to talk to you.

To meditate means to think about, to chew on, to try and figure out what the different Scripture verses mean and how they can apply to your daily life.

What I have personally found out is that the Holy Spirit will literally guide your thoughts into the revelation that you are seeking after as you are trying to figure something out. In other words, you will find the knowledge you are needing as you are seeking after it.

The Holy Spirit can either guide your thoughts into what the correct answers are by you just using some of your brain power to try and figure things out, or He will guide you as to where those answers are located at.

You can literally learn how to “pull” knowledge directly from the Lord by going into these seeking modes with Him! As you will see in some of the Scripture verses I will list below, it is the job of the Holy Spirit to teach us all things in this life. In other words, the Holy Spirit is our personal Guide and Teacher in this life.

The Holy Spirit can and will communicate to you if you are open to receiving this kind of direct supernatural communication from Him.

The Scripture verses I will list below will show you the extreme importance that God is placing on that each and everyone of us seek to obtain this kind of knowledge from Him. In some of these verses, God is making some very powerful and profound statements. He says:

To think that God the Father is now willing to go this one more extra step with you – that He is willing to make direct, personal contact with you in order to communicate His knowledge to you through His Holy Spirit – is without question the icing on this entire cake!

To those of you who have never really sought after the knowledge of God for your own personal lives – just stop and think for a moment what all of the above Scripture verses are trying to tell you – that in the Person of God the Father and Jesus Christ is perfect and maximum knowledge on all things! I repeat – all things!

And as a born-again child of God the Father – you now have direct access to Him and all of His knowledge on anything that you may need His knowledge on in this life and the new life to come.To think that God Himself is making this kind of extreme, intense, radical statement in that acquiring His knowledge is more important than anything else that we can acquire in this life is as big and powerful of a statement that He can make about what is really most important in this life!

If you are willing to show God that you mean serious business with Him by starting to seek after His knowledge through some of the above avenues, then God will start to supernaturally show Himself to you in this realm, and will start to communicate and transmit His knowledge and wisdom to you covering every area of your life that you are open to receiving His help and knowledge on! 

~Bits and Pieces of "Seek after Knowledge of God"

PRAYER

Father, I thank You and praise You for this day. I dedicate myself, afresh and anew, to You and to Your service. I commit to live and operate today according to Your Word and the principles and precepts that You have established in it.

I place myself in Your hands. I submit my will to Your will. In Your Word You have promised that You will give me wisdom in the affairs of life. I receive Your wisdom in every decision I make. Help me to consider both sides of every issue, to see all the facts involved in every situation and to think clearly and accurately.

When I encounter situations or become involved in circumstances beyond my knowledge or experience, I will yield to the Holy Spirit, Whom You have sent to reveal to me all things. I will ask Him to minister to me, to lead me, guide me and direct me in the truth concerning every matter that I have to deal with today.

I choose by an act of my will to be the very best employee that I can be this day, to give my employer 100 percent of my time, my effort and my loyalty.

Father, according to Your Word, everything that I set my hand to shall prosper. I thank You, Lord, that my work shall prosper today. Show me mistakes before they occur and reveal to me how to be more effective and efficient in my work. Help me to bring glory and honor to You in every action I take, every deed I perform and every word I speak.

Thank You that my mind is active and alert. I put out of my thoughts all my personal concerns, and I focus totally on the work before me, giving full attention to the duties and responsibilities that have been assigned me this day.

I thank You that my enthusiasm for my job will be evident to all concerned, and that the excellent way I perform my duties will be a witness to everyone who comes in contact with me.

I choose to be patient and kind to all those who work with me. Thank You that the faithful shall abound in blessings. No matter what the situation, regardless of the circumstances, I will respond in love and in truth. I will not seek my own way or try to promote myself, but I will be secure in the knowledge that if I am faithful and diligent to do my job to the best of my ability, then recognition and promotion will come—from You.

I refuse to lift up myself, to try to force myself into a position of prominence so that others will notice me. I simply commit myself to do whatever I have been assigned to do with all my strength and might and heart and soul.

Thank You that my honest efforts and godly attitude will become obvious to my superiors so that pay increases and promotions will follow as a matter of course. Help me always to be on the lookout for ways to increase my contribution to the success of my department and the company as a whole. In this way, I will find favor with You and with others.

In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Scripture References:
Psalm 118:24 Romans 12:2
Proverbs 4:20-22 AMP 2 Timothy 2:24 NIV
James 4:7 Proverbs 10:22
Proverbs 2:7 Psalm 75:6,7
John 16:13 Ephesians 6:10
Deuteronomy 28:12 Psalm 5:12
1 Corinthians 2:16

©2011 Word Ministries, Inc.

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Growing in the Knowledge of God - Day 2 - Ask - Seek - Knock

The Bible tells us we have to grow in the knowledge of God. Once you get saved, that is just the beginning. From there, God expects you to grow in the knowledge of Him, His Son Jesus Christ, His Holy Spirit, and all of Their ways.

God has arranged to have all of the spiritual knowledge that we will ever need about Him, His Son, and His Spirit to all be contained in this one Book. You also grow in the knowledge of God through your own personal adventures that you have with Him in your own daily walk, along with learning from other Christians, especially those who are anointed and gifted to be able to teach from His Word.

Not only can God give you all the spiritual knowledge that you will seek after, but He can also give you His knowledge across the board on anything else that you may need His knowledge on in this life.

God can give you His knowledge on how to become better parents for your children, better spouses for your mates, and better at whatever specific job or jobs He will be calling you to do for Him in this life.

If God is calling you to be a policeman, an attorney, a doctor, a nurse, a stay-at-home mom, an architect, a laborer, a sports star – He can give you His direct knowledge in each of those specific areas so as to make you much better at each of those jobs. There is absolutely nothing that God cannot give you His knowledge on if you are open to receiving it and are not afraid to start seeking and pressing in after it!

Many, many Christians are missing out on this part in their walk with the Lord. God will supernaturally communicate His knowledge to you – but you first have to realize that He does want to communicate His knowledge to you – and then you have to learn how to pick it up and properly read it when He does start to try and communicate to you.

If there is one major secret I have learned from the Lord on getting Him to release more of His knowledge to you – is that you have to be willing to go into some type of seeking mode with Him to get it. God will not spoon-feed you forever. The Bible says to ask – and then you will receive. Seek – and then you will find. Knock – and then the door will be opened to you.

Notice in all three of these conditions that you have to be the one to initiate it. You have to be the one to ask, to seek, and to knock.

If you do – then God will answer you, open doors for you, and let you find the answers to your questions and problems.

~Bits and Pieces of Seeking After the Knowledge of God by Bible Knowledge.com

PRAYER

Godly Wisdom in the Affairs of Life

Father, You said if anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of You, Who giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Therefore, I ask in faith, nothing wavering, to be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Today I incline my ear unto wisdom, and I apply my heart to understanding so that I might receive that which has been freely given unto me.

In the name of Jesus, I receive skill and godly wisdom and instruction. I discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight. I receive instruction in wise dealing and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice, and integrity. Prudence, knowledge, discretion, and discernment are given to me. I increase in knowledge. As a person of understanding, I acquire skill and attain to sound counsels [so that I may be able to steer my course rightly].

Wisdom will keep, defend, and protect me; I love her and she guards me. I prize Wisdom highly and exalt her; she will bring me to honor because I embrace her. She gives to my head a wreath of gracefulness; a crown of beauty and glory will she deliver to me. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand are riches and honor.

Jesus has been made unto me wisdom, and in Him are all the treasures of [divine] wisdom, [of comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God]; and [all the riches of spiritual] knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and lie hidden. God has hidden away sound and godly wisdom and stored it up for me, for I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

Therefore, I will walk in paths of uprightness. When I walk, my steps shall not be hampered — my path will be clear and open; and when I run, I shall not stumble. I take fast hold of instruction and do not let her go; I guard her, for she is my life. I let my eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and my gaze is straight before me. I consider well the path of my feet, and I let all my ways be established and ordered aright.

Father, in the name of Jesus, I look carefully to how I walk! I live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as unwise and witless, but as a wise — sensible, intelligent — person, making the very most of my time — buying up every opportunity. Amen.

Scripture References:
James 1:5,6 1 Corinthians 1:30
Colossians 1:9 Colossians 2:3 AMP
Proverbs 2:2 Proverbs 2:7 AMP
Proverbs 1:2-5 AMP 2 Corinthians 5:21
Proverbs 4:6,8,9 AMP Proverbs 4:11-13,25,26 AMP
Proverbs 3:16 AMP Ephesians 5:15,16 AMP

©2011 Word Ministries, Inc.

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Growing in the Knowledge of God - Day 1 - The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Knowledge

This first verse will completely set the stage for you to be able to receive direct knowledge from the Lord. This first verse is literally telling us that God is wanting us to grow in the knowledge of Him and His Son Jesus.

“… but GROW in the grace and KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)

This verse is only one short sentence long, but a lot is being said in it. After we get saved, God expects us to start growing in the knowledge that He wants to transmit to us. And the only way we can spiritually grow is by seeking after the knowledge that will cause this growth to occur in the first place!

This right here is why many Christians are not make much spiritual growth over the course of their lives after they initially get saved – all because they are not seeking after the knowledge of God that will cause this spiritual growth to occur in the first place.

Read more: Seeking After the Knowledge of God

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge” Here properly the book begins, and this is the first of the proverbs, and an excellent one. The knowledge of God is of great importance to our personal and private happiness. "The fear of the Lord" is not meant to be a servile fear, a fear of punishment, of hell, wrath, and damnation, which is the effect of the first work of the law upon the conscience; but a Godly fear, and supposes knowledge of God as a father, of his love and grace in Christ, particularly of his forgiving love, from whence it arises, Psalm 130:4 --- it is a holy, humble, a reverential affection and devotion to God; it includes the whole of religious worship, both internal and external; all that is contained in the first table of the law, and the manner of performing it, and principle of acting: this is the first of all sciences to be learned, and it is the principal one; it is the basis and foundation of all the rest, on which they depend; and it is the head, the fountain, the root and source, from where they spring; and unless a man knows God, knows God in Christ, and worships him in his fear, in spirit and in truth, according to his revealed will, he knows nothing as he ought to know; and all his knowledge will be of no avail and profit to him; this is the first and chief thing in spiritual and scriptural knowledge, and without which all natural knowledge will signify nothing.  

The phrase “the fear of the Lord” is repeated at least 18 times in the book of Proverbs. So we can almost say that “the fear of the Lord” is the basic principle or the foundation on which we should build a life of knowledge and wisdom. The fear of the Lord is not a fear of punishment. The fear of the Lord is a refusal to participate in evil (Job 28:28). To fear the LORD is to hate evil ;( Proverbs 8:13) The fear of the Lord actually protects us from sinning against God, against others and against ourselves. It also means to seek God and listen to God’s wisdom. We look to the word of God as the source of our wisdom. Psalm 112:1 reads, “Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands.” Psalm 128:1 says, “Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who talk in his ways.” Ephesians 5:15-18 reads, “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”

Being wise is different from being humanly smart and clever. Human cleverness actually has to do with corrupted nature of the human mind. We can be humanly clever by carefully observing nature and human behavior. But only those who have the fear of the Lord can be truly wise because God is the truth and the source of all wisdom. Wisdom that does not come from heaven is earthly, unspiritual and of the devil. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, and bears good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:15-17) Therefore, James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” In fact, there are so many blessings of the fear of the Lord. And the fear of the Lord is the foundation for gaining God’s wisdom.

The foundation, the origin, the commencement of knowledge begin with the fear of the Lord - Reverence for God; respect for his law, his will, his government, himself; the fear of offending him, which will lead us to do right. This fear is not that of a slave; it is not mere dread; it is not terror. It is consistent with love, and springs from it. It is consistent with calmness of mind, and promotes it. It does not produce terror, but rather delivers from it, and preserves the mind from alarms.

The Bible says, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29NIV) 

The highest wisdom - the loftiest endowment of man - is that he "May" “Fear” know and honor God. Wisdom is the ability to discern what is edifying from what is harmful, what is safe from what is dangerous. Wisdom is about a right understanding and a right application of the way things really are. The fundamental fact about the way things really are is that God exists and is engaged with the creation. The Bible opens with the words, "In the beginning God created…." This dramatic statement declares God to be the eternal source and foundation of all that is. The Bible proceeds to reveal the person, nature, and character of the triune God who forever is -- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The fear of the Lord is to be God-conscious at all times.

King David demonstrated his fear of God and faith seemingly on a daily basis being God conscious in all circumstances which pleased the Lord. Look at what David says “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts God! How vast is the sum of them!(Psalm 139:7-17)

David’s life was a portrait of success and failure, and it highlights the fact that he was far from perfect. But what made David a cut above the rest was that his heart was pointed toward God. David loved God deeply throughout his entire life. David also loved God’s law and he sought to follow it as best he could. He spent many days meditating on it and trying to apply it to his own life. He knew that God’s law had the power to change lives if it was followed to the letter. Another important character trait that David exhibited was that he had the attitude of gratitude and was very thankful for his life. During his life he had all sorts of trouble, but David thanked God every day no matter the circumstances. And, finally, David was truly repentant. Let us not forget that he was a man just like us who too sinned. But, despite his sin, he always feared God and sought to repent of those sins. He is a role model for all of us sinners who need to repent earnestly. David was indeed a man after God’s own heart.

The fear of the Lord does not make us timid or weak. The fear of the Lord actually gives us strength with reverence and awe. When we fear the Lord, we don’t have to fear anything else. The fear of the Lord is a remedy for all other ungodly and unhealthy forms of fear. It’s like the saying “A man who is intimate with God will never be intimidated. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This shows who the wise men are, and in what true wisdom lies; no man is wise till he fears the Lord, and he that does so is a wise man, at least then he begins to be one; this is the principal part of wisdom, and it is the beginning of grace; it is the first act of wisdom, which appears as soon as a man is converted and caused to know wisdom in the hidden part; as repentance, faith, and love, quickly show themselves in one act or another, so does the fear of God; for the former are never without the latter; for fear is an awe and reverence of the divine Being, joined with love to him, trust in him, and a desire to serve and worship him in a right manner.

~Bits and Pieces of Sermon shared by Bishop Lalachan Abraham

PRAYER - Dear Lord,

I ask you, today, to fill me with the knowledge of Your will, through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

I pray this in order that I might live a life worthy of You, and that I may please You in every way. 

Help me, Lord, to bear fruit in every good work.  

Help me to grow in my knowledge of You.

Strengthen me, Lord, with all power, according to Your glorious might, so that I may have endurance and patience.

I joyfully thank you and praise you, Father, that you have qualified me to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

Amen.