KNOWLEDGE I

What is the knowledge which God desires of us? It obviously has much to do with faith. Through faith we must have knowledge of what God wants from us, how he works, what God is and what God does and does not do.

Having The Knowledge Of God

Having knowledge of God is one thing; having the knowledge of God implies that we can go much further. If we conform out lives to what we know, then knowledge of God must bring us closer to him, to deeper lives in God. But knowledge is an integral part of God: what he knows and is. Our objective must then be to know what God knows, for that is an indispensable part of growing in him. And only faith can bring that into being in our lives.

Adding knowledge to faith directs faith by that knowledge, makes it more productive, conforms faith to God’s desires. Thus

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55.8:NIV)

Knowledge brings us into the depths of God: his ways, his purposes. Knowledge is power because it directs our efforts into securing God’s will.

KNOWLEDGE II

Knowledge includes “knowing the mind of God” — understanding what he desires of us, what he wants of us in specific situations.

It is coming to what is really an instinctive understanding of what his specific will is in every aspect and area of our lives, so that we follow his will almost automatically. That instinct can only come from knowledge.

For example, we know that theft is wrong, so we don’t steal. We need to have the same knowledge in all we do or don’t do — not just in matters which are sinful, but simply in every action, even every thought, knowing that God approves/disapproves of this or that.

If we have knowledge, we “know.” This interpretation of “know” is not merely “knowing in principle” but knowing in depth, with understanding and full appreciation. Do we “know” God’s love for us, as a reality rather than as a mere principle we have been taught? If not, how can we really know what he will/will not do for us?

Do we “know” his love for others? If not ...

Do we “know” the extent of God’s power? That it has no extent? If not we are always constrained in perimeters and parameters of faith — there should be no perimeters nor parameters to faith because these always have finite values and therefore impose limits on us, on our expectations. Did Elijah have any on Mt. Carmel when he looked for the rain clouds? (1 Kings 18. 42 - 45)

Other Dimensions Of Knowledge

Knowledge also includes knowing the interconnections between those other qualities in 2 Peter 1. 5 - 7 e.g. How is faith supplemented with effort? How is effort supplemented with knowledge? etc.

So knowledge embraces the interconnections between those factors which contribute to the development of our spirituality e.g. all religious orders have “a rule”. We don’t. Or do we?

-”the rule” is a series of recommendations for ensuring continued spiritual growth.

Some people don’t like “rules of any kind. They equate rules with institutionalism, which is not the same. “Rules” are adopted by those who “know” that unregulated human behaviour is like an untrained horse or dog: erratic, uncontrolled, undisciplined and unlikely to achieve anything.

Knowledge, and acquiring knowledge, requires discipline. All areas of study, for example, are called “disciplines” and they all have their own “rules” for developing their particular area of knowledge. If, as Christians, we are disciples, then we are disciplined.