The origin of true knowledge

Today, I discuss a subject of increasing importance, especially as the world has we know it is seeing a great rise in secularism, heathenism and paganism. It is the increase of esoteric knowledge that human beings are increasingly seeking to possess and choose over the knowledge of the scriptures that God would rather have us mull over.

Fallen angles have delivered to humanity esoteric knowledge that God would rather us not have until we have developed wholesome character. It is God's will that human beings inherit the earth, with all the wholesome goodness therein. The precious metals and stones, the herbs, roots and vegetation therein and life eternal and great knowledge about our environment and our potential  is ours to inherit. However, it is God's desire that like children who are to grow and inherit great wealth from parents, we first come to maturity and develop the spiritual values needed to properly manage the inherited estate. God has predestined us for possession of  knowledge, possessions and wealth (Romans 8:29; Ephesians 1:5; Luke 12:32), but has set for us that our character development can only take place over a span time.


Imagine for a second that God could have made us perfect beings from the beginning possessing all the knowledge that we need in order to fully manage the earth. In the garden of Eden where it first began, human beings existed in a state of innocence, daily interacting with God each evening and executing  responsibilities given daily over a time in order to understand their needs, who they are and the goodness of God. Adam and Eve were given the mandate by God to dominate and subdue their natural world and to develop the spiritual values of God (Genesis 1:26). We were created to be like God and to control all the resources of the earth. In the first description of the garden of Eden, we learn of the wealth of the land that mankind first inhabited. In Genesis 2:11-12, we learn of the precious metals that were in the land. However, it was through relationship with God and other human beings (plus the animal kingdom and the earth environment) that God intended to fit and equip human beings to possess all the wealth.

Today, our world system,  informed by fallen angels, encourages human beings to place emphasis on extracting precious stones and metals, at the expense of relationships with other fellow human beings, animals and the earth. Wealth and greed is stressed and emphasized, with greed being seen as ambition. Yet in God's system, it is relationships that is stressed and emphasized, with the emphasis on sharing our world with the other inhabitants. It is in meekness that God says that we shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). It is through being patient and waiting on God to daily deliver through our relationships and interaction with him and the others on earth, as well as the earth, that we are to learn what we need to properly manage all that the earth possesses.

Let us today endeavour to seek after the kingdom of God that we lost, for in it we have everything we need (Matthew 6:33). This kingdom though is inherited not through eating and drinking for enlightenment, or even in doing rituals and communicating with inner self, but in interacting with God, and relating with other human beings and animals through caring for them and sharing one's present world with them.

Valuing Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge

I needed inspiration and encouragement from God in light of the impending economic woes that are to hit Jamaicans in 2010. So I opened my Bible and came to Proverbs 24. I will now share the verses that spoke to me in a special way.

Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: (Proverbs 24:3, KJV)

I believe the term "house" here refers to family or household. These times call for me to get wisdom and understanding especially as it relates to raising my family. Wisdom and understanding are the only things that can help someone starting a family survive and be prosperous despite today's difficulties.

It is important that those intending to start and raise families are willing to conduct research and desire to learn. To adopt a learning frame of mind, where one is always seeking information and reflecting on experience and the experience of others are important in helping to ensure that one builds a good, strong and united family unit. Yet, research and desire to learn how to raise a family should not be based on man's theories, but rather based on a search in the Word of G-d for insights into raising a family. Insights about how to relate to people are best studied and extracted from God's word which in turn can inform our experiences and practice.

People principles are most import today in management studies. God's revelation of people principles are far better than man's so called science of people principles and people development principles. After all, God is the manufacturer, while man is the the imitator. In fact, man's science is only the attempt to understand God's laws and principles. We study the causes and effects, while God is the one who created the very laws of cause and effect, and can change them if he wills.


One of the most important trait in order to be successful today (I believe), is the trait of nurturing and developing other people. This quality is demanded for today's leaders of any human organization. It is the trait required to build and manage teams and improve any organisation's performance. It is also a trait required for the expanded service industry, which has currently overtaken manufacturing and agricultural industries.


In checking the Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary, I discovered house too can also mean a geographic territory or a nation (Vine et al. 118). Thus, those who need to build a nation or to ensure that the nation is on a path of development, will also need to place a high value on wisdom and understanding.

And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. (Proverbs 24:4)

The word of God confirms the value of being a knowledge worker. It shows that a knowledge worker will cash in and prosper from their knowledge. This is true not only for the individual, but also for nationhood. The economic development of nations requires the application of knowledge and the work of knowledge workers.

A wise man is strong, yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. (Proverbs 24:5)

Strength in these times comes from being wise. Wisdom in the Biblical chapter of Proverbs can be understood from the parables of insects such as the parable of the ant found in Proverbs 6:6-9. Essentially, the ants in the parable work to store food for winter, making use of opportunities all year long to preserve their survival in times of hardship.

Patricia Nordman puts it this way:

"Sometimes we have to forego, or sacrifice, a pleasure today so we can realize a goal tomorrow." (par. 3)

The knowledge worker will also increase his strength by working steadily throughout the year and seizing various opportunities to prepare himself for future possibilities or eventualities. Through research, continuous learning, and other personal and professional development initiatives, the knowledge worker will build upon his competencies, abilities and skills, so that he can be of greater value in society and economy, thereby attracting more value and economic rewards.

In fact, I just read this week a great article by Peter Drucker in the Harvard Business Review that declares:

"Success in knowledge economy comes to those who know themselves - their strengths, their values, and how they best perform"(32).

Finally, I examined a verse that really admonished me:

"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small." (Proverbs 24:10, KJV)

Through wisdom, knowledge and understanding, we take actions today and prepare for future possibilities and problems. Then when the situations do arise, we are prepared to face these challenges, because we have been preparing for them and have been developing the character and mindset to face them.

Those who faint during adversity are the unprepared. Hence their character and strength to face the situation is weak. Survival though depends on the desire not to learn from what is taking place and use it to make you better for the future.

I thank God that he is helping me to build character so that in times of adversity, I will be strong and prepared. May you too be encouraged that God is doing the same in you.


Works Cited:

Drucker, Peter. "Managing Oneself." Harvard Business Review OnPoint 2009, p.32-42.

Nordman, Patricia "Go to the Ant." 6 May. 2006 EzineArticles.com. 19 Dec. 2009 .

Vine, W. E., Merrill F. Unger and William White. “House.” Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words: With Topical Index. Nashville: Thompson Nelson Publishers, 1996.

The spirit of wisdom and revelation

Name of Fellowship: Mona Baptist Church
Location: 4-6 University Meadows, Kingston 6
Date: June 14, 2009

I attended the Sunday school, where the theme of the Lesson study was: "Power for Living", Lesson 7 in the quarterly Caribbean Bible Lessons: Walking Together Vol 4 No. 3 (2009):25-27. This lesson was written by Mrs. Zoe Simpson from Jamaica, a member of the Missionary Church in Jamaica.

The lesson study focused on a discussion of G-d's power and the power available to Christians.

However, as we read Ephesians 1:17, I was able to share and learn from G-d through our interactions about wisdom and revelation.

Wisdom - is the rightful application of knowledge. It is determining the right information or action that is needed or appropriate for the situation, problem or the time. You can have knowledge, but it can be wrongly applied. You can apply the wrong knowledge to a situation. Thus wisdom goes beyond knowledge and the recall of information, to the ability to act or speak correctly when the situation presents itself.

Revelation - on the other hand is the the gaining of knowledge without formal teaching. Or the gaining/acquisition of information and knowledge that you would not otherwise know. Thus, this type of information or knowledge acquisition is supernatural. For example, you misplaced something, and have no clue where you put it. Then all of a sudden, a thought comes to your head that tells you the exact location of the loss item. When you check that location, you find the loss item.

In the text Ephesians 1:17, the apostle prays that the church receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they can know G-d. In this lies an important truth that theology ignores. Ironically, the very word "theology" claims to be the study of G-d or the knowledge of G-d. Yet, the apostle indicates that there are only two paths to knowing G-d. While one can study about G-d, and graduate from theological college, that by no means qualify them in knowing G-d.

Knowledge of G-d is not the end result of study, teaching and learning. Knowledge of G-d cannot be taught via a formal process or curriculum. Knowledge of G-d comes from the rightful application of what is studied as well as via G-d's supernatural intervention. As JESUS stated in John 6:44 (New International Version)
44:

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day."

The knowledge of G-d is hidden and only G-d chooses to whom he reveals it. In addition, G-d chooses whom he will teach.

Thus knowing G-d is hardly something of our own personal effort. It is important though that we study, so that we can have knowledge from which G-d can draw on to teach us and give us wisdom.

Christianity and Judaism should both be about the studying of word and doctrine, for future information retrieval and application. We should study G-d's word before we understand it. We must constantly and diligently study the scriptures to prepare us for G-d to give wisdom. He will use our previously studied information and knowledge from the Scriptures to teach us. We do not know when he will give us wisdom, but we must always be prepared.

For revelation on the other hand, we can do nothing to receive it, apart from live out what we already know, so that we appear faithful stewards of what G-d has given, so that he can entrust us with more than we already know.

For today and for the rest of your life, may you receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation that will increase your knowledge of G-d.