The Beginning of Knowledge
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
9/1/2013 PM
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Text:
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Proverbs 1:7
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Psalters: |
401, 14, 146, 304 |
- True knowledge.
- ?Knowledge? is the mental conception of things, of reality (different from the ability to gain and retain knowledge, IQ).
- There is only one knowledge: biblical.
- Our text emphasizes that true and right knowledge of God, the creation, and man (myself) requires the fear of Jehovah.
- There is a great difference between knowing about God and knowing Him!
- To know God (creation and self) is only gained from God?s revelation of Himself in the Scriptures.
- ?Wisdom? is the goal of knowledge; it is the use of the knowledge in the best way to attain the highest end.
- Wisdom always involves a correct heart knowledge of God, which is given in regeneration (Col. 3:10).
- Wisdom takes what God has revealed and applies it to every aspect of life (the fool rejects reality).
- So we seek to give real, solid teaching of the objective truths of the Bible ? in home and school, and in church.
- ?Instruction? speaks of the way we gain knowledge, usually by teaching.
- The specific word used emphasizes that instruction is specifically in the way of discipline, correction and chastening.
- It requires self-discipline to attend a voluntary Bible study, to prepare or to apply.
- The essence of knowledge, wisdom, and instruction is the fear of Jehovah.
- This fear of God is not terror, but it knows His greatness while rooted in love and profound reverence.
- It is an ever increasing correct understanding of God, His character, and His works and ways.
- It is a pervading awareness of His presence, so one lives as before His eyes and face.
- It is a constraining sense of willing obligations I owe Him as His creature and especially as His child.
- This fear of Jehovah is the ?beginning? of knowledge, i.e., the first in the sense of root, the essence.
- One?s intellectual grasp of things is only accurate when see it in relationship to God, the Creator, the Ruler, the Judge.
- All knowledge and wisdom is really nothing but what God speaks and what we speak after Him.
- Take away the fear of Jehovah and you have folly/deception, not ignorance.
- Natural man?s knowledge only increases his folly, for he is wise in his own conceit (Prov. 26:5).
- Then the knowledge of natural man only increases his guilt.
- Conclusion: let us seek always to grow in correct knowledge of God and to teach the next generation its importance.
- Accompany all instruction with the prayer that He who calls the things that are not as if they were will work in the instructed.
- Receive instruction (old and young) seeking right knowledge and true wisdom, not despising instruction.