Gifts of the Spirit - Knowledge

Burlington – Gifts of the Spirit – Knowledge. March 3, 2024

Scriptures: 1 Peter 4:10, James 3:13, John 1:1-5, Mark 1:35-39, Proverbs 1:2-7, Mark 10:45, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Proverbs 1:2-7, Psalm 139:1-6, Psalm 119:65-68, 1 Timothy 2:1-6,

Good morning! We’re four weeks away from Easter and continuing our study through some of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit so that we can seek after them and allow God to use us in the sharing of the gospel with others. To be witnesses for what He’s done in our lives, and what He’s doing in our lives even this very morning. (SLIDE) Gifts by the power of the Holy Spirii that our heavenly Father gives to any of us, in different ways for the purpose of building up His church, His Kingdom, building up the body of Christ in our families, our community, our region, yes, our congregation and to the ends of the earth. Not tearing down but building up. As Peter tells us 1 Peter 4:10 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s gracein its various forms.

(SLIDE) We created this partial, alphabetical chart of some of those gifts we find in studying scripture. It’s not an exhaustive list, understanding that the Lord uses His power and extends gifts to we His children as He has needed according to His grace, His mercy, and His plans. For He desires that none should perish, but that everyone should have eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Last week we talked about wisdom. James 1:5 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let them ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. Not wisdom in the sense of technical knowledge, or book learning, academic studies, right. But God’s Wisdom, which just as God’s ways are higher and not our ways, so is Wisdom that comes from the Lord. What is wise in a worldly sense, is foolishness to the Lord. The creator of heaven and earth. All that has ever existed, all that ever will exist by the power of His word, His breath, the life He’s given that comes from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. As John testifies from the beginning of His historical documentation of Christ, nothing has been created that was not created through the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

(SLIDE) John 1-5 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

We also looked at James 3:13 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. The word for understanding here is the Greek word epistémón (ep-ee-stay'-mone)and importantly, it’s only used one time in the New Testament. Specifically, epistémón (ep-ee-stay'-mone)means carefully, thoroughly, conscientiously knowledgeable, in a way that comes from gaining understanding over long-term, personal acquaintance. The kind of understanding and knowledge that only comes from spending time with the Lord in prayer and study.

Well before where we stand today. One month before the trial, torture and crucifixion, Jesus of Nazareth knew what the Father needed Him to do. (SLIDE) That’s hard for me to imagine. Understanding that Christ is both God, and human. Knowing that thirty days from now, if it were any of us, that we would have to endure, what he went through. I don’t know if you or I could, on a daily basis, walk into that. If you’ve seen the Passion of the Christ, which was quite graphic. I remember sitting in a theatre with a great many folks from First Church of God and we were all just crying by the end. Since it’s release I watch it every Easter to remind me of what He sacrificed for us.

But knowing what Jesus understood, He choose to be obedient, even onto death as the scripture says. I was interested to see if there was a timeline of the last 30 days before the crucifixion as part of my studies this week. (SLIDE) This chart was created back in 1892 by Rev C. Larkin and revised by Rev. I. N. Earle and I just find it fascinating because they actually show in this Bird’s Eye View of the Life of Christ, the month of March leading up to the crucifixion. Among the workings of the Holy Spirit through Jesus during this month, the list includes

(SLIDE) The healing of the 10 lepers in Luke 17. The parable of the persistent widow with the unjust judge, the parable of the rich young ruler in Luke 18 and Mark 10. Teaching the parable of the workers in the vineyard, foretelling his own death, and healing two blind men in Matthew 20. (SLIDE) Spending time with the wee little man, the tax collector Zacchaeus, who becomes saved, while Jesus is criticized for eating with tax collectors and sinners in Luke 19. (SLIDE) Understanding what lay ahead of Jesus down the road, what He knew was happening, he remains obedient to the Father.

When talked months about the resurrection of Lazarus and when Jesus is first told about his friend’s illness, the disciples encourage him to leave right away because they know much Martha, Mary and Lazarus mean to Jesus. How does Jesus know, Jesus the human being, the man who loves his friends and families and wants to run in and fix the problem, that the Father wants him to wait before going?

What did James tell us? James 3:13 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. The kind of understanding, knowledge and wisdom that only comes from spending time with the Lord in prayer and study.

We haven’t studied on Sunday mornings since the Lord sent me to you from the testimony of Mark. Now the Gospel of Mark was written in Greek around 55 CE while Tiberius was the Roman Emperor. Probably the first of the four Gospels written. I quoted Mark 10:45 last week without putting it on the screen. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” When you read Mark, he’s not spending time on genealogies, or proving how Jesus is fulfilling the Hebrew prophecies. (SLIDE) He’s a little like Friday and Gannon in Dragnet. Just the Facts Ma’am. This is what happened. That’s how Mark writes.

John the Baptist prepares the way, then baptizes Jesus. Jesus is tempted but doesn’t fall and starts preaching. He sees the four fishermen, Simon, Andrew, James, and John and tells them to follow Him. Jesus teaches in the synagogue at Capernaum. Then he heals first, Andrew’s mother-in-law. Not all of us would be so eager to heal somebody’s mother-in-law. Gee, thanks a lot. It's bad enough she lives with us, but now she’s jumping all over the place full of energy again. 2000 years ago, even 200 years ago, families took better care of each other generationally than our society does today.

Oh, and then that night many sick and demon possessed people are brought to Jesus and He heals them. He heals so many that Mark says the whole town was watching and repeats that Jesus healed the sick and cast out demons. So, if Mark says twice that Jesus healed many and cast out demons, he must have run out of fingers when counting. I’m exhausted just looking at that list.

But I went through this list to bring us around to the next segment in Chapter 1 of Mark which has a heading of Jesus Preaches in Galilee. (SLIDE) Mark 1:35-39 35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is what I came for.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

You wonder how Jesus knew what the Father wanted him to do? How the Holy Spirit moved through Jesus with such power to heal, to teach, and to love? You wonder how Jesus could be obedient His entire life, tempted like we are, even without internet and television, but tempted nonetheless as we are but was without sin? Mark 1:35 is where that knowledge and wisdom of God came from, as well as the power to be obedient to what the father calls us to do.

In the four gospels there are roughly 25 verses where we can read about Jesus praying. A bible study worth examining or a few sermons we will begin as the Lord moves. We all must understand that, for example, we don’t have a prayer spreadsheet somewhere that tells us exactly how many hours of the day Jesus was praying, speaking and more importantly listening to our Heavenly Father. Certainly, more than any of us, and Christ would be the closest person who ever came to what Paul writes (SLIDE) in 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

(SLIDE) We have talked several times about Unity of the Trinity. That the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one. They are never divided, or at odds with each other, but always in agreement on what must be one, and as we are willing to be open vessels that God fills by the power of the Holy Spirit to use His gifts to do His will, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are in unity about who they will use to complete Christ’s mission on earth. I’m going to repeat that because well, as I was studying and writing, I heard the Lord in my heart of hearts say, repeat that. (SLIDE) We must be willing as open vessels, that God fills by the power of the Holy Spirit, to use His gifts to do His will.

Let’s look back at our partial list of gifts of the Holy Spirit for a moment, just to see. Last week talking about Wisdom and this week, though you might not think so yet, we are really talking about the gift of knowledge. Whether Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic what we read as the word wisdom appears over 375 times in both Testaments of the Bible. The original words that are translated as knowledge or to know appears 950 times in the Hebrew bible and 300 times in the New Testament. But that’s in part because there are several words with slightly different meanings. For example, it is not unusual to read “he did not know her yet” or “Adam knew Eve” which is a reference to intimacy. That isn’t a reference to knowledge of the Lord. From our list I’ve included discernment as related to Wisdom and Knowledge.

(SLIDE) Let’s just look at basic definitions in English. Wisdom means the capacity of judging rightly in matters relating to life and conduct; of discerning what is true. (SLIDE) Knowledge can be a noun or a verb and means: Information gained through experience, reasoning, or acquaintance; To accept or admit the existence of truth.

(SLIDE) We struggle in this country greatly with truth, in part because there are so many who in their lust for power and money, distort the truth and repeat their lies so often, we come to believe them. The kind of evil and dishonesty we read about last week in James that even if we as Christians sometimes believe what we’re told, leads to jealousy, selfish ambition, disorder, and every vile practice. To separating children from their mothers. To create fear instead of hope. Not fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom, but fear of each other. The opposite of speech and behavior that is pure, peaceable, full of mercy and good fruits that come from the wisdom and knowledge of God. I know that’s a picture of Jesus praying on the screen, but I don’t think we need to be sharing pictures here in the sanctuary of the things that are not of God. We all know, or should know, when we hear or see them.

(SLIDE) And the third gift of the Spirit that’s on our list here is Discernment: The faculty or power of discerning or understanding clearly; of good judgement. All of us have a variety of knowledge that we have gained over time. Knowledge of things that are productive, useful, and sometimes smart, like not putting your hand on top of hot burner on the stove. Like what we’ve used to earn a living, that maybe we thought came from our hard work, when we should recognize that every good and perfect gift comes from above.

We could have knowledge without the discernment that comes from listening to the Holy Spirit moving us, yes? We all have some knowledge yet can have knowledge without being wise. That’s not a place to say amen, by the way. As Amen means “so be it” we’d rather be praying Lord make us wise with the knowledge you’ve given us. Or give us your counsel and guidance Heavenly Father. Help us to discern where you want us to walk and what you want us to accomplish for your kingdom this day and every day. Amen?

Let’s return to the Hebrew bible and David’s son Solomon in Proverbs 1:2-7 To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, 3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— 5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, 6 to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The first of several words for knowledge here is daath (dah’-ath). It’s a feminine noun which means to know, knowledge, and truth. It comes from the Hebrew verb yada (yaw-dah’) which among many potential meanings includes to know, to discern, to clearly understand, to be intimate friends. As in we have an intimate relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Solomon’s father, David describes that relationship in (SLIDE) Psalm 139:1-6 1 You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

And one more today of the many uses of knowledge and discernment in the Hebrew Bible. Again, from David in Psalm 119:65-68 65Do good to your servant according to your word, Lord. 66 Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. 68 You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. Just for reference. If you sit down to read Psalm 119, that’s not a quick 5-minute daily devotional. With 176 verses it’s the longest Chapter in the Bible. In case you’re playing Trivial Pursuit sometime in the near future.

A question you don’t need to answer out loud, but do you ever pray the word. Even right now today. (SLIDE) Heavenly Father in the mighty name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, wash me in the blood and cleanse me of all unrighteousness that I may come before you according to Your word. Your word never fails Father, but always returns to fulfill your promises. 65Do good to your servant according to your word, Lord. 66 Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands. 67 Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I obey your word. 68 You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. Help me to walk in the calling to increased holiness and obedience by the power of your Holy Spirit for your glory and honor alone that others might see Jesus in me and ask about the hope and joy I have in you. In Jesus name I pray.

Praise God. (SLIDE) We have said that all of these gifts of the Holy Spirit come, this partial list here are so that the Lord may move through us, no matter what age we are, young or wiser, older, sometimes wiser, to build up the body of Christ. The Church. To make disciples of all nations and all peoples. Not by force, like mistakenly took place in the Crusades, or the inquisition, or some of things that are offensive to God according to the bible but that take place in our country, or community even today. Remembering that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. All. God sent his only begotten son not to condemn the world but to save it. To know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is to know truth. The absolute truth. And it is both a personal truth, but also a truth that brings healing, knowledge, wisdom, acceptance and compassion for all of God’s children. Sometimes we must learn to walk in that truth, and run away from our former selves, but when we are walking in the Spirit, we see the world, we see each other, as He sees us. Amen?

(SLIDE) The primary Greek word in the New Testament that translates into that intimate knowledge which comes from the Lord is Ginosko (ghin-oce'-ko). It is used 222 times in the New Testament. It means to know, to come to know, to recognize, to understand. To know specifically through personal experience of a firsthand relationship. We read it here in 1 Timothy.

1 Timothy 2:1-6 2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man[a] Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

First of all I want you to notice the “a” in verse 5. And the reason for that is that the word that is translated “man” in verse 5, is the same word that’s translated “people” in verses 1 & 4. It’s the Greek word anthrópos (anth'-ro-pos) which includes both genders, male and female. Throughout the bible we’ll read the word man or men, when a fairer translation would be human, humanity, or as in verses 1 and 4, people, because it’s meant to include all of God’s children.

Second of all I want you to notice, that Paul says “First of All.” Paul’s first of all. Timothy is in Ephesus, where there is false teaching going on, and some leaders are asking for believers to give them personal allegiance. They’re causing division by elevating themselves over Christ and were so harsh with where believers trying to come to God were in their knowledge and understanding, that some people were so guilt ridden that God could never forgive them and bring them to salvation. So Paul in Chapter 1 is telling Timothy to remember the prophecy and calling that has been placed on his life. How is Timothy to help the church in Ephesus correct false teaching and bring the good news of Jesus Christ back to being the most important thing?

(SLIDE) 1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all. Without pulling up the original Greek words this morning. When you see the word supplication or supplications, it means that there is a more urgent need within you, a heart felt personal petition to the Lord. It’s not the prayer Archie Bunker said before meals on All in The Family. I don’t believe I need to explain prayer, though that’s a whole sermon series to come. Intercessions means that you are approaching the king with a prayer and petition that leads to an intervention by God.

Every one of us, needs every one of us to be praying for each other. To be praying that the Lord will fill our hearts, our minds, and give us the tools, the gifts that we need to be His witnesses by the power of the Holy Spirit in Burlington and to the ends of the earth. We’ll start here first, but we know He desires to move through us to share the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ all over the world. Amen?

Communion. The anniversary of the Last Supper is coming later this month. And we will on Easter Sunday, take communion as well, expecting that the Lord will draw others here that we haven’t seen recently or even at all. I enjoy Matthew’s testimony of the Last Supper because at the end he tells us that they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. Please join me as we sing Nothing but the Blood as you come to get the communion to take back to the pews and then we’ll all take it together.

From Matthew 20 we read:

26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” 27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.