Knowledge of God: The Heart of the Matter
by: Trey Rosenthal
January 15, 2025
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God… ”
Seeking the knowledge of the Lord (the ways, truth, and life) and aligning with His will is our calling as Christians. Reading, studying, partaking in the Word, hearing from fellow believers, dreams and visions, and personal encounters are all ways in which we can come to know the Lord.
The New Testament teaches us that Jesus said “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples” (John 8:31). And there is the infamous quote from Jesus - “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened,” (Matthew 7:7-8, Luke 11:9-13). Paul prays for the people in Ephesus “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,” (Ephesians 1:17) Paul also prays for the Colossians “that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will, with all wisdom and spiritual understanding… increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:9-10)
This concept is not only in the New Testament but also in the Old Testament. “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter” (Proverbs 25:2) The Lord spoke through Jeremiah saying “Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you great and hidden things, that you have not known.” (Jeremiah 33:3)
The Holy Spirit also shares knowledge with us. This verse in Isaiah describes the Spirit … “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, and the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:2) Proverbs 9:10 says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Throughout the Bible, we are encouraged to grow in knowledge of the Lord. There is endless fruit to be gained when studying the Word and deepening our relationship with the Lord. But we must be careful what we do with that knowledge because the enemy can and will mislead you if you let him. Remember, the enemy is the father of lies (John 8:44), is a masquerader of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), and comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). If the enemy tempted Jesus (the Word) in the desert (using Psalm 91:11-12) with the actual written Word (story in Matthew 4:5-7), then might he not also try to confuse or mislead you with the true knowledge of God?
I can think of at least three ways the enemy may try to twist what God reveals to us as we seek Him.
First, our desire to attain knowledge may subtly begin to supersede our desire for true relationship with our Creator. This is similarly described in the principle of worshiping and serving something created instead of the Creator, discussed in Romans 1:21-25, or through outright idolatry (Exodus 20:4-6). Let me say here that God is jealous of our affections! More on this below.
Second, we are not only to be hearers of the Word, but doers of the Word (James 1:22; 2:18-19). James goes on to say that “…faith without works is dead,” (James 2:26) Spend some time reflecting on this. How might the enemy have kept you from lifting a prayer, sharing the Word or the Gospel, participating in a Kingdom plan, or even in a simple act of kindness, something you know God placed on your heart?
Third, we use our knowledge of God in a pharisaical or condemning fashion. Jesus spends much of His time rebuking the Pharisees because of their attitudes, behaviors, and self-righteousness, which were largely based on arrogance because of their attained knowledge (Matthew 23:1-36 – seven woes; Luke 18:9-14 – parable of Pharisee and tax collector). We must always remember that we too were and are sinners saved by amazing grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) and that, while we are imperfect, we are continually being made more like Christ day by day (Philippians 3:8-14). Do not others deserve the same grace as you?
So how do we keep from being misled by the enemy? We must always remember that the One who shares and reveals His knowledge to us most certainly desires the affection of our hearts as well, if not more. God speaks through Jeremiah to say “For I know the plans I have for you….You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all of your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13) Returning to Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1, after praying for them to know Him better in verse 17, He immediately prays in the next breath “… that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened…” in verse 18. Finally, the New Covenant language says “I will put My laws into their minds and write them on their hearts.” (Hebrews 8:10; Jeremiah 31:33). As God has so loved us (John 3:16), He genuinely wants our love in return. And not only for Himself but for those around us (Matthew 22:36-40). God knows that knowledge without the right heart may miss the mark.
So my brethren, be mindful and Spirit-led in not only what you pray, speak, and do with the knowledge that God has revealed to you, but also in how you do these things. While the Word is indeed the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) and is useful in teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17), we are to instruct with “…love, that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith,” (1 Timothy 1:15). Furthermore, “the Lord’s slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and be patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness.” If we do this, then “Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth,” (2 Timothy 2:24-25) Remember, when sharing the good news and the hope of eternal life that God promised before time began, thus building up the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness (Titus 1:1-2), do so from a place of not only the truth of His knowledge, but with a loving heart. For you see, love is the heart of the matter.
Worship: Love on the Line
Prayer
“For this reason I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14-19
Further Study
1 Samuel 16:7, Ephesians 1:17
Related Posts
Seeking the knowledge of the Lord (the ways, truth, and life) and aligning with His will is our calling as Christians. Reading, studying, partaking in the Word, hearing from fellow believers, dreams and visions, and personal encounters are all ways in which we can come to know the Lord.