05/24/2026
SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2026
SERIES: KNOWLEDGE
TITLE: LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM
TEXT: PROVERBS 29: 15-23
(1) - WHAT DO WE REALLY KNOW?: Millions of people rely on things they have heard about scriptural teachings. Many, if not most, think that all religions are equally valid as being of GOD. They think that religion is only a matter of personal choice. Many reject some teaching of the Bible, they think the Bible is an old manuscript which is out of touch with modern man. When presented with prophetical events being fulfilled - they say it’s a coincidence. Many people believe that Nostradamus is equal in prophecy accuracy as the Bible. This follows along with satan’s plan as he has worked to bring doubt and confusion into not just the world but in the Church. Satan brought doubt and confusion into the world with Adam and Eve. Pastors all around the world come under attack when preaching the truth of GOD’S word. So many Church members have their own understanding of scripture. So many Church members seem to think that GOD will make allowance for them and their family and friends - GOD will never change the truth of HIS word - believe it or not the choice is ours to make.
Hebrews 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: From the dictionary of Theology, we see this definition of immutable:
Immutability - The divine attribute of unchangeableness. God said in, Exodus 3:14 "I AM that I AM," signifying His eternal sameness and His sovereignty. He cannot change His moral character, His love, His omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, etc. God is "From everlasting to everlasting,". Psalm 90:2 Immutability does not mean that God does not vary. The incarnation is just such an example of variation. Also, God’s attitude toward a person is changed when the person becomes a Christian. For example, the enmity between God and man is removed. Romans 5:10
In a passage in James, we see the distinction more clearly between immutability and variableness: James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. variableness - par-al-lag-ay’ 1) variation, change - immutable - am-et-ath’-et-os 1) not transposed, not to be transferred, fixed, unalterable
In usage and context, we can see the difference. GOD is willing to change HIS action, but not HIS nature. In the passage Romans 12: 2 we see a similar comparison - “be not conformed” be ye transformed” both words deal with the character of man. We are to allow GOD by HIS Spirit to change our natural character to the Spiritual character of Jesus Christ. The natural character and the Spiritual character is (again) clearly described in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. I say again to emphasize that study is essential to knowledge and wisdom from GOD’S word. Let’s read these verses:
1st Corinthians 2:13 – 1st Corinthians 3:3 - 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1 ¶ And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
The average Christian or Church member will spend very little time considering the things of GOD or the word of GOD. The point Paul made with this passage is just that. We tend to get so involved inlining our lives our way, we leave GOD out - until we need something like a miracle - health, financial, relationship, and sometimes not even then. We tend to seek help from carnal sources. If we examine the crises throughout history, we will find that they all come out of mankind ignoring or denying the word of GOD. If you cannot see this then you have become near sighted or Spiritually blinded as prescribed in GOD’S word.
2nd Peter 1: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature (Spiritual character), having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (natural character).
5 ¶ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
As we study and seek to develop the gifts of the Spirit, we become more like Christ. As we seek to be transformed into Christlikeness, the natural result is just that. We come closer in our walk, we have fewer problems and crisis’s in our lives. Any situations becomes easier to navigate. A more peaceful mind for facing any crisis for the believer who is seeking first the Kingdom of GOD and HIS righteousness. An important question we must resolve at this time is this - how serious are we in our commitment to Jesus Christ.
(2) - HOW SERIOUS ARE WE?: Genesis 6 : 1 ¶ And it came to pass when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
3 ¶ And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
4 ¶ There were giants in the earth in those days; and also, after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 ¶ And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
8 ¶ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Noah was about 480 years old at this time. As we read into the rest of the account, we see that Noah did as GOD instructed and the entire population of the earth - except Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives - was destroyed. Male and female of every species was boarded on the ark. Noah was instructed to take seven pairs of clean beast for food and necessities chapter 7 : 1 - 4. Noah was 600 years old as the flood waters began to fall. Noah was serious about his commitment to GOD’S command, and it benefited him and his entire family.
In 2nd Samuel chapter 12 - king David is confronted with his own sinfulness and GOD told him the sword would never leave his house. Sincerity came upon king David. In Psalms 51 - king David found renewed commitment to GOD’S law. He confessed his sin and vowed to live and teach the word of GOD to all people. The new testament apostles commitment to living Christ before the world as they were all imprisoned, killed by crucifixion, and other forms of torture. History is full of accounts where Christians were slaughtered in the colosseums of Rome - many times they died as they praised GOD with their dying breath. Jesus suffered torture, beating, humiliation, mocking and paraded half naked in the street. Jesus willingly suffer all these things for His commitment to the will of the FATHER.
Philippians. 2 : 1 ¶ If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Verse 18 of today’s text tells us that when the voice of GOD is not used, people perish. This word perish means to become useless, of no effect. When we cease listening to GOD - cease studying the word of GOD we do become spiritually blind, as we are reminded in 1st Peter 1 : 8 we become blind and cannot remember that GOD saved us from the wrath to come. But for the grace of GOD, we all fall victim to this blindness.
When we ignore the word of GOD we all are subject to this spiritual blindness. Is this what we want- is this what we are working for? Is this where we want to lead out families -our children - our grandchildren? As always - the choice is ours. We can come back to Christ- come back to worship as GOD desires us to - or we can slumber around in the world moving from one crisis to the next. GOD invites us all to come back.
