This teaching was blogged four years ago
KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST
Ephesians 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge <1922> of him:
The four types of knowledge all come from the Greek word (epiginosko)
(Strong’s# 1921 and 1922) This word describes knowledge as one which is “mature, probing and deep, complete, accurate, thorough, and precise.”
Rev 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony (revelation) of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony (revelation) of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy;
The very revelation of the living Christ is the source of all spiritual gifts.
Out of the very presence of Jesus flows the power of God.
His very gifts glorify Him.
1Cor 1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you.
The more of Jesus that is revealed in each of, the more the gifts will work, and the more will be the edification which the church will receive.
KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S WILL
Col1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge (epiginosko) of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge (epiginosko) of God;
Most of our churches work today without an accurate and complete knowledge of what God’s will is for their specific vision?
It is no wonder that most of them spin their wheels for years to come, caught in a web of powerless programs and agendas.
To know God’s will in “all spiritual wisdom” is incredibly important.
The “wisdom of God” is the will of God according to His strategy, His ways, and His timing.
It will always occurs in the Spirit, and always through a death and resurrection of the vision for that ministry.
We need to spend the hours, days, weeks that it takes in prayer to discern that will.
Much more will be accomplished by our waiting and seeking, than by our busyness in a flurry of activities.
To do His will “with all spiritual understanding” is to discern what are God’s specific steps in fulfilling the will which we have discerned.
A church fulfilling the will of God “with all spiritual understanding”, will take the painstaking time to move step by step in line with the Holy Spirit, never behind, and never before Him.
KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH
1Tim2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
To know the truth, is to know God’s word deeply, with accuracy, and in accordance to fact and certainty.
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Many of us sadly “claim and frame” this scripture.
In reality it is the truth shall free us in the exact proportion to the correct understanding and performance that we have of it.
Our misunderstanding of scriptures through error, a lack of meditation or study, or because we have turned them into a “doctrine of men” will not free us.
THE KNOWLEDGE OF EVERY GOOD THING WE HAVE IN CHRIST
Philemon 1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual (energized) by the acknowledging (epignosis) of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
This rarely used, but vitally important scripture, tells us that our faith will only become effectively empowered or energized, as we discover and use every gifting, calling, and ministry that Christ has placed within us.
This is not the responsibility of the few but of all. When a church discovers this and implements it, we shall see another church of Acts.
The End Result
2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
- Inspiration: All scripture is God breathed and is therefore profitable for teaching
- Reproof: Intimate knowledge of the scriptures brings correction to us by exposing sin and blind spots in our life.
- If we heed to the exposure brought to us through the Word it will brings us freedom in Christ.
- Correction : Correction here means to be restored to an upright state resulting in salvation. Do you notice the order? Reproof brings exposure of sin. If we heed we start to become free. As we become free the Word of God then starts to restore us to an upright state.
- Instruction: This talks about mentoring and discipling and the final release into our ministry. Exposure, restoration, mentoring, and call to ministry.
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Greek: The man or woman of God becomes thoroughly equipped and furnished by the Word of God for every Spirit led work; The man or woman of God is equipped and fitted with every necessary piece of equipment by the Word of God for anything that the Lord might have for him or her need to do.
When we went to battle Saddam Hussein in the Persian Gulf in great part we won because we were thoroughly equipped with the best of arms, technique, and staff.
It is our deep knowledge of God’s Word that furnishes us with the spiritual equipment necessary to successfully carry out God’s holy missions.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Greek: In the beginning was the logos, and the logos was in fellowship and communion with God, and God was the logos.
With God: Not that Jesus was with God as one who was next or along Him, but as one who is with God because He lives in continual fellowship and communion with Him.
The word was God. More correctly, “God was the logos”. Jesus, as God the Son, is first found in an eternal and continual communion with God the Father, so He can then come to mankind as the logos word, which translated and interpreted to us the conceptuality of the Father.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
This one was from all eternity is in constant communion and fellowship with God. (John repeats the theme of verse one to emphasize the complete sufficiency of Jesus to assume the role of “God, the logos word” to humanity.
The word of God is comprised of the logos and the rhema word. Both are essential in furnishing us with the fullness of God’s knowledge and will, both as individual believers and corporately in our churches.
The logos word defines God in general concepts and ideas to give us the “big picture” of who God is.
The rhema word is a moment-to-moment part of the logos word uttered by the voice of God’s Spirit and “tailored made” to equip us with God’s commands, guidance, and the fulfillment of our needs in accordance to our specific circumstances.
Jose and Mary Alvarez 