Transformative Knowledge: Aligning with God's Will

 

Summary

In today's world, the concept of knowledge, especially spiritual knowledge, faces significant opposition. The essence of true knowledge is not merely information but an interactive relationship with the divine, which is real and transformative. This relationship is grounded in grace, which is God's action in our lives, enabling us to achieve what lies beyond our own power. However, the modern world often dismisses spiritual realities, focusing instead on a godless form of knowledge that excludes the divine from its understanding.

The battle between spiritual and secular knowledge is not new. Throughout history, cultures have recognized the conflict between good and evil, both externally and internally. In contemporary society, this conflict manifests in the dominance of secular knowledge, which often denies the existence of a spiritual realm. This denial is evident in various fields, where knowledge is considered complete without any reference to God. This shift has led to a separation of church and state, where spiritual insights are often excluded from public discourse and decision-making.

Satan's primary tool in this battle is the manipulation of ideas. By influencing our thoughts, he can subvert our will and lead us away from the truth. This is why understanding and seeking the knowledge of God is crucial. The kingdom of God, which Jesus introduced, is about God's will being done on earth. It is a realm where God's power is actively opposing evil, and we are invited to participate in this divine action.

To seek the kingdom of God means to discern what God is doing in the world and to align our actions with His will. This involves living a life of prayer and action, guided by the Spirit of God. True knowledge, therefore, is not just about acquiring information but about living in a relationship with God, where we are empowered to act according to His purposes.

Key Takeaways:

- Interactive Relationship as Knowledge: True knowledge is an interactive relationship with God, not just information. This relationship is transformative and grounded in grace, which is God's action in our lives, enabling us to achieve what lies beyond our own power. [01:09]

- The Battle of Ideas: Satan works primarily through ideas, subverting our will by influencing our thoughts. Understanding and seeking the knowledge of God is crucial to resist this manipulation and align our actions with His will. [04:50]

- The Kingdom of God in Action: The kingdom of God is about God's will being done on earth. It is a realm where God's power actively opposes evil, and we are invited to participate in this divine action by discerning what God is doing and aligning our actions with His will. [08:35]

- Godless Knowledge: Modern society often considers knowledge complete without reference to God, leading to a separation of church and state. This godless knowledge excludes spiritual insights from public discourse and decision-making, limiting our understanding of life. [23:39]

- Seeking the Kingdom of God: To seek the kingdom of God means to find what God is doing and act with it. This involves living a life of prayer and action, guided by the Spirit of God, and aligning our actions with His purposes. [49:02]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:17] - Introduction to the Theme
- [00:55] - Knowledge as Interactive Relationship
- [01:32] - Grace and Knowledge
- [01:44] - Understanding Opposition to Knowledge
- [03:09] - The Reality of Evil
- [03:40] - Satan's Work Through Ideas
- [05:33] - The Importance of Knowledge
- [06:30] - The Kingdom of God in Action
- [09:04] - Interactive Relationship with God
- [10:27] - The System of Knowledge
- [16:48] - The Bible as a Source of Knowledge
- [20:00] - The Nature of Spiritual Knowledge
- [23:39] - Godless Knowledge in Modern Society
- [49:02] - Seeking the Kingdom of God

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Luke 11:20 - "But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you."
2. Romans 8:1-2 - "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death."
3. 1 Corinthians 2:6-8 - "We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began."

Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, how does Satan primarily work to influence human behavior? [03:40]
2. What does the sermon suggest is the essence of true knowledge? [01:09]
3. How does the sermon describe the kingdom of God and its presence in the world? [08:35]
4. What is the significance of the phrase "by the finger of God" as used in the sermon? [08:21]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon explain the relationship between spiritual knowledge and grace? [01:32]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that modern society's understanding of knowledge is incomplete without God? [23:39]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of prayer and action in seeking the kingdom of God? [49:02]
4. What does the sermon imply about the consequences of separating spiritual insights from public discourse? [27:09]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current understanding of knowledge. How can you incorporate a more interactive relationship with God into your daily learning and decision-making? [01:09]
2. Consider the ideas that influence your thoughts and actions. How can you ensure that these ideas align with God's will rather than being subverted by secular influences? [04:50]
3. Identify an area in your life where you can actively seek the kingdom of God. What steps can you take to discern God's actions and align your efforts with His will? [49:02]
4. Think about a recent decision you made. How did spiritual insights or the lack thereof influence your choice? How might you include God more in your decision-making process in the future? [27:09]
5. Evaluate the role of prayer in your life. How can you enhance your prayer life to better align with the kingdom of God and His purposes? [49:02]
6. Reflect on a situation where you felt the tension between secular and spiritual knowledge. How did you navigate this tension, and what might you do differently next time? [23:39]
7. Consider how you can be a part of God's action in opposing evil in your community. What practical steps can you take to live out this calling? [08:35]

Devotional

Day 1: True Knowledge as a Divine Relationship
True knowledge transcends mere information; it is an interactive relationship with God that transforms us. This relationship is grounded in grace, which is God's active presence in our lives, enabling us to achieve what is beyond our own capabilities. In a world that often dismisses spiritual realities, understanding this divine relationship is crucial. It is through grace that we are empowered to live out God's purposes, experiencing a transformation that is both real and profound. This knowledge invites us to engage with God in a way that is dynamic and life-changing. [01:09]

"For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him." (Ephesians 1:15-17, ESV)

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with God today, allowing His grace to transform your understanding and actions?


Day 2: The Power of Ideas in Spiritual Warfare
The battle between spiritual and secular knowledge is a conflict of ideas, where Satan seeks to manipulate our thoughts and subvert our will. By influencing our minds, he can lead us away from the truth. Understanding and seeking the knowledge of God is crucial to resist this manipulation. It involves discerning God's will and aligning our actions with His purposes. This spiritual warfare is not just external but also internal, requiring us to be vigilant in our thoughts and intentions. [04:50]

"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, ESV)

Reflection: What thoughts or ideas in your life might be leading you away from God's truth, and how can you actively counter them with His Word today?


Day 3: Participating in the Kingdom of God
The kingdom of God is about God's will being done on earth, where His power actively opposes evil. We are invited to participate in this divine action by discerning what God is doing in the world and aligning our actions with His will. This involves living a life of prayer and action, guided by the Spirit of God. True knowledge is not just about acquiring information but about living in a relationship with God, where we are empowered to act according to His purposes. [08:35]

"And he said, 'The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.'" (Mark 4:26-28, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively participate in God's kingdom today, aligning your actions with His will and purposes?


Day 4: The Limitations of Godless Knowledge
Modern society often considers knowledge complete without reference to God, leading to a separation of church and state. This godless knowledge excludes spiritual insights from public discourse and decision-making, limiting our understanding of life. By dismissing the spiritual realm, we miss out on the fullness of knowledge that includes divine wisdom and guidance. Recognizing the limitations of secular knowledge invites us to seek a deeper understanding that incorporates God's perspective. [23:39]

"For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, 'He catches the wise in their craftiness,' and again, 'The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.'" (1 Corinthians 3:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate spiritual insights into your daily decision-making, ensuring that your understanding is not limited by secular perspectives?


Day 5: Seeking the Kingdom of God
To seek the kingdom of God means to find what God is doing and act with it. This involves living a life of prayer and action, guided by the Spirit of God, and aligning our actions with His purposes. It is a call to discern God's activity in the world and to participate in His divine plan. By seeking the kingdom, we are invited to live out our faith in a way that is active and engaged, contributing to the realization of God's will on earth. [49:02]

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:33-34, ESV)

Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to seek God's kingdom and align your life with His purposes, trusting Him with your future?

Quotes

True knowledge is primarily interactive relationship, not just information. It is an interactive relationship, which means we are dealing with something that is real. Only what is real can enter into relationships and bring about consequences and have effects. [00:58:43]

Grace is action. It isn't just unmerited favor but action, and that enters into, of course, to knowledge. This evening now we want to come to deal with the topic of understanding the opposition to knowledge of Christ in today's world. [01:37:12]

Satan works primarily with your ideas. He works on ideas. That is because God has created the human soul in such a way that if the will is not surrendered to evil, not necessarily to Satan but to evil, then Satan cannot overwhelm it. [03:45:28]

The kingdom of God is God in action. The kingdom of God is where what God wants done is done. It is the range of God's effective will. So now when he comes into the world, he brings that with him and confronts a world that is basically dominated by evil powers. [06:26:56]

The reality of God is here present, and if they want to know the reality of it, all they have to do is to seek it. Most knowledge is something you seek. It's especially true of spiritual knowledge. [20:19:52]

Not knowing God is a choice. Human beings constantly want to shift it onto God, and God is saying no, if you want to know me, I'm here, and if you want to know me, you'll seek me and find me. [21:56:48]

Our understanding of life is not complete without a knowledge of God, and our understanding of any field, concluding from mathematics on down, is never complete without an understanding of the whole of which it is a part, and that must include God. [26:31:12]

The question "What shall I do?" is only answered by a relationship to a living God with whom I live, and in that context of prayer and action, then I am ready to see and to know what I should do by his presence with me. [53:22:48]

Seek ye first the kingdom of God. What does it mean to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness? They all go together. You seek the kingdom of God by finding what God is doing and acting with it. [48:23:52]

To seek the kingdom of God means that when we are living our lives, whatever the situation may be, our eyes are upon Jesus Christ, and our expectation is from him, and we are waiting and learning to hear from him. [50:37:44]

The body of knowledge that allows us to have guidance in life, no matter how much chemistry you know, physics you know, mechanics you know, mathematics you know, economics you know, or any of the other areas of knowledge, you will still not know what to do. [52:59:39]

The true saving knowledge of Christ in the kingdom of God becomes a real possession wherever we are. [54:40:00]

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Transcript
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