[1] #287, Need to Know, Sunday 09-09-2007, Pastor Mark Boucher

Text: 2 Peter 1:3-11
Theme: We are to make every effort to add knowledge to our faith.(v 5)

INTRODUCTION:

1. Sailors and soldiers of old time battled “scurvy”
   1. Scurvy was cured by eating fruit with vitamin C.
2. Knowledge is vital for life.
   1. We continue to witness the information explosion.
   2. The increase of information doesn’t equal the godly quality of knowledge.
3. The Word of God is great knowledge.
   1. This knowledge is to help us in relationships and life.
   2. “Knowledge” is mentioned 130 times in the Bible.
   3. Knowledge and wisdom are often interchanged.
   4. Bible knowledge is insight, information which leads to a godly life.
4. The last 6 references to knowledge are in 2 Peter.
5. Peter refers to knowledge as our doorway to receive “everything we need for life and godliness.”
6. Peter refers to knowledge as something we can grow in our lives.

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever!” Psalm 3:18

HOW ARE WE TO GROW THIS KNOWLEDGE IN OUR OWN LIFE?

1. Find the Key.
   1. There is a key to knowledge.
   2. “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge, you yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” Luke 11:52
   3. “‘But, to His disciples Jesus said, ‘The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you …’ ” Luke 8:10
   4. Why did the experts miss it while the disciples received?
   5. The key to knowledge is a heart changed for God.
   6. The heart fears God.
   7. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7
   8. The heart is child-like.
   9. “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden those things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” Luke 10:10”21
   10. This heart is made new by Jesus.
   11. “Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3)
2. Ask Him for help.
   1. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6)
   2. God is willing to give you knowledge.
   3. He will help you advance His Kingdom.
   4. Pray, “God I don’t know how to influence people toward you, please help me.”
   5. Solomon prayed, “Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours? (2 Chronicles 1:10)
   6. He will help you in your daily work.
   7. He knows more about your work than you do.
   8. He wants to anoint you to do excellent work.
   9. “and he has filled him [Bezalel] with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts.” (Exodus 35:31)
   10. God is not only willing but He is able.
   11. God is all-knowing.
   12. “He determines the number of stars and calls them each by name … His understanding has no limit.” (Psalm 147:4-5)
3. Discipline yourself.
   1. Go after the “good treasure.”
   2. “through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.” (Proverbs 24:4)
   3. Stay away from the knowledge of evil,
   4. In the garden God made all kinds of trees that were “pleasing to the eye and good for food.” Genesis 2:9
   5. He only put a boundary on one “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Genesis 2:9