1. Show Me your faith by your knowledge
*Sam had a job that required him to spend a lot of time alone in his car, driving up and down the roads. One weekend he and his wife set out on a small shopping trip. On the way out of town they stopped at a gas station to fill up the car and get some snacks. After gassing up the car, Sam got back in his seat and took off. An hour later he realized he was alone. His wife was still at the gas station.
*Why did he forget her? Because his regular routine didn’t involve her riding around with him. He did what he’d done every day for work.

2. Knowledge What have you learned? What have you forgotten? Names Places
Telephone numbers
Discussions
When something was done
*I read something about things that people commonly forget. The main items that caught my attention were… SEE SLIDE
*Throughout our lives we learn and forget a lot of things.
*The things that stick are the things that we stay current on.
**We rarely forget (actually forget, not a short memory lapse) the names of people we regularly see or places we visit.
**Before cellphones with electronic contact lists, we remembered the phone numbers we used the most.
**The reason we forget things we say or when we did something is because most discussions and actions a singular events.

3. Knowledge
We’re more likely to remember the things we devote our time to.
Deuteronomy 4:9, 23, 6:10-12, 8:11, 14, 19
Jeremiah 2:32, 3:21, 13:25
Job 8:11-13 “Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the rushes grow without water? “While it is still green and not cut down, Yet it withers before any other plant. “So are the paths of all who forget God;
*The things that we remember are the things we spend time on. If you want to learn something, you’re going to devote some time to it.
*Deuteronomy has more reminders to remember God than any other book.
*Jeremiah warned God’s people that they had forgotten their creator.
**Jer. 2:32 would a bride forget her dress
**Jer. 3:21 The children of Israel have perverted their way and forgotten God.
**Jer. 13:25 They have forgotten God in favor of lies and falsehoods.
**Job 8:11-13 (SEE SLIDE)

4. Knowledge
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
*SEE SLIDE

5. Knowledge
Knowledge: facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject.
Vision: Mental sight or understanding, revelation
Understanding: the ability to understand something; comprehension.
*I want to run down a few definitions before we get too far…
*SEE SLIDE

6. Knowledge
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
*Back to the Bible verses I had up before, I think that when we look at contemporary Christianity in the US we find that many often look at these passages outside of their context and use them to talk about their personal goals, desires, hopes and dreams. That’s not it.
*These passages are about knowledge of God’s law…
*In those times the Levitical priests were responsible for knowledge and understanding. They had the responsibility of serving God, offering up sacrifices, representing the people before God. They had the responsibility of being the scribes and teachers. They were also the nations judges and regulators. So, Hosea 4:4-14 is a rebuke of those priests who had rejected knowledge and allowed God’s people to turn away from the law.

7. Knowledge
Proverbs 29:18 “where there is no vision” means there is no teaching of God’s law.
Amos 8:11-12 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the Lord. “People will stagger from sea to sea And from the north even to the east; They will go to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, But they will not find it.
*SEE SLIDE

8. Knowledge
Hosea 4:6 “destroyed for a lack of knowledge”, “you have rejected knowledge”
It is a decision
We either embrace knowledge or reject it
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV)
*SEE SLIDE
*Remember what I said before, the responsibility for knowledge and teaching fell to the Levitical priests.

9. Knowledge
1 Peter 2:5-7 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.” This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner stone,”
*SEE SLIDE

10. Knowledge
1 Peter 5:8-9 and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
*SEE SLIDE

11. Knowledge 1 Peter 2:5-9 you are… A Royal Priesthood A Holy Priesthood
To offer up spiritual sacrifices
To proclaim the excellencies of Him
*SEE SLIDE
*This is not talking about Preachers, Elders, Deacons, Sunday school teachers or anyone else alone. This is about all Christians.
*The Levitical priesthood is gone and now we all sit in that seat.
*We are all responsible for knowledge, understanding, the offering of spiritual sacrifices, proclaiming His Word.
*There is no longer another man between God and his people. We have direct access through Jesus Christ.

12. Knowledge Knowledge is key to spiritual survival
Psalm 119:11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
2 Peter 1:15 And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind.
*SEE SLIDE
*What kind of value do you place on knowledge?
*God’s Word was written to remind us what is important. How can we know what we need to if we don’t know the Word?

13. Knowledge We learn by repetition and practice
Place importance on learning God’s Word
Study at home
Practice it!
James 1:25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
*SEE SLIDE

14. Give preference to God’s Word in your homes!
Challenge
Give preference to God’s Word in your homes!
*We place a lot of value on a secular education but claim God’s Word to be more important.
*We should be giving preference to God’s Word in our homes.
*Take time to study. Make it a priority.
*Starting next week there will be a weekly study suggestion in the bulletin based on what we’re teaching in our classes. Use it. Study with your family.