4/16/2009

Ignorance Of God

"A man may be theologically knowing and spiritually ignorant" Stephen Charnock

"Involuntary ignorance is not charged against you as a fault; but your fault is this---you neglect to inquire into the things you are ignorant of." Augustine

This message came to me at church when I was discussing something with one of the brethren. We were talking about how most professed Christians fall into the category of being lukewarm. We came to the conclusion that if we interpret the scriptures correctly and live them on a daily basis then most Christians are wrong. This does not make us right. God’s word is right not us. All we have to do is live it. ALL OF IT!! The majority of our churches, pick out a certain area of scripture and run with it. They take it by itself and create a denomination or sect or cult. If we are going to be children of God we must KNOW our father. To know Him is to know his will and to know his character. The title of this message is Ignorance of God. Too many self-professed Christians are ignorant of God. I say this for many reasons and we will go over them. As usual I want us to go over a definition of a word so we will understand what we are discussing. Let’s look at the definition of ignorance.

Ignorance

IG'NORANCE, n. [L. ignorantia; ignoro,not to know; ignarus, ignorant; in and gnarus, knowing.]

1. Want, absence or destitution of knowledge; the negative state of the mind which has not been instructed in arts, literature or science, or has not been informed of facts. Ignorance may be general, or it may be limited to particular subjects. Ignorance of the law does not excuse a man for violating it. Ignorance of facts if often venial.

Ignorance is preferable to error.

Ignorance is when we have not been informed of the facts. The definition says ignorance may be general, or it may be limited to particular subjects. Ignorance of the law does not excuse a man for violating it.

We have already been informed of the facts. We have the bible and it is our responsibility to know what is in it. Most Christian’s ignorance of God is limited to particular subjects. This is where we fall short. This is where we as Christians are ignorant of God.

4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:4 (KJV)

If we say we know him and keep not his commandments we are liars. The word, keep, is from the Greek word Tereo, pronounced tay-reh'-o. This word means to observe, hold to, preserve, etc. This does not mean we will not break the commandments, but it means that we accept His commandments as the rule over our lives. The reason the majority of churches today refuses to keep most of His commandments is because they do not want to have to live by them. They refuse to know God, because they do not want to keep his commandments. Here are a few more scriptures on this area.

19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also. John 8:19 (KJV)

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4:8 (KJV)

16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. Titus 1:16 (KJV)

The word know in these scriptures is from the Greek word eido, pronounced ay-do. This word means know, knowledge, know how, perceive, understand, be aware, consider, etc. To know God is not just to know that God exists but to know how God thinks. To know his character and to know how he would feel about our decisions we make. God has shown us through his Word if only we will read it and meditate on it. What about our ignorance on who God is? There are many examples here on how the church has forgotten who God really is. There is no reverence of God in our society. It is ok for men to go into a sanctuary with a hat on and for women to go into a sanctuary without her head covered. This is because we do not want to offend a person but we are willing to offend God because he will forgive us, RIGHT? What about when we are praying? When we are talking to someone and someone else comes up and interrupts us we do not have a problem telling that person to hold on, but if we are praying to God it is ok to stop praying to open your eyes to see what is going on. When we are in prayer with God, NOTHING should distract us from our conversation with the Most High. NOTHING!! Satan will use distractions to keep us from our relationship with God and we allow it. For some reason people seem to think it is ok to talk during prayer, praise, and church. The only time it should be ok to talk during these times it to talk to God or to tell someone else to be quiet. Oh, but we shouldn’t offend the people. Who is priority in your life?

What can happen if we are ignorant of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. Matt 22:29 (KJV)

We can error because we do not know the scriptures nor the power of God. How can we not know the scriptures? We have free access to the scriptures at all times. More important, how can we as Christians not know the power of God? How many Christians do not accept the true power of God and accept the miracles and stories of the Bible as fact?

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts 17:31 (KJV)

We could be guilty of idolatry because we are ignorant of God. God is not gold, silver, or stone. He is not a statue or a figment of our imagination that we can worship or not depending on how we feel that day. He is the creator of everything and he is in control, not us.

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; Eph 4:17-22 (KJV)

We could be alienated from God. God cannot be around sinners. We can have our understanding darkened because of our ignorance of God and our blindness of our heart. Our heart must be right with God. How do you know if your heart is right with God? You must be willing to lose everything for God. This sounds easy but are you really willing to lose all of your worldly possessions, family, friends, animals, etc.? If you really know God then you know that He will take care of you more than any of these things can. I do not want to be alienated from God because of my own selfishness. One of the biggest lies spurted out of the mouths of Christians is, God Understands. Do you understand?

1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. John 16:1-4 (KJV)

The ignorance of God will cause persecution. The muslims believe they are doing God service by killing Christians and Jews. They are ignorant of God and Jesus. There are also Christians that will persecute real Christians because they know not The Father or The Son. This is the case in this country. Christians living out the bible are persecuted because fake Christians think they know more than God. Ignorance.

48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke 12:48 (KJV)

There is no excuse for ignorance. I have heard so many people say, “I don’t want to know because then I will be held accountable”. You will be held accountable whether you know or not. Shouldn’t you want to know what the real true will of you Father is? The passage says that he who had no clue and was breaking the law will still be punished. Maybe not as bad, but isn’t it easier to not be punished at all?

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Phil 3:7-8 (KJV)

This is where we all need to be. We need to want to give all things for the knowledge of Christ. The knowledge of God needs to be our reward, but we want the things of this world to be our reward. We need to know God so we can serve God. How can we serve God when we do not know what he wants from us? How can we obey his Word if we refuse to learn it?

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:5 (KJV)

God will give us wisdom concerning Him and His will if we ask. We must seek Him and desire to be with Him first.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. James 3:17-18 (KJV)

Isn’t that the wisdom we need, to keep from being ignorant of God? Pure, peacable, gentle, easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. How could we not want this instead of the wisdom of this world? I want my family to be ignorant of this world and the things of it. I know many people will say, “we need to be aware of this world so we can know how to survive in it”. This is not wisdom of God, but wisdom of the world. Live your life for God and the rest will be easy. Pray and study to know the real character of God. This is why we have the Old Testament. God tells us how he thinks and how he feels about obedience and disobedience. Let’s take it serious. Let’s obtain knowledge of our Father and His will. Let’s not be ignorant and if we are let’s change that today.

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