Open Heavens 24 September 2016: Saturday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – The Power of Knowledge

Topic: The Power of Knowledge [Saturday 24, September 2016]
Memorise: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. – Hosea 4:6
Read: Proverbs 1:20-29 (KJV)
 20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
 21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
 22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
 24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
 27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
Bible in One Year: Ezekiel 10-12, Psalms 67:1-68:6
MESSAGE:
 Knowledge can be defined in two major ways; first, as an acquaintance with the body of truths, facts, or principles accumulated in the course of time from study or investigation. On the other hand, knowledge can also be defined as the illumination of the mind, especially by the Word of God, leading to delight and increased pleasure in God. It should be noted that whenever the Bible talks about knowledge and knowing, it is usually in the sense of knowledge as an illumination of the mind by the Word of God. Biblical knowledge is a combination of scientific, philosophical, psychological, and spiritual knowledge; and this kind of knowledge is superior to any other.  In reference to the knowledge of the Word of God Hosea 4:6 says:
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”
As I have always said, knowledge is power because it is a major factor that controls the process of decision making and therefore ultimately determines the course of life. It is the level of your knowledge about any particular subject that determines your ability to make the right decisions about the subject. It is in this light that Proverbs 1:29 says those who despise or detest knowledge do so at their risk. Every Christian needs to know that dependence on worldly knowledge may lead to failure, but godly knowledge guarantees success.
 Do you know that if you know more about God and His Word, it will affect you in making error-proof choices and decisions? That is why Proverbs 1:23 says,
“Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.”
The elements you need in taking those crucial decisions are contained in the Bible, prophetic utterances of genuine men of God and what He would like to say directly to you. How much time have you given to studying at His feet? Some think it is a waste of time to undertake personal Bible study while others are sleeping at midnight. No. You are gaining time. At the end, you will realize you spent far less time and effort in reaching your goal than the one who never cared to give priority to God’s Word.
Prayer Point: Father, please give me enlightenment and understanding by Your Word in Jesus’ name.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
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