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FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
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Bishop Randy Barnett, Oklahoma
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THE BLESSING OF KNOWING
Just days ago we celebrated Thanksgiving
Day and enjoyed our family so much. My grandson, Lucas, who will turn 2 years
of age soon, made a beeline for the kitchen saying, “Pop! Pop!” We knew what he
wanted and he wanted a pop cycle, and he knew exactly where the pop cycles were.
The fact of the matter is, he knew where to find what
he wanted.
Knowing is your key in Kingdom matters. It
is so important that you are told in many different ways throughout Scripture
that you must possess knowledge if you are to fully enjoy your covenant with
God. In fact, apart from knowing, you would not be born again. Once you heard
the gospel you then knew who Jesus is and how much He loves you and what He did
for you at Calvary. Knowledge of Jesus and His offering of salvation was your
key to salvation.
Imagine if you will, Jesus and His
disciples huddled around the campfire one brisk evening enjoying the close
fellowship they had built during their time together. Jesus then makes one of
the most powerful and intriguing statements in the Four Gospels when He
declares to them,
“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I
call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I
have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made
known to you.” (John
15:14-15)
In one brief declaration, He elevates
these twelve men to the high status of friend. It is understood in that
declaration there is a sense of equality. From that point forward there is
nothing withheld from one another because of the intimate nature of a true
friend. Friendship afforded them the privilege of inside information, if you
will, or in other words, they were made privy to all the knowledge that is
within “the family.” Lucas knew just where to find the goodies because he was
family. If you have been born again, you are a friend of God and you possess
the same level of inside family information because you in the household of
faith.
Read I
Corinthians 2:6-16. This is a dynamic study on the spiritual concept of
knowing. This passage reveals to you that it is through the Holy Spirit that you
can know all about God and all about His Kingdom. This knowing is a spiritual
knowledge; it is not a carnal knowledge like understanding algebra or physics.
To those who are not in the family, the spiritual truths of God seem foolish;
however, to you and me, they are powerful and wonderful and to be fully
enjoyed.
What I want you to understand here is that
God has not withheld anything from you. He has freely given to you the
availability of all Truth within the pages of the Word of God. Your Teacher
(the Holy Spirit) opens your spiritual eyes to see the deep and powerful
meanings of the words in Holy Scriptures. From that knowledge you grow
spiritually and you increase in faith and wisdom, and you then begin to enjoy
the rich blessings that are yours by virtue of your covenant with God. Your key
is knowing. Remember this: knowing opens to you the Truth; not knowing (even
for the believer) hinders or even blocks your ability to enjoy fully all your
heavenly Father has given to you.
So, my final word of admonition to you is
to study the Word of God for yourself. Feed on it. Meditate on it. From this you will know.
