“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, ” (2 Tim. 3:15).
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:8).
Knowledge is information, facts one has acquired or learnt.
Discernment is the ability to be able to see or perceive clearly and thereby make proper, correct and right judgement.
To have discernment we need knowledge. We are only able to make clear and sound judgement by weighing all the information and facts we have received and thereby come to the right conclusion and decision.
Discernment is greatly lacking in Christendom today because many lack knowledge. God said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6). Sound judgement is not possible without good knowledge.
The Bible encourages and admonishes us to get wisdom, knowledge, understanding and discernment/sound judgement (Prov.4:5-9, Prov. 16:16, 18:15, Prov. 2: 2 -6,1 Kings 3:9, Psalm 119:125, Hebrews 5:14, James 1:5 ).
Knowledge will help us to make sound judgement. It will help us to know, differentiate, and distiguish good from evil, right from wrong and truth from error.
Knowledge and discernment will keep us from being deceived or misled by spiritual predators and those who may try to lure us into doing what is wrong, bad and evil. It will also guard and help us in making right decisions in life. It will help us to know what God approves and want for us. It will help us to discern false teachings, false teachers and false brethren. It will keep us from mixing with the wrong people, making wrong decisions and doing wrong things. We need knowledge and discernment not only in spiritual things but in every area of life.
Getting Knowledge
1.Many Christians lack knowledge because they do not know the Scriptures. And because they lack knowledge they lack discernment. This is why it is so easy to be deceived and follow every wind of doctrine being propagated by seemly sincere preachers who are preaching poisonous messages. The knowledge of the Scriptures will give us practical wisdom in the affairs of this life (Psalm 119: 97 – 105).
Get into the Scriptures. Read it. Study it, asking for the Spirit’s illumination. Meditate on it. Memorize it. Let it be your daily bread. It is by reading the Scriptures we come to know who God is – His nature, His person, character, what He loves, what He approves and hates, what grieves and delights Him. It is as we study the Scriptures we can develop and cultivate the mind of Christ. We begin to see things the way He sees them, think the way He thinks and to live and walk the way He walked. God has revealed Himself to us in His Word. The Bible is what God says about Himself, His mind. Do you want to see God and hear His voice? Get into His Word. By reading and studying the Scriptures you come to know who God truly is and not who or what someone tells you He is (Acts 17:11).
2.Read good books. Read the biographies and auto biographies of men and women who knew God and walked with Him. Read books that have strong, sound Biblical theology/messages. Books written by men and women who knew God and walked according to Biblical pattern. Those men and women who walked like Christ walked and lived like He lived.
3.Listen to sound, strong Biblical messages by preachers who truly know God and are living according to Biblical pattern. Make sure the messages and preachers you listen to and follow are true Godly, God-fearing, bible-living preachers. Not the ones teaching messages that tickle the ears or make people feel good.
“Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.” (Phil. 3:17 -20).
4.Read other good books written by secular authors which can give you good information and facts, from which you can acquire good knowledge and wisdom. Read and learn about church history, world history, current events, biographies, science, medicine etc. Books that are informative, educative and helpful. You will need this too. As long as we still live in this world we still need information on various issues and subjects.
5.Pray to God for wisdom, guidance and counsel everyday. This will help you to properly apply or put to use the knowledge you ‘ve been given, gained and learned. This is the wisdom to know the right thing to do in any situation.
God promises to give wisdom to those who ask Him.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5).
“For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright.” (Prov. 2:6-7).