What We Know

WHAT WE KNOW

Philippians 4.12

Introduction: Knowledge is acquired a little at a time. I remember in school,

students asking, “will I ever need to know this”, or, “why do I have to learn this

because I will never use this.” The fact is we don’t know what we will need and

not need. Some times we don’t ever know what we do know. I want to look at

four knows in this lesson.

I. Sometimes we don’t know what we don’t know

a. Arabian Proverb – He who know not and knows not that he knows not, he is a fool – shun him.

i. Person that checks to see if there is gas in the car by lighting a match, checking an electric fence by grabbing on it, misspelling the word ignorance, etc.

ii. It is hard to teach a person that is ignorant but does not realize it.

b. The Bible mentions a number of people that fall into this category

i. The Pharisees were educated in the Law of Moses, the strict legalist, yet they were ignorant of the meaning of the law, Matthew 15.14

ii. The foolish farmer thought he knew what was important but he really did not know, Luke 12.16-21

iii. The term educated fool is often used to describe this person; they place the wrong emphasis on the material instead of the spiritual.

II. Sometimes we know that we don’t know

a. Arabian Proverb – He who knows not and knows he knows not, he is simple – teach him.

i. The first day at a job a person feels dumb and realizes they are dumb.

ii. They are teachable because they realize their situation.

b. Bible passages which points out some things we know that we don’t know

i. We do not know how to walk before God without His word, Jeremiah 10.23

1. Various passages place the emphasis on studying God’s word, Acts 17.11; Eph. 5.17; James 1.5

2. Solomon asked for wisdom of he knew his limitations, 1 Kings 3.7

ii. The disciples asked Jesus to help them to pray for they knew they did not know, Luke 11.1

iii. We do not know when Jesus shall return, Mark 13.32ff

1. Therefore we are to be ready at all times, Eph. 5.15-15

2. The person that thinks they know are deluding themselves.

iv. We do not know when we shall die, Ps. 90.12

III. We do not know what we know

a. Arabian Proverb – He who knows and know not he knows, he is asleep – awake him

i. Refers to knowledge that is unused or undeveloped

ii. A mysteries novel gives us bits and pieces of the story we just have to use what they reveal to us to solve the mystery.

iii. Some times a person will ask if I know something and I will tell them I don’t know. I may have forgotten.

b. Bible examples of this

i. The disciples walked with Jesus, John 14.26

ii. The death and resurrection of Jesus, John 2.18-22

iii. Who is my neighbor? Luke 10.29-37

c. This applies to a lot of our “social sins” Christians try to justify

i. Humanism, situation ethics, etc.

ii. Some times we must be awaken, Ex. Geometry with proofs, 1 John 5.18

IV. We know what we know

a. Arabian Proverb – He who knows and humbly knows he knows – he is wise follow him

i. Humility is important because some people can not handle knowledge or an education

ii. Too many Christians have become educated fools

b. Bible passages

i. We know man can not change the will of God, Ecc. 3.14

ii. We know there is but one God, 1 Cor. 8.4

iii. We know that He hears our prayers and is able to answer them, 1 John 5.15

iv. We know that we must keep His commandments, 1 John 2.3

v. We that it is appoint once for man to die and then face the judgment, Hebrews 9.27

vi. We know that our redeemer lives, Job 19.25-26

Conclusion: Don’t ever let someone talk you out of believing what the Bible says.

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