SEARCHING FOR KNOWLEDGE 1

1 NOW . . . WE KNOW THAT WE ALL HAVE KNOWLEDGE. KNOWLEDGE PUFFS UP, BUT LOVE EDIFIES.
2 And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.
3 BUT IF ANYONE LOVES GOD, THIS ONE IS KNOWN BY HIM.
11 AND BECAUSE OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE SHALL THE WEAK BROTHER PERISH, FOR WHOM CHRIST DIED?
1 Corinthians 8:1-3,11 (NKJV)

• What matters most in the body of Christ is love: "AND NOW ABIDE FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, THESE THREE; BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE" (1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV).

• If whatever you know or do would not be for the edification of other believers; It does mean such is not of God: "LET EACH OF US PLEASE HIS NEIGHBOUR FOR HIS GOOD, LEADING TO EDIFICATION" (Romans 15:2 NKJV).
• In other words, whatever you claimed to know, If it would not bring others closer to God and His Kingdom; It is a meaningless knowledge.
• Some in a bid of searching for knowledge have exposed themselves to certain things that are not meant for their consumption—they are things that cannot edify them.
• Knowledge puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1). If in a bid to know, you started learning things that are poisonous and are not meant for your consumption, as a believer in Christ Jesus; things that could pose a danger for your spiritual health, the result might be calamitous.

• A person the other day, in one of the social media platforms, was asking about the book of wisdom. The book of wisdom he was talking about is not the book of proverbs in the Bible, he was talking about another book—one of the books that were not canonized.

• Some of such people have read some things that are not meant for their consumption, they are now arguing with the truth found in the canonized Bible.
• If you learned things that are poisonous, which would prompt you to be doubting the authenticity or the Authority of the Bible—the canonized one. You may find it difficult to come out of it.
• To unlearn a wrong thing that you had learned might be difficult. It is easy to learn a thing than to unlearn it. Thus, whatever you are searching for, about God, could be found in the Bible. All that God wanted us to know about Himself has been revealed to us in the Bible.
• Any effort to read and study those books which are not canonized—which were believed not to be inspired by God—would give the devil an opportunity to pollute your thoughts or mind against the Truth found in the Bible.
• Let the sleeping dog lie! Let the Holy Spirit expatiate the Bible, and give you the fuller understanding of God through it—not looking for whatever is not found in it that cannot edify you.

• I have met some young people who always wanted to argue about the Bible. - They always have the boldness to say they have read and have come to a conclusion that the Bible is wrong or not sufficient or clear enough on some particular things. They become heretic because of what they exposed their minds to, through the search for knowledge.

• Are there things you know that would not be beneficial and edifying? If whatever you are striving to study and know is not benefitial and edifying, then what would be the essence of learning or knowing such a thing.
• Since the knowledge you have just acquired, what you know after you read those books, has made you argumentative—disputatious and controversial in your speeches—and would not want to agree with what the Bible says; what then is the benefit of such knowledge?
• The knowledge that would be considered to be right or approved by God should be such that allows you to know God the more—having the understanding of His ways the more. Not the knowledge that would make you to be questioning the authenticity or the authority of the Bible:
  a. Faulting those who canonized the Bible.
  b. Asking the parameters or guidelines through which the Bible is canonized.
  c. Wanting to know who appointed who, about those who canonized the Bible.
  d. And what was the standards or qualifications considered before choosing those who canonized the Bible? And other questions of such.
• The questions being mentioned here are the ones I have heard some people asking, who claimed to be believers.
• We are at the time that Apostle Paul talked about in the book of 1 and 2 Timothy when people would give heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons: "NOW THE SPIRIT EXPRESSLY SAYS THAT IN LATTER TIMES SOME WILL DEPART FROM THE FAITH, GIVING HEED TO DECEIVING SPIRITS AND DOCTRINES OF DEMONS" (1 Timothy 4:1 NKJV).
• And the time when they would not endure sound doctrine again:
  3 FOR THE TIME WILL COME WHEN THEY WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE, BUT ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN DESIRES, BECAUSE THEY HAVE ITCHING EARS, THEY WILL HEAP UP FOR THEMSELVES TEACHERS;
  4 AND THEY WILL TURN THEIR EARS AWAY FROM THE TRUTH, AND be TURNED ASIDE TO FABLES."
  2 Timothy 4:3,4 (NKJV)

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• If you are having any ailment in your body, as you read this piece, I declare your healing now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
• And whatever hold that is broken in your life now would never rise again in Jesus' mighty name.
  Peace!
  TO BE CONTINUED.

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!