| Understanding What You Know |
| By David W. Foster |
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| � Wisdom is the principal thing; there fore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. � -Proverbs4:7 Do you understand what you know? Before you answer that, you may need to read a little farther. Many do not know the importance of understanding or what it means to have understanding. Hopefully before you finish reading this article you will have better knowledge of it. The Spirit of God spoke this word into my spirit sometime ago and it literally changed my life and the way I view things. This little word called �understanding� is very awesome. It�s often misunderstood to be the same as knowledge, and wisdom, but it is not. You can read throughout the Bible and you will see there is a distinct difference between the three. They are akin, but they are definitely not the same. Notice in my scripture text that the Bible exhorted us to get both wisdom and understanding, they can�t be the same. It went on to say wisdom is the basic thing but in all the things of life, (material and spiritual) we should pursue, lay siege, and take hold of understanding. Note the word �all.� That�s all-inclusive. Just because you have knowledge, doesn�t mean you have understanding. Understand also that the Bible plainly points out that knowledge is not the same as wisdom and understanding. You can see this truth in Proverbs 2:6 and Eph.1:17 & 18, �For the Lord giveth wisdom; out of his mouth cometh [notice this] knowledge AND understanding. �.may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, the eyes of [notice again] your understanding being enlightened.� You see, we�re not missing it in the area of knowledge; we may be coming up a little short in the area of wisdom (we all have some, if not very much), but we are greatly lacking in the area of understanding. Pay close attention to this statement: knowledge is that that educates us, wisdom is the ability to use that knowledge, and understanding is what you get when you do. It is possible to have knowledge without understanding it. To be more blunt, people know a lot, but understand very little. It is high time for God�s people to start getting an understanding of what they know. We know all the basics and principles of the Word, but no understanding. In this �word and faith� dispensation when God has richly blessed, and elevated the teaching ministry to where the Word of God has been going forth and expounded upon as never before in the history of men or the church; God�s people have just sat back and gotten fat off of the knowledge of His Word with little to no understanding whatsoever. And it explains a lot of why we haven�t gotten anywhere as a body. It explains why the believer has stayed defeated, the body fragmented, separated, and dislocated. It explains why many have advance knowledge of God and His Word, but no fruit to show for it. It explains why many (although rich in knowledge) are still babes and have to continue to be taught when they themselves should be teachers of the Word. It explains why many are forever learning (receiving knowledge) but are never coming into the knowledge of the truth. It even explains why the many denominations, and why one will exalt itself over another. Beloved, knowledge alone will puff you up, and cause you to get prideful and high-minded. Without it�s twin bothers wisdom and understanding, it could be very dangerous. The Difference Between Knowledge & Understanding We�ve already fore stated that it�s possible to have knowledge without understanding. But by the same token, you can have understanding without knowledge (I�ll explain in a minute). Many think that just because they are hearing a person preach, teach, or instruct they are getting understanding, no, not really. You�re not getting understanding; you�re getting knowledge of someone else�s understanding. Out of all the tapes, books, videos, crusades, revivals, seminars, or just regular Bible study sessions, at best and for the most part you�re just getting knowledge. Understanding doesn�t come by the sharing of information, only through experience. I�ll give you the definition of the word �understanding� then I�ll give you an illustration to show you the difference. The word �understanding� means, to be aware of the meaning of; to recognize the existence or meaning of; to possess an intellectual hold of. Synonyms are: catch, apprehend, accept, comprehend, conceive, grasp, make out, see, take in. Pay close attention to the one that says, �to possess an intellectual hold of, and the synonyms catch, grasp, and make out.� It is possible to gain knowledge of a thing without catching, grasping, or making out what�s taken in. Here�s the difference: Let�s say you knew absolutely nothing about motor vehicles or how to drive them. But you went to a school where they taught you what everything on the vehicle was for. You gain knowledge about the motor and how it works, what the speedometer, gear shift, the gas pedal, the brakes, all the gauges on the instrument panel and what they were for, and so on. And when they quizzed you on that knowledge you made straight A�s. Now let me ask you, do you think you know how to drive a car? Well you can honestly say you have knowledge or know how to drive, but understanding how to drive is a different story. Even though you gain all that knowledge and made straight A�s on your test, getting behind the wheel is a totally different animal. You may find your hand, eye, and foot coordination doesn�t know a thing about your knowledge. The result? Driving all on the curb, over in someone else�s lane, hitting the gas pedal thinking it was the brake, going backwards when you thought you were going forward and so on. Now get this, when you start experiencing that knowledge (about driving) is when you start getting an understanding of what it truly means to drive a car. The difference between gaining knowledge and getting understanding is this: Knowledge comes by observation and information. Understanding comes by actual experience of any circumstance. Keep this in mind, it�s an important thought: Whenever you have an experience you are getting understanding. One Without The Other It is possible, and in most cases true; that you can have knowledge without understanding and understanding without knowledge. There are some people who have experienced a lot, but if you asked them how do they know those things their reply would be, �I don�t know, I can�t explain it. I just know it works.� Now get this, they�ve got something going for them you�ve been trying to get going forever (it seem like) with no results. You asked them to explain and they can�t. Why? All they have is understanding because of what they have experienced, but they cannot explain it because they haven�t come into that knowledge. One day someone may be sharing something with them and their response may be, �I�ve been doing that all alone, I just never knew it until I heard you talking about it.� There are many who�s understanding far exceeds a lot of people�s knowledge and it�s mind baffling to them. We need them both, but given a choice, I would take understanding over knowledge any day. It is always better to have understanding and knowledge, than to have one without the other. A person that has understanding is more stable and sound than the knowledgable person. They understand what you know, but you don�t know what they understand! Dangers of Just Having Knowledge Let me talk to you about the dangers of just having knowledge, then I�ll come back and give you an illustration with something a lot of us are familiar with. I Cor. 8:1 say, �Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.� Lets look at the �b� part of that verse in another translation. The Amplified Bible says, �Yet mere knowledge causes people to be puffed up (to bear themselves loftily and be proud)��. The Ryrie Study Bible (NAS) says, ��knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.� Because of people�s mere knowledge, (without understanding) they have given place to spirits of pride without knowing it. Because we are living in an advanced and technological age, and an age where more of God�s Word is being revealed than ever before, we must be careful that we don�t get carried away in pride. This wave of knowledge has not only caused divisions in our society, but also in the body of Christ. Prejudice is the fowl offspring of mere knowledge. Denominational barriers are offspring of mere knowledge. You see, when a person (or people) excels in knowledge, they can see where others are off, and how far they�re off. It gives them a feeling of superiority. It makes them feel like, �I don�t think I�m better then them, I know it.� You may not say the words exactly, but the implications and actions speak loud and clear. Why all the divisions in the body of Christ? One group of people thinking and knowing they know more than another group. Their attitude toward their fellow brothers in Christ has been, �We�re right and they�re wrong. All they are teaching and preaching is a bunch of mess. We don�t fellowship with them because they don�t believe like us, and they are off. God is not in that mess they are preaching.� Some body holler ouch, if you can�t say Amen! Now granted they may be off, but as the old folks use to say, �there�s a dead cat on the line somewhere.� Because while they are off (as you say), you cannot deny they have a real genuine move of God going. And that just blows your little egotistical, philosophical, and theological mind doesn�t it? You know they are off, but you can�t understand why God is moving so strong in their denomination or church. So your wounded pride and ego comes up with an excuse that makes sense to your knowledgeable and logical mind. �Well you know the Bible says that in the last days many will be working signs and wonders, but Jesus will say to them, depart from me, I never knew you.� So now you�ve come up with the perfect excuse to explain how someone so ignorant and unlearned can have a greater move of God than you with all of your knowledge. In your heart, you know it�s God but your pride and all of your assimilated knowledge won�t let you accept it because in your mind God will use only you, or somebody like you. Listen Mr. and Mrs. Know-it-all. There is a people who, (while you were learning all about God) were experiencing God, His Word, and what He could do. These people never learned the principles they had to live them. They never learned righteousness they lived it. They never learned all the different kinds of prayer, they just prayed until every thing was all right. While you were learning and gaining knowledge, they were living in adverse circumstances and getting understanding. They may not be able to explain God, but they definitely understand Him. They may not be able to rightly divide the word of truth, but they can definitely discern spirits, and the real move of God. I told you I would give you an illustration about knowledge and understanding that I think will help you better understand the difference between the two and the importance of having them both. The best illustration that I can come up with is that of speaking in tongues or operating in any of the other spiritual gifts. There are certain ones (because of the knowledge they have obtained) say that these gifts don�t apply to the church today and that they are not real. Now people who have experienced speaking in tongues and other gifts operating in their lives know and understand these manifestations of the Spirit are real. If you�ve spoken in tongues, you�d never understand what it is and how it�s possible. But people that do, not only know, but also understand. Different Levels of Understanding One thing the body of Christ must come to realize is that there are different levels of understanding. If we don�t realize this and compensate for it, there will continue to be divisions in the body. This is another reason why it is so important to get understanding because when you misunderstand, it always brings about division. Misunderstanding is the mother of all division on every level. Show me a division, and I will show you misunderstanding. Genesis 11:5-9 5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. Now here is some very eye opening scripture. Man, even in a very rebellious state, is capable of doing great feats when they are in one accord. Also note that the oneness came as a result of their total understanding of one another. Note also that it said they were of one language and one speech. Meaning they not only spoke the same dialect, but that they were one in what they said as well. It is safe to assume that they understood one another. The Bible says that God brought about a misunderstanding among them by confounding their language. Notice that the misunderstanding brought about division and separation. The Bible also declares that two can�t walk together except they be agreed. (Amos 3:3) You can�t agree with me, if you don�t understand me. So if you don�t understand me, how can you walk with me? The Mother of All Division Again I say, wherever there is a misunderstanding, there will be division, on every level. In our government, on our jobs, in our homes, marriages, between friends, between nations, between races, between denominations, between churches, between members, between Christians, and on and on. The root cause is lack of understanding, that often creates misunderstanding. Be careful that you don�t confuse the two: It�s not lack of understanding that brings about separation, but misunderstanding. I often tell people, �if you don�t understand, please don�t misunderstand. Because when you misunderstand, that is when we will part company. So you can see why and how the devil keeps the body of Christ (homes, friends, husbands, and wives, and families) divided. If he can keep those who have knowledge from getting understanding, then it�s quite easy to keep a misunderstanding between those that have mere knowledge, and those that have mere understanding. Genesis 11:7 says, � Go to, let us go down, and confound their language, that they may not understand one another�s speech.� Be careful that you don�t confuse these two words as being the same (language and speech). Language is your native tongue, speech is what you say. God changed their language in order to keep them from understanding what they were saying. The end result was division. The division came because of the changing of languages, not speech. Listen beloveth, if we allow the devil to confound our language, we would never understand one another�s speech, (what we are saying) which will result in divisions. We in the body of Christ must learn to speak the same language. I didn�t say have the same speech; it�s possible to speak the same language and say something different, but still walk in unity. The word �confound� means, to confuse or mistake. It�s not the confusion or mistaking of what you are saying, it�s how you are saying it that brings about the unity or division. The word �language� means, human speech peculiar to a nation; words especially used in any branch of knowledge; general style of expression; expression of thought or feeling in any way.� Notice the last definition; the word �language� is not limited to human dialect. We can speak the same dialect and still speak a different language! How many times have you heard it, �actions speak louder than words?� Or it could be said like this: Your expression of thought is not in line with what you�re saying; or have you ever said, �that person speaks my language?� They may be Japanese, or some other race that doesn�t even speak your dialect. What do you mean they speak your language? You were simply saying their expression of thought is my sentiments exactly. I may not understand their speech, but I definitely understand their language. My point being: Until we can all learn how to have the same expression of thought, we will continue to send confusing signals that would divide us because we will miss getting understanding (or simply put, misunderstand). Division is what you get when you miss getting an understanding. The word �miss� means, �to fail in hitting, obtaining, finding, etc.; to let slip; to fail to strike what is aimed at.� When you fail in obtaining, finding, or striking the understanding that you were aiming for, the result will always be division. Have you ever heard the phrase, �I can�t stand him, her, them� or whoever? The reason why you can�t stand them is because you don�t under-stand them, or you missed standing with them, or you fail to obtain, or find a standing with them. You can walk in unity and fellowship with anyone if you are willing to pay the price for understanding. Don�t fool yourself, understanding has a price, and many are not willing to pay that price. I�ve given this point much time because this is where the body of Christ is at; we all have the same speech (Christ and Him crucified) but our language has been confounded so that we can�t understand one another�s speech (even though we are saying the same thing). Notice again that my definition says to confuse or mistake. Don�t miss-take my expression of thought just because it may appear to look a little different from yours. We�re still saying the same thing, just in a different dialect. �Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.� (I Cor.12:4-6) It may not look like we�re on �the same page� but we are. You�re just at the top, and I�m at the bottom. Someone else may be in the middle, another on the side, but we all are making up the same expression of thought. If we don�t recognize this important fact, the body of Christ is going nowhere fast. How Understanding Comes Understanding doesn�t come by the sharing of information, only through experience. As a young man growing up, I knew a lot of things about life and living, but I understood very little (of course you couldn�t tell me that). The older or elderly people would try to share knowledge with me out of the understanding they had gained by their experience, but like so many others of the younger generation I knew it all, what could they tell me that I didn�t already know? In retrospect, there were many things they told me that I wish to God I had listen too. But I didn�t know the difference between knowledge and understanding. Let me put a pin here if I could. Sometimes we who have understanding do our best to try and get people on our level of understanding, not realizing that they will never fully understand until they have experienced what we have experienced. Mama how many times have you told your young daughter that boy didn�t mean her any good, and that he was only after one thing? Daddy how many times have you told your son that running with the wrong crowed will get him into serious trouble one day? And what about drugs, alcohol, wild parties, late night clubs, skipping school, staying out of church, not praying, and so on? Parents, we told them didn�t we? We did our best to keep them out of the same mess we got caught in, and that ruined our life. Did they listen? We wished! Until a person has been through what you�ve been through, there is no possible way they can understand your knowledge. Listen carefully; you can only give them knowledge, they will have to get understanding on their own. Notice the Bible says to "GET" understanding. It�s not something that�s given; it is something that's gotten. So if your daughter gets her heart broken, or get pregnant out of wedlock (God forbid) don�t worry about her, she�s getting understanding. If she goes on to marry that old �hard head,� unsaved, lazy, no-good-for-nothing Casanova, and is going through pure hell, don�t worry, she�s finally getting understanding of something she knew all along. What Understanding Will do For You There are several things the Bible says understanding will do for you in Prv.4:7-9, but I want to discuss something more important. Not speaking for anyone else, but for me personally understanding has given me more patience and compassion for people that are really �going through.� As we have already fore stated, knowledge puffs up, or edifies. Coming up in Christ there were many things I heard, and saw concerning other pastors, ministries, and people. Because of my knowledge (and no brains) I put my mouth on them. I said they weren�t saved, called them devils, said they needed to sit down somewhere; they were nothing but big hypocrites. You see, I knew the Bible says, �be ye holy for I am holy�. And come out from among them and touch not the unclean thing.� And I could go on with all of my spiritual ball bats that I was using until I had to partake of the same cup of sufferings. You see, all I knew was they were wrong; I had no idea what they had to go through or experience. After walking a mile in their shoes, it humbled me very quickly and I learned to keep my mouth off God�s man and woman. Now instead of talking, I�ve learned to be more compassionate, and pray. There is no more condemning or finger pointing; only reaching out in love. Most people that are running their mouths have no earthly idea what these people are going though and have to deal with. Many times I�ve had to repent of what I said and did even to my own pastor because I didn�t understand what he knew. But now that I�ve been a pastor, I�ve come to understand a lot of things he tried to tell me, that I couldn�t receive because of my puffed up, knowledgeable head. Lighten up off of people who are getting understanding (going through an experience), because your day will come. You may talk because you think you know, but you will never understand until you�ve been through what they have been through. Listen Child of God (especially men and women of God), �been there, done that!� I know about hidden struggles, and the quite storms that you�re going through. I know about the shame and disgrace you feel because of guilt and condemnation you�re feeling for letting God, the people, your family, and self down. In your heart you want to be right, come clean, open up and tell somebody, but whom do you turn too? Where do you turn, who will understand without kicking you to the curb or calling you the biggest hypocrite that walked the face of the earth? Listen Mr. and Mrs. Believer, even the most holiest and upright ministers or Christian that you may think is above reproach, and that of an immoral life style have their secret sins. The only difference between them and Mr. Hypocrite pastor, Christian, or whatever is that they didn�t get caught. Question: How do you think your pastor or favorite minister can preach on very sensitive issues of sin and degradation, and how to overcome them with such conviction and anointing? I mean it sounds so powerful coming from them, it�s like they wrote the book on it. Some of them did! The main reason why some of them can preach it with such an anointing and conviction is because they�ve lived and experienced it. Understand beloveth, our �mess� becomes our �message!� Our test becomes our testimony. Most of the messages that we preach and teach are given birth to in the womb of adversity. Understanding and Maturity Understanding will also mature you. Notice Hebrews 5:8&9, �Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things that he suffered; and being made perfect [complete or mature] he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;� What you suffer will not only give you understanding but it will also mature you. Remember that understanding comes through experience. After you have experienced and suffered certain things, you�ll find yourself walking in a newer level of maturity. There are many who have a tremendous amount of knowledge, but because they�ve ducked every test or trial that came their way, they are like what the Hebrew writer said farther on down in verses 12-14, For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Your level of understanding determines your maturity, not knowledge. Now listen carefully beloveth, here�s where the body of Christ is at: In this �word and faith� generation our knowledge as members of the body of Christ has far exceeded our level of understanding. I truly believe this generation of believers has had more of God�s knowledge revealed to them than any other. And the biggest thing with God right now is not revealing more knowledge, but getting us to act on what we already know. Let me ask you something Mr. and Mrs. Believer: How is your Bible reading? Do you find it hard to focus in a service where the word is going forth? Are you listening to Bible teachers on the radio anymore (how about TV)? Now before you go into denial and self-deception, let me answer for you. NO! If you were honest with yourself, you will have to say you don�t really have the appetite for the word of God that you use to have. When you go to these big conventions, you�re more thrilled with the personalities then the word. You�re not getting happy because of what they are preaching (you already know it); you�re shouting because of the spiritual celebrity and their theatrics. I said all of that to say this: The reason the word doesn�t move you now like it did then, is because God is not placing the emphasis on you getting more revelation, but rather you walking in what you already know (but have very little understanding of). Is it any wonder that most of today�s believers are going though more test and trials of their faith then ever before? As we cry out for more of God�s word, His word to us is this: get understanding of what you already know first. I believe God is allowing this generation of believers to really go through some trying times, so that their understanding level will reach that of their knowledge. Only then will we grow up and mature in Christ so that we can make the impact on this world that we are suppose too. The Written And Road Test One reason for this lack of interest in the word of God is because God is not into how much you know, but how much you understand. Since we�ve passed the written test with flying colors, it�s now time for the road test. We are living in �road test days.� The written test days are over, but many want to hang on to them, and all it has produced is a lot of immature spiritual intellectual babies that fuss and fight over who�s right. You know what I mean when I say, �written test� and �road test� don�t you? Well if you know anything about applying for your drivers license, they give you what is called a written test first, then afterwards the road test. Here in my state they give you a book to study. And when you think you are ready you go and take your written test. Most of us have no problem taking the written test (because it�s on paper). But when it comes to the road test that�s a horse of a different color. You see, when you study and take the written test, you have knowledge of how to drive a car, but when you take the road test you get understanding of driving a car. So it is with God: This generation has been taking the written test for a very long time. That is, reading our Bible, going to Bible studies, listening to tapes, going to conventions, and so on. And we�ve jumped and shouted, named it and claimed it, blabbed it and grabbed it, sung and prayed it, bind and burked it, still with no results because we weren�t really looking for any. We were simply mimicking those who have already took the road test and passed. The Church for the most part has been in la-la land wanting to hold on to the written test, and fearing the road test. The road test with God is that of truly doing the word of God. Actually putting into action all of what you�ve learned from the written test. I know you would rather skip over the road test and get those license to preach, pray deliverance, prophesy, heal the sick, cast out devils, walk in financial prosperity, and so on. But you will not get them until you�ve passed the road test. And it has been my experience that it will take every thing you know in order to pass it. So don�t worry if it seems that your appetite for the word has diminished, God has simply moved your Bible study form the classroom to the �road.� You will find now that revelation and understanding is in the application of the word to your every day circumstances and problems. I cannot tell you how many times I�ve gotten revelation just by going through a thing. God exhorted us to place the getting of understanding at the top of our priority list. He said if we did, it would promote us, bring us to honor, and give to our heads and ornament of grace, and a crown of glory. But as I said before, it comes with a price; and you will be surprised just how many are not willing to pay that price. What price is that? You may have to swallow your pride and ego and go back to someone and apologize for judging them wrongly. As I�ve already stated, you may have to take the knowledge you�ve gotten from the written test and plow through every adverse circumstance. It may require you to change what you�ve believed for years. It may require you to release one of those jobs. Whatever the price may be, I assure you it is worth it! |
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| All scripture qoutations are from the KJV of the Bible. This teaching is brought to your by Pastor David Foster and Son of God Ministries, Inc. and may not be reproduced in whole or part without the express written consent of Son of God Ministries, Inc. P.O. Box 46514, Little Rock, AR 72214. |
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