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“Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge.”. Many are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Nations, churches, and individuals are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Romans 1:28 (NKJV).
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Many are destroyed for lack of knowledge. • Nations, churches, and individuals are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Romans 1:28 (NKJV) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
Romans 10:2-3 (NKJV) 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.
Proverbs 11:14 (ASV) Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
Many are destroyed for lack of knowledge. • Nations, churches, and individuals are destroyed for lack of knowledge. • God’s warning through the prophet Hosea rings true even today: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
Hosea 4:6 (NKJV) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
Isaiah 5:13 (NKJV) Therefore my people have gone into captivity because they have no knowledge; Their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
What efforts are you willing to put forth to obtain knowledge? Proverbs 2:4-6 (NKJV)4 If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
Why is Knowledge So Critical? • People are destroyed for lack of knowledge of God and His truth.
Hosea 4:1 (NKJV) Hear the word of the LORD, you children of Israel, for the LORD brings a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "There is no truth or mercy or knowledge of God in the land.
Hosea 4:6 (NKJV) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
Why is Knowledge So Critical? • People are destroyed for lack of knowledge of God and His truth. • It does matter what a person knows, especially in religion!
Galatians 1:6-8 (NASB) 6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
Why is Knowledge So Critical? • People are destroyed for lack of knowledge of God and His truth. • Without true knowledge, people will “break all restraint” to practice more and more wickedness.
Hosea 4:2 (NKJV) By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint, with bloodshed upon bloodshed.
Why is Knowledge So Critical? • People are destroyed for lack of knowledge of God and His truth. • Without true knowledge, people will “break all restraint” to practice more and more wickedness. • Walking worthily of the calling of Christ requires knowledge of God’s word.
Ephesians 4:1-3 (NASB) 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:4-6 (NASB) 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.
Philippians 1:27 (NASB) Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ; so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Colossians 1:9 (NASB) 9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding…
Colossians 1:10 (NASB) 10 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.
How Did Israel Become Deficient of Knowledge? • They rejected true knowledge for false knowledge from their “gods” and pagan neighbors.
Hosea 4:12 (NKJV) My people ask counsel from their wooden idols, and their staff informs them. For the spirit of harlotry has caused them to stray, and they have played the harlot against their God.
Hosea 5:7 (NKJV) They have dealt treacherously with the LORD, for they have begotten pagan children. Now a New Moon shall devour them and their heritage.
How Did Israel Become Deficient of Knowledge? • They rejected true knowledge for false knowledge from their “gods” and pagan neighbors. • They rejected the words of the priest.
Malachi 2:7 (NASB) "For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.” – cf. Lev. 10:10-11; Deut. 17:8-13
Hosea 4:4 (NKJV) “Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; For your people are like those who contend with the priest.” • “Contend” (riyb or ruwb): to strive, contend, to sue, to make complaint, quarrel (cf. BDB Lexicon)
Their disrespect for priests likely had a lot to do with their poor example before the people, they themselves practicing sin!
Hosea 4:6 (NKJV) 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
Hosea 4:7-8 (NKJV) 7 "The more they increased, The more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame. 8 They eat up the sin of My people; They set their heart on their iniquity.
Hosea 4:9-10 (NKJV) 9 And it shall be: like people, like priest. So I will punish them for their ways, and reward them for their deeds. 10 For they shall eat, but not have enough; They shall commit harlotry, but not increase; Because they have ceased obeying the LORD.
How Did Israel Become Deficient of Knowledge? • They rejected true knowledge for false knowledge from their “gods” and pagan neighbors. • They rejected the words of the priest. • They listened to false prophets for spiritual guidance.
Hosea 4:5 (NKJV) Therefore you shall stumble in the day; The prophet also shall stumble with you in the night; And I will destroy your mother. – cf. Hosea 9:7; Jeremiah 14:14-16
False prophets would have told Israel what they wanted to hear rather than what they needed to hear.
Micah 2:11 (NLT) Suppose a prophet full of lies were to say to you, "I'll preach to you the joys of wine and drink!" That's just the kind of prophet you would like!
Micah 3:11 (NASB) On the other hand I am filled with power — With the Spirit of the LORD — And with justice and courage to make known to Jacob his rebellious act, even to Israel his sin.
Rather than rebuke Israel of their sins, the false prophet would ignore or even condone their sinful behavior.
Jeremiah 23:13-14a (NASB) 13 "Moreover, among the prophets of Samaria I saw an offensive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray.14 "Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: The committing of adultery and walking in falsehood; And they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one has turned back from his wickedness.
What Lessons Can We Learn from Israel? • Guard yourself from idolatry and “false knowledge.”
1 John 5:21 (NASB) Little children, guard yourselves from idols.– e.g. Col. 3:5
1 Timothy 6:20-21a (NASB) 20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge" — 21 which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith…
What Lessons Can We Learn from Israel? • Guard yourself from idolatry and “false knowledge.” • Do not hastily turn down knowledge of the truth, even when it is delivered by preachers who do not practice the truth.
It is tempting to dismiss a teacher’s doctrine, even when they teach the truth, if they do not practice what they preach (Rom. 2:17-24).
Matthew 23:1-3 (NASB) 1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; 3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them.
What Lessons Can We Learn from Israel? • Guard yourself from idolatry and “false knowledge.” • Do not hastily turn down knowledge of the truth, even when it is delivered by preachers who do not practice the truth. • Hold all teachers accountable and learn to obtain the knowledge of the truth for yourself.
Unlike Israel who would “stumble with the prophet” we need to seek after teachers who will “Preach the Word” (2 Tim. 4:1-5).
2 Peter 2:1 (NASB) But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.– cf. Acts 20:29-30
There are many sources where false doctrine can come from (e.g. Sermons, classes, commentaries, religious books, brotherhood papers / “creeds”).
Essential to walking by faith, every person needs to study the Bible for themselves so that their faith truly belongs to him.