If we were to ask a random sampling of one-hundred believers how many scriptures they knew, I’m sure a vast majority of them would admit to knowing quite many verses.
The detail here is that when we typically use the word “know” today, it does not carry the same meaning as it does in the Bible itself.
In today’s message, we explore what it really is to “know” a scripture, and how this knowing can benefit us in our daily lives.
First let us get some background on the Biblical meaning of the word “know”. In its most common form in the Bible, the word know is the Hebrew word yada, which has a wide array of senses. The most used of these though, and the ones which we are going to study today are the following:
To ascertain by seeing,
To acknowledge,
To be acquainted with,
and to be assuredly aware of,
So you may already be starting to get a glimpse of how the Biblical definition of “knowing” is different than our common use of the word today. Or you may be thinking “That seems a lot like how we understand the same word today.”
Regardless of where you may be at in this moment, fear not, it will become clear soon.
The most important difference there is to understand is that for the context that we are looking at here today (knowing scriptures) all of the senses of the word which we just mentioned, can and should exist simultaneously. Let me give you an example to make it easier to understand what I mean by that:
There is one scripture in-particular which I want to use as a demonstration for you today. I chose it because it can be used for a great variety of situations and things. It is John 16:23:
“And in that day you will ask me nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, Whatever you will ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.”
These are the words of Jesus Christ; extremely powerful and always true. There are actually a great many believers who are familiar with the words of this verse, but sadly very few of them truly “know” this verse in the Biblical sense. So let’s now examine what it really means to know this verse:
Starting at the beginning of our list, we see that the first criteria is to ascertain by seeing. Now some people get confused right here. However we must understand that in this context, it is to see with the eyes of our spirit. To truly believe, to have faith and to trust that what Jesus said is absolutely true.
This is tied very closely to the second criteria, which is to acknowledge. Interestingly, acknowledge carries as one of it’s primary definitions, “to express the truthfulness of”. So we can see here that to acknowledge that a scripture is true, requires some form of expression of it on our part; this comes usually and most commonly through speech… The Bible is very clear about the importance and power of the words which we utter.
The third criteria is to be acquainted with the verse, that it would be familiar to you. Verses are only useful if they are made personal, and they are at their best when you can have them be a part of you. When a verse is always on the tip of your tongue, ready to come forth and you do not need to think about it, that is when it is at its most potent.
And the fourth criteria which we are covering today, to be assuredly aware of the verse. To be absolutely certain of what it is saying and to have an inward knowledge of its meaning. Not just with your mind, but with your spirit. For example, in John 16:23 which we read previously, everyone I am sure read it and comprehended the meaning of the words, because all of us know and understand the English language. Yet very few of us have probably understood it with our spirit.
Read it again:
“And in that day you will ask me nothing. Truly, truly, I say to you, Whatever you will ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.”
How many of us actually are utterly sure of what Jesus is saying here? Are you totally assured that whatever you ask God the Father in the Name of Jesus will be given to you? Do you understand that Jesus does not exaggerate? If He said “whatever”, then He meant whatever.
You see, there is a difference between mental comprehension and spirit assuredness.
My friends, true knowing of scripture is something that very few believers actually achieve – not because they are unable, no, God has given everyone that ability to know scripture – but very few people actually spend time meditating on scripture the way the Bible instructs them to.
Th Bible is filled with many scriptures which state that meditating on Jesus and on the scriptures is the key to unlocking them. Because of time, we will only look a one, but there are many others. Let’s read Joshua 1:8:
“This book of the law will not depart out of your mouth; but you will meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Now today in the New Covenant which we are in, we can replace the word “law” there, with “Jesus Christ”. So it reads “This book of Jesus Christ will not depart from your mouth…”
We can do this because Christ is the fulfillment of the law for us.
So today if you have been feeling as though the scriptures are not alive to you and things just aren’t working the way that you want them to, I trust that this message has rejuvenated your scripture study, and that you will begin to truly know the scriptures in the way that really makes a difference.
Give Jesus the praise!