Knowledge And Understanding Research shows that religious and spiritual growth, suffers, from the lack of the Knowledge of God's ways, and the understanding of God's will. Based on biblical research, there is a lack of knowledge and understanding of the word. In order for the word of God to create growth within the saved, and reach the unsaved, the effort must be in line with God's ways and God's will. The effort to reach, the unsaved, is through planting of the seed, by teaching and preaching of the Gospel; therefore, the knowledge and understanding of the word, will result in the make-up of the every heart and soul. The understanding of God's word provides support and strength in the believer time of need. Questions for discussion What is God's way and will? How should we know the way and the will of God? Why shall we know the way and the will of God? Who should know the way and will of God? God provided Understanding It is important that man's understanding come from god and that that understanding is developed by God and God's word. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, (Luke 24:45) And said unto them, thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: (Luke 24:46) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47) And ye are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:48) And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:49) And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. (Luke 24:50) And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was departed from them, and carried up into heaven. (Luke 24:51) And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: (Luke 24:52) And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. (Luke 24:53) Christian elevation through God knowledge and understanding. According to the psalmist, as he struggle to understand the ways of God, some knowledge is too high, and his ways of thinking was too finite, Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain to it (Psalm 139:6). Great is the Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite (Psalm 147:5). Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding (Isaiah:40:28). And he called the multitude, and said unto them, hear, and understand (Matthew 15:10): This people draweth nign unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me (Matthew 15:8). But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:9) And Jesus said, are ye also, yet without understanding? (Matthew 15:16) And he saith unto them, are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him (Mark 7:18); The need to obtain God's knowledge and understanding. And the scribe said unto him, well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he (Mark 12:32): And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices (Mark 12:33). Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart (Proverbs 3:3): So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man (Proverbs 3:4). Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:6). Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word (Luke 1:2); It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, (Luke 1:3) That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed (Luke 1:4). And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions (Luke 2:46). And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers (Luke 2:47). The way of Jesus verses the believer's and the unbeliever's knowledge and understanding. Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. (45:10:1) For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge (45:10:2). For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (45:10:3) And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing (Luke 2:48). And he said unto them, how is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business (Luke 2:49)? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them (Luke 2:50). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools dispise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7). Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people (Luke 1:68). And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (Luke 1:69); As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began (Luke 1:70): That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us (Luke 1:71); To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant (Luke 1:72); The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, (Luke 1:73) That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear (Luke 1:74), In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life (Luke 1:75). And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways (Luke 1:76); To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins (Luke 1:77), Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us (Luke 1:78), To give light to them that sit in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace (Luke 1:79).