Lack of Knowledge Newsletter 339 January 2007 PM

There is a Book in the Old Testament that reads like tomorrows newspaper. The Book is entitled Hosea, which means "deliverer, or salvation". It is important for you to have knowledge of God's Word. As we will see in the Scripture we are going to cover, God said, "My People are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Make certain you aren't one of those destroyed. Let's begin our study in the great Book of Hosea. Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because [there is] no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. (It is a shame that most people don't rightly divide God's Word. If you don't know that the house of Israel and the house of Judah are split, how are you going to know which prophecies apply to you?) Hosea 4:2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. (Blood toucheth blood means murder after murder.) Hosea 4:3 Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away. (We are poisening ourselves. Many fish aren't fit to eat, because we have polluted our waterways. We are destroying ourselves due to lack of knowledge.) Hosea 4:4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people [are] as they that strive with the priest.(They point their fingers at others, when they have no idea what they are talking about. They lack knowledge of God's Word which brings stability to people's lives. Hosea 4:5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. (This is speaking of mother Israel. Through the Deliverer, that is jesus Christ, God will find her again. Listen carefully. This is God speaking.) Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Unfortunately, all too many teach the traditions of men, rather then the law of God. They say, "You don't understand Pastor Murray, Christ did away with the law". That is a lie! It isn't written. If you believe Jesus did away with the law, you are listening to men that lack knowledge. Jesus changed not one jot of the law (Matt.5:18). Hosea 4:7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: [therefore] will I change their glory into shame. (Antichrist comes to earth in the sixth trump. Those who worship him will have their salvation turned to shame. Do you know what God wants from you? All too many picture God as the One with the pitch fork and red longhandled underware. He doesn't want to burn anybody in hell (II Peter 3:9). He loves you. He wants your love in return. Loving your Father pays greater dividends than anything in the world. Turn with me to Hosea 6:6.) Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. (Mercy means kindness towards God. He wants your love, and for you to have knowledge of Him. Many have knowledge of the world. Satan offers evil thoughts, oppression, servitude, anxiety and death. God offers you peace, love and eternal life. Don't ever forget this verse. God wants your

love, but He won't force you to love Him. After all, that isn't real love. How do we gain that knowledge? Turn with me to the Book of Proverbs.) Proverbs 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; Proverbs 1:2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; ( Soloman was one of the wisest of all men, because God gave Him wisdom. Listen to wisdom.) Proverbs 1:3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; (Those who refuse instruction are know-it-alls and fools.) Proverbs 1:4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. (Don't be too quick to jump on someone's bandwagon. If you hear something that doesn't jive with God's Word, stop before you jump. Check it out in God's Word.) Proverbs 1:5 A wise [man] will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: (A wise man seeks successful wise counsel, and will usually be successful in the endeavors he pursues.) Proverbs 1:6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. (Do you want to understand wise thoughts and deep sayings? Here is how you may understand.) Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction. (The word "fear" should be translated "reverence". The reverence of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Fools won't listen. You can't tell them anything. Those of you who revere God and will listen to His instruction have a much easier road. Why? Because God will kick the big rocks out of your way. He knows what tomorrow brings. The choice is yours friends.) Proverbs 1:8 My son,hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: (Don't forsake God's law. If you reject knowledge, God will reject you. Turn with me to Chapter 4.) Proverbs 4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. (This instruction is of your heavenly father. You could think of understanding as meaning discernment.) Proverbs 4:2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. (God gave us His instructions concerning our being successful and pleasing Him. They are in His Word. Proverbs 4:3 For I was my father's son, tender and only [beloved] in the sight of my mother. Proverbs 4:4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. ( Do you want to live eternally? Then retain His Words in your mind and keep His commandments.) Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget [it] not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. (The words of God's mouth are true wisdom.) Proverbs 4:6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. (God's wisdom will preserve and keep you. Don't ever forsake His wisdom. It will cause big problems in your life, if you do. It will cause bigger problems after this life.)

Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 4:8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. (Seek wisdom. Yearn for wisdom. Don't ever forget that you find wisdom in God's Word. There is a battle going on. God can utilize you, if you are familiar with His plan. Worry is a senseless waste of time. To worry is to doubt every promise of God. If you don't trust God, He can't utilize you. Let's put some of this wisdom and knowledge to work for us as we continue our study with the teachings of Jesus Christ in the Book of Luke.) Luke 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? Luke 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. ( Don't worry! Knowledge of God's Word should give you courage, if you believe His promises. Satan's locust army can't touch those with the seal of God (Rev. 9:4). Do you know what the seal of God is? It is knowledge. You can't be deceived, because of that knowledge.) Luke 12:8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: Luke 12:9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. (You can be claimed by Jesus Christ, or you can be denied by Jesus Christ. The choice is yours.) Luke 12:10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. Luke 12:11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and [unto] magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: (The Son of man is Jesus Christ as He walked on the earth in the flesh. If you speak a word against Him, it can be forgiven. If you refuse to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through you, when you are delivered up before antichrist, it can not be forgiven.) Luke 12:12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. (This is knowledge you had better utilize, if you are one of God's elect. If you commit this sin, there is no forgiveness. In conclusion, let's go to Mark 13.) Mark 13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any [man] deceive you: (Don't let man deceive you. If you lack knowledge of God's Word, that could easily happen. Don't take this warning from Jesus Christ lightly.) Mark 13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am [Christ]; and shall deceive many. (Many will come to you in the name of Christ claiming to be Christians. Some never get around to teaching God's Word, but are only interested in the traditions of men. God has given us His plan of action. Don't let men deceive you, even if they claim to be Christians.) Mark 13:7 And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for [such things] must needs be; but the end [shall] not [be] yet. (What is the opposite of wars and roumors of wars? Peace! Have you ever heard of the "road map to peace."? Mark 13:8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be

earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these [are] the beginnings of sorrows. Mark 13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. ( Many of you will be delivered up to the synagogue of Satan (Rev.2:9). Don't allow lack of knowledge to cause you to commit the unforgiveable sin. Be ready! In His Service, Arnold Murray