Understanding Your Key To God's Storeroom
Proverbs
24:3-4
Through
wisdom a house is built, And by understanding
it is established; By knowledge
the rooms are filled with all
precious and pleasant riches.
Every house
is built through wisdom. God has given
us responsibility to build whatever we desire through wisdom. The Scripture states, “And by understanding it is established.” This
means that whatever is built can only be established through understanding. Whatever is available for us in God's word can
only be accessed through understanding.
You can never succeed in something that you do not understand. It is vital to
have an understanding of what God has accomplished through the cross and made
available to us.
Webster
defines the word establish as:
- To make firm or stable
- To introduce and cause to grow and multiply
- Bring into existence
- To put on a firm basis
- Put into a favorable position
- To gain full recognition or acceptance
As
defined above, to establish is to make firm, cause to grow and multiply. It is
evident that only through understanding do we become firm in our pursuit of
every promise. Those who are established in understanding are immoveable in
every area of life. Understanding of the word gives you full confidence even as
you stand firm on the promises. On the other hand, lack of understanding causes
people to waiver and wonder in various directions.
Friends,
it is of paramount importance that we walk in understanding as it is the key to
establishment in life and those lacking it thereof, are tossed back and forth
by every wind. Determine in your heart that through understanding, you will
walk and will grasp every promise that is laid for you in God's word.
2 Peter 1:2-3
Grace
and peace be multiplied to you in the
knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given
to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and
virtue.
The scripture points out clearly that God's divine power has
given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. This means that
everything we will ever need for our daily provision and our spiritual life has already been provided. This is a
truth that has to be grasped as many Christians are daily begging God even to
the extent of paying Pastors to help them get what God already provided. The
key here that has to be understood is how to access all these things that the
divine power has provided. The Scripture answers very clearly that we can only
appropriate what God has given," through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and
virtue". This statement "through the knowledge of Him"
means that we will need to have knowledge to launch into the journey of
appropriating our promises. The scripture in Proverbs 9:10b says, and
the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Friends
note that the Bible does not say that God has provided all things that pertain
to life and godliness through anything sold in the church like anointing oil.
It is through the knowledge of God.
Once you have the knowledge of Him who called us into glory
and virtue it will lead you to understanding. You will be able to understand
His attributes and character, which are keys to having access to what He has
provided. So the understanding of Him who called us into glory and virtue is
the key that unlocks everything that God's divine power has already provided.
One day in
2001, I was stopped by a policeman in Georgia, in the United States of America.
She explained to me that she had pulled me over because I was driving above the
speed limit. I hurriedly explained to the officer that I did not know the speed
limit thinking that she would let me go. “Whose responsibility is it to know
the speed limit?” The officer asked me. Before I could even answer the question
she said, “It is the responsibility of every driver accordingly.” I did not
give up, I said to her, “But ma’am, I did not see any speed sign!” Even before
I finished my statement she said, “Sir I am sorry but I will have to give you a
ticket!” I drove out of the scene unhappy knowing how much the ticket would
cost me financially.
Though I
defended myself sharply, my failure to know the speed limit did not save me
from getting the citation. I had to pay a fine due to my ignorance and later on,
my insurance rate went high due to the change in my driving record. What an
expensive price to pay! My knowing the speed limit would have helped me
understand my obligation.
Friends,
thoughtlessness or recklessness of what God has available for us will bring punishment. This is a great call for us
to arise and take responsibility of knowing and understanding what God has made
available. What are the promises that are available to us as saints? How can we
access those available promises?
Through
understanding, we walk in our purpose which puts us in a favorable position. Understanding positions you in to the path
way of success.
Proverbs
16:22 (NIV)
Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have
it, but folly brings punishment to fools.
Understanding
is described as a fountain of life, meaning it is a source of life to those who
have it. A fountain is a source or origin of anything, implying that life in
every area of life originates from understanding. The scripture says, but folly brings punishment to fools. Folly means lack of understanding,
therefore when people lack understanding it brings punishment. Punishment is a
penalty inflicted for an offense, fault, etc. When people lack understanding
they are unable to appropriate what God has for them in His word. Since there
is no other way to access the promise other than through understanding, lack of
it means a life of struggle, poverty, frustration, sickness etc. It becomes
punishment as those promises are there but you cannot access them and you
continue to suffer when your way out is stipulated in the word.
When a
fountain dries, death is evident therefore lack of understanding leads to a
pathway of lack, frustration, struggle etc.
Understanding - means knowledge of or familiarity with a particular thing;
skill in dealing or handling something. This implies that understanding is the
skill to apply knowledge. It is interesting to know how many individuals have
knowledge of what the word have said but have continued to perish because they
lack the understanding on how apply the knowledge that they have from the word
to obtain what they need. This is well supported by the words of Jesus in John
8:31-32.
Then
Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
The key
requirement in this text is "if
you abide in My word".
The word “IF” means a condition, requirement
or stipulation.
“To
abide” means to remain; continue;
stay, to have one's abode; dwell; reside, to continue in a particular
condition, attitude, relationship, etc.
So
according to the words of Jesus the condition of knowing the truth is
continuing to stay in the word. Why would Jesus put this as a requirement? It
is because the more you stay and continue to relate with the word the more you
gain understanding on how to apply the word in your life situation. The scripture in Proverbs 9:10b says, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
I
know that for many days individuals have been taught John 8:32 without
connecting it with verse 31, “And
you shall know the
truth, and the truth
shall make you free.” Knowing the truth alone
will never make individuals free. This is why there are many people who know
the truth that Jesus paid for their poverty, sickness, struggle etc., but continually
perish.
The
words "And you
shall know the truth," means that there has to be something else that has to have
happened to enable the individual to know the truth. “And” is used to
introduce a consequence or a conditional result. So the condition of knowing
the truth is abiding in the word. So what Jesus was simply saying is that
"if you continue to stay and relate
with the word, it will bring understanding. Understanding will enable you to
know the truth and the truth will set you free" (emphasis added).
Friend, if we want to live a life of
victory we cannot be casually relating with the word and expect results. It has
to be a daily walk. The Bible
promises a blessing to only those who continue in the word.
James 1:25
But
he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a
forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he
does.
Friends, there is no shortcut in
living a life of undeniable proofs. The Bible gives a great penalty to those
who lack understanding. It causes them to lose the ability to demonstrate their kingdom worth and rest in the assembly
of the dead.
Proverb
21:16
A man who wanders from the way of understanding
will rest in the assembly of the dead.
To “wander”
means to move from place to place, either without a purpose or without a known
destination. This scripture thus implies that whoever moves without
understanding of the word will rest in the assembly of the dead. According to
the word of God, those who are not born again are spiritually dead. As born
again Christians, we are entitled to a new covenant. The new covenant has
redeemed us from the curse of the law and made us heirs of the Abrahamic
blessings. This is only entitled to the redeemed!
Lack of
understanding causes individuals to wander in the assembly of the dead. This implies
that even as a child of God you continue to suffer, struggle, lack etc. just
like those outside the covenant. Friends, it would be pathetic to suffer like
the heathens while we are meant to be on top. It is wrong to:
- Be a borrower while you are meant to be a lender!
- Be a slave while you are meant to be the master!
- Go looking for prayers, when you can pray for yourself!
- Be deceived you need deliverance while Jesus has already set you free!
- Buy things to connect to your miracle while Jesus already paid the price!
This
explains why we continue to have Christians who are still under the yoke of
oppression. It is not that Calvary did not accomplish everything for you, but that
you don’t have understanding.
It is only understanding
of the word that guarantees destination. To wander from understanding is to
miss out on what rightfully belongs to you. The scriptures allow us to know
that there is “the way of understanding." By referring to “the
way” it means it is a definite path. So it is not a
two-way track, it is particular that the way of understanding is one. This is what
every Christian should purpose to follow as it guarantees life.
According to
the scripture, life can only be fruitful and meaningful with the understanding
of what the word has said in every situation. Life minus understanding is
death. To my understanding, God views us as a disappointment when we do not
live to enjoy what it is that He has already provided. People fear death and do
everything to protect themselves.
Physical
death has always been viewed as a threat and an enemy of humanity. As I wrote
this article, God gave me a revelation that there are millions of spiritually
dead walking individuals. Someone many say, “how do you come up with such a
tough argument?” I did not make this up; the Bible says that those who walk
away from understanding rest in the
assembly of the dead. An “assembly”
is a gathering or the coming together of people for a common purpose.
God has
honored each individual by making available everything we need through His word.
According to the scriptures, a man without understanding perishes like a beast.
A beast is in a lower level of creation than human beings. Lack of
understanding causes men to be classified with the beasts instead of holding
the superior position given by God.
Psalms 49:10
A man who is in honor, yet does not understand, is
like the beasts that perish.
It is
amazing to see the Bible clearly pointing out that though a man may have honor,
if he does not understand he will be on the path of the beast. A man of
understanding is honorable; his purpose causes him to be respected on the
earth. God desires to see us live in honor as we become problem solvers.
Not only does
lack of understanding cause one to perish like a beast, but it also causes men
to be slaves and fugitives.
Isaiah 5:22
Therefore my people will go into exile for lack of
understanding; their men of rank will die of hunger and their masses will be parched
with thirst.
An “exile”
is a citizen of one country who is forced or chooses to live in another country.
The Bible says that lack of understanding is a pathway to exile. When people
lack understanding of what the word of God has declared over their lives, they
choose to go to exile. In exile, men live to follow the rules of the fugitive
country. They have no right to exercise their citizenship since they have
forsaken it.
We were not
created to go into exile, but to enjoy the kingdom of God as we serve Him with
our purpose.
The
scripture states, “their men
of rank will die of hunger and their masses will be parched with thirst. Understanding gives men rank and dignity in
life. It is the source of their sustenance and once missed, men die of
hunger. God has
designed and desires that through understanding, men should enjoy and
experience a breakthrough in every arena of life.
However,
those who do not have understanding become captives of struggle, sickness,
curses, envy, strive, gossips, malice, hatred etc. as they do not have anything
to live for. They are controlled by others, told where to go, who to hate,
which church to leave or attend etc. The scripture compares those who lack
understanding to a horse or a mule that has to be controlled. Most people know
that a horse and a mule are normally controlled using a bit. They have no way
to move at their will as they are under a bit.
Psalms 32:9 (NIV)
Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have
no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come
to you.
Through
understanding, individuals are able to use their God given will at all time.
This is the powerful force that allows us to only live for what God created us
for. Likewise, without understanding, people lose the anchor that holds them
and the engine that propels them. Without understanding men become captives of
circumstances and even other people.
Many people have
sacrificed and lost their purpose through following others. They make important
life decisions based on what people want. It is not God’s desire for anyone to
be controlled by others. We are moral beings who have a right to resist and
reject every control and manipulation from others. The spirit of control is
demonic and equaled to witchcraft in the Bible.
The
scripture says “but folly brings
punishment to fools.” The word folly
means thoughtlessness and recklessness behavior. It is scaring to know that
thoughtlessness and reckless behavior brings punishment; meaning that ignorance
of what is available for us and lack of understanding of how to get it is not a
defense.
SOURCES OF UNDERSTANDING
1.
Doing the commandments
Psalms
111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a
good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise
endures forever.
Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge. It is the fear of God that brings
wisdom. Understanding, which is birthed from knowledge, is only available from the word. Our purpose is tied to
obeying the word of God. There will never be fulfillment in disobedience. This
is why it is important to be doers of the word.
2.
Keeping the word
Every man’s
understanding is rooted in the word of God.
Psalms
119:100
I understand more than the ancients, because I
keep your precepts.
Keeping the
word puts you at the top and at an advantage over the ancients. The ancient are
the older people who have been there before you and probably have more
experience. Through understanding, you become wiser than them all.
3.
Entrance of the word into the heart
It is
through the entrance of the word of God that every human soul gains
understanding.
Psalms
119:130
The entrance
of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
Ignoring the
word is choosing to walk in darkness and without understanding. Lack of
understanding is the highway to the grave.
It is only the word of God that elevates the destinies of men.
UNDERSTANDING BRINGS LIFE
Proverbs 9:6
Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of
understanding.
To forsake
foolishness and live in understanding is a deliberate act of choice. Life is
guaranteed to those who go in the way of understanding. Let’s all forsake
foolishness and pursue understanding through the word of God.
Proverbs
2:11
Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep
you,
In the verse
above we are assured that understanding is our security. In times of trials and
storms of life, we can be confident of overcoming because we accurately
understand our promised victory.
In pursuit
of your heart your God given assignments, you will encounter dark days hence
you have to be assured you are in the right path of destiny. When you are in
self-doubt, any challenge can get you out of the path. However, understanding
and knowledge of what God has promised will keep you going. Through
understanding, you will be able to courageously speak back to the enemy. You
will be able to walk upright in difficult situations that would otherwise
discourage you.
Proverbs
15:21
Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment,
but a man of understanding walks uprightly.
No matter
what circumstance you face in life, understanding of the word of God will cause
you to walk upright. You have nothing to fear as you have confidence in the
testimony of the word of God.
Jesus made a
very important statement when explaining the parable of the sower.
Matthew
13:18-19
Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom,
and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away
what was sown in his heart .This is he who received seed by the wayside
According to
Jesus, the devil has no power to snatch away what has been sown in the heart of
everyone. Jesus said, “anyone hears the word of the kingdom,
and does not understand it then the wicked one comes and snatches away
what was sown in his heart.” The issue at hand is not hearing or sowing the word into the wrong place, but understanding.
Those who
lack understanding of the word risk having it snatched by the wicked one. This
explains why there are many Christians who hear the word and are still
struggling in defeat! This is because hearing word is in itself is good but
until you understand what the word says, you
remain the food the devil.
Friends, it
is time to understand what the word says. It is because of lack of
understanding that men have fallen into the hands of deceivers and
manipulators. Many people are every day deceived into buying things like
anointing oil, handkerchiefs, sand etc. which they are told will magically
deliver whatever they need.
It is time
to understand that the father has made available everything for you! You do not
have to go through an earthly pastor to get your needs met. Jesus, the High
Priest, has paid the price for you and He has given you daily access to the
throne through the cross at Calvary.
~ Apostle Dr. David Karanja
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