Knowledge Activates Your Faith

You can have all the information in the world and still be stuck. I've seen it countless times, people who know the Bible front to back but can't seem to break through in their lives. Why? Because knowledge without application is just religious noise.

Let me tell you something that changed my perspective: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7). Who you worship determines whether you actually have knowledge or not. Think about that for a second. You can collect all the data you want, but if you're not rooted in reverence for God, you're building on sand.

The Difference Between Information, Knowledge, and Wisdom

Here's how I break it down:

Information is just raw data. "It's hot outside." That's information.

Knowledge puts specifics on that information. "It's 88 degrees outside." Now you know the details.

Wisdom tells you what to do with it. "It's 88 degrees, so I'm staying in the air conditioning and staying hydrated." That's wisdom in action.

Most of us are drowning in information but starving for wisdom. We've got data everywhere, podcasts, books, social media posts about faith, but we're not experiencing the breakthrough we're looking for. That's because information without transformation leads to frustration.

Faith Works Through Love, Not Information

Here's where it gets really practical. Your faith is activated by love (Galatians 5:6). You can have all the knowledge in the world, but if you're walking around offended, bitter, and holding grudges, your faith isn't operational.

The enemy wants you to stay offended. He wants you to be the victim. "They hurt me. I'm angry, and I have a right to be." Sure, you might be righteous in your anger, but the Bible says be angry and don't sin, meaning you've got to give it to God.

If you're holding onto offense, it zaps your faith. Why? Because faith works through love. If you're not walking in love, your faith can't operate at full capacity. You think you're justified in your anger, but God is saying, "I can't bless this because you're not walking in love."

Knowledge Comes to the Person Who's Open

Nothing worse than someone who says, "Pastor, I need to talk to you," but they don't really want to listen. They want to talk AT you, not receive FROM you.

You will live on the level you listen.

Where you're living right now is based on your ability to receive. Promotions are based on listening. Romans tells us faith comes by hearing. If you can't receive correction, how can you grow?

As a former football player, I got cussed out all the time. Coaches would get in my face and tear me down. And you know what I said? "Thanks, coach." Because I was trying to get somewhere, and I understood they didn't care how it made me feel, they cared about making me better.

The world we're living in now says everything should "make me feel good." No. You're not going to feel better until you DO better.

When God Gives You Knowledge, He Gives You Everything

Look at Solomon. Young man about to become king, and he goes to God asking for wisdom and knowledge. God's response? "Because you asked for wisdom and knowledge instead of riches or long life, I'm giving you wisdom AND knowledge. But I'm also going to give you riches, possessions, and honor."

See, people get caught up with what you have, not realizing the precursor to what you have was knowledge. When you ask God for wisdom, you're not just getting a Big Mac. You're getting the fries and Coke too. It's all part of the package.

You don't have to ask for money. Ask for wisdom. Money comes with wisdom.

And here's the key: If you get money without wisdom, you're going to lose that money. I learned this the hard way. Years ago, before I was supposed to go to the NFL, my agent gave me a signing bonus. You know what I did? Bought a brand-new silver Navigator. Took ALL the money and bought a car.

Twenty-two years old, riding around campus bumping Mystikal, "Here I go, here I go" and just a fool. Had my mama a car too, before I was even drafted. Stupid. No wisdom.

All of us have had enough money touch our hands at some point that we should have savings right now. But most of us don't. That was lack of wisdom. It's not that God didn't put money in your hands, it's what you did with it.

Knowledge Leads to Self-Control and Better Decisions

He who has knowledge restrains and is careful with his words (Proverbs 17:27). If you still have the "pop off spirit", you know, the person who smiles one minute and cusses somebody out the next, you need to work on your knowledge.

A lot of mistakes you make come from moving too fast. Remember the four Ps:

• Pause - Slow down
• Ponder - Think it through
• Pray - Seek God's direction
• Proceed - Move forward with wisdom

You need your job before you cuss them out. You need to pay your bills before you "give them a piece of your mind." Baby, you don't have that much mind left to be giving pieces away.

One of the keys to success is understanding when you have leverage, when you can speak and when you should be quiet. A lot of times you put yourself in a bad spot with your mouth. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. That's on you.

Knowledge Draws God's Protection

Here's something powerful: The eyes of the Lord keep guard over knowledge and the one who has it (Proverbs 22:12). When you get knowledge, you get protection from God. That alone should make you hungry for more understanding.

What Happens When You Reject Knowledge

The Message Bible puts it bluntly in Proverbs 1: "Since you laugh at my counsel and make a joke of my advice... what if catastrophe strikes and there's nothing to show for your life but rubble and ashes? You'll need me then, but don't expect an answer."

How many altar calls have you missed? How many times has someone tried to help you, but you were worried about what people would think?

Your butt needs help. By the way, none of us are perfect. All of us need Jesus. He died because we couldn't do it ourselves.

The truth is, "you" got you to where you are. And if you don't like where you are, it's time to give your life to someone who knows where you're going.

Surrender Your Way to His Way

I like to win. Basketball, spades, whatever, I want to win. So when I realized I was losing in life, I said, "There's got to be a better way." The Bible says every person has a gift. I asked God, "What's mine?"

It took six months for Him to answer. And when He did, I was working at Walmart and substitute teaching. He said, "Your gift is to speak."

Often, God reveals your gift when it's not the season to walk in it yet. He gives you a sneak preview of what's coming, just enough to keep you moving forward. If God showed you everything you'd have to go through to get to the other side, you wouldn't go.

The $10,000 Tap

Let me close with this story. Two ship owners needed repairs but couldn't find anyone to fix their ship. They found an old man who used to work on ships. He came down with his tool bag, looked around, said "I see your issue," took out his hammer, and tapped a spot twice. Boom, boom. The engine went into gear.

"How much?" they asked.

He mailed them an invoice: $10,000.

They couldn't believe it. "You're charging $10,000 for two taps?"

He sent back an itemized invoice: "$2 for two taps. $9,998 for the knowledge of knowing where to tap."

A lot of people can do stuff, but do they have the knowledge? Knowledge is an accelerator.

Your Next Step

Maybe you've been doing life your way, and you're tired of ending up in the same spot. Old things pass away. Behold, all things become new. This is a fresh wind over your life. Yokes are being destroyed. Burdens are being lifted.

Romans 3:23 says all have sinned and fallen short. None of us are perfect. But by His grace and mercy, if you hear His voice today, don't harden your heart.

Jesus stands at the door and knocks. Will you let Him in? Let Jesus into your life. Let Him into your heart. Surrender your will. Surrender your way. Make Him Lord of your life.

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