We do thank the Lord for gathering us
together again this year.
As our brother mentioned last night that this
is the ninth conference of this kind.
I wonder if you notice that at this
particular conference there is a particular theme.
The theme throughout the nine conferences that we
are having now is on things spiritual.
Now before we knew the Lord we knew
only things that are earthly, worldly, physical, temporal.
Sometimes I think we are like ants, crawling
on the ground, totally ignorant of anything that
is heavenly, invisible and eternal.
But since the Lord came into our hearts,
something happened.
We began to soar like eagles.
We began to enter into a realm that
we have never known before.
We are introduced into a vast realm of
the spiritual.
And this is where we are, and this
is what we seek, and this is what
we ought to be.
I think we are like Moses.
God called him to Mount Nebo, to the
top of Pisgah, and showed him a view
of the Promised Land.
And we are also like Joshua.
God said to Joshua, rise up and go
over the Jordan and possess the land.
In other words, we believe that God gathered
us together to have a view of that
spiritual heavenly realm, of things spiritual.
And not only just to have a view,
but also to walk in it.
And I do believe that that is the
reason why the Lord has gathered us year
after year for this purpose.
We are supposed to live in the heavenlies,
and we are supposed to touch spiritualities.
That's where we are, and where we must
be.
Now this year, we will focus our attention
on spiritual knowledge.
Our prayer is that the God of our
Lord Jesus, the Father of Glory, will give
us the spirit of wisdom and revelation to
the full knowledge of God.
So I do hope that throughout the few
days we are together, that this will be
the cry of our heart.
Now will you please turn to Genesis, the
book of Genesis, chapter 2.
We'll read verses 8 and 9.
And Jehovah Elohim planted a garden in Eden
eastward, and there put man whom He had
formed.
And out of the ground Jehovah Elohim made
every tree grow that is pleasant to the
sight, and good for food.
And the tree of life in the midst
of the garden, and the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil.
And Colossians, the letter to the Colossians, chapter
1, we'll read from verse 9 through verse
12.
Colossians, chapter 1, verse 9.
For this reason we also, from the day
we heard of your faith and love, do
not cease praying and asking for you, to
the end that ye may be filled with
the full knowledge of His will.
In all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so as
to walk worthily of the Lord, unto all
well-pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work,
and growing by the true knowledge of God,
strengthened with all power according to the might
of His glory, unto all endurance and long
-suffering with joy, giving thanks to the Father
who has made us fit for sharing the
portion of the sins in light.
May we have a word of prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, we do thank Thee for
gathering us together unto the name of Thy
beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
We do praise and thank Thee that Thou
dost give us a hunger and thirst after
Thyself.
And we do thank Thee Thou hast promised
that Thou wilt satisfy us.
Lord, we just pray that Thou wilt breathe
upon Thy word, and Thou wilt open our
understanding, that Thy word may become life, light,
and spirit to us, that we may know
Thee in a living way, and to Thee
be the glory, in the name of our
Lord Jesus.
Spiritual knowledge is most essential to our spiritual
well-being.
The controversy of God with His people Israel
is over this matter of knowledge.
In Hosea 4, verse 6, He said, My
people are destroyed because of the lack of
knowledge.
The beginning, the fear of the Lord, is
the beginning of knowledge.
So knowledge is very important to us as
believers.
For brothers and sisters, as we pursue after
spiritual knowledge, one thing is essential, and that
is we need to know what kind of
knowledge are we really seeking after.
There are two different kinds of knowledge in
this world.
And these two different kinds of knowledge are
represented by the two trees in the garden
of Edah.
After God created man in His own image,
after His own likeness, He planted a garden.
A beautiful garden.
And He put man in that garden.
The Bible tells us that in that garden
God planted all kinds of trees that bore
fruit.
Good to look at, and good for fruit.
But in the midst of the garden, God
planted the tree of life.
And by the side of that tree of
life, God planted another tree.
The tree of the knowledge of good and
evil.
Now, God placed man in that garden and
gave man a choice.
He can choose between the two trees.
The tree of life and the tree of
the knowledge of good and evil.
He can choose between life and knowledge.
Now, of course, when you contrast life with
knowledge, you know that that knowledge does not
come from life.
Because life itself is knowledge.
You remember in the prayer of our Lord
Jesus, in John 17, verse 3, the Lord
said, This is the eternal life, that they
may know Thee, the only true God, and
the One whom Thou hast sent.
In other words, life does give us knowledge.
Life gives us the knowledge of knowing God,
the only true God.
And life gives us the knowledge of knowing
the One whom God has sent, who is
our Lord Jesus Christ.
But there is another knowledge outside of the
life of God.
And that is the knowledge of good and
evil.
God put man before these two trees and
allowed man to make a choice.
Whether he wants to live by the life
of God, making life as the principle of
his living, or he would rather have knowledge,
a knowledge that is apart from God, but
the knowledge that will reside in him, enable
him to live according to that knowledge as
his principle of living.
We may say one is spirit knowledge, the
tree of life.
And the other is soul knowledge, the tree
of the knowledge of good and evil.
Now our forefathers, they made a choice.
And as we know from the Word of
God, they chose the tree of the knowledge
of good and evil, instead of the tree.
Now remember, that in the garden there are
many trees.
God planted all kinds of trees, bearing fruit.
Why?
Because God so loved the man whom He
created.
So He provided everything for that man.
All these fruit trees are good to look
at and good for food.
These trees are given to man for their
physical need.
Man has a physical body, and because of
that, there is need for that body.
And God created all these trees for man's
physical need.
Provision for that.
Then you find, aside from all the trees,
there is a tree of the knowledge of
good and evil.
Now what is that tree for?
Even though it is good to look at,
and good for food, and yet it is
a different kind of food.
It is not for physical needs.
It is food for our soulical needs.
You know, God created man in three parts.
We have spirit, soul, and body.
And all these parts of man have their
particular needs.
So the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil is for our soulical need.
To satisfy the desires of our soul.
To satisfy our intellect.
To satisfy our emotion.
To satisfy our will.
That is food for the soul.
And then you find the tree of life.
The tree of life is the food for
our spirit.
God created us with a spirit.
And that spirit needs food.
And the tree of life is the food
for the spirit.
Now sometimes people think that the tree of
knowledge of good and evil is a bad
tree.
Now I personally feel God will not plant
anything bad in the garden of Eden.
It is a good tree.
As a matter of fact, it is better
than all the other fruit trees.
It is superior to all the other trees.
But of course, it is inferior to one
tree.
The tree of life.
God put man before these two trees.
And let them make a choice.
Whether they want to live by the life
of God.
And with that life, they come to know
God in a living way.
And they come to live by God.
And live for God.
Or whether they would like to develop their
own soul.
Apart from the life of God.
But having something within themselves.
That they may be independent of God.
And live by their rational mind.
By their reasonings.
By their logic.
Two different ways of life before man.
If man made his choice.
He would rather have the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil.
He would rather develop his own soul.
And be independent.
As Satan suggested.
That you may be God's.
You do not need God anymore.
You are God yourself.
Or you are willing to.
Accept God's life as your principle of living.
Unfortunately, our forefather chose the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil.
And brothers and sisters, in a sense.
When our forefather chose.
Made that choice.
He not only chose that for himself.
He had made that choice for every one
of us.
Because Adam is our forefather.
And all who are in Adam.
Who are born of Adam.
Inherit that choice.
And that is the reason why you find.
Since Adam made that choice.
For these thousands of years of human history.
Man pursued.
After that knowledge.
Which is apart from the life of God.
And by that knowledge.
Man declared independence of God.
And man think.
That they are God's themselves.
The Bible
said.
The law said.
On the day that you eat.
That forbidden tree.
You shall surely die.
Now why is it God.
Forbade man.
To take the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil.
If it is a good tree.
It is good for our soul.
Food for our soul.
Now why did God forbid man.
To eat that tree.
You know the enemy suggested.
To Eve.
Saying that the reason why God.
Does not allow you.
To eat that tree.
It is because.
He is jealous.
He does not want you to be like
him.
He want to.
Put you in the dark.
That he may have control.
Over you.
Now is it that reason.
Why God did not allow man.
To eat the tree of the knowledge.
Of good and evil.
We know it is Satan's suggestion.
It is not God's.
Original desire.
God loves us so much.
He wants to give us everything.
That is good for us.
And he wants to keep us away.
From that.
Which will bring death.
To us.
Because by eating the tree of the knowledge
of good and evil.
Apart.
From the life of God.
And develop.
A knowledge.
Separated.
From God's life.
The result.
Is always.
Death.
I think this is very clear.
When we go back.
To the story.
In the garden of Eden.
Adam and Eve.
They ate.
That forbidden.
And you know what happened.
The moment.
They ate that fruit.
Their eyes were open.
But open to what?
They saw themselves.
Naked.
You know brothers and sisters.
Why did they not know themselves naked.
Before.
You know when God created all these animals.
They all have.
Clothing.
They were born.
With clothes.
They have feathers.
Skins and all these.
Furs.
God clothes them.
When they were.
Created.
Now can you imagine that when God created
man.
God created them naked.
With no clothing of any kind.
Now if they were created naked.
Then why Adam and Eve did not see
it.
Before they ate the forbidden tree.
Now I personally felt.
That God when he created man.
He created man in his own image.
After his likeness.
And I thought.
God clothes man.
With a glory.
Glory is the clothes.
Of man.
And because they were clothed with glory.
They couldn't see their nakedness.
But when they sinned against God.
The glory.
Faded.
And they began to see that they were
naked.
And immediately they tried to cover.
Themselves.
They tried to sue.
The fig leaves.
Big leaves.
They sued them together.
As an apron.
To cover their nakedness.
But were they successful?
Not at all.
Because when God came into the garden.
They hid themselves among the trees.
Why?
Because they say to God.
We were naked.
And you know the weather change.
And the wind was blowing.
And was cold.
So this fig.
Leaves clothing.
Was inadequate.
Now this is just awkward.
But what happened to man.
When man ate the forbidden fruit.
The word of God says.
On the day that you eat.
You shall surely die.
But we know Adam and Eve.
They lived hundreds and hundreds of years.
Afterwards.
And they begot sons and daughters.
They have family life.
Social life.
They did not die on the day that
they ate.
But God's word is accurate.
Because on the day that they ate that
forbidden tree.
Something died.
Immediately.
Their bodies still live for hundreds of years.
Their souls still live.
And yet their spirit.
Now God is spirit.
And God created man with a spirit.
That man could communicate with God.
Now you cannot communicate with God.
With your physical body.
Now even though sometimes you find people prostrate.
Before God.
But actually.
You know.
Just prostrating wouldn't touch God.
Anyway.
Now you cannot touch God with your soul.
You may have very noble thought about God.
Yet by searching.
No one can find God.
God is spirit.
Therefore.
You need a spirit.
To be in communication with Him.
But on the day that Adam and Eve
ate that forbidden fruit.
Their spirit.
Their communication with God was cut off.
Now it doesn't mean that they do not
have a spirit.
They still have a spirit in them as
an organ.
But the proper function of that organ was
terminated.
And that is the reason why you'll find.
Man could still communicate with evil spirit.
But they cannot communicate with God.
The spirit.
Their spirit was dead.
In trying to have that knowledge.
Apart from the life of God.
Their spirit was dead.
And that is just the beginning.
Because gradually that death.
Will conquer their soul.
And their body.
God's word is always true.
Now brothers and sisters.
What is the knowledge.
The tree of the knowledge of good and
evil.
That knowledge includes.
All the knowledges that we know of.
Apart from the life.
Whether it is scientific or technological knowledge.
Or whether it is philosophical or speculative knowledge.
Or whether it is moral, ethical or religious
knowledge.
It includes all kinds of knowledge.
And as a matter of fact.
When you come to the knowledge of good
and evil.
That is the top of all knowledges in
this world.
You know sometimes we think scientific knowledge.
Technological knowledge.
Now that is the top.
Not so.
Or we may think philosophical.
Speculative.
That is purer.
Than technological knowledge.
As a matter of fact.
In human beings.
The highest knowledge.
Is the knowledge of good and evil.
It is the rational.
Ethical.
Moral.
Sense.
In man.
The highest knowledge.
And yet strangely.
Even that highest knowledge.
Instead of giving man life.
Puts man to death.
So brothers and sisters.
At the very outset.
We need to see the distinction.
Between these two kinds of knowledge.
And then we need to know.
What kind of knowledge are we really pursuing.
Let's illustrate them.
Scientific.
Technological knowledge.
Now the world has made great progress.
In that area.
And because of such knowledge.
We feel life.
Becomes more convenient.
Now it does give us.
Lots of advantages.
Physically.
But.
Does that knowledge.
Help us.
To become better men.
And better women.
Now even though this knowledge.
Gives us so much convenience.
In this world.
And yet.
It creates.
Many more problems.
In this world.
And it even brings us.
Even to the brink of annihilation.
Of human beings.
Now you know.
Scientific or technological knowledge.
The real purpose.
Of this knowledge.
According to the word of God.
Actually.
Is to bring us closer.
To God.
You know.
You remember Romans chapter 1 verse 20.
The invisible things of God.
His power.
And divinity.
All being apprehended.
Through the mind.
By the things.
Visible.
Created.
So actually.
When we look at the things that God
has created.
And we discover these things.
These should bring us closer to God.
Now no wonder.
In Psalm.
We find the heavens declare the glory of
God.
And the firmament show its handiwork.
Now actually.
When you look at these things.
And you begin to discover.
The laws.
And try to apply them.
And use them.
Enjoy them.
So.
Actually.
This should bring us closer to God.
But on the contrary.
You find.
Such knowledge.
Bring us.
Further.
Away from God.
And make us feel that.
We do not need God anymore.
We are Gods.
We can do everything.
And anything.
And the result is.
Death.
Now nothing wrong with this knowledge.
Nothing wrong with that.
What's wrong is.
The person.
The man.
The woman.
That is handling that knowledge.
Because that man has become selfish.
Self-centered.
And with that kind of degraded.
Fallen life.
The more scientific.
Technological knowledge you have.
The worse.
The world.
Becomes.
It doesn't help us.
Spiritually.
Morally.
It does not bring us to God.
It brings us away.
From God.
Now the same thing is true.
With philosophical.
Or technological knowledge.
I mean speculative knowledge.
Actually.
When you are trying to.
Seek after God.
Even with your.
Mind.
With your thought.
Or will.
Or emotion.
Now these.
Seems to.
Bring us closer.
To God.
But.
In actuality.
You'll find that they.
Lead us.
Away.
People can have a very noble thought about
God.
And yet.
They are deceived.
They think that.
By that.
They know God.
Well.
They know about God.
Maybe.
But very dark.
They really.
Do not know God.
And.
Because of that.
It serves as a substitute.
In a sense.
To lead them.
Away from God.
For instance.
You read a letter to the.
Colossians.
You know these Colossians.
Believers.
They came to the Lord.
But in their search.
For more knowledge.
Of God.
They were led astray.
And if you read the letter.
To the Colossians.
You'll find that they get into.
What.
Expositors.
Commentators.
Who said.
Colossian.
Heresy.
Now what is Colossian heresy?
It is a strange combination.
Of heathen Gnosticism.
And Jewish Ritualism.
It is speculative.
They speculate about the universe.
They speculate about the origin.
They speculate about.
A good God.
A bad God.
And things like that.
And they speculate about.
Physical material things.
That material things are evil.
In themselves.
And they speculate.
And yet.
You'll find.
It is combined with.
A Jewish Ritualism.
Do not touch.
Do not taste.
And so forth.
And these.
These Galatians.
These Colossian believers.
They sought.
After.
That knowledge.
They think that by having that knowledge.
Trying to explain.
The universe.
The system.
Then they will.
Really know God.
Grow.
Spiritually.
But instead.
You'll find.
They drifted.
They were.
Drawn.
Away.
From God.
And Paul had to write.
That letter.
To help them see.
That all.
The wisdom.
And knowledge.
Of God.
Are hid.
In Christ Jesus.
And.
We are perfect.
In Him.
It is only in Him.
There is true knowledge.
And if you try to find.
A knowledge outside of Him.
You are led astray.
And if you read.
1 Timothy.
Chapter 6.
The last two verses.
20 and 21.
You'll find.
Paul.
Absorbed.
In Paul.
Timothy.
To guard.
Against.
False.
Named.
Knowledge.
That.
Miss.
The faith.
So.
Brothers.
And sisters.
If.
We seek.
After.
Philosophical.
Speculative.
Knowledge.
Apart.
From.
Life.
We miss.
The faith.
We are led.
Astray.
It gave us death.
Not life.
Now.
Maybe.
We can say now.
If.
Scientific.
And.
Philosophical.
Knowledge.
Does not bring life to us.
But instead lead us to death.
Then certainly.
Moral.
Ethical.
Religious.
That kind of knowledge.
Certainly.
Will bring us to God.
And bring God.
To us.
Now.
Is that true?
Take.
For instance.
The law.
God.
Gave.
Ten commandments.
To the children of Israel.
And.
Even though.
We Gentiles.
Did not.
Have.
That written.
Law.
And yet.
God.
By.
His.
Spirit.
Has inscribed.
His.
Law.
In our heart.
So.
In other words.
You'll find.
The whole world.
All human beings.
Are under law.
Under God's law.
Whether it is.
Written.
On.
Stones.
Or.
It is inscribed.
Upon.
Our heart.
We all have God's law.
In us.
God is holy.
His law is holy.
And when that law.
Is given to us.
What is the purpose.
Of that law.
The purpose of that law.
Is.
To give us the knowledge.
Of sin.
By law we know.
We have sinned.
That is the purpose.
Of law.
The law.
Drives us.
Or leads us.
As our schoolmaster.
Leads us.
To Christ.
Because.
If we do not know.
We have sinned.
If we are not convicted.
Of our sins.
Then we will have no need.
Of Christ.
A saviour.
But law.
Shows us.
We have sinned.
And law.
Brings us.
To Christ.
Now that is the purpose.
Of law.
But unfortunately we find.
Instead of taking law.
As a means to an end.
We make law the end.
We try to keep the law.
By our own works.
The works of the flesh.
We try to keep the law.
And we discover that we cannot do it.
So we try to deceive ourselves.
If we can only keep the letter of
the law.
Then we feel we are self-righteous.
You remember that young man.
He came to the Lord and said.
Master.
What can I do.
To inherit eternal life.
And the Lord said.
Why do you call me good?
Because there is only one good.
Who is God.
Have you kept the law?
He said.
What law?
And the Lord told him.
Honour your father and mother.
Do not steal.
Do not commit adultery.
Do not murder.
Do not be covetous.
And so forth.
And this young man said.
I have kept them from my youth.
So the Lord said.
Fine.
Sell all you have.
Give to the poor.
Come and follow me.
He kept the letter of the law.
But he broke the spirit of the law.
The Pharisees.
They were proud of themselves.
Because they keep the law to the very
letter.
And yet.
They violated the very spirit of the law.
They were hypocrites.
They deceive themselves.
It is worse.
Because they deceive themselves.
They have the form of godliness.
But without the power.
People may appear to be moral.
Outwardly.
But.
There is no life.
It is not spiritual.
No life.
You know.
The letter to the Galatians.
Is addressed to this problem.
Because the Galatian believers.
They began with the spirit.
But they tried to be completed.
With the law.
They thought that after believing in the Lord
Jesus.
How could they be completed?
They have to.
Do.
Themselves.
They have to keep the law.
And then.
They will be perfect.
But instead.
You find.
They fell.
From the grace of God.
They were led away.
From Christ.
Instead of growing.
In Christ.
So that doesn't work either.
It results in death.
We may even go.
A little further.
What about.
Scriptural knowledge.
Now certainly.
There should be no problem.
With scriptural knowledge.
Knowledge of the Bible.
The word is truth.
Our Lord Jesus said.
You shall know the truth.
And the truth.
Shall set you free.
So that should be.
But brothers and sisters.
If we approach.
The word of God.
Mentally.
Intellectually.
Or even emotionally.
If we approach the word of God.
With.
Our old life.
Our own intellect.
We may be able to explain it.
Or we may try to expound it.
We may seem to have a good knowledge.
Of the word of God.
We may even be able to reduce.
The word of God into a system.
We make the word of God dogmas.
And eventually become a tradition.
We are very knowledgeable.
In the word of God.
But brothers and sisters.
Would that bring us closer.
We may know a lot about God.
But.
We may not have.
Much of God.
In our lives.
Our Lord Jesus said.
The flesh.
Profits nothing.
It is the spirit.
That gives life.
And Paul says.
The letter kills.
The spirit quickens.
Now how often.
When we approach the word of God.
We approach it.
Intellectually.
And that is the reason why.
You find many theological seminaries.
When they begin.
Very fundamental.
In their faith.
But eventually.
They become very liberal.
In their faith.
Why?
Because they approach the word of God.
With the flesh.
They touch the word of God.
With the head of the flesh.
Only the spirit of God.
Can reveal.
The truth to us.
It cannot be grasped.
Just with our mind.
The word of God is not a system.
An ism.
It is living.
It grows.
With us.
As we grow in the Lord.
So brothers and sisters.
You find that even.
When you try to.
Approach the word of God.
Apart from life.
It brings in death.
And even that kind of knowledge.
Is the knowledge of good.
And evil.
I wonder brothers and sisters.
After we have known the Lord.
All these years.
How much.
Real knowledge of God.
Do we have?
All our past searching and pursuit.
Are we on the wrong path?
Are we in the right way?
Of searching.
For spiritual knowledge.
It is not so much.
How much about God we know.
Probably we know so much.
A lot.
But it is.
How much.
Of God himself.
In us.
That we really.
Touch and know.
Become.
A living knowledge.
Within us.
So what is.
Spiritual knowledge.
Is a knowledge.
That comes out.
Of life.
We already quote.
John 17 3.
This is the eternal life.
That they may know thee the only true
God.
And know the one whom thou hast sent.
Spiritual knowledge.
Comes from life.
Our Lord Jesus said.
We find in John.
Chapter 1 verse 4.
In him was life.
And the life was the light.
Of man.
Now what is light?
Light is knowledge.
If we have the life.
Of Christ in us.
That life.
Is the light of man.
That life.
Give us knowledge.
Spiritual knowledge.
That life.
Will show us.
Reveal to us.
Who God is.
What kind of God he is.
What kind of character.
He has.
What is his.
Heart.
His mind.
His purpose.
His will.
What is his counsel.
What is he working.
For.
After.
Brothers and sisters.
It is that life in us.
That will reveal.
These things to us.
With that life in us.
We have a new relationship.
With God.
Formerly.
We may know about God.
But we.
Have no communication.
No relationship.
With him.
But once you believe.
The Lord Jesus.
And that life has come into you.
Immediately you find.
A new relationship is established.
You call him.
Appa.
We don't just address him.
God.
Who are in heaven.
We call him.
Appa.
Father.
A new relationship.
Is different.
You know him.
Because.
You share one life.
You know him.
Within.
There is a new relationship there.
And also you find that.
Because.
That life in you has a new nature.
It is the nature.
Of God.
And that nature.
Will bring you.
Closer.
And closer.
You know brothers and sisters.
You do not know God.
By people telling you.
About God.
You know God because.
He lives in you.
He shows you what he likes.
And what he dislikes.
What will be pleasing to him.
And what displeases him.
He is righteous.
And holy in you.
And he will show you.
Who he is.
And what he is.
Nature.
We know him by nature.
And with this life in us.
You find a light.
Within you.
He is guiding.
Your steps.
You know how do we.
Walk on this earth.
As a Christian.
Now it is true.
Do we have the word of God.
As a lamp.
Of our feet.
That is true.
But in our daily life.
The Bible gave us the principle.
But in our daily life.
You find it is the Holy Spirit.
In us.
As light.
Of life.
Shining within us.
And if we walk in the light.
As God is in the light.
We have fellowship one with another.
And the blood of God's Son.
Jesus Christ.
Cleanses us from all our sins.
If we walk in the light.
What is that light?
That light.
Is the light of life.
That light is God.
Because in the preceding verse.
He said.
God is light.
And there is no darkness in him.
If we walk in the light.
As he is in the light.
So this light.
Is the light within.
God dwells in us.
He is our light.
And as we know him.
Inwardly.
He is leading us on.
And he reveals.
The darkness within us.
And.
Through the blood of our Lord Jesus.
We are continuously cleansed.
And that is the way.
We grow in the Lord.
We grow in life.
Brothers and sisters.
That life in us.
Give us.
That knowledge of God.
Transforms us.
Not just a mental knowledge.
But.
It transforms our life.
And conforms us.
To the image.
Of his beloved Son.
So you find that.
This is.
Spiritual knowledge.
This is the knowledge.
That gives us God.
Or we may put it the other way.
God's life.
Gives us.
That knowledge.
But anyway.
You find.
This is the knowledge that we are seeking
after.
Now what happened.
To the other knowledges.
The soul knowledge.
Does it mean.
That because we seek after.
That spirit knowledge.
Therefore.
We neglect.
All the other knowledges.
And just.
Reject all the other knowledge.
We reject scientific knowledge.
Technological knowledge.
Philosophical knowledge.
Ethical.
Moral knowledge.
We reject all these things.
Brothers and sisters.
Again we say.
The tree of the knowledge of good and
evil.
Is a good tree.
It is not bad.
In itself.
These knowledges are not bad.
In themselves.
But it is because of man.
We have fallen.
And therefore.
When we handle these things.
All these things.
Becomes.
Disastrous.
Destructive.
But when we seek.
The Lord himself.
And when we have.
That life knowledge in us.
You find something happened.
It turns.
All the other knowledge.
Into.
Their proper use.
The more you know science.
And technology.
The more you realize.
The glory of God.
It brings you closer to God.
And it also.
Will enable you.
To benefit.
Mankind.
Not destroy mankind.
But benefit mankind.
It makes that.
Philosophical knowledge.
To put it within restraint.
Within its bounds.
And it is really helpful.
Because.
It helps you to.
Express.
What God has revealed to you.
And it gives.
A life.
To morality.
Not just.
Moral but dead.
But it gives you.
A living morality.
And that is spirituality.
It sublimates.
All the other knowledge.
And leads them.
To.
The proper place.
Where these knowledge should be.
So brothers and sisters.
You find.
That the most important thing.
Is.
Spiritual knowledge.
Seek.
I still
have some time.
Now I would like to.
Use.
An illustration.
Now we remember Solomon.
Solomon.
Solomon is the wisest of men.
Second Kings and.
First Chronicles.
We are told that he really loved.
God.
So after he became king.
Over Israel.
He loved God.
So when he went to Gibeah.
Because there was.
That brazen altar.
And he offered thousands of.
Sacrifices on that altar.
To show his love.
Towards God.
And because of his love towards God.
God.
Revealed to him.
In a dream that night.
And God said.
Ask.
Whatever you want.
You just ask.
Now Solomon.
He asked only one thing.
He said God.
I am a child.
You put me in a big nation.
I do not know.
How to go in and come out.
Among thy people.
How to judge thy people.
So he asked for wisdom.
And knowledge.
And in the Bible it says he asked
for.
An understanding heart.
Now in the original.
The understanding heart.
Is the heart.
That hears.
He asked for a heart.
That can hear God.
That is what he asked for.
And God was highly.
Pleased with him.
Because God said.
You do not ask.
Give you riches.
Or give you great fame.
Or you even ask.
That your enemies will be destroyed.
Or give you long life.
You don't ask these things.
You only ask for a heart.
That can hear me.
God was really pleased with that.
So God gave him.
An understanding heart.
Largeness of heart.
A heart that can hear God.
And then.
In 2 Kings chapter 4.
You will find that.
Solomon's wisdom.
Excels.
The wisdom.
Of the east.
Now.
What is the wisdom.
Of the east.
Generally speaking.
The wisdom of the east.
Is philosophical.
Speculative knowledge.
Meditative.
Mystical.
That is the kind of knowledge.
Of the east.
And Solomon's knowledge excels.
That kind of.
And his knowledge excels the knowledge of Egypt.
The wisdom of Egypt.
Now Egypt.
At that time was.
One of the greatest empires.
Famous.
For its architectural feat.
Even today.
People visited Egypt.
To see the pyramids.
Not only.
The size of it.
But also.
The scientific knowledge in it.
And Solomon's.
Wisdom excels.
The wisdom.
Of Egypt.
More than scientific.
And technological.
And his wisdom even excels.
The wisdom.
Of Ethan.
Haman.
Gadah.
Kelko.
Now these are the peoples.
Now if you read the scripture.
You'll find in the Psalms.
You have some.
Hymns by Haman.
And then if you read.
David's.
Singers.
Musicians.
You'll find.
The name there.
So in other words.
These are inspirational.
Poetical.
And religious.
But Solomon's knowledge.
Excelled them all.
Why?
Because he is given a spiritual.
Knowledge.
A heart that hears God.
Now you'll find that he wrote.
Three thousand proverbs.
Now the proverbs.
We have.
Is only a small part.
Of the three thousand proverbs.
As you read the proverbs.
Now.
Proverbs are like the.
Moral.
Guides.
To our daily life.
But when you read.
Proverbs.
You'll find there is something there.
Which.
Sublimates.
The.
Moral guides.
That we have.
In the world.
Different nations.
Different countries.
They all have their.
Proverbs.
They all have their moral.
And so forth.
But you'll find that.
Because he knows God.
So you're reading proverbs.
You'll find there is.
An element there.
The fear of the Lord.
Is the beginning of wisdom.
It puts something into.
That morality.
And he writes.
About.
Hundred and five.
Songs.
And the song of songs.
Is the song of Solomon.
That we find here.
Here you'll find.
He touches.
Love.
In the deepest way.
Something more than.
Human love.
It's a love.
That exists between God.
And man.
And he wrote about.
The trees.
From the tree of Lebanon.
To the hyssop on the walls.
And he wrote.
About all animals.
Cattles creeping things.
Now not as a zoologist.
Or as a botanist.
But.
When he wrote that.
He saw God.
In all.
These creative things.
Now that is.
Spiritual knowledge.
So brothers and sisters.
What do we need?
We need.
Spiritual knowledge.
So.
The one thing we need.
As our brother.
Already mentioned.
We need.
To pray.
We need.
To ask the Lord.
To give us.
The spirit of wisdom.
And revelation.
To the full knowledge.
Of God.
Because it is not natural.
It should be supernaturally natural to us.
But it is something.
We need to desire after.
We have sought.
Knowledge of this world.
And now it is time.
That we really.
Set our heart.
For the spiritual knowledge.
That God will grant us.
The spirit of wisdom.
And revelation.
That we may know him.
Now in James chapter one.
We are told.
If anyone lack wisdom.
Let him ask.
And God will freely give.
If we ask by faith.
So.
We do hope that.
All of us.
Will see the need.
Of spiritual knowledge.
All of us will see.
There is a difference.
Between spiritual knowledge.
And the knowledge so called.
That we know.
And when you really see it.
I believe.
You will sense the lack of it.
And only when you sense.
The lack of it.
You will ask for it.
And if you ask for it.
God.
Will give it.
To you.
So may the Lord help us.
Let us pray.
Dear Heavenly Father.
We do thank thee that thou dost.
Want to give the best to us.
Thou dost give thy son.
To us.
And in him.
Are all knowledges.
And wisdom.
We do pray Lord.
That thou will open our understanding.
Our hearts.
That one thing.
We will seek after.
And that is thy beloved son.
Who is.
Knowledge.
We ask in thy precious name.
Amen.