IT’S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW, BUT WHO YOU KNOW

IT’S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW, BUT WHO YOU KNOW

DOC LYNCH

Sometimes it's like "slogging through the nonsense". It's a shame this is the way it has to be for the believer in Jesus Christ. It's a shame, but it doesn't have to be problematic.

I was reading a purely well intentioned message recently from an evangelist who is doing a great work for the Kingdom of God. He is on the front lines and battling evil by casting out demons from witches, etc.

However…there is one discrepancy in his message. He reports that in his conversation with this now FORMER witch, she told him the reason why Christians are easy targets for evil entities like witches, is that "they don't know anything".

Now…some people might not pick up on this, but I did immediately. Not so much for what she said, but that the evangelist got pulled into that lie.

See, it's NEVER about how much we KNOW, even when it pertains to the Word of God. I have known more than a few people over the years who could spit out chapter and verse from the Bible without effort, but they couldn't live what they had memorized.

Anybody can memorize scripture and pull it out when needed. In fact, the Bible itself teaches that we should be familiar with it.

However, it's never based upon memorization, or even a full knowledge of the entire scriptures.

What makes the believe effective is RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ and being endowed with His authority of HIS NAME. It's ALWAYS "at the Name of Jesus", not how much scripture you know. We can actually turn our knowledge of Scripture into idolatry in and of itself if we are not careful.

Remember the cripple at the temple gate that Peter and John healed? Peter gave him what he "HAD", not what he "KNEW". What he had was healing in the Authority of the name of Jesus.

Acts 4:10 (AMP) – "Let it be known and understood by all of you, and by the whole house of Israel, that in the name and through the power and authority of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified, [but] Whom God raised from the dead, in Him and by means of Him this man is standing here before you well and sound in body."

Even the most subtle of discrepancy in our state of being a disciple of Jesus can be turned into a major weapon formed against us. Never once does Jesus say we need to "deny ourself, become thoroughly familiar with the bible, and then pick up our cross and follow Him".

He says to put our self serving ways behind us and look to Him. We have enough issues in dealing with human pride. We don't need to add a prideful understanding of overemphasizing the importance of "knowing" our Bible. The devil knows the bible better than any of us ever will. The reason he failed in challenging Jesus with it in the desert was he failed to realize that he was dealing with "THE WORD" Himself. Jesus is not just the Author of the Word of God. According to John 1:1 He IS the Word of God! So rather than trying to bring ourselves up to that standard of expertise, we need to simply attach ourselves to Him and by the power of the Holy Spirit rely upon that Power to give us the Scriptures when needed. Stop prideful “doing” and just “BE”. There is much more said about BEING in Christ in the Word, than painstakingly trying to memorize verses.

1 Peter 3:15 (AMP) – “But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.”

Some folks erroneously believe the above verse means we must memorize as much scripture as possible. Not true. It is clear Peter is first and foremost saying we must know Jesus intimately. The Holy Spirit will take care of our mental recall of Scripture. Trust Him.

In other words, it is better to be endowed with His Power and Authority and trust in that to battle any evil we need to when we need to. While it is indeed a worthy endeavor to be familiar with as much of the Bible as possible that has to do with knowing Him and our enemy, it is useless without the Power and Authority to be in the battle in the first place. The devil is not impressed with how much bible you know. He is impressed and scared to death of how much of Jesus you know.

I'm not trying to make a mountain out of a molehill here, but we must be diligent in recognizing and exposing the small and seemingly innocent innuendoes the devil tries to use.

We are in the battle together. Let's equip each other as we go deeper with Jesus! I'm not trying to make a mountain out of a molehill here, but we must be diligent in recognizing and exposing the small and seemingly innocent innuendoes the devil tries to use.

I'm Pastor Doc Lynch from Revival Life Church 21 Executive Center Drive, New Milford, CT 06776.

In our preaching and teaching, we try to get even the smallest details correct. All scripture is God breathed and useful to us in every circumstance, and we must be diligent in "rightly dividing this Word of Truth". We do that here on Sunday mornings at 10:00.

We are in the battle together. Let's equip each other as we go deeper with Jesus!

Be REVIVED!

~Pastor Doc Lynch~