Don't be Ignorant

[branchesofHim]

Ignorant means lacking knowledge or information. All men are literally ignorant regarding the fullness of God. Not one person, not one denomination, not one group of people knows the fullness of God. And the devil knows this and uses it to our destruction just like he did for Adam and Eve (he tries to keep us ignorant of God's true character.) He initiates us to be judgmental of one another and even critical of each other in order to bring division to prevent us from being in the unity of the faith. 

1 Corinthians 1:[10] Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

One group believes in salvation of the soul (eternal security), one group believes in salvation of the body (healing), one group believes in salvation of confession (speaking words), one group believes in salvation of finances (prosperity), etc. But the one thing each group has in common is that Jesus Christ is the only way for all of it and it's all by faith in Him! He is the only way to God's true nature. God is good always and never causes any bad thing to happen in our lives. Jesus' message from the beginning of His earthly ministry was just that! Jesus proclaimed the good news (gospel)! 

Isaiah 53:[1] Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
[2] For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
[3] He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
[4] Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
[5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
[6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
[7] He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
[8] He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
[9] And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
[10] Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
[11] He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
[12] Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

We are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ if become like Him in death and in life through faith. As Jesus Himself said, "Ye must be born again."

Isaiah 61:[1] The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
[2] To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
[3] To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

If it's not good, it's not God. We are simply ignorant if we think that bad in life comes from God. Is God double-minded? No. Did He pour out all of His wrath for the sin of all men on Jesus? Yes. Would He put sickness on us after Jesus already bore it? No. Were all men offered the gift of righteousness through Jesus? Yes. Is God a respecter of persons? No. If bad does happen in our lives, did God cause it? No. Should something bad happen, can God cause it to work for good? Yes. Does God require us to come to Him in faith? Yes. These are all basic fundamental principles of salvation. God is good. Period. Do not let the enemy of our souls keep us ignorant of God's character. God is always good.

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.

We each need to grow up and mature in Christ in the knowledge of God. May God, the Father, deliver us, His children, from ignorance. For if we don't know and understand Who He really is, how can we bring others to know Him in truth?

Jeremiah 9:[23] Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
[24] But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Jesus taught the disciples to pray "our Father who art in Heaven". He wanted man to know God in relationship and that He is good. How do you speak about God? Do you glorify Him in His goodness or do you question it? Adam and Eve should have went to God to inquire of Him in the cool of the day regarding the question that the serpent posed to them before acting on it. We should always go to God before taking action on any question we have about Him. If we ask Him, He will answer.

James 1:[5] If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Never speak something about God or His will if you are ignorant of it. Speak with Him before you ever speak of Him.

Malachi 3:[13] Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
[14] Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?
[15] And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
[16] Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
[17] And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
[18] Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

In order to know the truth of Who God is, we cannot be ignorant of His will. His will is Him and He is His Word. His essence is purely good.

Jesus is the express image of God's person. And Jesus was, is, and will be good always, just like His Father. Don't be ignorant. Shalom

Hebrews 13:[8] Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

[missmuffet]

Intentional ignorance about spiritual matters can lead to eternal destruction Romans 1: 18-23.