The Search For Knowledge John 8: 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free In the search for knowledge, the search begins with the search for the truth about me and my relationship with God. The very first question that comes to mind is: "How important am I?" When the truth is revealed, I am not important at all. One writer caught the vision when he wrote: "To serve this present age my calling to fulfill....Oh! may it all my power engage to do my master’s will." The Bible says that, "We should not think of our self too highly, but think soberly." The world values a man according to his net worth, but when you search the Bible for more knowledge on the subject, we will find that the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. I don’t care what one may own.....It all belongs to God. We are nothing more than a lump of dirt breathing God’s breath. When God decides to withdraw His breath back, to the dirt we must go. It is a profound truth that we should give God the glory for letting us live. There is one thing that makes me happy when I think of me and my relationship with God: "I can do all things through God who strengthen me." TRUTH- means-- That which is reliable and can be trusted. The Bible uses truth in the general "factual" sense. Truth may designate the actual fact against appearance, pretense, or assertion. In Zechariah 8:16 the Lord of hosts declared: "These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace." When Jesus asked, "Who touched my garments?" the woman who had been healed through touching Jesus’ garments "fell down before him, and told him all the truth" (Mark 5:32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.). In first and second Timothy, truth is correct knowledge or doctrine. Certain individuals had departed from proper doctrine. Some "forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth" (1Tim. 4:3). Some have "swerved from the truth by claiming that the resurrection has already taken place (2 Tim. 2:18 ). Appearance Every thing that glitters may not be gold. Don’t judge the tree by its bark because the tree may look healthy on the outside but it may be rotten on the inside. Do not judge the boy by his mere appearances, because that boy with the baggy pants may have the potentials to become the president of the United States. It takes a great deal of energy to maintain an appearance of greatness, more than the really great are able to spare. Maintaining the appearance of greatness is like walking on your toes at all times, but being naturally great is like walking flat footed at all times. Pretense Now the word pretense against the truth. I thought about when I was a boy I wanted to be a man. I would put on my dad’s hat and shoes and I would look in the mirror, but the image in the mirror would declare the truth, "You are dressed up like a man but you are not a man." I wonder if there is anyone fabricating their life into the image of a greater life. One may say that’s my secret, but the truth will make you free. No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined. As we come into revival time of the year we all should stand before the mirror of God’s word and let the truth speak to us. Assertion Everybody ought to know that they are a child of God. Claiming to be a member of a family is not enough; there ought to be a birth record to ascertain that we are a member of the family. Every child of God ought to know that he or she has been born again. In my search for knowledge, I find myself wanting to know more about Jesus. The disciples that followed Jesus knew that he was the Messiah, and they expected Him to overthrow the Roman government and set an earthly kingdom, but to learn more of the truth about Jesus. They learned that Jesus’ kingdom was not of this world. Yes, they had their doubts about Jesus, because one asked the question. Nathaniel said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. It amazes me to know that people will spend countless hours in search of more knowledge in the liberal arts, but will spend little time in search of knowledge of God and his way. It is nice to know about the arts and sciences, but to know about Jesus will mean salvation to your soul. Not only salvation to your soul, but to know Jesus will give you a new life. For Jesus said that I have come that you might have life, and that you might have life more abundantly. Jesus came to enable us to enjoy some of the things that that we could not enjoy under the law. What will motivate one to search for something: (1) The value, (2) The general area where I might find it. The Bible speaks of a woman having ten pieces of silver, if she loses one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she finds it. The woman knew the value of the silver and she knew the general area where the silver was hidden. .. Therefore she takes the broom and sweeps diligently until she finds it. Now we know that there is valuable knowledge in the Bible, and it is a fact that in the Bible there is information that will help us in every area of life. John 5: 39 says: Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. Yes my dear brother and sister...... as we search the scripture, we ought to ask ourselves this question: "Do the Divine word of God have an abiding place in our hearts?" But when the hearts of men are full of pride, ambition, and the love of the world, there is no room for the word of God to abide in them. Every one is looking for a blessing in material things, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and all things will be added unto you." Spiritual blessings should come first. Matthew 5: 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ye are the salt of the earth. Mankind, was lying in ignorance and wickedness, were just a pile of food not fit to eat; but Christ sent forth his disciples, by their lives and doctrines to season it with knowledge and grace. If Christians are not such as they should be, they are as salt that has lost its savour. If a man can take up the profession of Christ, and yet remain graceless, there is nothing that can make him profitable. Our light must shine, by doing such good works as men may see. That which is of itself open to the sight of men, we must study to make it suitable to our profession. We must aim at the glory of God. Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. John 4: 42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. Roman 8: 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Sermon delivered at the Old West Florida Primitive Baptist Church School Convention, June 11, 2003 by Elder Clinton H. Smith, Pastor of Greater Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church, 1819 Saxon Street, Tallahassee, Florida and Moderator of Old West Florida Primitive Baptist Church Association