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Thoughts of...Ignorance
Speaking as a parent, our heart breaks when, in spite of our instruction and repeated warnings, a child proceeds to make a poor choice, one that is self-destructive. The angst is compounded by the reality of the “ripple effect” of those choices; our child hurts others in the process of hurting himself/herself.
Although some poor choices are made in defiance, spite, or malice, most poor choices are made in ignorance. To be ignorant means to not know, through the lack of information or intelligence, or to ignore that which is known, through disinclination.
According to the Bible, many Christians are ignorant.
God’s heart breaks with the ignorance of His children. Six times the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul desires very pointedly that we Christians () not be ignorant. Which means many or most Christians are, in fact, ignorant of that which He is speaking.
We counter ignorance by being aware (, , ), by using our minds (, ), by studying (, ), by being spiritually discerned (), and by being obedient ().
Listed below are the six “ignorant” instances. I have included the context in which each statement is made. Additionally, I have posed some questions to be meditated upon and to be searched out in the Scriptures ().
context:
Are you, in every circumstance in your life, aware that God has started a good work in you and will be faithful to complete it?
Are you continually aware of the nearness of God?
Are you aware that you are naked before the all-knowing, all-seeing, ever-present God…and do you speak and act accordingly?
Are you aware that God is on the Throne right now…and is always on the Throne?
Do you know that your motives count?
Do you know that God is working supernaturally in the natural?
Are you continually aware that you can do nothing without Jesus Christ?
Are you also continually aware that you can do all things through Him?
Do you know that you are never alone?
Are you aware that Jesus Christ is more than sufficient for your every need and desire, now and forever?
context:
Is God through with Israel?
Did Israel surrender the promises of God to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David when they rejected Jesus of Nazareth as their Messiah?
Do those promises now belong to the Church (aka “Replacement Theology”)?
Does Israel have a future part in God’s plan?
What kind of a branch is the Church?
The Church is grafted into what kind of a tree?
Is that horticulturally possible?
What does God think about and feel toward Israel?
Is God always faithful to keep His promises?
Was Israel always faithful to God?
Has the Church always been faithful to God?
If Replacement Theology is true, who gets the promises of God next after the Church?
If Replacement Theology is a lie from the pit of hell, why does 80%+ of the Church believe it?
context:
Do you think history is important?
What does the Word of God have to say about the history of Israel? Of the Church?
Why does God bother to give us the history of Israel in the Old Testament?
What is “the entire counsel of God” spoken of by Paul in Acts 20:27?
How much of your Bible is being referred to in 2 Tim 3:16-17?
What are the Scriptures Jesus referred to in John 5:39?
How well do you know the Old Testament Scriptures?
context: 1 Cor 12-14
What are the gifts of the Spirit?
To whom are they given? By whom?
For whose benefit?
What is the expiration date of the spiritual gifts?
Do you know that God commands you to covet?
What is the “beef” in the “sandwich” of these three chapters?
What is the guiding principle in the exercise of spiritual gifts?
context:
Did God ever “promise you a rose garden” this side of eternity?
Why do good people suffer?
Can you find comfort in a bottle? In a narcotic? In a human relationship? In a philosophy of man? In a religion of man? In lots of money or material possessions?
Where is only place can find comfort? How?
Is your present suffering bigger than God?
Do you trust Him in your present suffering?
context:
What are Christians called to?
What is the “Law” Christians are under?
What is the wrath of Satan? Who bears it?
What is the wrath of God? Who bears it?
Are there any exceptions?
Is there any difference between the last generation of the Church and the first generation of the Church?
How is this important, as it relates to our calling?
Don’t be ignorant; it breaks your Father’s heart.
Pastor Doug
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