Knowledge is something that has always drawn attention. Throughout history, men who acquired knowledge were respected and honoured as great men. To this day, this notion has not changed. There are many who seek for knowledge. They go through many books, numerous experiments and scores of research to gain knowledge. The old adage is quite true, “Knowledge is power”. But the bible actually tells it differently, “My people perish for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6
Knowledge can be defined as “the fact or condition of being aware of something” or “the range of one’s information or understanding.”

We have been looking at Greatness and the price to pay for it. We have looked at how Intimacy and Separation play a part in Greatness. In this post, we will look at knowledge. So let’s get right to it.

THE MAN CALLED EZRA

A few years ago, I wanted to read the book of Ezra. It was just an ordinary book of the bible to me. There was no intriguing story to catch my eye or a popular character who did something amazing, at least from my perspective. It was just….. normal. I didn’t want to skim through the book in order to get to the book of Nehemiah and then the more exciting book of Esther. So I prayed, “Lord, teach me something from Ezra.” And He taught me what I’m going to share with you guys.
Ezra is introduced in chapter seven with his genealogy traced down to Aaron the Priest and his vocation as a scribe. What struck me about his introduction was this sentence, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.” Ezra‬ ‭7:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The era of Ezra was a tumultuous time for the people of Israel. It was in the era where Israel had been set free from captivity and were allowed to return to their land. They were trying to rebuild their war-torn city, Jerusalem, and get their lives back together. They were rebuilding the temple amidst great opposition from their enemies. They were trying to follow God’s original blueprints for the nation. This is when Ezra steps in and begins to make his impact. He was the right man for the job. Why? Because in the time of captivity, this man decided to know the Lord His God, the one whom Israel had forgotten. The people needed someone with the knowledge of God to lead and guide them back to Him.

After Ezra entered the scene in the book of Ezra, the history of Israel took a turn. By the knowledge of the Word and the plan of God, Ezra was able to turn Israel after God. He begun to set things right in Israel. He turned his world right side up. Ezra’s preparation of his heart made him the right person to be used for the restoration God was doing in Israel. His greatness was in his heart preparation for the Word of God. So then, what does it mean to prepare your heart? How does one prepare his heart?

Ezra’s preparation of his heart made him the right person to be used for the restoration God was doing in Israel.

A PREPARED HEART

The Hebrew word ‘kun’ is translated ‘prepare’ in our text. It can also mean ‘to be firm’, ‘to set up’, ‘to establish or fixed’ or ‘to be securely determined’. It is a word that strongly portrays a fervent decision to do something. It is to make a resolution to stick with something or to pursue something. Therefore, to prepare your heart is to resolve in your heart to do something or to make a fervent decision to pursue something. The same word ‘kun’ can also mean ‘to direct your face towards something’. To prepare your heart is to direct your heart towards something. Ezra fixed his heart on knowing the word of God, doing what it says and teaching what it says. Preparing your heart is important because it sets the tone for what you will accomplish in time.

To prepare your heart is to resolve in your heart to do something; to make a fervent decision to pursue something; to direct your heart towards something

The heart is an integral part of a human being where he processes thoughts and makes decisions. It is a combination of a man’s spirit and soul. It is an important part of man because the Bible teaches that it is the main focus of God in His dealing with man. “But the LORD said to Samuel, “…For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”” I Samuel‬ ‭16:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬
It is the part of man that cannot be seen but controls all his affairs.
“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs‬ ‭4:23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬

SEEK THE LAW OF GOD

The greatness of Ezra was not in his determination in pursuit but rather the object of his pursuit – the Law of God. At that time, that was the revealed word of God to them. Ezra decided to become an expert in the revealed word of God in his generation. He would study it and practise it, then he would teach it to whoever would listen. He made it his life’s endeavour, his purpose.

The greatness of Ezra was not in his determination in pursuit but rather the object of his pursuit.

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;” Hebrews‬ ‭1:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

In these days, the revealed word of God is Jesus. Jesus is the medium through which the Father God has spoken to us. He is the Word made Flesh that walked amongst us on earth (John 1:14). The Apostle Paul, just as Ezra, decided to be an expert in the revealed word of God. He said, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,” Philippians‬ ‭3:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
Paul illustrated the passion of Ezra in pursuit of the Word of God. He turned his heart from who he used to be (Philippians 3:8) and directed it in pursuit of the revealed Word of God. He would give his all to know that Man.

IN PURSUIT OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD

“My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭2:1-4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

When Solomon was a young man, his father David gave him counsel. One of these sessions of counsel is what is recorded above. This second chapter of Proverbs talks about the acquisition of wisdom and knowledge and ultimately God. In instructing his son, David used six different words that depicts a search for something, in this scripture, wisdom. You see, to prepare your heart or to direct your heart towards a goal is not enough. It is the first step that sets you on the right track. Then comes in the actual pursuit of that goal. All around us, there are people we can identify as being in search of something. Look at that neighbour of yours who leaves home at dawn and returns close to midnight. Or that friend you call a bookworm because his nose is always in a book. They are displaying the characteristics of a man who is looking for something.

Characteristics Of The Search
a) Receive the Word: The Word of God has already been given to us, collated in a collection of sixty six books. It must be received for it to have any impact just as any gift must be received. And not just to be received but to be treasured it.
b) Treasure the Word: Our attitude towards a possession is mostly based on the value we place on it. Stuff we place little value on are left carelessly for it to be easily damaged or lost. But our priced possessions are kept carefully in a secret place where few people have access to. A person in search of the knowledge of God, regards the word of God as treasure. He keeps it close to his heart and guards it carefully. The knowledge of the Most High is as precious to him as gold.
c) Inclining your ear: It is an expression which basically means “to pay attention”. Imagine you are alone in a house and suddenly you hear a sound. It is faint and so you couldn’t catch it well. So you tilt your head in the direction the sound originated, you quieten yourself whilst you wait for the sound again. You are inclining your ear. With that picture in mind, a heart in search of God pays rapt attention to His voice. You lean in to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart. Your soul is not content till you hear His voice speak to you.

d) Crying out and lifting up your voice are essentially the same. It is not a cry of mourning but rather a cry of desperation and shout of a search. It is the sound of desperation made when you have searched in vain and have not found your heart’s desire. It is the sound of your call when searching for a person. There will be a response of the object of search. He will answer your call and draw near to you. He will answer the lifting up of your voice to call out for more of Him, for more revelation of Him.

The Price for Knowledge

Knowledge is an expensive commodity we cannot do without. As believers, knowledge of the God we believe is essential. It will determine our effectiveness on earth. Just as learning for anything, it comes at a cost. Quality education is expensive anywhere in the world. Let’s look at a few prices

• Time: The time that goes into learning cannot be underestimated. Medical students spend hours learning information that could be the only thing that stands between life and death of a patient. To know God’s word, you will need time. It would need time that has to be taken away from something else such as watching a favourite show or watching the football match of your favourite team.
  Just as it takes years to complete an academic course, it will take a while to become adept in scripture. And even with that there is more to learn. There is no end in knowing the word. It is a lifelong vocation.

• It calls for discipline: As in studying in school, studying the Word would require discipline to be effective. I believe it would require even more discipline due to it being an activity of the spirit. Your flesh would fight it. It would come up with good reasons why you cannot study today. Therefore, it is an exercise that would help from the Spirit of God. Careful planning of our time and activities of the day is needed.

Why You Need to Pay the Price

• Knowledge of the Word leads to restoration: Remember our guy Ezra, without him the freed captives were lost in their ways. In Nehemiah 8, Ezra stood before the whole country and read the scritures to them. At the end of the reading, they were so smote by their conscience that they begun to weep. In spite of their sadness, freedom had come for the nation. By the Word of God the whole nation was delivered.

• Knowledge of the Word brings freedom: In Daniel 9, the prophet Daniel read and discovered that according to the prophet Jeremiah, Israel was to be in captivity for only seventy years. But the people had been captives for more than that. This knowledge brought on fervent intercession that kept brought angelic visitation. When Jesus said, “you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free”, He meant it. Some of us believers have not yet come to grasp to the full extent of our victory in Christ over the enemy. When we receive the knowledge of these, no power of hell can stop us.

• Knowledge saves lives:
“My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.” Proverbs‬ ‭4:20-22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬

• Knowledge brings a revelation of God’s purpose and our capability

“the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power” Ephesians‬ ‭1:18-19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬

The rewards of knowledge of the Word of God cannot be overestimated. It is worth more than we could ever pay for it.

This is by no means an exhaustive list. It is just something to get you started on this journey. There are manny treasures to be dug out; many purposes to be discovered and many lives to be changed.
I want to end this post with this verse, ““Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew‬ ‭7:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
When you make the decision to direct your heart towards knowing God, He will honour your desire. He will be there when you pick up your bible to learn of Him. The master teacher will gladly teach things you have not known. Therefore, be encouraged, it is not a fruitless pursuit. Nations will be changed because of it and lives will be transformed.

When you seek you will find.

Hope to hear from you in the comment section down below. God bless you.

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