“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” Hosea 4:6 NKJV

“Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.” Hosea 4:1 Charge, dispute, Quarrel, grievance

Knowledge is precious… Prov. 1:7 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Prov. 10:14 “Wise people store up knowledge” Rom. 15:14 “filled with all knowledge” 2 Pet. 3:18 grow in “knowledge” 2 Pet. 1:5-11 “knowledge” = Christian virtue

“For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6

 Plan of salvation  Great commission  When the church was established  Worship of the church  Organization of the church “Prove all things: hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thes. 5:21 “…be ready always to give an answer” 1 Pet.3:15

 Medical = bloodletting  Science = round earth Columbus Copernicus Galileo

Ignorance is sin: Christ crucified  “Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34  “did it in ignorance” Acts 3:17  “for had they known” 1 Cor. 2:8 Paul sinned - “I did it ignorantly in unbelief” 1 Tim. 1:13

Ignorance is sin: Ps. 19:12 “secret faults’ Acts 17:30 command to repent Matt. 22:29 “ye do err” Zeal without knowledge - Rom. 10:1-2

Matt. 13:15 ears dull of hearing, eyes closed lest they understand with their heart… 2 Thes.1:7-9 “on them that know not God” Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”

1 Thes.4:13 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren…” 1 Tim. 2:4 “to come unto the knowledge of the truth” John 8:32 “the truth shall make you free.” 2 Pet.2:20 - escaped through knowledge Heb. 5: need to be taught again

Knowledge helps us not to sin: Ps. 119:11 “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” 1 Cor. 10:13  Common - nothing new  Not the first to be tempted  There is a way of escape Joseph ran away from sin - Gen. 39

Matt. 4: Temptation of Jesus “It is written” “This book will keep you from sin and nothing but sin will keep you from this book.”

By Loving the Lord “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'” Matt. 22:37 “She fell in love with the author”

Unquenchable Desire 1 Pet.2:2 “desire the pure milk of the word” Matt.5:6 “hunger and thirst for righteousness” Socrates How to be a learned man.

Determine to study Many things to attract our attention Watch TV 14 to 30 hours per week “Till I come, give attention to reading” 1Tim.4:13 “From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures” 2 Tim. 3:15

Andrew - Peter - John 1 Philip - Nathaniel - John 1 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.” James 1:22

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” Hosea 4:6 NKJV

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga Sunday Morning Feb. 27, 2011