I Don’t Know That But I Know This

I Don’t Know That But I Know This

Acts 18: ²⁴ Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶ He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

²⁷ When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. ²⁸ For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.

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When a question was asked that I did not know, I got nervous and tried to think of an answer. I was presenting in front of a few hundred people and felt I needed to have all the answers. The audience quickly lost interest as I gave an opinion versus fact.

• There was a time when I thought I could have all the answers.
• There was a time when I thought I could handle any problem thrown at me.
• There was a time when I presented information that I was not fully aware of.

Apollos knew the Scriptures very well, but was only taught a little about JESUS. He spoke as accurately as he could about JESUS with “fervor.” Priscilla and Aquila heard him. They had spent a lot of time with Paul and learned a lot about JESUS. They volunteered to help Apollos learn more about the Messiah.

• GOD wants me to speak what I know about HIM with fervor.
• GOD wants me to be brave enough to say “I don’t know, but this is what I believe.”
• GOD wants me to say “I believe JESUS died for my sins and HE was raised from the dead, giving me eternal life.”

Some people are gifted at arguing about JESUS, others simply say “I just believe.” GOD wants me to open my mouth and tell people about my belief in HIM. The HOLY SPIRIT will give me the right words at the right time. I may not be able to answer questions thrown at me about life, but I know JESUS is the answer to everything.

• Are you trying to be the “answer person?”
• Do you judge people based on their knowledge?
• Will you open your mouth to your belief in JESUS, even though you may not know the Scriptures to support your belief?

Needing Proof

Luke 16: ²⁴ “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ ²⁵ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. ²⁶ And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

²⁷ “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, ²⁸ for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ ²⁹ Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ ³⁰ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ ³¹ But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’ ”

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Feeling a bit unassured, I asked around to see if one of the higher ups was telling the truth about promoting me. When word got back to the person about my inquiries, they said, “I’m sorry, you may not be a fit for this opportunity.”

• There were times when I did not trust what was told to me.
• There were times when I did not completely believe in what was handed to me.
• There were times when I was taught something, yet doubted what I was taught.

JESUS completes HIS recollection of the situation by telling the nameless rich man’s desire. The rich man begged for more comfort in eternity, remembering how comfortable he was on earth. Abraham, who showed his faith on earth, said “No, it’s too late.” Bargaining, the rich man begged specifically to send someone who would rise from the dead. “People won’t believe”, Abraham said.

• GOD wants me to believe in what the prophets wrote.
• GOD wants me to believe in HIS plan of salvation for HIS creation.
• GOD wants me to believe in things that are far out of my reach, yet easy for HIM.

Creation, life after death, Heaven and hell, demons and angels, and miracles are things GOD tells me to believe in, yet there were many times when I doubted. I went for the next best thing which was proof. I needed proof that everything happened as it was told. So I dug into research and could only come to one conclusion, GOD IS. I now fully believe and beg HIS forgiveness for needing proof.

• Do you doubt GOD’s love for you?
• Are you blaming HIM for your life or are you grabbing onto HIS love for you?
• Can you accept JESUS as your savior today without requiring more proof?
• If you need love, will you seek what HE says about HIS love for you today?

Illogical Belief

Luke 9: ³⁷ Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him. ³⁸ Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, “Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child. ³⁹ And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him. ⁴⁰ So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.”

⁴¹ Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”⁴² And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.

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Praying wasn’t uncommon for me, but this time it was more serious. Someone very close to me was very ill with a life threatening disease. Prompted to pray, I kneeled down and cried out. “Please!”

• There have been many times when life was overwhelming to me.
• There have been many times when things around me seemed to get out of hand.
• There have been many times when I felt helpless and felt I had nowhere to turn.

A father came to JESUS begging HIM to heal his son from a demonic hold. The disciples tried to rid the boy of the evil spirit, but could not. JESUS simply spoke and the boy was healed.

• GOD says to me “MY power is greater than any unclean power.”
• GOD says to me “Do not be afraid, for I AM with you.”
• GOD says to me “Have faith and believe and you will see and do great things.”

Believing that GOD will take care of physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual matters sometimes seems like too much to bear. I mean it is illogical to believe in demons causing physical problems that obvious research and science can explain away. BUT GOD says “believe.”

JESUS created everything, yet we as humans believe humans are the center of existence. GOD wants me to have faith in the spiritual realm and credit everything to HIM rather than random chance or an unlucky “universe.” HE is my healer and I am forever grateful to GOD.

• Are you facing something difficult that is thoroughly out of your hands?
• Do you feel like giving up?
• Will you stop trying to be logical and allow GOD to fill you with HIS SPIRIT today?
• Will you be healed by GOD by allowing HIM to penetrate your heart?