Today’s Chef Special: “KNOWLEDGE”

2 Peter 1:5, “For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] KNOWLEDGE (intelligence),” (AMPC)

(Gk. gnōsis) Strong’s #1108

This Greek word for ‘knowledge’ usually connotes progressive, experiential, and personal knowledge; it is knowledge that can grow. We need to grow in our actual, personal knowledge of Jesus Christ; such knowledge is the greatest protection against false teachings.

One of the prominent themes in this epistle is Peter’s exhortation to the believers to attain a fuller, more thorough knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:8, “For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [full personal] KNOWLEDGE of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).” (AMPC); 2 Peter 2:20, “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through [the full, personal] KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they again become entangled in them and are overcome, their last condition is worse [for them] than the first.” (AMPC); 2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and KNOWLEDGE and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)!” AMPC).

MAIN INGREDIENT: Today, Grow in Your Knowledge of God and Your Faith!

Genesis 2:9, “And out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight or to be desired—good (suitable, pleasant) for food; the tree of life also in the center of the garden, and the tree of the KNOWLEDGE of [the difference between] good and evil and blessing and calamity.” (AMPC)

Exodus 31:3, “And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and ability, in understanding and intelligence, and in KNOWLEDGE, and in all kinds of craftsmanship,” (AMPC)

Leviticus 5:1, “If anyone sins in that he is sworn to testify and has KNOWLEDGE of the matter, either by seeing or hearing of it, but fails to report it, then he shall bear his iniquity and willfulness.” (AMPC)

Numbers 28:19, “But you shall offer an offering made by fire, a burnt offering to the Lord: two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old; they shall be without blemish to the best of your KNOWLEDGE.” (AMPC)

Deuteronomy 4:35, “To you it was shown, that you might realize and have personal KNOWLEDGE that the Lord is God; there is no other besides Him.” (AMPC)

1 Samuel 2:3, “Talk no more so very proudly; let not arrogance go forth from your mouth, for the Lord is a God of KNOWLEDGE, and by Him actions are weighed.” (AMPC)

1 Kings 9:27, “And Hiram sent with the fleet his servants, shipmen who had KNOWLEDGE of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.” (AMPC)

1 Chronicles 28:9, “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father [have personal KNOWLEDGE of Him, be acquainted with, and understand Him; appreciate, heed, and cherish Him] and serve Him with a blameless heart and a willing mind. For the Lord searches all hearts and minds and understands all the wanderings of the thoughts. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him as your first and vital necessity] you will find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever!” (AMPC)

2 Chronicles 1:10-12, “Give me now wisdom and KNOWLEDGE to go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this Your people who are so great? God replied to Solomon, Because this was in your heart and you have not asked for riches, possessions, honor, and glory, or the life of your foes, or even for long life, but have asked wisdom and KNOWLEDGE for yourself, that you may rule and judge My people over whom I have made you king, Wisdom and KNOWLEDGE are granted you. And I will give you riches, possessions, honor, and glory, such as none of the kings had before you, and none after you shall have their equal.” (AMPC)

Psalm 91:14, “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal KNOWLEDGE of My mercy, love, and kindness—trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].” (AMPC)

Proverbs 1:7, “The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of KNOWLEDGE [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline.” (AMPC)

Ecclesiastes 12:9, “And furthermore, because the Preacher was wise, he [Solomon] still taught the people KNOWLEDGE; and he pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs.” (AMPC)

Isaiah 11:2, “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of KNOWLEDGE and of the reverential and obedient fear of the Lord—” (AMPC)

Jeremiah 3:15, “And I will give you [spiritual] shepherds after My own heart [in the final time], who will feed you with KNOWLEDGE and understanding and judgment.” (AMPC)

Daniel 1:17, “As for these four youths, God gave them KNOWLEDGE and skill in all learning and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all [kinds of] visions and dreams.” (AMPC)

Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of KNOWLEDGE; because you [the priestly nation] have rejected KNOWLEDGE, I will also reject you that you shall be no priest to Me; seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.” (AMPC)

Nahum 1:7, “The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has KNOWLEDGE of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him.” (AMPC)

Habakkuk 2:14, “But [the time is coming when] the earth shall be filled with the KNOWLEDGE of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (AMPC)

Malachi 2:7, “For the priest’s lips should guard and keep pure the KNOWLEDGE [of My law], and the people should seek (inquire for and require) instruction at his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.” (AMPC)

Matthew 13:12, “For whoever has [spiritual KNOWLEDGE], to him will more be given and he will be furnished richly so that he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” (AMPC)

Mark 4:24, “And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and KNOWLEDGE] that comes back to you—and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.” (AMPC)

Luke 1:17, “And he will [himself] go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn back the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient and incredulous and unpersuadable to the wisdom of the upright [which is the KNOWLEDGE and holy love of the will of God]—in order to make ready for the Lord a people [perfectly] prepared [in spirit, adjusted and disposed and placed in the right moral state].” (AMPC)

John 17:11, “And [now] I am no more in the world, but these are [still] in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep in Your Name [in the KNOWLEDGE of Yourself] those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We [are one].” (AMPC)

Romans 11:33, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and KNOWLEDGE of God! How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments (His decisions)! And how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways (His methods, His paths)!” (AMPC)

1 Corinthians 1:30, “But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, [revealed to us a KNOWLEDGE of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our Righteousness [thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God], and our Consecration [making us pure and holy], and our Redemption [providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin].” (AMPC)

2 Corinthians 2:14, “But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the KNOWLEDGE of God everywhere,” (AMPC)

Ephesians 3:19, “[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere KNOWLEDGE [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!” (AMPC)

Philippians 1:9, “And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in KNOWLEDGE and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment],” (AMPC)

Colossians 3:10, “And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it.” (AMPC)

1 Thessalonians 3:4, “For even when we were with you, [you know] we warned you plainly beforehand that we were to be pressed with difficulties and made to suffer affliction, just as to your own KNOWLEDGE it has [since] happened.” (AMPC)

1 Timothy 6:20, “O Timothy, guard and keep the deposit entrusted [to you]! Turn away from the irreverent babble and godless chatter, with the vain and empty and worldly phrases, and the subtleties and the contradictions in what is falsely called KNOWLEDGE and spiritual illumination.” (AMPC)

2 Timothy 3:15, “And how from your childhood you have had a KNOWLEDGE of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].” (AMPC)

Philemon 1:6, “[And I pray] that the participation in and sharing of your faith may produce and promote full recognition and appreciation and understanding and precise KNOWLEDGE of every good [thing] that is ours in [our identification with] Christ Jesus [and unto His glory].” (AMPC)

Hebrews 8:11, “And it will nevermore be necessary for each one to teach his neighbor and his fellow citizen or each one his brother, saying, Know (perceive, have KNOWLEDGE of, and get acquainted by experience with) the Lord, for all will know Me, from the smallest to the greatest of them.” (AMPC)

2 Peter 1:2, “May grace (God’s favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in [the full, personal, precise, and correct] KNOWLEDGE of God and of Jesus our Lord.” (AMPC)

1 John 4:6-7, “We are [children] of God. Whoever is learning to know God [progressively to perceive, recognize, and understand God by observation and experience, and to get an ever-clearer KNOWLEDGE of Him] listens to us; and he who is not of God does not listen or pay attention to us. By this we know (recognize) the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God; and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God [to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer KNOWLEDGE of Him].” (AMPC)

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Love, Chef Shermaine