Spiritual Knowledge and its Practical Results

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Colossians 1:9-12

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you…

I. THE PRECIOUSNESS OF SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE. Consider —

1. The intensity of the apostle's desire for it. It is the subject of earnest; ceaseless prayer.

2. The men for whom it is desired. Saints and faithful brethren, who knew the grace of God in truth, and were bringing forth fruit to God. We must not cease to pray for those who know the Lord that they may know more.

3. The measure of this knowledge. "Filled" — grand scholarship to have mind, heart, whole manhood filled with knowledge. When a measure is full of wheat there is no room for chaff. True knowledge excludes error. If we have empty places in our minds, unstored by holy teaching, they will be an invitation to the devil to enter and dwell. Try and know Divine truth more intimately. You know a man, for you pass him in the streets with a nod; you know another far better, for you lodge in the same house with him; but you know him best of all whose troubles and joys you have shared, and with whom you have had the closest fellowship.

4. The matter of it. The revealed will of God.

(1) The perceptive will. "What wilt Thou have me to do?"(2) The will of God as it constitutes the gospel. "This is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one that believeth."(3) "This is the will of God, even your sanctification."

5. The manner.

(1) "In all wisdom," which is better than knowledge, for it is knowledge rightly used. Knowledge may find room for folly, but wisdom casts it out. Knowledge may be the horse, but wisdom is the driver. Wisdom enables you to bring your knowledge practically to bear upon life, to separate the precious from the vile, and rightly conduct your affairs. "All" wisdom — wisdom that will be useful in the shop, the counting-house, the church, etc.

(2) That wisdom operates by a spiritual understanding that is powerful within. This is an inward knowledge of truth, a spiritual discernment, taste, experience, and reception of truth whereby the soul feeds upon it and takes it into herself.

II. THE PRACTICAL RESULT OF SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE. "That ye may walk" — not that they might talk, sit down and meditate, and enjoy themselves. He desires that they may be instructed, so as to walk —

1. According to the best model. Let not a disciple walk so as to bring disgrace upon his Lord! When you walk with a king you should be royal in gait; when you commune with a prince you should not act the clown. It is well to have no lower standard than the life of Jesus, the life of tenderness, self sacrifice, love, holy service, and communion with God.

2. So as to be pleasing to our best friend.

(1) Some live to please themselves, or their wives, neighbours, and some, the devil. Our business is to please Him whose servants we are. Without holiness no man shall see Him, much less please Him.

(2) Unto all pleasing — from the moment we rise till we lie down, in eating and drinking, etc.

(3) Paul desires that we may be filled with knowledge to this end. If I do not know the will of God, how can I do it?

3. That we may produce the best fruit. Without knowledge we cannot be fruitful. Some are hindered in this because they do not know how to set about holy service. How can a man be fruitful as a preacher if he does not know what to preach? In a hundred ways ignorance will make us run risks, lose opportunities of usefulness, and fall into dangerous mistakes.

4. That he may cultivate a comprehensive variety of the best things. "In every." Here is room and range enough. Let works of obedience, testimony, zeal, charity, piety, all be found in your life. Do not select big things as your spiritual line, but glorify the Lord in the littles. The Lord Jesus, if He were here, would gladly do a thousand things which His poor little servants are too great to touch.

III. THE REFLEX ACTION OF HOLINESS ON KNOWLEDGE.

1. Holiness is the road to knowledge.

2. This knowledge rises in tone — before it was in God's will, now it is in God Himself.

3. He would have in us increased capacity to know yet more. In verse 9 it is "filled"; but if a man is full of knowledge, how can it increase? Make the vessel larger. Let no man think he can go no farther. Bernard says: "He is not good at all who doth not desire to be better."

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