Spiritually illiterate

John 11:49--"...You know nothing at all."

     Christian, what at pity, what a shame.  You have spent years of your life sitting in that pew, that chair, that bench, and you know no more today than you did years ago.  Yes, you may recall a story or two, you may even be able to vaguely recollect parts of the sermon from last week, but still you know nothing.  Jesus said in Matthew 7:23--I never knew you.  When He said this, Jesus was letting the audience know that there was a difference between head knowledge and heart knowledge.  The word "knew" means a knowledge grounded on personal experience.  You know love because you have personally experienced the love of Christ in your life.  You know John 3:16, not because you can quote it from memory, but because you understand the depth of its contents.  Scripture is personal for you, not just a mundane routine that you practice.  The words that you read penetrate your heart and transform you mind.  They infect every fiber of your being.  You begin to know Him, and not just know Him.
     Do you know where you can find a group of people that are 50-80% illiterate?  Prison.  Do you know where you can find 50-80% of Christians?  In a spiritual prison.  Why?  Because they are spiritually illiterate.  They are bound by bitterness or entrapped by envy.  They succumb to self-centeredness or are puffed up by pride.  They are in jail, imprisoned by their lack of understanding.  Yes, they may know the armor of God found in Ephesians 6:11-17, but they have no understanding on how to withstand the wickedness that satan throws their way.  It is a shame, it is a pity.  My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6)
     But there is hope!!!  The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.  Matt. 4:16  For those that acknowledge their lack of knowledge, Christ will begin to teach.  He will begin to shine the Light of His Word into the dark crevices of your heart.  He will take stories that you knew with your head and He will begin to make them real in your heart.  You must only repent and desire to know Him, truly know Him.  We, at Lighthouse Family Fellowship, would love to invite you to join us as we strive to become more spiritually literate.