There are two kinds of knowledge; one is divine the other human. Divine knowledge comes from the inside and human knowledge comes from the outside.
1 CORINTHIANS 14:6 6. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation(apokalyptō 1 from 2uncover-the communication of light), or by knowledge(gnōsis- human knowledge), or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
The Apostle Paul here speaks of four ways to communicate truth: Revelation, Knowledge, Prophesying, and Doctrine. First, we are going to examine the subject of revelation.
EPHESIANS 1:17 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.
The word revelation has the meaning of divine disclosure – apokalupsis G602: disclosure, appearing, coming, manifestation, revelation. The idea is that of a supernatural impartation of knowledge and understanding.
EPHESIANS 1:18 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, Two Greek words are translated in the Bible as the English word knowledge.
1. gnosis, which means intellectual knowledge learned through study.
2. epi-gnosis, which is knowledge gained through an encounter with the source of knowledge.
One denotes intellectual knowledge gained through study and experience; the other means knowledge gained through revelation, a divine encounter.
1 CORINTHIANS 8:1 1. Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge (gnosis) puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
ROMANS 10:2 2. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. (Not according to epignosis – knowledge derived through a divine encounter).
EPHESIANS 1:17 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge (epi-gnosis) of him.
COLOSSIANS 3:10 10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge (epi-gnosis) after the image of him that created him.
You can only become like Jesus through encounters with Him. The new creation man can only be put on through the revelation of who He – Jesus – is. Revelation in essence is light. It is a power, and this encounter with light and power changes us. Intellectual knowledge does not have the power to change you into the likeness of Jesus. We need an encounter with light in the person of Jesus. All things of spiritual worth come to us this way:
2 PETER 1:3 3. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge (epi-gnosis) of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.
Two Very Different Ways
True reality is found in the spiritual dimension, not the physical. True reality is perceived through the spiritual realm of God’s kingdom, not through the mind. Our goal should be to develop our spirit, not our mind.
We can live out of what our mind is telling us or by what our spirit is telling us. Either your mind directs you through analytical thought, or your spirit directs you through spontaneous thoughts from God. Out of your mind flows logos – the written word, out of your spirit flows rhema – God’s personal word.
If we only develop our natural mind, we will live and flow from natural knowledge. If you have developed your spirit, your flow will by that of life, God’s life. We need to develop our spirit man and flow from our spirit as well as being grounded in the Logos – God’s written word.
1 CORINTHIANS 2:14 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
The true things of God come through spiritual encounters – either through the Scriptures or by direct revelation from God.
1 CORINTHIANS 2:9-10 9. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
JOHN 5:19, 30 19. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
True knowledge and understanding are gained through revelation, which is light and power and can impart insight into the true nature of things.
JAMES 3:17 17. But the wisdom (insight into the true nature of things) that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
The word wisdom in this verse is the Greek word sophia which means insight into the true nature of things. This can only come from God by revelation. Note: it comes from above. Our mind has an important place in God, but the natural mind is an enemy of God – it needs to be re-educated through revelation from God for the knowledge it contains to be the truth. Revelation carries with it faith to attain to it and power to activate it.