Sermon Central
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Zeal Without Knowledge Is Not Good - Proverbs 19:2
Contributed by William R. Nabaza on Jul 27, 2011 (message contributor)
Summary: To prove that a worker/servant of good, whatever status he/she is in, needs to study and put some investments to study God's words before he/she can share it.
Zeal without Knowledge
It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way. (NIV)
References:
Pro 19:2 Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way. (ESV)
Pro 19:2 Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good; impatience will get you into trouble. (GNB)
Pro 19:2 Being excited about something is not enough. You must also know what you are doing. Don't rush into something, or you might do it wrong. (ERV)
I. What is zeal?
II. What is knowledge?
III. Zeal + knowledge = Good, Zeal – knowledge = not good (bad)
Proverbs 2:3 Ask for good judgment. Cry out for understanding.
Proverbs 2:4 Look for wisdom like silver. Search for it like hidden treasure.
Proverbs 2:5 If you do this, you will understand what it means to respect the LORD, and you will come to know God. (ERV)
I. What is Zeal?
Zeal:
Greek word: zelos - heat, fervent mind (where we got the word jealousy, or selos (tagalog)
Fervent : (synonym)
Greek word: zeo (fervent) - Acts 18:25, Romans 12:11
zeo (English word: fervent ) - to be hot, boil of [liquid], glow [solid], earnest, fervent
When you're in zeal - you're hot, boiling, glowing, earnest and fervent in serving the LORD.
We need to fervent in our studies of God's word before we can impart knowledge to anyone. We need to have it first, then share it to anyone. We can't give anything to anyone, if we don't have it ourselves. (knowledge + wisdom + experience = can go a long, long way in the ministry.)
Romans 10:2 I can assure you that they are deeply devoted to God; but their devotion is not based on true knowledge.
Act 18:25 He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord, and with great enthusiasm he proclaimed and taught correctly the facts about Jesus. However, he knew only the baptism of John.
Romans 12:11 Work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart full of devotion. (GNB)
Revelations 3:16 But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I am going to spit you out of my mouth!
II. What is knowledge?
Knowledge - (Greek word: epig nosis) - recognition, full discernment, acknowledgement
in other words, knowledge - is discernment, acknowledgement of God in things so to learn, study or know them is to recognize them (Romans 10:2-3)
Romans 10:2 I can assure you that they are deeply devoted to God; but their devotion is not based on true knowledge.
Romans 10:3 They have not known the way in which God puts people right with himself, and instead, they have tried to set up their own way; and so they did not submit themselves to God's way of putting people right.
Knowledge is attainable by daily and committed to daily habit reading, meditating God's Words on a daily basis, it's easy , just prepare your bible with you. Wisdom and experience comes naturally if you're devoted to keep God's Words in your heart as a believer.
III. Zeal + Knowledge = Good
Hosea 4:6 My people are doomed because they do not acknowledge me. You priests have refused to acknowledge me and have rejected my teaching, and so I reject you and will not acknowledge your sons as my priests. (GNB)
1Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
The right equation is :
Zeal + Knowledge = Good
Don't settle for second best, God wants you to be excellent in everything, also in ministry.
