Irregular Words
Illumination, Enlightenment, Knowledge, and Understanding
Recently, Hurricane Helene blew through the state of Georgia, after blowing through the state of Florida, and near the Atlantic coast states, beaches, and then turned inland. The news on radio, TV, and online described the devastating loss of hundreds of lives, trees and power lines down, flooding, millions of power outages, loss of homes, vehicles, and other personal property. Mother Nature can sometimes be dangerously challenging. Grief can hold on like a snapping turtle, and leaves lasting injuries! My prayers continue for all those who have been affected.
In 1999, I taught a series of Bible lessons called, “Irregular Words.” Not hard words, just not those we often use in everyday language. Being sheltered from Helene, I have been cleaning out old computer files and photos that have been clogging my digital system and slowing the processing. So, I ran across this one, and thought it might be refreshed for this bowl of Webstable Soup. Now, let’s look at a few of these irregular words.
Definitions
- Illuminant – noun – an illuminating device or substance
- Illuminate – verb – to have or claim unusual enlightenment; to light up; to enlighten spiritually or intellectually
- Illuminati – any of various groups claiming special religious enlightenment; persons who are, or claim to be, unusually enlightened
- Enlighten – to furnish knowledge; to instruct; to give spiritual insight to
- Enlightened – freed from ignorance and misinformation; based on full comprehension of the problems involved
- Enlightenment – the act or means of enlightening; the state of being enlightened
- Knowledge – the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association; the range of one’s information or understanding of something
- Understand – to grasp the meaning of; to be thoroughly familiar with the character and propensities of; to achieve a grasp of the nature, significance, or explanation of something
- Understanding – the power to make experience intelligible by applying concepts and categories; knowledge and the ability to apply judgment
Illumination, Enlightenment, Knowledge, and Understanding with Regards to the Bible[i]
29 But Jesus answered them, “you are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29).
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:13, 14, 17).
Why Should We Get to Know the Scriptures?
14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory. (1 Timothy 3:14-17).
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the (wo)man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14-17).
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers,[g] be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:3-11).
Things Necessary To Illuminate Our Lives
- We must have the desire to know. (Matthew 5:6; 1 Peter 2:2).
- Our motive (John 5:39,40)
- We must have a normal intelligence to learn.
- We must make the necessary time to learn.
- We must learn to recognize the voice of Jesus – John 10:2-5, 14, 15, 27, 28.
- Make the promise to yourself – Psalm 119:105, 106, 111, 112.
14 But thanks be to god, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 for we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. (2 Corinthians 2:14-16).
Blessings,
Sandra
[i] The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.