Know I Don't

by functional mute

Defining the word know is complex. It is often used in our Western culture in a way that lacks depth, is separated from experience, and emphasizes the cerebral. Below is an example that may help you understand what I mean.

Here are two factual statements:

• England has a cold climate.
• Coffee does not grow in cold climates.

Here is a question: Does coffee grow in England?

• Answer A. “No, of course not!”
• Answer B. “I don’t know I have never been to England.”

Do you get it?

Most of us, in Western culture, would pick A and think it illogical (or at least weird) for anyone to even consider B. However, there is a large segment of the world, those with an Eastern culture mindset that would pick B and would accept us for choosing A (while thinking to themselves, “Ah, Grasshopper have much to learn”).

INSIDE EXPERIENCE
We in Western culture have been living for millennia with Greek and Roman influences that facilitate our mind-set, world-view. These influences are very heady, book-learning, legalistic, higher-education, diploma-based, knowledge-is-power kind of influences. This can be helpful with the external things of life like getting good grades or making money, but with spiritual things, not so much. God is Spirit, not Mind. The part of us that is created in His image is our spirit. God is an inside job. God works from the spirit out-ward, religion tries to work from the body (actions) inward.

We know by our own life experience that book-learning and head-knowledge don’t last long or produce much if not combined with real-life experience. “If you don’t use it, you lose it.” Knowing by experience is the essence of life, it is life lived. Without it we are left with facts and potential. Conversely, facts and potential without experience isn’t life. Knowledge (alone) puffs up. Learning, hearing without the corresponding action of experience leads to deception. “Yeah, I know that, I’ve heard that before.” Really, you know that? Define know.

Did you know that the earth used to be flat? Did you know that the sun used to revolve around the earth? Well, everyone on the planet knew these things until the ‘conspiracy theory’ (wink wink) of a spherical earth that orbits the sun was first presented around 500 BC by those high-minded Greeks. However, it was not able to be experienced for another two thousand years during which time there was multiplied generations, entire lifetimes of mental gymnastics about the issue. This also included the misguided involvement of the early Roman Church that resulted in excommunications, torture and death. But, then experience happened and all the math, astrology, and science became… knowing by experience.

BEHIND THE CURTAIN
Without realizing it, what we typically do is briefly mentally agree or disagree to dozens of things every day. We get in a hurry. We don’t really listen. We tend toward selfishness. We are not really present in the moment. There is no penetration. Something else is what I need, not the now. We search for something new, different. “Tell me something I don’t know.” These are the traits of the ego or carnal mind.

The carnal mind is like a residential subdivision. It is built of various strongholds, each like a house of thoughts. Some strongholds are mansions of thoughts; still others are shrines of thoughts. Familiarity of operating by these strongholds will reinforce them. Through subtly and even ignorance of their existence, they flourish. Even our genealogy going back centuries has contributed to these strongholds. The result of strongholds is varying degrees of captivity, bondage. We are at war and these houses of thoughts aka strongholds hinder or block the realization of truth (i.e. knowing) and must be demolished.

But, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. [Literally, carnal means flesh or meat. In principle carnal is defined as: of the five physical senses, ego, cunning, reasoning, independence, nicknamed the flesh; slang term for carnal, meat-head. All of which are of our soul and as such war against our spirit.] You cannot fight carnal with carnal.

• Will power is carnal.
• Apathy (I don’t care) is carnal.
• Impatience (I want it now) is carnal.
• Reasoning (I know I can figure this out on my own) is carnal.
• Secrecy (keeping it in the dark) is carnal.
• Resignation (That’s just the way it is) is carnal.
• Therapy and medication are almost always carnal.
• Distraction by constant activity is carnal.
• Any weapon not initiated by your Father-God is carnal.

Anything independent of our spirit or God’s Spirit is carnal. Even confessions or affirmations based on scripture can be carnal if initiated by the carnal mind.

When you eliminate the options on the list above it doesn’t leave many familiar weapons, eh? So then what are the weapons of our warfare? Simply put, the power (literally dynamite) of God. His dynamite is the only life-force that can demolish the houses of thoughts, aka strongholds of the carnal mind in our soul.

CELEBRATING DEPENDENCE DAY
Admitting (realizing) there is a problem is the first step to recovery. Yes, there are a ka-zillion degrees and varieties of problems within humanity. Yet, I will make this bold statement: The cause of every problem is independence and the effect is unrest. We were created for relationship with our Creator. However, God is Spirit and our relationship with Him is in His realm and it occurs by the operation of faith. We need not go anywhere because our spirit already resides in His realm. The carnal mind, however, is not fond of that realm due to its Ruler, its Laws, being subject to our spirit, or the concept of faith. However, the carnal mind does have an inherent curiosity for the spirit realm and will often seek knowledge or experiences IF it can be the initiator, the one in control. This is known as the occult.

One of the few things written in all four Gospels is Jesus saying a version of this: “For whoever will save his life shall lose it: and whoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 16:25) The word life (psuche, rhymes with soufflé) is actually soul. The word save (sozo) means to deliver, protect, or preserve. The principle here; as long as we endeavor to preserve our soul’s leadership by letting it be in control and be the initiator, we will lose because things are out of order. We are living independent of the leadership of Spirit or spirit; they are one if we are in Christ and therefore we have the mind of Christ and know all things. No wonder independence = lose.

We have identified a required yet voluntary surrender, sometimes referred to as dying to self.  It is a change of leadership, a submission of the soul to the spirit. Being dependent on Spirit represents:

• My will in submission to spirit.
• Actively receiving His unconditional love, so I have it to give to others.
• Earnestly seeking dependence, waiting patiently on His timing in all things.
• Depending on His Word, written or spoken, not what the carnal mind holds to.
• Loving His Light, carnal things lose their power in His Light.
• My spirit in Christ is perfect, holy, and never misses the mark (sins).
• Letting the peace of Christ in my spirit rule, like an umpire, in my life.
• The Holy Spirit and Word of God are my Teacher and Counselor.
• Continually asking, seeking, and knocking for what He is initiating.

Living this out is a life-long process, even as discerning the voice of our spirit within is a process. It is by trial and error and there are no short-cuts.

THE MEAT NEEDS THE HEAT
This process is pictured as all that is carnal being offered as a living sacrifice on an altar subjected to the fire of God. Notice it is a living sacrifice, not a dead one having been killed; the blood drained out and cut into pieces. There are several scriptures that present the operation of God, His Word, and His Spirit as fire. Apart from getting to know Father and His nature, the testings and trials of life meant to kill, by His fire, the carnal life with its strongholds will certainly be misunderstood.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him – Hebrews 11:6. This verse identifies the two basic issues at stake in all of life’s fiery tests. In question form, 1) Is there really a God? and 2) Is He a good God, worth seeking? The carnal mind has difficulty here because faith is foreign to it. During those trying times, relying on the five senses and logic only, will not really help in coping or providing a solution.

Faith only comes one way. So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ – Romans 10:17. Faith is a knowing, intuitive not cognitive. It’s an internal, inside-to-out process that must involve God as the Initiator, received by our spirit and made known to our conscious mind. The carnal mind will argue during this process based on what it knows from its input sources (i.e. the five senses, logic, etc). This is called unbelief or doubt. Unbelief isn’t a term relating to an amount of faith; it means to give more weight to or have more confidence in, the input sources of the carnal mind over what God is saying and what our spirit knows. This entire faith process is described as fire purifying gold.

We will inevitably repeat this process over and over again. We are said to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. The carnal mind begins to accept the leadership role of our spirit via this training, fire process. It has to surrender (die) to do this. The fire of God (by His written or spoken Word) is the only thing that can do this. We are said to be going from faith to faith (i.e. fire to fire, test to test). The result is faith as pure gold.

Hearing people’s words will not create faith. Even hearing people speaking God’s words will not necessarily create faith. People’s words at best will only persuade us, if that. Only hearing the words of Father-God will create faith. Yes, this can happen through people, but only by the timing and Life of the Spirit.

Throughout our lives we will inevitably make mistakes or be disobedient. This can make us subject to the judgments of God. It is important to recognize that all judgment is our Father dispensing correction for the express purpose of deliverance. He is being a good parent. This is never fun or easy. It is often described as being in the wilderness or being in captivity. It can be characterized by relative silence. It seems when we need Him, to hear Him the most, it is quiet. These are the times we feel the least like seeking Him, but need the most to hear Him. Faith knows He is, and knows He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Guard your heart from being hardened toward Him in the quiet.

Psalm 46:10a

• Be still and know that I am God – KJV
• Cease striving and know that I am God – NASB
• Relax and know that I am Elohim – CLV

(The word know here is translated from the word yada.)

YADA, YADA, YADA
In Genesis 3:5 it says, for God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. The Hebrew word for knows and knowing here is yada, pronounced ya-dah’. This is the first 2 times of over 900 the word is used in scripture. It is a complex and diverse word. It basically means to perceive or to know. But, includes the action of knowing, both as starting and as completed.

It should be noted that the above verse is spoken by nachash, pronounced na-khash’, translated the serpent. However, there are scriptures, before and after this verse, which confirm the statements as true and accurate (e.g. Gen. 3:22).

fyi
   [The written Hebrew language of scripture is picturesque and profound. The 22 letters of the alphabet are each words themselves. Each letter is a picture that carries meaning and also has a numeric value, there are no separate numbers. All the letters are consonants, there were no vowels. Almost every word originates from a three letter root verb that’s meaning remains linked to all its derivatives (nouns, adjectives, etc).
    It is one of the oldest languages on the planet and is named after Eber (born 2172 BC) an ancestor six generations before Abraham. Some basic chronology from Genesis: Noah>, Shem>, the flood (2239 BC)>, 4 generations (including Eber)>, 70 basic clan nations listed, all of one language>, scattering of nations and confusing of language at the tower of Babel (circa 2100 BC)>, 5 generations to Abraham (born 1947 BC). He is the first person to be called a Hebrew. The word itself means to cross over or emigrate, i.e. to be an immigrant.]

A list as to how ya-dah’ is translated shows this: know 645, known 105, knowledge 19, perceive 18,shew (show) 17, tell 8, wist (knew) 7, understand 7, certainly 7, acknowledge 6, acquaintance 6, consider 6, declare 6, teach 5, misc 85.

The Principle of First Occurrence says there is important truth and understanding when a word is introduced in scripture. Therefore, we observe:

1) the first being said to ya-dah’ is God [Elohim]
2) it is nachash that relates that Elohim ya-dah’[s]
3) to ya-dah’ good and evil is to be as Elohim
4) disobeying will open Eve’s eyes, to ya-dah’ good and evil

The only two trees in the Garden specifically named are the tree of Life and the tree of the knowledge [dah’-ath, derived from ya-dah’] of good and evil. In Gen. 2:17 God’s stated will to the unified man (before being separated into Adam and Eve) was to freely eat of all the trees in the garden, except of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. By extension, God’s will was that the eyes of the unified man not be opened to ya-dah’ (know) good and evil. Understanding the will of God from the very beginning is of utmost importance because His will shall be accomplished, but only through the process of His plan and that involves time.

My premise: to know (ya-dah’), is accomplished by experience. That seems to be confirmed by the plan of God to purposely introduce duality, the tension of opposites (good and evil), so that we know by experience. God’s will was for them to leave the knowledge tree alone, but God’s plan involved a vast journey of ya-dah’. We indeed shall, after the full-course of time, BE the will of God.
Let’s look at something related to our present narrative that is curious and profound.

Genesis 2:25 (last verse of chapter 2)

• And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Genesis 3:1 (which is the next verse)

• Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman…

The word naked (arom) and the word crafty (arum) are like what we call identical twins. They look alike but aren’t technically identical. Like twins, they do have the exact same DNA because they come from the same root verb aram which means; be bare or uncover, be crafty, subtle. In essence the words arom and arum are interchangeable, the same.

Before Adam and Eve ever encountered the serpent or ate from the knowledge tree they are described by THE SAME WORD as nachash, the serpent. [Interesting?] This realization and others lead one to the conclusion that they were flawed by design. Some of our Creator’s purposes (plan) in this are 1) so we would know by experience, good and evil 2) to create dependency on Him 3) to multiply the end-result glory and majesty of His plan. He has sworn to make all things right, make all things new, make our bodies immortal and dwell among us. This is what makes religion so hideous. Religion says the flaw was the result of their choice and also says that poor helpless God, because of His Holy justice and our free will, must torture 90% of His creation in the fires of hell for eternity. Frankly, it’s BS.

I would encourage you to read The Lucifer Question by Elwin Roach. You will observe: 1) the word/name Lucifer is wrongly translated 2) even so, it is only used once in scripture 3) Satan (the devil), according to Jesus, was a murderer from the beginning [i.e. was never an angel] 4) Isaiah 14:4-21 and Ezekiel 28:1-19 are the scriptures used to support the erroneous fallen angel theory, but are actually describing Adam, carnal man.

Ezekiel 28:15 says, you were blameless (literally, complete) in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness (literally, distort) was found in you. The grand purpose and design of our Creator-God was to create His unified man, then divide it into male and female, each having a measure of crafty or distortion. While nachash was created more crafty than any life (not beast) of the field (or soil) to reveal the crafty distortion built into Adam and Eve. “It takes one, to know one.” This distortion was unknown to Adam and Eve because it says they were naked (crafty) and unashamed [literally, not without hope or not troubled]. As I said, flawed by design.

RELIGION – THE COVER UP
Genesis 3:7 and the eyes of them both were opened, and they ya-dah’ [knew] that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

The origin of the word religion means to tie back, tie fast, or to restrain. It sounds a lot like putting on an apron. Genesis 2:7-3:24 paraphrased below is the rapid journey of man from relationship with God to religion via cover-up:

God makes body of dust, breathes into it. The man becomes a living soul. God plants garden, places the man in it. Two trees identified. River waters garden, divides into 4 rivers. The man tends garden. God says to the man; don’t eat of the knowledge tree. The man names creatures brought by God. The man is divided into Adam and Eve. They are crafty but unaware. Nachash dialogues with Eve; go ahead, you know you want to. They partake of the knowledge tree. They become aware of being naked. They make aprons from fig leaves. They hear God walking in the Garden. Play hide-and-seek with God. God calls to Adam. He hears, is aware and afraid. God inquires of Adam. He plays the blame-game. God inquires of Eve. She plays the blame-game. God pronounces sentences upon nachash, then Eve, then Adam. God provides animal skins for Adam & Eve. God sends them out of the Garden. Life goes on, His plan initiated.

The craftiness or distortion built in the man from the very beginning was according to God’s plan, having a good purpose [ultimately]. That is to say, Eve’s encounter with nachash was planned, as was the outcome. The result was to reveal something not known (ya-dah’) to Adam and Eve. Why was their response to hide and cover themselves up? They suddenly ya-dah’ themselves and each other and independently initiated the fig leaf remedy. Independence WAS the craftiness or distortion. Religion is man’s independent attempts at trying to remedy his independence by tying up and restraining the loose ends of his own independence. Folks, apart from Him, we are so screwed!

Genesis 3:14 the Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this, cursed are you more than all mute animals, and more than every life of the soil; on your belly you will go, and dust you will eat all the days of your life” Don’t serpents always go on their belly? [There must be more than meets the eye here.] Is this pronouncement or curse anything new? [Yes, otherwise it’s pointless.] In my view, from the very introduction of nachash and the ensuing interaction, it cannot be taken at face value, literal. This exchange between Eve and nachash took place within her. Their eyes were opened to independence. It was the revealing of what we now know as the carnal mind. To know evil is to operate by the carnal mind and is described as eating dust all the days of your life. This was not God’s will, but it was His plan.

It is not my intention, nor is it possible, to relieve Adam and Eve (or us) from any God-appointed responsibility or accountability. Religion’s ramifications of the ‘free will of man’ theory provide the bullets for its machine-gun. At best, the theory has partial or slanted truth, but as a whole is error. Religion tries to relieve our Creator-God of His own admitted responsibility because they do not really know Him or understand Him. This is evidenced by the lack of fruit from the fear and eternal-punishment based message of religion.

[See my article Free Will and The Flesh for more about our responsibility as relating to the absolute sovereignty of our Creator-God.]

DO YOU CONCIEVE?
The fifth occurrence of ya-dah’ is in Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew (ya-dah’) Eve his wife and she conceived. Do you think this kind of knowing qualifies as being by experience? It sets forth the epitome of what it means to know. Ba-da-bing!

In an earlier section I described how we go day after day hearing many things and briefly mentally agreeing or not with them. There is no penetration. In order for Eve to conceive, Adam had to know her and it had to involve penetration. [I’m sure you can see the analogy.] True knowing will conceive something and reproduce after its own kind.

We have all experienced this in the negative. Before we enter into disobedience we go through a process described in James 1:14-15 but each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. If we let the penetration of lust take place then there is a conceiving. This is why Jesus told us to take heed, pay attention to what we hear.

Familiarity breeds contempt. Repeated hearing without penetration and a conceiving gives the illusion of knowing, also known as deception. We become self-deceived, the worst kind of deception. It is like the term casual sex. What an oxymoron! There is no such thing. I could say much more about this but it’s not the subject at hand.

Casual knowing is responsible for a host of wild and crazy ideas. This is exampled by various doctrines in religion and scientific theories. One great example would be to compare the motivations, conclusions, and long-term results of George Washington Carver and the peanut with Charles Darwin and the theory of evolution. One was out of dependence on God – seeking, conceiving, knowing by experience; laden with depth and lasting benefit from something as simple as the peanut. The other was out of independence, offense at God, and superficial carnal examination; relegating the Creator’s crown jewel (man) to animal status, fostering confusion and error for generations and ultimately regret at the end of his own life.

DO I KNOW YOU?
The overall purpose for this article is to understand what it means to know. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines know as:

• To perceive directly; grasp in the mind with clarity or certainty.
• To regard as true beyond doubt.
• To have a practical understanding of, as through experience; be skilled in.
• To have fixed in the mind.
• To have experience of.
• To be able to distinguish; recognize as distinct.
• To discern the character or nature of.

This definition is rather extensive and includes a depth and an emphasis on experience that over time has seemed to escape our Western culture.

Why the migration to the superficial? One reason may be what I call TMI Syndrome, as in Too Much Information. And, the bombarding sources of that information are aggressively vying for our attention ($$). Another reason may be NET Syndrome, as in Not Enough Time. Incomes are down, costs are up and more have to work more to pay bills and buy stuff ($$). Both syndromes’ have taken their toll on meaningful personal relationships and are largely the result of technology ($$). The internet is a wonderful tool but has obviously contributed to both syndromes.

We say to people regularly, “I know you.” However, that is often said out of a – casual… shallow… I’ve experienced one-part-in-ten of your life… I work with you and I’ve seen how you operate… I’ve been to a party or had dinner with you… we’re friends on Facebook – kind of knowing. Too often, we look at our spouse or other close family member and say, “Trust me, I know you.” Just because someone may be predictable does not mean you know them. Would you like to be known only by your predictability? Frankly, it’s ego dung.

In Greek (the language of the New Testament), the counterpart to ya-dah’ is ginosko. It is used over 200 times. [Interestingly, the first occurrence is in Matthew 1:25 where it is said that Joseph did not know Mary until after the birth of Jesus.] Here are some examples where ginosko is used:

• Matthew 7:23 “And then I (Jesus) will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.'
• John 8:32 “and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
• 2 Corinthians 5:16 therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.
• Ephesians 3:19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge (facts), that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

I would encourage you to look these verses up and read them in their context to help get more understanding and nurture the desire to know – Him, His love, and others.

Part of what may be gleaned from the above is the importance of identity as opposed to outward appearance and behavior. The houses of thoughts (i.e. strongholds) that influence our identity and perceptions of others must be dealt with via the power and timing of God, but are linked to persistent dependence on the leadership of the spirit.

During this current age of our Father’s plan, I will continually need to deal with the carnal mind’s inherent independence. He knows what manner of man I am, He made me thus. Living in this state of the tension of opposites, He offers unconditional love and acceptance to me. To accept His love, focus on dependence and what He says is true (called faith), regardless of feelings or behavior, is to choose life. But, to continually struggle with accepting His too good to be true love (unbelief) and focus on independently fixing what’s wrong with me because of feelings or behavior, is to choose death.

Guilt, shame, and condemnation are enemies of the cross of Jesus Christ. They, and the sin that causes them are what put Him there. What we focus on grows. Therefore, focus on the love that Father has for us. He seems to enjoy risking being misunderstood by hiding the good stuff below the surface of the obvious. Jesus said He purposely spoke in parables for this reason. We must ya-dah’ (know) that our Father loves us and He demonstrated that to us in Jesus Christ. What does He love about you? Ask Him, He will tell you. [And if what you hear smacks of guilt, shame, or condemnation it is not from Him, reject it. Anything He says to you will cause you to go toward Him not away from Him, Romans 2:4 knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance.]

CONCLUSION
Life is difficult. Swimming upstream against the current of the carnal mind and its independence is a formidable task. Everything our Father wanted to say to us He said by Jesus Christ – His Law, His Word, His LIFE. Oh, how we long for truth. We love it when truth and justice prevail. Jesus said that He came that we might have life and that, more abundantly; even while living in this carnal body of death.

Truth is a person. John 18: 37-38 Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" [long pause] And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, "I find no guilt in Him."

I added ‘long pause’ for effect. Jesus didn’t answer Pilate’s question with words because it would have been redundant. Pilate was looking right at the Truth. Jesus Christ doesn’t just have the truth or teach the truth, He IS the Truth. The Truth is everything our Father wants to say to us. And you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free.

According to our Father in what I call God’s Ultimate Oath:

Hebrews 8:10-12 “For this is the covenant that I will make… says the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts. and I will be their God, and they shall be My people and they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen, and everyone his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for all will know Me, from the least to the greatest of them, for I will be merciful to their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

His promise to us is that we will all know Him, as He defines know. The plan of God, what we call life, is a vast KNOWING journey.

Enjoy the journey.

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