It is true we have to KNOW a truth before it can set us free. But, just knowing a truth doesn’t automatically set us free. Our will, our faith, our prayers, and our actions greatly affect how much we are changed by God as we learn truths. The truths we learn are ready to set us free; but we have to be willing to be set free. If there is any reason why we don’t want to go into that area of freedom, God won’t force that freedom on us. If we don’t believe God has answered our prayer for the freedom the truth we learned is providing, God won’t allow that truth to set us free. If we learn a truth and just wait for God to install it or try to use the truth to set ourselves free, that truth won’t work. We have to pray and ask God to empower US to take advantage of the freedoms from that truth. Here is the best way to sum up this Biblical principle.

Reading and studying our Bible will give us the written Word (logos) on WHAT God said. Listening to the Holy Spirit will give us the revealed Word (rhema) on what God MEANT. Those two things, knowledge and understanding, give us the true KNOWLEDGE from God’s Word. Once we have those two pieces of knowledge, we are ready to exercise our will by praying for the power to live it. We then believe God answered our prayer by installing His power in us to live that truth. From there, we can start acting in faith as we TRY to accomplish the goal that truth supplies. We may not succeed right away, as we try to act on the freedom that truth supplies; but, we just need to keep trying, learning more about it, praying and asking for help with it, and believing that we will succeed as soon as we learn how to use it.

Don’t forget that there are two major types of “try.” One is human effort and the other is a faith action based on the power, honesty, integrity, and faithfulness of God. Ask God to help you be willing to accept ALL of His truths. Ask Him to strengthen and stabilize your faith. Pray that He will help you try to act on the benefits of each truth while having faith in His power and love. Tell Him you don’t want to try to live the benefits of these truths through faith in yourself. Let Him know you want to always exercise your faith in Him and His provisions.