<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/938fa544-38e3-4578-a93a-c61feb9bf84f/IMAGE_2024-02-23_213637.jpg" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/938fa544-38e3-4578-a93a-c61feb9bf84f/IMAGE_2024-02-23_213637.jpg" width="40px" /> Gnosis, or knowledge, is a dynamic and transformative tool that enables us to execute the will of God with precision and accuracy. It is not merely an accumulation of facts, but an active, lived-out reality that shapes our every action and decision. For those gifted with the "hands", gnosis is of particular significance. Their tasks are not merely tasks, but are, in fact, expressions of the will of God. They are not simply doing work, but are, in a very real sense, co-laborers with God in the ongoing work of redemption and restoration. Therefore, gnosis is a critical and non-negotiable aspect of the Christian life. It is the means by which we understand and execute the will of God. It is the lens through which we view and engage with the world around us. And for those gifted with the "hands", it is the blueprint that guides their every action and decision. It is the means by which they execute the will of God with such precision and accuracy that it is almost as if it were predetermined or predestined.
“… supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge…” (2 Peter 1:5-7)
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<aside> <img src="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/d3cc616c-85fc-4812-a68e-a53ed0293f82/IMAGE_2024-02-23_213637.jpg" alt="https://prod-files-secure.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/49de0235-e8bc-4eca-bf20-2a9d6d267a02/d3cc616c-85fc-4812-a68e-a53ed0293f82/IMAGE_2024-02-23_213637.jpg" width="40px" /> If you have isolated this natural endowment as your life operating system:
Our research on "Gnosis" and its implications, particularly for individuals endowed with the "gift of hands" is not to be misconstrued as a mere accumulation of facts or a means to inflate one's ego. Compare the apostolic complaint: “knowledge puffs up” (1 Cor 8:1). It is, instead, a dynamic and transformative tool. It is the means by which we, as active participants in the divine narrative, can execute the will of God with precision and accuracy. This is not a passive or theoretical understanding, but an active, lived-out reality that shapes our every action and decision.
For the "hands"-gifted, excelling in practical task execution, "Gnosis" is crucial. It's an active truth that shapes their every action, not just tasks, but expressions of God's will. They are not merely workers, but co-laborers with God in redemption and restoration, making "Gnosis" the blueprint for their actions, executed with such precision that it seems almost predetermined.
It is clear that "Gnosis" is not merely an optional add-on to the Christian life, but is, in fact, the very lifeblood of it. It is the means by which we understand and execute the will of God. It is the means by which we live out our calling and fulfil our God-given purpose. And for those gifted with the "hands", it is the means by which they execute the will of God with such precision and accuracy that it is almost as if it were predetermined or predestined.
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Ben Carlson, the protagonist of the movie "Gifted Hands", presents a compelling study of 'Gnosis' in action. His journey is marked by a relentless pursuit of knowledge, despite facing significant prejudice within the educational system.
From a young age, Ben's academic prowess set him apart. As he progressed through his education, he consistently excelled, his 'Gnosis' serving as a key that unlocked increasingly prestigious doors of opportunity. This was not without its challenges, however. Ben often found himself the target of prejudice, a response to his race and background. Yet, he did not allow these biases to deter him. Instead, he continued to supplement his faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, as the apostle Peter exhorts in 2 Peter 1:5-7.
'Gnosis' in Ben’s journey eventually led him to the top teaching hospital in the country, a testament to his academic excellence and the favor of God. It was here that the foundations for his future breakthroughs were laid. His knowledge, honed through years of study and practice, was not just for personal advancement. It was a tool, a means of executing the will of God with precision and accuracy.
'Gnosis' came in the form of a groundbreaking procedure he developed for the care of conjoined twins. This procedure, born out of his deep well of knowledge and expertise, brought him to the attention of an adoring public and very grateful parents. Yet, more than the accolades and the fame, it was a clear demonstration of the transformative power of 'Gnosis'.
Ben Carlson's story is a powerful affirmation of the court's opinion on the 'Gnosis'. It underscores the fact that 'Gnosis' is not merely an optional add-on to the Christian life, but is, in fact, the very lifeblood of it. It is the means by which we understand and execute the will of God. It is the means by which we live out our calling and fulfill our God-given purpose. And for those gifted with the 'hands', it is the means by which they execute the will of God with such precision and accuracy that it is almost as if it were predetermined or predestined.
On January 15, 2009, Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and his crew masterfully landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River after a flock of geese disabled the plane's engines shortly after takeoff. This incident, often referred to as the "Miracle on the Hudson," serves as a profound example of 'Gnosis' in action, particularly in the realm of kinaesthetic intelligence and crisis management.
Capt. Sully's quick thinking and decisive action in the face of imminent danger highlight the applied "knowledge" (gnosis) that comes as a natural endowment to those with gifted kinaesthetic intelligence. It was a moment where years of training and experience met with exigency, leaving little room for error. In this high-stakes situation, Capt. Sully's split-second decision to land the plane on the Hudson River—a maneuver he had never performed before—was a clear demonstration of the transformative power of 'Gnosis'.
As taught by the apostle Peter “gnosis” is a critical and non-negotiable aspect of the Christian life, the means by which we understand and execute the will of God. It is the lens through which we view and engage with the world around us. And for those gifted with the "hand" genius, it is the blueprint that guides their every action and decision. For them, the future is not ahead of them, it is within them. It is the means by which they execute the will of God with such precision and accuracy that it is almost as if it were predetermined or predestined.
In the documentary "Victoria's Last Love," the story of a Pakistani bodyguard to Queen Victoria during the final years of the 19th century is a fascinating case study of 'Gnosis' in action.
He started as a bodyguard to Queen Victoria, but his exceptional intelligence and wisdom, referred to as 'deaconic genius,' set him apart. His 'Gnosis' was not just in his ability to protect the Queen, but in his deep understanding of the world, languages, and the delicate intricacies of royal affairs.
His rise up the ranks from a bodyguard to a personal assistant, and then to a curry chef, is a testament to his practical application of 'Gnosis.' However, his most significant leap was to the role of private secretary on Indian and Pakistani affairs. In this capacity, he became an indispensable advisor to the Queen, shaping her understanding and approach to the affairs of the Indian subcontinent.
Perhaps the most extraordinary aspect of his 'Gnosis' was his teaching of the Urdu language to the feisty monarch. This act of cross-cultural education was unprecedented, especially considering the social and racial hierarchies of the time. It underscores the transformative power of 'Gnosis,' not just for the individual, but for those around them.
Despite the controversies and dangers he faced, including threats to his life, he remained at the right hand of the most powerful crowned royal of the 19th century and at the height of the British Empire. His story is a powerful illustration of how 'Gnosis' can lead to a profound impact on the world, often in ways that are least expected.
