Stealing Truth

Matthew 13:54–58 NKJV

54 When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? 56 And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” 57 So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” 58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

unbelief n. — the trait of not trusting in and relying on someone or something; especially used of not trusting in or relying on the God of Israel and Jesus as His Messiah.

Which of these beliefs were from the Holy Spirit?

Where did these beliefs come from?

They were mad BECAUSE of the mighty works! They KNEW He was doing mighty works, but they were mad.

Where did this thinking come from?

If the enemy wants us thinking this way about a person, who could it apply to?

It could apply to your pastor. It could apply to anyone in your life. And it could apply to yourself.

Who can God work through?

What attributes have to be true of someone for God to work through them?

Which of these complaints, were legitimate reasons God can’t work through someone?

What *is* a legitimate reason God can’t work through someone?

Matthew 13:16–23 NKJV

16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. 18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

This parable is much more applicable than just salvation. The truth is, EVERY SINGLE TIME God speaks to us, the enemy wants to attack it. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

We have a unique opportunity to hear God’s voice, through a new form: revelation. He opens His Word into our hearts, revealing truth to us.

Truth is the thing that sets us free.

So, the enemy needs the truth BLOCKED from us. He cannot have us understanding. He cannot have us hearing from God, so he only needs one thing: lies.

How do you think he “snatches away” the seed? He can’t physically snatch it away!

But the enemy doesn’t sow lies. God sows the Word, but the enemy sows people.

How powerful are His lies? THEY CAN STOP JESUS FROM PERFORMING MIRACLES!!!

For Satan to steal the truth, He only needs us to believe a lie.

That’s it.

Matthew 13:37–42 NKJV

37 He answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

People’s opinions & thinking is what makes us confused. The Word of God is not confused. The Word of God is not bound. God watches over His Word.

How many beliefs about yourself, are not based in His Word?

How many beliefs about yourself are in fact, CONTRARY to His Word?

What about beliefs about others? About God? About your calling? About What God can do in your family or city?

Galatians 3:5 NKJV

5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?