True"ish"

What is Truth?

What you believe determines how you behave.

John 18:37–38 KJV 1900

37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

Pilot HEARD the TRUTH and even CONFESSED what he believed to be TRUE, that there was no fault in Him (Jesus), BUUUUT, ultimately, when pressed, Pilot wasn’t willing to go against the mob. Why?

Fear/Afraid

Uncomfortable

Wasn’t assertive enough - led to a guilty murderer being freed (Barabbas) and the innocent is condemned to the cross.

Its not enough to hear the truth, one must believe it to be right and true. BECAUSE there is a Father of lies.

John 8:44 KJV 1900

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Romans 1:18–25 KJV 1900

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Two tools of the enemy that have been used for years and are bubbling up, showing themselves to be effective today.

Relativism - assumption that there is no such thing as absolute truth.

Subjectivism - right or wrong, good or bad, is determined by the individual, not by a governing authority outside myself.

Arrogance and dangerous

POINT - This is part of the reason why I don’t spend time giving specific responses to decisions or events of the day. I believe it is worth more of my time pointing you to THE TRUTH through scripture and reflection upon the scriptures and what God has to say so that our lens will be correct in how to view the sinful, broken, breaking, world and the bent truth that the enemy tries to feed us.

So, what is the answer to “What is Truth?”

1.) Truth is not what but Who.

John 14:6 KJV 1900

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 1:1–2 KJV 1900

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.

John 14:1–6 KJV 1900

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 1:14 KJV 1900

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Trust issues - People have trust issues with God, not because He has lied, but because people have lied about what God says.

This is why its important for you to have your own walk, relationship, pursuit of God outside of SUNDAY MORNING, outside of hearing me preach on a Sunday or whatever day you may listen to the sermons. BECAUSE what happens if I were outside of what God actually has said? What happens when I or someone in my position preaches slightly off from what God actually says or who He actually is?

This goes back to the first statement/fill-in-the-blank.

What you believe determines how you behave.

2.) Jesus (the Truth) can set you free.

John 8:32 KJV 1900

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 8:26 KJV 1900

26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

The more I focus on the things of this world, the truths the enemy promotes as being the truth that aren’t the truth, the more angry or confused I get about what my role is in this world. The more I focus on the truth, on Christ, and what He teaches to actually be true, the more clear, hopeful, at peace, and sure of what will come is.

How have false beliefs affected you?

How and what has Jesus set you free from?

addiction

greed

legalism

hopelessness

depression

man’s anger

lust/covetousness

gossip

destruction

What do you still need Christ’s saving grace to work in you?

Do you know the saving grace of christ in/on your life?

Before you can come to know Christ’s saving grace you must first realize that there is something to be saved from. Those who believe they are “good” won’t seek saving.

Take an honest look at your life.

Have you ever...

Stolen

Lied

Had impure thoughts

Gossiped

Coveted

Worshiped anyone/thing other than God?

If so, you don’t meet the qualifications to be in God’s presence in heaven for eternity. But GOOD NEWS, God has provided a way for you and for all who desire a relationship with Him.

This is the TRUTH of the Good News.

Do you believe it?

Have you recieved it?

Live in the TRUTH of salvation!

Five “I wills” of Satan

I will ascend into heaven

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God

I will also sit on the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds

I will be like the Most High

Five “I wills” of God

Exodus 6:6–8 KJV 1900

6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: 7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the Lord.

Seven “I wills” of Jesus

I will make you fishers of men. (Matt 4:19)

I will give you rest (Matt 11:28)

I will keep you (John 6:37)

I will love you (John 14:21)

I will do what you ask in my name. (John 14:14)

I will come again and see you again (John 14:3:, 16:22)

I will send the [Holy Spirit] to you. (John 16:7)

The Seven “I Am” Statements of Jesus

I am the bread of life (John 6:35)

I am the light of the world (John 8:12)

I am the gate for the sheep (John 10:7)

I am the good shepherd (John 10:11)

I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)

I am the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6) 

I am the true vine (John 15:1)