Truth is to be Loved

Truth must be applied to be effective

Truth must be protected and defended

The truth is the responsibility of the church

The truth is proclaimed by the ministers

Not repulsed

Applied

Defended

Truth brings distinction and clarity

In the first century there were many religious messages being spread. In order to validate the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, God empowered the apostles and evangelists to perform “signs and wonders and mighty deeds” just as Jesus had done—healings, subduing demonic powers, and the like (Acts 2:43; 5:12; 14:3; 15:12; Romans 15:19; Hebrews 2:4).

2 Corinthians 12:12 (NLT)

2 Corinthians 12:12 NLT

12 When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you.

12 When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you.

But the working of wonders (miracles) is not in itself a guarantee of spiritual authenticity. When the Antichrist appears at the end of the age, he will demonstrate “power, signs, and lying wonders” in order to deceive the world (2 Thessalonians 2:9). The difference is that he—and all other false leaders—will use signs and wonders to point to themselves, not to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Truth should be welcomed by the most by the church! Let’s not resist what God is trying to do in our lives by speaking truth to us and our situations. No patient should be angry at a medical doctor for telling them about their physical condition. Why then should people become angry at ministers for telling them about their spiritual condition? Especially when the minister, like the doctor, is trying to help the person.

Truth is not told where it is not welcomed.

Jesus silent before Pilate

How easily are you offended by the truth?

Truth is presented on the level of your reception.

To a certain extent, I won’t say something if you are not willing to listen.

I will give the basic Word of God, but it would be a waste of time to cast pearls before swine.

Things you need to hear individually - personally and specifically. That, if adhered and applied, would break the limitations and end the frustration.

Example - childhood issues still needing healing. Authority, insecurity, male issues, father issues, rejection, abandonment, fear, anger, selfishness and living as a small child inside of a big body.

Truth Must be Supplied and Applied:

Truth places two demands on a relationship:

Truth requires the speaker to tell it

Truth requires the listener to apply it. Comply

Are you in compliance with the Word of God?

Telling the truth would require dealing with reality, facing the issues that are hindering your call by blocking your relationship with God.

The purpose of conviction is to motivate the listener to repent.

A hardened heart thwarts the plan of God by hindering the process of healing.

God cannot promote beyond your growth.

The irony of travesty. The kingdom and the world will continue to do without as long as God‘s children refuse to grow up.

How does this affect our everyday life and the lives of others?

Although the world needs leaders, God cannot place into positions of authority those who refused to follow.

God cannot bless you beyond your bondage.

Or else the blind leads the blind to the ditch.

Although there are great battles to be fought, God cannot send immature soldiers into battle.

The End time church is guilty of two crimes- having heard the truth and not only not doing much with it, but actually turning from it and replacing it with fables.

Itching ears call for scratching teachers.

2 Timothy 4:1–5 (NLT)

2 Timothy 4:1–5 NLT

1 I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: 2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. 3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths. 5 But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.

1 I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom:

2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.

4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

5 But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.

This infers that the calling of some came not by God, but by man.

People in general, including the church, give more value to their feelings than their learning. The focus too often is placed on the messenger vs the message of truth.

This sets them up for end time deception for the reception of the Antichrist.

The Bible says that if it were possible, that even the very elect could be deceived.

Jesus the Christ warned the early church in Matthew 24 about deception.

John the revelator warned the end time church in Revelation about mass deception propagated by the Antichrist. We will be here for the first half of the tribulation to see him.

How did the world fall so far so fast?

They loved not the truth so God gave them over to a lie - Romans 1:28

Truth be told - God will give you what you want. – 1 Kings 22

Even if it based on a lie – or for carnal reasons.

A true prophet will always say what pleases God by speaking the truth - regardless of the reception or consequences.

A false prophet will say what pleases people, even if it is a lie.

A true prophet speaks the truth of God’s heart about a matter - even if it comes as a warning.

False prophets speak peace and safety, even in the face of habitual sin.

All false prophets in the Bible claimed that Israel was okay and that no harm would come to her despite her lifestyle of sin and the impending judgement of God that it was bringing.

Heeding false prophets is why king Ahab died during battle in 1 Kings 22.

Would you rather be hurt by the truth or soothed by a lie?

Throughout the Bible, God would bless His people as long as they adhered to the truth of His Word. Nevertheless, they would eventually choose the path of selfishness until they placed themselves in jeopardy of judgment.

God knew that He is bound by His Word, and that if His people remained persistent in sin, that He would have no choice but to release the consequences of their actions.

Truth is both mercy and grace

God’s love and grace, in an attempt to avert impending judgment, raised up prophets to educate and warn God’s people to turn from the error of their ways.

God’s mercy compelled God’s prophets of old to preach the truth to God’s people in many ways:

Continually - not just once - sometimes for years

Persistently - despite opposition from God’s own people.

Demonstratively - Ezekiel walked the streets of the Holy City naked for years to show Israel her shame to God. He also had to lay on his side for years. He also had to eat dinner roasted over dung.

Jeremiah was known as the Weeping Prophet,

Because he saw what Israel was doing, and what was coming. As a result of seeing the broken heart of God and the coming devastation to his nation, he pled with tears for his spiritual family to repent.

Today, where is the weeping between the porch and the altar? Where is the rending of hearts? Where is the remorse of our course?

Desire God’s Heart more than God’s Blessings

We should never want the blessings of God more than the heart of God.

The prophets, both Old and New Testament were often rebuffed and mocked by the listeners.

Sometimes the rejection of the truth being told escalated to physical hostility.

Jeremiah was imprisoned in the city sewer up to his neck.

Jesus was tortured and crucified not for feeding bread from his hand, but for claiming He was the manna from heaven.

Because of her persistent resistance to the truth, the nation was not prepared for the enemy and suffered needless harm and loss.

The same will happen to America if she continues to reject the Truth.

We have been warned about Prophecies of Tsunamis and burned-out hulls in our land.

Jesus is Truth

Roman’s 1 - reject the truth - receive a lie

Reject the Christ - welcome the anti-Christ.

Many today risk accepting the anti-Christ in the church.

Jesus is the Word - John 1:1 and Thy Word is truth

Jesus’ name is Faithful and True - Revelation xyz

Jesus warned the end time Church to take heed that no man deceive you, Matthew 24

To reject God’s truth is to reject God Himself. Rejection opens the door to deception which leads to reception of the Antichrist. Who is alive today.

We are witnessing the results of witnessing for the Gospel. Final separation.

The sheep and the wheat listen to the Good Shepherd. The goats and the tares turn from, reject the truth and follow the thief.

Roman’s 1 - strong delusion to believe a lie and be condemned.

John 3:17-18 - Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save it. By bringing the truth. But yet the world would be condemned by rejecting the truth.

God could swear by none higher than His Word.

God‘s word is higher than God‘s name.

God‘s name is based upon his word.

Jesus said the wise man built his house upon a rock (of truth) and it survived the storm. - He survived the stock market, marriage, church, crisis, sickness.

The soil has a choice! Not predestined. Choose to receive the TRUTH of God’s seed.

Let’s pass the soil test!