12/15/2019 Embrace the Truth
Thanks for being here. I hope all of you doing well. Good morning.
Thank you for being here. Welcome to our guest. We're so glad you're with us today. What a blessing Jim. Thank you for the songs Roy for your words on the table. All of you here participated leading us and worship today. I hope you feel that you've been encourage and uplift uplifted. And I'm excited to stand before you this morning. I want to take you to page 9 of our vision book for the year. On top of page 9 or less than three teaching objectives that we have for the quarter. and one of them says this sin doesn't change because culture changes or because our friends do it. Sin doesn't change because we struggle with it. Sin is always sin.
So the question comes when you make such a statement. Sin is always sin. On what basis can you make such a claim? How do we know that sin is always sin? And the answer is very clear. And the answer was very concise. We know that sin is always sin because of what the word of God teaches. Solomon said in Proverbs Chapter 30 every word of God proves true. We're told not to add to God's word. We're told not to take away from God's word God's word is the standard of Truth God's word is objective. It is certain it is fixed God's word is something that originates outside of humanity God's word is something that transcends creation. Objectivity in physical and spiritual matters traces itself back to the beginning of reality itself objectivity tracing his way back to day one of creation. You may remember this from last week. We went back to Day One of creation we looked at it let the Genesis chapter 1 verse for together. We read it notice here. There's two things. We see the observations the objectivity of things in the Physical Realm and also this first we CD objectivity of things in values and morals and manners of spirituality. For example, we read hear that God saw the lights. It's something measurable. It's something objective. It's something that's certain it's fixed. It is something that we can bear 5 and it is and he resists Exodus differentiated from Darkness. What is also here we read that God saw that the light was good. And so if God declared that light is good, but it is good and we could make the application of darkness is bad. If something is good. Then we have bad if something is right we have wrong. What Genesis 1:4 is teaching us? Is that good and bad can be objectively observed just like things in the Physical Realm. We can know the difference. Which of the question then Council who defines good and who gets to determine what is born who defines truth? Not us. But God the pharmacist said in Psalm 31 verse find that God is a god of Truth. There is no fault in him. He is the Ultimate Reality what he declares is the way that it is God's in his word declare something to be white or God through his word declare something to be wrong. It is right or it is wrong if it's word defines an action or attitude or a thought as soon then it is send it will always be send in every situation and in every circumstance. As part of his creation we have no right to declare or otherwise, he is God. We are not he never changes. We do T have towards his writing. It said it is the steadfastness of God, which is the ground of Truth. Probably truth has been God's being true to himself his faithfulness or is consistency Genesis chapter 21 verse 33 identify as God as the Everlasting God. He is the only completely reliable source for true knowledge and Enlightenment knowledge and wisdom. Which I was really sad brothers and sisters. What are we going to world that is turned all of this upside down and turn it on to its head. Ringtone to the culture that truth is bondage. The truth is somehow Antiquated that it's out of touch that if I don't sophisticated that it's it's racist or homophobic or porch full of weight. Exact over the last generation or two. There are many traits were being told we're being told to do one feels good to do whatever you want to try to get in touch with yourself because that's the only way that you'll find true happiness in this line. And so now we have large numbers of Americans who believe that they themselves are objects of Truth. No longer outside of themselves how they feel is what becomes truth and that is why brothers and sisters. We are seeing societal Decay picking up with a rapid Pace because we have a lack of respect for authority because each person is serves as his or her own authority or culture becoming much like what we read in judges 21 verse 25 everyone did what is right in his own eyes.
that is why I think many of us look ahead with fear our nation and for our culture trip to be. And it's normal people do that disorder is going to begin to read the question really comes down to it. How long before we drift into chaos. That's what we're saying. I did some reading this week. They're so us up. Some people believe that this General left for true. There's only one logical conclusion in that stearly. I don't want to get into politics this morning. That's certainly not my aim, but I think you could see how that would play out in the world because what usually happens is is everybody becomes their own God and does her own thing and Authority is thrown out the window and it's at some point people to get tired of chaos at some point people going to get sick of it and say we've got to have something and somebody comes along with those I'll take care of it and that gives her eyes that are too because they kill everybody disagrees with them. What's wrong with this is headed. That's why we looked at the head with fear and trepidation. That's all we say in the next 30 or 40 50 years, but this country Better Than Love Clyde. How it look when we were young. What is the sisters this is why the biblical worldview is so vital to the continuance of our nation and culture and even our families. We must be committed to not only embracing the biblical worldview ourselves. But we need to have this kind of passion that drives us to pass around our kids and our grandkids tell you something the greatest tragedy of our time is not that weather patterns are changing. The greatest tragedy of our time is not that a certain person occupies the White House the greatest tragedy of our time starting quarterback and all the play the NFL because of his protest the greatest tragedy is it our kids are being told that there is no such thing as trolls. That's the greatest tragedy but I can tell you is a parent one of the greatest blessing that you can pass along to your kids with a passionate conviction that there is truth. There is right there is wrong. What is Right will always be right? And what is wrong will always be wrong. It's not narrow-minded or close-minded to think that way because it's God's way it matters because these are things that matter in every season of Life all the way to Eternity. Wrong is always wrong. Right is always right and we are sisters need to be a pricing the truth on that. Can I transport except on the back page of your bulletin is an outline. I hope we'll take that out and use it as we study together this morning. We're going to do three things. We're going to talk about why and bracing the truth is such a matter of great importance. Then we're going to talk about what we need to embrace. What is the truth that we need to embrace and follow and finally we're going to talk about how to do that. So very simple this morning why watch and how are the key active words as we could go through this why why did down when it comes to embracing the truth? Why is all of this so important? Why is this something that we should be so passionate about what I want to take you first. Matthew chapter 21 21. This is probably the process that should had been read. It's a little longer. Go to go to look at base Matthew 21. I want soda versus 23 to 27 for just a few moments and I'm going to start with verse 23 Jesus dealing with the chief Priests of the elders. What's 23 cents if they come upon Jesus said, they're questioning Jesus as he's teaching and they asked him a question. They ask you about by what Authority you doing these things and who gave you this Authority know their minds are the ones that the authority of the religious establishment. They're the ones that control things like they say goes and who is Jesus but this imposter that's threatening their independence and their Authority. That's where they're coming from. So Jesus begins to ask them some questions, he's going to answer their question with his own question. So he says yes because you are 25. I also ask you one question. And if you tell me the answer then I will also tell you by what Authority I do these food. So we go out to bars 25. He asked him a question. He says the baptism of John. From where did it come? Did it come from heaven? Or did it come from me? And now what is Jesus doing here? What is he asking them to do? He is asking them to take a stand he is asking them to declare what they believe. Put it out there make a statement stand on something.
Well if we keep reading in the verse. Their minds begin to go to work. Let me get the reason within themselves that they think they stay here the next part of the verse. Well, if we say from Heaven Hill say that that's why did you not believe me? Listen to buy we don't answer this one way. We're going to be called hypocrite.
But but if it's clear to the other one recite from men, then we're afraid of the crowd. There's no be Mom's really violent since we might be thrown out of a bar position. people going to turn off
and so they come back to him and verse 27 and say we don't know. You won't talk about a cowardly answer. You want to talk about an answer from the basis of self-centeredness and self-preservation? That's it. They don't want to be around. So you don't want to be ashamed of public for self-preservation is her main concern for these scribes and Pharisees truth doesn't matter. It doesn't matter at all. And so look at the next part of the burst. How does Jesus respond? He says will then neither will I tell you by what Authority but I do these things and what he's saying is listen to there's no verbal directions to continue this conversation.
It's over. There's no reason to go any further because we can't have a discussion because we can agree on the same amount of authority. What's the application brothers and sisters?
If we have no respect for truth. There is no reason to continue with Jesus.
Yes, we have no respect for truth. If we give in to the idea that truth doesn't exist. There is no reason to continue with Jesus lesson. If I have no respect for truth and Faith doesn't exist in my soul is there because you can't have a strong faith without a love for the truth? This is why post-modernism is so deadly to the free. This is why we need to be vigilant in resisting. It's because the deepest thing pushing rubberband some is the desire to be free from Authority and enjoy the anticipation of felt. It is very appealing in our day and age. It's physically and emotionally gratifying it provides people the trouble to do what they want. I don't believe in God. I don't believe in Jesus the Bible may be inaccurate. I'll just stay there and I can go out and do whatever I want and Lead. However I please Where is the world war? Lll again? That is what I want people are embracing.
There's just one person. Elizabeth so scary. It shows I think ahead I think about Generations coming up behind me. I want them to understand that truth is non-negotiable.
listen already come up with something and say, you know. I just don't really believe in the law of gravity. I don't believe in it. I don't like it. I don't like that and you know, I am free to disagree with the law gravity exist. It my decision to ignore that that logs this may result in the ending of my physical life. You can disagree with it all that you want but it doesn't change the truth in the same thing is true in the moron spiritual Ram. I may choose to ignore more spiritual truth. I may choose in the night of scripture, but it doesn't change the fact that it exists and that it is true. You say postmodern thought is destructive to Christianity and must be avoided at all costs and listeners things. Keep going the way they're going our country. We have got to work hard to overcome it. This matters. This is our Eternal importance. What is the number to understand it as well? If this is so important and I don't understand why I need to embrace a trailer program. What do I need to embrace? I want to take you back to the old test with this is the passage of being invited over to go from Psalm 119 verse 160 m i want to just be honest with you hear some of these comments. I've stolen I've been a lot of waiting over the last week or two a concerning the s and end the Theologian I'm going to sign here just moment is when I don't agree with on all matters of theology, but his riding on postmodernism and relativism is spot-on. I'm not sure that with you here in just a moment who that is, but I dismissed become of the comments. He's made on Psalm 119 or just right on their excellent Richard some of the some last week, but I want to camp out here again. I want to take you to some 119 verse 160. Here's the passage been just read it. I want you to focus for a moment. If you will on the word some in the first part of the verse the sum of your word is truth. The word some is a Hebrew word for the word head like your head that's on your body. Alright, so sometimes the word head to refer to the head that's on your body. It could refer to it you if you are the head of a family or the head of a river or anything like that so I can be used figuratively or literally here in this case the water saying the sum of your word is true. That what's really interesting is the same word for come here in in Psalm 119 verse 6 160. It's the same word used. I can Exodus chapter 31 verse 12 that word there is translated since Israel been commanded to take a census and so in this case you think about what a sensor that it's a head count. It's so when we go back to this passage here in Psalm 119 verse 160 does some of your work we're looking at it as a summation. Would you take a census of the word of God? The count of everything there in is truth.
But in total the word of God is truth. Birch 160 now look at the second part of the verse every one of your righteous rules. Enjoy yours forever. This is an individual Nation. Alright, everyone of Your Righteous rules and yours forever. And so if I look to the entire bottle the some of it is true and also every individual part of it is true. There's not a part of scripture that I'll ever be proven false. It's totally true. It's totally why every single part that is what Psalm 119 verse 160 is teaching. The word of God is true. Jesus said this and John chapter 17 verse 17 sanctify them in the truth. Your word is true when God speaks brothers and sisters get is true. What if I want to know truth on told to go to the word of it is spiritual reality.
What's your kind of thinking you think about spiritual reality? Truth is something that is connected to reality. But not this why you're for something to be true. It must be real truth. It's precious to us. What is real and God is the Ultimate Reality. John Piper is riding his said this know reality was before and he doesn't depend on any other reality. All other reality is created by Him by his meeting in buying a pretty he is determined to find what is real. God determines and defines all truth whatever God speaks is true. And that's how stricture uses the word truth if it identify something as true as it represents reality.
Now, how does the word of God refer to Jesus in this way how much connection to the truth does Jesus have? Well, Jesus speaks truth perfectly 1st John chapter 7 verse 18th. Jesus is true. And in him is no falsehood Little John chapter 8 verse 14 Jesus Is My Testimony is true Johnny 16 smart judgment is true. Here's Johnny 1837. I had coming to the world to Bear witness to the truth and everyone who is up the truth listens to my boy. So Jesus is all about speaking truth. Jesus know about communicating these things to us clearly. But it's not just the fact that he communicates to us and speaks truth perfectly. Let's take us a step further. Let's go to John chapter 14 and look at Birth 6. I am the way I am the truth. I am the truth. Jesus says I am the light Jesus says and then he says no one comes to the father except through me. Show me a trailer park where Jesus says I am the true.
Jesus say that.
You can say that because John 1:1 tells us that he is God in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Jesus Is God he is the Ultimate Reality according to John 1:14 became flesh and sold as the perfect spokesman for this reality insults when she says here I am true. He's he's he's telling us the truth is not impossible to find what's up what he is saying here is that truth came to us? Somebody that shop in him and we go back to the passage of just rather John 18:37. He desperately wants you to respond to that true. powerful Trump is not impossible to find us. You can't know truth. There's many truths. Jesus says I am the truth. Jesus says you can owe me you can have a relationship with me. It was a week out of a passionate about this. Wait, we can't just cower down and saying we better pass this Faith Legacy under our kids and our grandkids and teach them to stand on them. Listen God. Our creator is the one who controls everything. He's the one who fills our hearts with purpose. He has revealed himself specifically through his word. He has left us with infantile knowledge. Simply can't be exhausted. It provides us with a way out of since he is providing salvation. He brings a true joy and peace he brings up a whole that serves as an anchor of the Soul. He brings his hole from the promises that leader for the Valley of the shadow of death.
Please provide a way for us to find answers the latest. Alabama question and every now and every problem and every intention of suffering in our life. He shows us the way to cope with that. He shows us that the way through we've been given of this.
But oh how we need to be committed to passing that down for those who come behind you seen.
God's word is always relevant.
What is always relevant because the Bible contains a true Jesus is truth. Are we going on with us? As far as the Dodge word is always relevant because it directly it could do one of two things either directly specifies in addressing an issue. What's a dog is spoken directly or we use it's about a class this morning widest vocal directly on sexual immorality has communicated the principal Loudon loudly and clearly is spoken directly about it. He also has communicated to us in the right place by revealing principles, whereby we might good and sound judgments. Who sings must be brought down to our kids. We got to be passing these things on to the next generation? So we communicate our kids the Bible is the word of God and Jesus is the son of God. He is truth truth can be found.
Show me come to the The Last Knight part of the lesson. That is how do we Embrace this?
How do we go about this?
I think it's as we look forward to Future Generations.
We will have failed. If all we do is get them to be conditioned to accept the Bible. And go no farther. Interstate what I mean by have
I have a lot of kids who spend their entire childhood being exposed to objective and visible and rational evidences at the Bible the word of God and there's a lot of kids while they live at home. They comply with a favor their parents, but as we all know that's just not enough. Because as soon as they get out on the road, they run away from God. Question is how do we help our kids develop their own thing? How do we do that?
I think the best thing the answer to that is we we lead by example.
So, what does that mean lead by example? Is it just my church attendance three times a week? is it just by subscribing to the five acts of worship and I don't know the other five things that we do.
Is is that all it is?
I think the best way we teach you this by helping our kids see our own personal dedication to the word of God. I just a memorization of facts not just the memorization of figures or trivia questions or. He'll bullet points to correct Doctrine worship practices it by my own example of being deeply persuaded into the Bible truth that they move me in such a way too deeply treasure Jesus and his words to the point line Bill my entire life on it.
The point where I'm ready to risk everything for God and everything base word for My Life Choices from the smallest thing to the biggest tomorrow attitudes in my thoughts and everything that I did William live and I eat body lifetime of devotion.
That's how I do it. Once I get a second president for a moment. You're supposed to 336 and I think last week somewhere in the last two weeks. We've we've hit this verse.
Transformers 6 put white cement 4 gospels male to dispel the notion are perishing it. Change the God of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel for the glory prices the image of God this and that is alive and well Satan has blinded the hearts of many many people in the world. The waves of human wisdom and peer pressure and you name it. He has blinded them. They can't see this. the weather for Sapulpa pogos on he says what we were promised not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord This is no time wasted when you're all about proclaiming Jesus as Lord. This is what the gospel is. Jesus's for people going to respond to him and where his servants.
V Gods God said let light shine out of Darkness. He has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. How do I pass this on to my kids to where it's a real fake Villa paid? Well, it comes for my own prayers that they will open their hearts to the light of the Gospel that he reveals through his word.
It comes through our prayers that when they do God will help them develop spiritual insights. And listen. We're the only one that can do this for yourself. I love you. I can teach every week I can preach every week. I can be in your home teaching. I come in your home to me and Katie biblical truth because you are the only one that can open your heart to receive that biblical tree. I can't do it for you.
All I can do is pray. But you will choose to open your heart to that truth and let God's light pour into the darkest parts of your heart. And we got friends. We got love once we got people that are near and dear to us that haven't done this. They have been harder than we need to be constantly praying about truth.
Who was here before 6. Is it the same guy who said let there be light on. The first day of creation will bring light over their Hearts 2.
And you know what?
Is that darkness in their heart gives way to the light of God's word certain people feel their mind and guess what the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and Minds in Christ Jesus.
You know 2nd Corinthians Chapter 4 verses 3 through 6 teaches us.
That we can come into a well-grounded confidence of the truth. We can come to a well-grounded confidence in the gospel and the scriptures themselves. And we need this we need this for ourselves who are our kids needed.
Friday I set my office alarm at 5 playing about that because our kids my kids.
Are living in this world of uncertainty. Where everything is question 2 to the point of the most basic matters of Life basic matters of gender and sexuality are now fluid. One can be one thing or one to be another thing or you can even be somewhere in the middle. Everyday or chance of being told that human existence only has 10 to 12 years left, but if we don't reverse it now, we're all going to be cooking. father son
Everyday were told. The truth is relative and we're told to resist Authority but we're told to do what is right around eyes if that's acceptable. That's the worst thing and that's what's a fisticated thing to do. Everyday were told that religion is a creation of humans in the Bible is not valid every single day cartoons. Are you doing this? the real Wonder Woman ages already rules
I wish I Washington Post article highlighted a 2016 study out of UCLA that said 41% of incoming freshman in the year 2016 felt overwhelmed with life. What's a newspaper article points on a survey that says 33% of kids age 13 to 18 points. And anxiety disorder in their lifetime 38% of girls in 20 / 6% of boys. Let me ask you something. What do you think is contributing to all the anxiety?
Could it be the secular postmodern culture that is looking down on certain teeth? Could it be that those out there who are educating our children to resist objectivity and Teresa Street Harbor Freight personally voices from mean-spirited them Bigger Than Merrill could that be the source of our anxiety?
You know.
truth There's not a river that twists and the Anders. It's a rock. It's certain it's stable its immovable it's permanent. I don't have to worry about climate change melting down my world. Because God's word provides me with certainty that he is in control his world not mine. I hope the real person who was in the white was going to learn to speak but he controls his loves their purpose is to waste my time on a finished running about sports and entertainment because I see it as vanity and things are passing the world. I don't have to get wrapped up and they changed because I understand the truth the way and the life no one comes up on her but by him up on him and his wife and his fax I can live with certainty brothers and sisters. I don't have to get into this wishy-washy soft. Gucci Gucci
and that's what a lot of it is.
I just want you to think about how much of a blessing it is
that we have certainty.
three families in this Congregation of the last 15 weeks I suffered the loss.
Of 3 individuals who are loved and their influence lives on the can you imagine if you don't have the rock of Truth to hold onto as you have the ways of green crash again day by day by day minute by minute by night after night after night morning after morning after morning. What if you didn't have the rock of Truth? Certainty that God says I will get you. I am here for you twice. Those are beyond the grave.
What would we be?
Watch the saintess. It's what keeps us going. What moves us forward. First Watch Coral Hold Us when we too must cross through the valley of the shadow of death. That's what it's all about.
I know we think we're going to live forever. We act like it. We may say we may pay lip service to the decided that we're going to live on forever. But the reality is we're not And when you get done with that moment. You get down to those final breaths? All you have is The Rock Solid promises that you accept by faith. And Trust the grace of God he's going to be with you and see you on the other side is what faith is all about. You have that kind of certainty in your life if you don't quit wondering. Courtney and requip Dorothy ups and downs of life and being taken up and down by all these things around in the world distracting our attention get your attention on the truth. does if you want to see the father you need Jesus no one comes to the father, but by you need Jesus. Facilitations for you. Would love to help me this morning we can serve in any way want you come forth as we stand and say