Open: READ 2 Peter 1:3, John 17:17

Do you believe this? Bible says, God says - Careful, might not like this

ILLUST: Optical Illusion

Do you see everything through a Biblical filter?

Most of what is out there today is lacking so much information, so we are left to trust the untrustworthy or just tune out

REM: Enemy deceives, by default, John 8:44

TRUTH MATTERS

1) Why is Truth So Important?

Truth sets you free: John 8:31-34 (maybe to 36)

Free from? Bondage of sin, penalty of Hell, etc.

Generation now of people raised where there is no absolute truth

God’s Word = Truth

If we do not understand the basics, we are very susceptible to lies

We will fight at the “symptom level” and lose sight of protecting the foundation

e.g. pass a law to outlaw abortion - superficially good, won’t change hearts - trying to affect behavior with rules (Law)

We will live governed by emotion, instead of God’s wisdom

Facts vs feelings - truth vs emotion

Truth is supposed to unite us - Lies divide us - GUT CHECK current events

Can we unite in truth, even if we disagree on matters like politics, interests?

TRUTH - YEAH!!! (this is how we tend to respond at first)

Jesus said know the truth, obey His commands! YEAH!

Then…Jesus said love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you

2) What Lies Do We Believe?

The enemy deceives, lies, and it’s easier to believe the lies than take a stand for truth (or easier than learning the truth)

We hear truth, and then make a decision - turning a ship is tough...

The enemy mimics God - he rules this world - REM

Doctrinal points in Bible - Our “basics”

GOD SAYS - ENEMY/WORLD SAYS

Creation - evolution

God, Trinity, Jesus, Holy Spirit - no God (atheists) or Jesus not God (JW, Mormons)

Man - evolved, higher animal

Heaven and Hell - no belief or aliens

Salvation - inherently good, no God, OR…good works, karma, etc.

Angels/Demons - aliens or hallucinations

Church - irrelevant

Family - community, “takes a village”, school, govt

The world has bought into each one of these anti-God positions

SO HAS MUCH OF THE CHURCH!!

Why? Poor thinking. We need to THINK, WELL

How? Think BIBLICALLY!

Look at the message of ads, TV shows, culture,

Ladies - 13 self-shaming thoughts daily

You need a “world” system to fix it, to help you “fell” better

How about seeing yourself in God’s image, and talk to HIM about who and what you are??

So what do we do with all those following lies?

People follow, they are deceived, wrong, so now what?

Hate the sin, love the sinner - tell people the truth

Let God’s Word lead the conversation

Many “religious” people are wrong. So now what?

Is it any of your business? How would Paul respond? Named names

Examples of current big lies

Truth behind BLM - does anyone want to hear?

Would anyone like to see how their beliefs compare to Bible?

BASIC TRUTH - there are no black or white people - BIBLE

But, we let people divide based on that - wrong and stupid

God’s people should know better!

Rainbow - God’s symbol of grace, reminder of judgment, and His promise - we need to know this, share it!

“Jesus was a black activist” - NO, HE WAS NOT!

How do you respond? Check the emotion, respond Biblically

Do you know who Jesus IS (not WAS)?

People are deceived, afraid, feel ashamed to stand up for truth, might even be dangerous to do so - SO WHAT DO WE DO?

3) Respond With Truth

A) Think

B) Teach the next generation

C) Be the church

Might not be able to change the mind of an adult - even if present clear facts

But God can...

And He says “Church, you have a job, go and tell”

Jonah did not want to go to Ninevah

Where do you NOT want to go? Who do you NOT want to tell?

3 John 4 reality

Someone reading Bible on porch, early morning

Someone responding to life matter with prayer, and you know they pray!

ENCOURAGING!

Today’s problem - disagree and you are a racist, hater, bigot, xenophobe, homophobe - OK, that’s today’s reality

So…Give up? Get mad?

THINK - current events examples

Teach your children - give them every opportunity to succeed Biblically

I know, people are feeling sorry for children not being in school?

Why are we so eager to allow the world to teach our children, unless we are equipped to make sure they understand the truth?

Not about homeschool, Christian, school, etc. BUT...

IF you want your kids to know and follow the truth-

You will need to teach them

You will need to UNDO what culture teaches

Math and English - OK (but we get frustrated at “new math”…)

Do we get frustrated that they teach evolution?

Do we get frustrated that they teach other anti-God principles

Do we even know what they are? (majority is clueless)

Science, Religion, Political studies, Social studies - govt wants to start teaching and having more control over your kids younger and younger - why? Both parents have to work, and kids are handed over to the world system.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE TRUTH, and BE WILLING TO TEACH IT

Use the public/government schools? OK, but be totally involved and teach kids the truth

The Current generation is mostly gone - so train up your children, this is a key answer to what’s going on - if they try hard to follow Jesus, the world is going to make it difficult.

Be the church - someone has to tell the truth

And we need to PRAY, and I mean PRAY - We have H.S. power!

And we need to apply truth in our own everyday lives

Conflicts - go to brother, brother goes to you

Matt. 5:23-24, Matthew 18:15

We have to get this right INSIDE the church before we can take it OUTSIDE

THEN, we can respond to the world:

Ask questions: What do you mean by? How do you know? What if you are wrong? What difference does it make?

Apply this to topics like Justice, “Christian,’ “Matters

Don’r respond to BLM with ALL lives matter. Rather, ask what you mean by “matters?” (taken as confrontational, and people shut down)

Then tell people that “God did not create black and white, He created animals and humans, and humans are in the image of God, and God loves everyone and desires they should not perish, I’d love to tell you more.”

TRUTH - Every person’s eternal life matters to God, so much that He sent Jesus, so yeah, we matter a great deal to Him

And the enemy wants us divided? And we are letting him divide us.

TRUTH MATTERS - ALL OF IT!

Best Response to Any Question, Challenge, Topic

“Do you know Jesus?”

I sincerely believe, and know, because God says, God created humans, in His own image, to worship Him;

Humans sinned, and Jesus died for every person who ever lived, lives and will live.

“Would you like to hear more?”

This world needs more Jesus

The lie is that “religion” is killing the world, that Christianity will be gone soon. Not if we have a say about it, and we do.

Know that the enemy lies - OK, now respond with truth.