Thursday, June 12, 2008

"THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE"

Welcome,

In Matt. 18:38 Pilate saith unto him (Jesus), What is truth? It seemed like an alien concept. In today's world where we are constantly being lied too from most segments of society the truth also seems like a strange notion. To receive truth we have go to Jesus and ask him for it. Look at how David asks God in Psalm 43:3 O SEND OUT THY LIGHT and THY TRUTH: let them LEAD ME; let them bring me unto THY HOLY HILL, and to THY TABERNACLES. In Psalm 25: 4-5 David requested of the Lord SHOW ME THY WAYS, O LORD TEACH ME THY PATHS LEAD ME IN THY TRUTH, and TEACH ME . . . One thing that I'm learning is humility goes a long way in knowing who God is and how he operates. It does require giving up our ways to embrace his ways. Let's look at what Jesus said in verse 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. EVERYONE THAT IS OF THE TRUTH HEARETH MY VOICE. The Apostles heard the truth and John proclaimed in 1 John 4: 6
"WE ARE OF GOD: he that KNOWETH GOD HEARETH US; he that is NOT OF GOD HEARETH NOT US. Hereby know we THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, and THE SPIRIT OF ERROR.


Now something very interesting happened when Pilate asked Jesus What is truth? Let's look closer at John 18:38 . . . 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. We see here that Pilate could not find any fault in Jesus. None of mankind can find fault or error in the truth. No lie is of the truth. Even though Jesus was innocent the people of the world back then preferred a robber to be released than an innocent man. This present world is the same way many inwardly cannot find fault with Jesus but they sure don't desire him to rule over them, they would rather have a sinner rule over them. Democracy and all other forms of humanistic rule is preferred then Theocracy. The world wants Barabbas (the robber) not Jesus. No wonder this world is so confused and all their plans fall apart.

Let's look at a definition of truth. Truth in strong's concordance; Aletheia (225) "truth", is used (a) objectively, signifying "the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter" e.g., (Rom 9:1) "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, (2 Cor. 11:10) "As the truth is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.
Also truth is (b) subjectively, "truthfulness," "truth," not merely verbal, but sincerity and integrity of character, e.g., 3 John 3 "For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou WALKEST IN THE TRUTH.

Before we look further into the truth lets look at the opposite of the truth which is the lie. In (John 8:44) Jesus was addressing a group of natural jews (void of understanding) when he pointedly told them "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.

When Jesus came to the world he came to witness the truth both objectively and subjectively for he spoke truth and he walked in truth. Jesus was, is and will always be the truth. He said he was the way, the TRUTH, and the life (John 14:6)
On the other hand when Satan came into the world he came as a thief, killer and destroyer (John 10:10) the foundation of how Satan operates can be discovered in the first encounter with Gods first creation. Satan's three prone plan is Steal, Kill and Destroy.

I will just highlight what I see are the key areas of his strategy against mankind.
One of the first things we see about this Serpent is he was more subtle or cunning then any beast of the field. The next thing he does is inject doubt about what God said. He said in essence "Yea, hath God really said that. He questions what God said and this is what he still does today he gets us to second guess God's word and instructions. We need to keep in mind that when God saids something to us it's a command and we can safely trust it. This is when faith towards God's voice kicks in after all "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God".
The other thing he does is become outright contrary to what God initially said "Ye shall not surely die". He just denies God's truth.
After he lays his corrupt foundation within someone the fruit of sin is ready to manifest which is death and separation from God's way of doing things. This utterly corrupt principle works in mankind today. 1.) Subtle or cunning 2.) Injects doubt 3.) Denies God's truth
It doesn't matter how he does it but we will certainly see these lying strategies in effect.
We can clearly see what the finish product was, Eve fell for the deception and was tempted and fell into transgression.
I want to visit another example of how Satan the Tempter approached Jesus in Matthew chapter 4.
In this account Jesus was led of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. The first thing he said to Jesus was "IF" thou be the Son of God. The venom of doubt was used against Jesus but Jesus simply used the the word of truth from the old testament ("it is written") to overcome this lie.
Secondly, the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, "IF" thou be the Son of God and then we see him use the word himself on Jesus because he saw Jesus use the word effectively on him, so he thought to himself Jesus would definitely follow the word if I gave it to him. What the tempter did not know is the word cannot be used to tempt someone to commit such a foolish act as casting oneself down and tempt the power of God. When the devil uses the word to tempt us he is using it from an unenlightened prospective because there is no truth in him since he abode not in the truth and he is the originator of the lies. The devil can only twist and manipulate what God is saying therefore it is ineffective. God confirms Jesus but he doesn't confirm the devil. Jesus is revelation but Satan is interpretation there is a huge difference. When we get the revelation of God's word we see the truth from God's prospective clear and pure and it leads us to liberty and life, on the other hand when we understand things from the letter of the word, it kills us. 2 Cor. 3:6 Paul said Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; NOT OF THE LETTER, but of THE SPIRIT: for the LETTER KILLETH, but the SPIRIT GIVETH LIFE.
The third temptation in Matt. 4:8-9 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Jesus responded by saying Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. This temptation to me shows how deceived Satan is that he would offer something to Jesus that was already his. Let me say that Adam and Eve did relinquish the world to Satan when they disobeyed God and lost the rights, but now Jesus would eventually take it all back through the cross. In this verse Satan is attempting to bribe Jesus with the world and their kingdoms and the glory of them for worship and service to him. Once again Jesus resisted and used the sword of the spirit (the word of God) to overcome the temptation.
The lesson for us is we can use the word to overcome the attacks/temptations of the enemy. John 1:12 For as many as received him, TO THEM GAVE HE THE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, even to them that believe on his name: Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow THEM THAT BELIEVE; In my name shall they CAST OUT DEVILS; . . . In Luke 10:19 Behold, I GIVE UNTO YOU POWER TO TREAD ON SERPENTS and SCORPIONS, and OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY: and NOTHING shall by any means hurt you.

This is why in this age we need the truth more then ever before because the truth will ultimately makes us truly free from the centuries of lies by the principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this present world and spiritual wickedness in high places. The current world establishment and all it represents is causing unprecedented oppression all over this earth. People are groaning because of the injustices, poverty, killings, diseases, hunger, greed, racism and favoritism, hypocrisies, especially all of the godless government's of this earth who are exploiting the people for their own selfish agendas and then think they will escape the righteous judgment of the Lord. These are just a few there are many more evils which would take up too much time to list. Lets look at what Isaiah 24:4 "The earth MOURNETH and FADETH away, the world LANGUISHETH and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. The EARTH ALSO IS DEFILED under THE INHABITANTS thereof; because they have TRANSGRESSED THE LAWS (of God), CHANGED THE ORDINANCE, BROKEN THE EVERLASTING COVENANT. Therefore hath THE CURSE devoured the earth, and THEY THAT DWELL THEREIN ARE DESOLATE: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left". We are living in a grossly darkened world where blinded/impenitent men and women are being used of Satan as instruments of oppression because they themselves have blind hearts and minds and are ignorant of Gods supreme will and truth for all mankind. These impenitent souls are in for an eternal rude awakening. Romans 2:5 But after thy HARDNESS and IMPENITENT HEART treasurest up UNTO THYSELF WRATH against the day of wrath and revelation of the RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT OF GOD.

So Jesus said "I came to bear witness of the truth and everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice". In the same manner God moved in the beginning on the face of the waters when the earth was without form, void and dark. His presence and voice brought light into a dark world.
So Jesus presence on earth brought light to this sinful darkened world. The world doesn't know the truth, this is why Jesus came to bear witness of the truth he is the truth on all matters. When we are of the truth we will hear his voice and not another.
John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but GRACE and TRUTH came by Jesus Christ.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which BELIEVED ON HIM, "If ye continue in MY WORD, THEN are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall KNOW THE TRUTH, and the TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE (John 8:31-32). You don't make something that is free free only what is captive can you make free.
This world for instance makes the bold proclamation of how free they are but when you look all around all you see is people enslaved in all sorts of bondage. Who is right the world or Jesus?
I say Jesus. We must get into his word to know the truth and we must continue in it to reap the benefit which is freedom from the world system, flesh and Satan.

John 17:17 Sanctify them THROUGH THY TRUTH: THY WORD IS TRUTH. Jesus made a separation from his people and the people of this world, the truth is what he used to sanctify them. To know the truth as God knows it we must have HIS SPIRIT as oppose to the present Pharisee spirit that permeates the present religious world. John 14:17 Even the SPIRIT OF TRUTH; whom the world cannot receive, because IT SEETH HIM NOT, NEITHER KNOWETH HIM:
but YE KNOW HIM ; for he dwelleth WITH YOU, and shall be IN YOU.

The world cannot receive the Spirit of TRUTH because the world does not SEE or is blind to Jesus and this blindness causes them not to KNOW Jesus. Remember back in Genesis when the Serpent lied to Eve and said that her eyes would be opened and shall be as gods knowing good and evil well guess what the opposite happened their eyes became closed to the truth of God. The world with all of it's advances, intellectualism, technologies, politics of all sorts have fortified themselves in blindness to the ways of God. I want to submit this to all if Jesus was not the truth then why is then that the worlds establishment is constantly fearing Jesus, his word and his followers. The world is confederate with Satan in all it's attempts to stop the spread of Jesus Christ. In Psalm 2:1-3 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The KINGS OF THE EARTH SET THEMSELVES, and the RULERS TAKE COUNSEL TOGETHER, AGAINST THE LORD, and AGAINST HIS ANOINTED, saying LET US BREAK THEIR BANDS ASUNDER, and CAST AWAY THEIR CORDS FROM US. If Jesus was insignificant then everyone can easily ignore every word he saids without any fight. If the principle enemy of God Satan himself knows Jesus and trembles and is more powerful then fleshly men what makes these same humans think they can succeed against Jesus and his will. It is simply profound pride and deception.

I want to wind down this post by pointing out benefits of walking in the truth.

John 8:32 The TRUTH makes us free.
3 John 3 Great joy when Gods children walk in the TRUTH.
1 John 5:6 The Spirit is TRUTH.
1 John 2:21 No lie can come from the TRUTH.
2 Peter 1:12 The TRUTH establishes us.
1 Peter 1: Our souls are purified in obeying the TRUTH.
Titus 1:1 The TRUTH is according to godliness.
2 Timothy 2:25 Acknowledgment of the TRUTH can lead to repentance.
1 Timothy 3:15 The church IS THE PILLAR and ground of the TRUTH.
Ephesians 4:15 The TRUTH spoken in love will help us grow.
2 Corinthians 13:8 We can do nothing against the TRUTH, but for the TRUTH.
1 Corinthians 5:8 We are unleavened bread when we are in the TRUTH.
Romans 2:2 Judgment of God is according to TRUTH.

These are just a few verses we can meditate on and allow the Spirit of God to minister to our inward man. As someone who God has delivered from the present religious/denominational system of doing things I enjoy not following the traditions of men which make the word of God of none effect (Mark 7:13). I love to share with you what the Lord has taught me and by his grace I will continue to do so as he leads me.

I thank those who have stopped at this blog site and truly I pray that we all would see JESUS as he truly is without the mixture of man made concepts and old traditions which prevent souls from reaching their God ordained destiny's. Let's ask God for spiritual discernment so that we would avoid deception and follow God in the spirit without being hindered.

So if you really want to be FREE we must continue in HIS WORD (not the word of men) and Jesus declares then we are his disciples indeed. We will then know the truth and this truth will MAKE US FREE. Don't you want to be truly free? Then let's stop following misinformed preachers and leaders and follow Jesus.

Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost = Kingdom of God!

Yours in Christ
by Bro. Pete



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