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The Persecuted Church

 

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Haters of the truth

Ever since the first lie was introduced to humanity, lies have competed against the truth. There is an ongoing war between the truth and the lies for humanities affection and loyalty. Every person living will take a side in this conflict. The truth is being on God’s side the lies being on the one creature who opposes God and has led a rebellion.

Today we are surrounded by lies and even when the truth is told it is ignored or disbelieved.

There are different types of truth, there is mathematical truth, historical truth and then there is the most important truth of all, Spiritual truth. Only Spiritual truth will affect your eternity.

Poems are written, Songs are sung about the truth. John Lennon singing of politicians and hypocrites sang “All I want is the truth, Just give me some truth”

Truth is rare. Lies are commonplace. There is truth found in mathematics, history, relationships and there is the ultimate truth that everyone will have to face- God.

The truth in history has been distorted in all sorts of areas, scientific truth – environmentalism, history is often changed in books. People want the truth told to them. People want the truth business, relationships, politics and most importantly, religion i.e. the church.

The truth when made to be relative is used to manipulate people through science and morals. But God considers his truth ABSOLUTE; meaning there is no discussion on whether it is true or accurate, it came from the creator of all things who cannot lie. He is the “God of truth” Ps 31:5. His truth is void of anything false. You can only know what is wrong by comparing it to the truth. In the same way you don’t know you are in darkness until the light comes. If you live life without pursuing truth all you will embrace are lies. The more truth you have and live by, the less lies affect you. This why we are told to believe, hold and walk in the truth. The carnal nature deceives man.

Jesus gave the truth straight and those who were searching for it heard it plainly, others who did not care to hear it resisted and were bewildered at his statements. People don’t like the truth told to them, especially when it is about themselves being wrong. The Pharisees reacted with hostility when they heard what Jesus had to say about their worship. It was offensive to their mind and even more to the heart, It is no different today. This is why the subject of sin is avoided today, it is confronting and shakes the foundation of ones very existence when told what it does to them. People can react violently when they are exposed any answer from the word of God that further affirms that they are wrong, it raises their anger more. We have two choices, we can allow the word to heal us or it will hurt us.

There are people that argue there is NO absolute truth but they live as if there is, knowing there are consequences for certain things they do wrong. Then there are those who believe there is absolute truth but live as if it will have no affect on their lives. In our day we often hear that truth is relative. Relative truth demeans life, Life may be claimed to be meaningless for a time but no one can really live like this and survive.

Is truth relative, or absolute? Absolute truth means that what is true is always true, at all times and in all places. What is true for one person is true for all people. Truth is true whether we believe it or not. The truth is not made up, it exists.

One person wrote “Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it.” What would be the sense of seeking what does not exist? Chasing the illusive butterfly.

If you do away with absolute truth then all you’re left with is man’s opinions. Man without referring to his maker is nearly always wrong, especially when it comes to morals and ethics. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil.... Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and clever in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:20-21)

Only a higher intelligent being who created all things, who is morally perfect, whose commands and actions are rooted in the ultimate good, (His nature) can tell man unequivocally what is wrong and what is right for him. Micah 6:8 “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Living by relative truth stops human beings in their personal pursuit of truth. freedom of choice is a necessity or one is unable to examine the differences to see what really is true. If absolute truth is not part of the choice they can make then one is living by their own standard or someone else’s opinion of what that standard should be. Lenin said, A lie told often enough becomes the truth. We see this becoming the norm of our day through the media and science.

You can only find out what is wrong if you are able to compare it to something that is absolute. If you compare relative truth to another relative truth it becomes circular reasoning and it does not matter which one may choose, it becomes personal preference. People often pick their religion like this. They like some things and not others so they join a certain religion or the make up their own.

An oxymoron is that both relative and absolute truth can be equally true at the same time. The fact that one can categorize truth to be relative insists that which they call truth is false and should be discarded.

Grace Slick sang “when the truth is found to be lies and all the joy within you dies.”

But when THE truth is found (to be true), we rejoice, and that is what the Word of God offers humanity.

These Scriptures describe the time we live in. Isa. 59:4: “No one calls for justice, nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; they conceive evil and bring forth iniquity. V.14-15: “ Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. So truth fails, and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Then the LORD saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice.

We live in the time of great compromise Jer. 7:28 "So you shall say to them, 'This is a nation that does not obey the voice of the LORD their God nor receive correction. Truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.

The truth is there and needs to be rediscovered. The truth is given out of love; it is never divorced from love.

When people cannot deal with the truth they turn on the one delivering it, they devour the messenger. This why Jesus said "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” (Matt 7:6) so we need to be wise in distributing his word.

The truth to those who care less for it is always going to be disregarded and the messenger will be attacked. They did it to Jesus, they did it to the apostles and they will do it to you. Our part is to stay accurate and make sure it is delivered in a caring and loving way and not take it personally when it is rejected. Because they are not rejecting you but Christ.

We carry a message which is often not well received. I Jn 4:6: We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” We speak his words and those whom God is drawing will hear.

God is described “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without injustice; righteous and upright is He” (Deut. 32:4)

How trustworthy is one like this? He is able to be completely trusted.

Before the world was, there was love and truth existing in God.

The Bible describes God is love (I Jn 4:8;1 Jn.4:16) I Jn 1:5 God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” John 4:24 "God is Spirit” describing His nature which is unlike anything created. He, God, is specifically called the God of truth 4 times. Consider How God is described:

Isa. 65:16 “So that he who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he who swears in the earth shall swear by the God of truth”

Psalm 31:5 “Into Your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.” (partially quoted by Jesus at his death)

The truth is described as fire, light, the word and a person. God is a personal being whose all activities are connected to truth and love.

Ps. 86:15: “But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.”

Ps. 33:4-5: “For the word of the LORD is right, and all His work is done in truth. He loves righteousness and justice

Ps. 25:5 “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day

Ps. 25:10: “All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.”

Ps. 40:11 “Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O LORD; let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me

Eph. 1:13 “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation” You can trust the one who gives salvation.

God is called the God of truth and His Scripture is directly called the word of truth five times. “Scripture of Truth” (Dan. 10:21).

Ps 119:43: “And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I have hoped in Your ordinances.”

2 Cor 6:7: “by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left "

2 Tim 2:15: Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. “

Jesus said thy word

Ps 119:160: “The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.

John 17:17: “ Your word is truth.” Everything about God is about truth, He cannot lie.

Isa 25:1 “your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

Ps 85:10 Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed.

Ps 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face.

Ps 61:7 He shall abide before God forever. Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him!’

Ps 91:4 “his truth shall be your shield and buckler.”

Just as there are different facets to the Holy Spirit represented by different liquids, so there is for the word. God communicated to man and then became man (became en morphe – in flesh)

Jesus said the truth will set you free- why? Because when we lie we cover up the truth and it brings shame, guilt and destroys our conscience that was made in God’s image.

Jesus’ truth is more powerful than any other thing that is true in the world, more than science or morals because it affects our spirituality, and what affects us spiritually changes our life and our eternity.

The truth comes from a revelation, Mt.16:16 the Father revealed it to Peter, it has nothing to do with how intelligent one is, or striving for an illumination.

I Jn 5:6 because the Spirit is truth. He is sent into the world to deliver us from sin, the lies, the darkness. John 3:33"He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.”

We cannot affect the truth pro or con anymore than a scientist speaking on gravity can change it. One must resist gravity to go upwards. It is the same principle spiritually we are all already condemned, only believing the truth can this be changed (Jn. 3:16-17)

John 14:17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” Two other times John mentions the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of truth John 15:26 and in

John 16:13 " when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth;” that is a theme of his ministry to us and the world, to us we are sinners and to show us when we are departing from the truth.

We are born of God by being born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, (1 Pet 1:23). James 1:18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” we become new creations by his word that he calls truth.

Ps 145:18-19 “The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; he also will hear their cry and save them.”

God looks for honesty and integrity in our lives Ps 51:6: “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

songwriter Nicholson Gary nominated to Nashville's hall of fame who has written 350 songs sang “ the trouble with truth” here are some of the lyrics

Oh, the trouble with the truth
Is it's always the same 'ol thing
So hard to forget, so impossible for me to change
Every time I try to fight it
I know I'll be left to blame…
And the trouble with the truth
Is it's just what I need to hear
Ringing so right, deep down inside my ear
And it's everything I want
And it's everything I fear… Is it's just what I need to hear
It has ruined the taste of the sweetest lies
Burned through my best alibis
Every sin that I deny…. And the trouble with the truth
Is it just won't let me rest
I run and hide but there's always another test
And I know that it won't let me be
'Til I've given it my best

We need to decide if there is truth and if Jesus said he is a teacher of truth -that

He is the truth. There are only two choices, accept what he said or reject it, all of it.

There came a point in Jesus’ ministry when he no longer taught the truth plainly but hid it in what he said by parables. This could only be understood by those who honestly were pursuing the truth; those who did not were left in the dark.

He even started to answer their questions with other questions because he knew they cared not for the truth.

Today we have a scarcity of truth, especially from the pulpit. Truth must be attended to or it will go into decline. If there is a vacuum what will rush in is Falsehood. We are to guard the truth and pass it on so it continues to all generations. His truth endures to all generations” (Psalm 100:5). This is why the church is in such a ungodly state the truth is hardly affirmed nor guarded.

One must be taught the truth to teach it to others, as Paul wrote TimothyThe things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

Israel is our example. Jer 9:3 "And like their bow they have bent their tongues for lies. They are not valiant for the truth on the earth. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know Me," says the LORD.”

The church is supposed to be the pillar and ground of truth, this is where people go to get the truth- can we say this true today? No, the church, is in a decrepit condition.

Everyone has some kind of agenda when they tell a lie, Christians are to have the agenda to tell the truth. If we can face it, the truth is spread by evangelism. Giving the gospel and defending it when necessary.

Eccl 12:10 “The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright-- words of truth.’

Prov.12:17-18: “He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness, deceit.

There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health.”

Those who speak God’s truth bring health, healing to those who have been hurt in life. Others who speak falsely make people sick

The church is to speak the truth in love, preserve truth and unity through the Spirit. The pulpit is reserved for those who teach the truth. They don’t have to be elegant, they can be raw but they should strive to be accurate. We lack proactive preaching, if you don’t proclaim the truth the lies will continue unhindered and increase.

Because of all the sweets fed to us we have become fat and are unable to work.

We have more Bibles and Bible tools than any other time in history; and yet we are more biblically illiterate and hear the truth less.

We are told that the truth will become rare in the latter days and 2 Pet 2:2 “And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

Each of us are responsible to know the truth and live by it. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). Its you and God, no one else can help you.

In the Tribulation period truth will be openly opposed

Dan. 8:12: “Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered.

There is a day coming when the truth will separate the people and there will only be truth proclaimed throughout the earth Ps 96:13 “For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth.” When Jesus returns he separates the sheep from the goats and makes his decision perfectly because he is righteous and true.

When the Lord returns to bring his kingdom that the whole earth will live in

"Thus says the LORD: `I will return to Zion, and dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, the Mountain of the LORD of hosts, the Holy Mountain.' (Zech 8:3?) All that will go out from his counsel will be true and will influence the whole world.

 

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