Living For the Truth

Living For the Truth

Sept 20-21

Soon after the "confession unto salvation" is made; every believer enters a time of testing. This testing to see if that same confession really represents core beliefs or simply a superficial passing thought! (as in the parable of the sower.) Truly the test is the same as for every other believer through out the history of the FAITH! Consider Job in his time of testing. The test was only "would he stay faithful to God and by implication to his mission?" Remember last week..."Is you is or is you ain't my baby"

Luke 24:44-45;   2Peter3 15b-16;    Rev 22:18-19

This week's lesson called "living the truth" contrasts three areas of living the truth.

1. The first concentrates on the experience with in the person. It is within that the identity is clarified. This identity might also called the paradigm; How the world appears to a person. through his own eyes. The problem with understanding is that the thought life may also be deceived without the person even knowing. Consider the clients and patents of my daughter the psychiatrist. She endeavors to enter into their trust to convince them (by faith in her) that the crazy things that they are seeing are not real. This dynamic is especially true for a young believer. It is said that the cults are filled with Christians who are still Christians but their thinking is all wrong. Understanding is a tricky thing. How does a person know if they are in a state of deception? This is the subject of this section.
   
   
2. The second contrast is that baptism in truth that comes when a person endures suffering for living the Way for confession or for baptism in the faith. When a person experiences this kind of distress, he earns and enters a completely different plateau of faith. Longsuffering through testing proves his faith, both to himself and to the world.
   
3. The third contrast pictures a person who simply accepts the words of prophesy and scripture as the Word is written neither adding to or subtracting from the scripture.
4. I would also like to introduce the idea that really living the truth can only take place in a person who lives a life of Repentance  By this I mean staying Humble or teachable as to the things of the Spirit. Is he able to make changes to bring himself into the more perfect alignment with the teachings of scripture.
   
   

********************

Understanding

Luke 24:44

• 44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
  
• 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
  top

Open their understanding! How many times have I prayed that a person's understanding be opened to understand the truth of scripture! I Only eternity could keep count. Parallel to this prayer is the prayer to open their eyes to see the glorious Gospel of Truth. the answer to this prayer has revealed the truth of the particular scripture and often paved the way to change the entire paradigm of life. Afterward the lives of everyone in the [persons life was different. A church in a suburb of Tampico Mexico was started because a dump truck driver had his understanding opened. He was not a preacher but once he understood the truth of scripture everything else changed. He found a preacher, encouraged him, and loaded as many as would ride in the back of his dump truck to the services. A vibrant church was formed and on they ran from there!, As a side note he got a contract and soon his he purchased his own dump truck and next he had three and now God has blessed.
We need to understand how big God Is! He is so big that he measured the universe in the Span of his hand. Some where on that hand is a spot of out sun's solar system. somewhere on that spot is the earth. And somewhere on that speck is the country that you live in and it's world system and by implication your problems. Somewhere is your state,town,street,house, and last of all you. With this perspective (*paradigm*) Even the greatest of tests are but a puff of wind. I remember the song "In his hands he has the whole world." As we "walk the truth" we need to remember these view points.

********************

Longsuffering

2Peter 3:15-16

• 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; Paul's Teaching
  
• 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. top
  

Suffering is a dicey doctrine in the doctrine of "the church." Because no one ever likes to be in the middle of it, many who have experienced such things react in different ways. As I have mentioned before it is dangerous to developers doctrine based on experience. Yet when a person is conscious it is difficult t not to draw conclusions based on these same experiences. Indeed it is this distinctive that draws conclusions bases on experience that makes us human. Dogs may learn from bad experiences but do not seem to draw conclusions about life from the same. Doctrine (teaching) must be developed from scripture.

********************

Heareth

Revelation 22

• 18 For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
  
• 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.top
  

The challenge for each of us when we experience events that do not line up with Scripture, or our knowledge of the character of God, is to not change our doctrine to reflect this new experience. The doctrine must be a "teaching of scripture! The focus of the challenge is do we now, in light of the experience, change the basis of Faith to reflect the conclusion of the experience or do we leave it on the foundation of scripture and enforce the scripture on the experience. This process of requiring the circumstances of life to bow to the name of Jesus is called Standing in faith. It is not easy at the time and the first time it feels like a three year old jumping off of the back end of a large truck into the waiting hands of a loving father. The test is,"does the boy believe that the father will be there to catch him at the time of impact!" This really happens the first time that one "stands alone." To make this kind of confession among a group of former friends and experience their disdain for his new Faith really crystalizes the original step of faith.


Along the lines of suffering many change their doctrine based on their suffering. The Ashkenazi Jews, after suffering the Nazi Holocaust dramatically changed their view of scripture. Before there was a general belief that nothing could ever happen to them as a whole and that somehow God would "cover them under the shadow of his wings" As a result many discarded the Faith of their forefathers as irreverent for our generation. the problem comes when One interprets the scripture for another based on his own faith. Many Jews who placed personal faith in the truth of this and other scriptures did escape and their stories of miraculous delivery are extant today. The faith word has two distinct framework within which to work. the first is the General eternal word. the second is the very personal specific application of that word to a tome place and person. The second will deliver salvation while the first will correctly guide doctrine. this difference delivered the lives of Jews in the Nazi block or condemned them to a horrific death!

It is so important to place our faith in the finished work of Jesus today with the full expectation that He will deliver us from evil in the time of need!

---

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Repentance

1John 1:10

• If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
  
• 1John 1:10 If we deny that we have sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Message "The Truth" has no place in our hearts.
  So in this we understand that the Law was given to convince us that we can not live the whole law (at least not in our own ability!). While we might be able to live this life in the power of the Living Spirit of Love who dwells within us; inside out hearts. It is a continual sense of our need of repentance that keeps us in a state of humility and a sense of quickly turning back to the Love of God. It turns out that physical world calls out so much louder than the "still small voice" within. The awareness that we always need to turn back to Him causes us to walk softly and gently with Him and with one another.
  top

Sanctify them through the truth

John 17:17

• Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.back

Parable of the sower

Matthew 13:

• 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that hears the word, and anon with joy receive it;
  
• 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arise because of the word, by and by he is offended. {offended: he relapses, or, falls into sin}
  
• 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
  
• 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that hears the word, and understands it; which also bears fruit, and brings forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
  back

Parable of Job

Job 1:

• 9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Does Job fear God for nought?
  
• 10 Has not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. {substance: or, cattle}
  
• 11 But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face. {and he: Heb. See if he curse you not to your face}back

Span

Isaiah 40:12

• Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? {a measure: Heb. a tierce} back

Paul's Teaching -- Truth of scripture

II Timothy 3:

• 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: back to Revelation
  
• 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. {thoroughly…: or, perfected}
  
• chapter 4:1 ¶ I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
  
• 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
  
• 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
  
• 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
  
• 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. {make: or, fulfil}
  
• 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
  
• 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
  
• 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
  
• 9 ¶ Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: back
  

  He seems to be saying in verse 7 that He "proved" his salvation or ministry by enduring to the end. It also seems that he has decided that his mission is accomplished. back

Bow

• Philippines 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
  
  
• Exodus 23:24 Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and completely break down their images. back

  In actual practice it takes this level of violence to win a complete victory over the test of sin. Anything less and compromise will seep in to the life of the believer. While it may not show up in the visible life of the person in faith, it most surely will in the lives of those who follow after him. (Children, Church,Fellowship, etc) back
  

  
  

Cover

Psalm 91:

1. ¶ He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. {abide: Heb. lodge}
   
2. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
   
3. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
   
4. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
   
5. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day;
   
6. Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.
   
7. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
   
8. Only with your eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
   
9. ¶ Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
   
10. There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
    
11. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
    
12. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
    
13. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. {adder: or, asp}
    
14. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
    
15. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.
    
16. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation. {long…: Heb. length of days} back