Truth – Part 3

Truth In Congregations/Their Leaders

Many blindly accept what their congregations and leaders do teach

Mere mortals who can forget to trust the Word and overreach

We must trust the Spirit through the Word in all we do or condone

For the ultimate battle to save your soul is between you and your God alone

The Holy Spirit tells us in later times leaders within our own congregations would use lies to deceive some away from Christ. Today one is exposed to every kind of Biblical message imaginable. Messages that are on satellite T.V., regular T.V., radio, or within congregations and various groups. The messages come from every spectrum, with differing views, all claiming to have the true message, yet few follow the truths of Scripture. God’s truths are being distorted, changed in many ways. From leaders taking verses out of context to those who define or redefine words in Scripture, changing its message. From those who try to bring worldly society’s values into the Word, to those who will not give up incorrect congregational doctrine and traditions they grew up with. From those who exaggerate to make the Word less boring, to those who use little Scripture or none at all. From those who create and use new buzz words which can be misconstrued to those who manipulate the Word to increase financial gifts, deemed necessary to allow the congregations, groups, and leaders to exist. The leaders who will go along with any interpretation of Scripture to those who believe their views should be accepted without question, for they are the only ones who know the Bible. All these merely hide, corrupt the truth in God’s Word. The leaders who will tell the simple truth of God’s Word are a blessing. Those who will keep the Word in context, using, teaching all of Scripture are the ones we should listen to. Those who will listen, take the time to search Scripture with any who disagrees with them, not merely state they are right and should be obeyed. Leaders who have the ability as they study Scripture to say they were wrong and begin teaching the truth are like a rare jewel, very hard to find.

*The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 1Ti 4:1-2 NIV+

*For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Ac 20:29-30 KJV

There has been a great spiritual battle being fought between God and Satan, between good or evil, between truths or lies which has been going on since Satan rejected God. This battle will intensify as the end times come closer to reality. This battle is being fought within congregations, within their leadership, and flows down to the individual personal battle each believer daily faces. It is a great blessing to have congregations, Christian leaders, who follow the Lord. Yet no congregation, or any leader can save you, they can only direct you to the truth. The battle to save your soul is between you and God alone. Being a child of God is an intense personal battle, as spiritually each individual either accepts or rejects their Lord. A tough physical challenge as our minds and bodies strive to obey the Lord’s truths written in our hearts.

Each believer has a free will, is personally responsible for accepting or rejecting the Spirit, for accepting or rejecting the atoning grace of Jesus, for following or turning away from our Heavenly Father’s commands. No one can blame any other, no leader, no congregation, and no person for leading them astray when they reject or refuse to follow Jesus. The Father merely looks into our hearts alone to see if we are His children, and we alone control what is in our hearts. We must take the time to be in the Word, making sure we know the truth, are being taught the truth, and are living in the truth. The winner of the spiritual war will be the one who lets the Spirit guide them in God’s Word, who stands up for the truth in the Scriptures. The one who will inherit Heaven is the one who was even willing to give their life for their Savior.

*Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 1Jn 4:1-3

Lies we allow to be the truth:

Being a child of God requires discipline, requires work. Not only bringing our children to the Lord, not only helping the poor and needy, not only helping with our congregation or groups needs, not only doing a good job at our work, but studying the Word, learning that which our Lord would have us know. Studying takes time, is hard work, can be frustrating, but overall is enjoyable, spiritually rewarding, and brings us closer to our Master. The problem is, it is much easier just to go along with those who are considered learned, with what congregations accept as the truth, than to be searching the Word for answers. Many go to a congregation which claims to be Bible based, some with a leader from a Christian seminary, and just blindly accept what they say, teach. The liberal agenda is also creeping into our lives, into our religious beliefs. If enough smart people say it, if enough celebrities say it, if it is beneficial or sounds good to us, we accept it as the truth. People do not bother to discern whether the truth is being told, often do not even consider whether our Lord would approve of it. The masses are accepting all these lies, and when they become disenchanted with a lie, for no lie brings permanent happiness, they just follow the next lie, the next cause. They follow along like sheep without a Shepherd. Their excuses for not verifying in Scripture, what is being said, basically come down to priority and time. It is not that important to them, and they will not spend the time or effort to be in the Word. God is being pushed out of the equation of how we should live, His truths are being made irrelevant. But all will have to face our God sooner or later, and it will be on His terms. Those who have accepted God’s truths will be given glory, honor, and eternal life in Heaven. For those who have followed the lies, Hell awaits. We must put God first in our lives, follow the truths of His Word which will last forever. The more we learn, the more we grow. Jesus told us the truth would set us free. We should diligently seek out the truth in God’s Word and settle for nothing less.

*You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 1Jn 4:4-6 NIV+

*Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 1Thess 5:16-23 NIV+

Lies we want to be the truth:

Within our hearts the Spirit tries to guide us, tell us what is right and wrong. The trouble is there is also a competing evil voice from Satan questioning everything our Heavenly Father would have us do. Asking us are we sure this is what Jesus really meant, Scriptures really don’t mean that. Instead of submitting to God’s will, it is very easy to be swayed by the many congregations, groups, and leaders who avoid the truth, work around it so they can be popular, easily acquire a following. The many who have commercialized God, have compromised away His truths. Those who desire to be important, financially secure, and make all their followers happy. We must search out God’s truths, turn away from Satan’s lies, from those who would make them easy to follow. If you begin believing a lie, you will soon follow a lie, and then you will live a lie. Evil has become part of you. If you do not change, you will end up living with your father, Satan, the greatest liar of them all. Need I say more.

*For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2Tim 4:3-4 NIV+

*If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. 1Tim 4:6-8 KJV

We Should Grow in The Word:

There are so many who have not grown in the Lord, are still infants in the Word. Christians must not be babies, but grow into adults of the Word. All should get off their milk diet and spiritually start eating the solid food of the Word for their righteousness. We must also stand up for the Word. If something is said or written about the Word we do not understand, we should get into the Word, discuss it with others to get the best answer possible. If we have some insight into the Word, we should offer it to others, discuss it with them. If something is said or written about the Word that is not true, we have to let other people know we do not agree, or our silence makes up part of the untruth. This should be done in love, quietly telling the person we do not believe what is said or written, offering to discuss the matter with them personally, via email, or in writing. For our silence only confirms we agree with the untruth. We are all accountable for keeping and spreading the truth of God’s Word. For only the truth unlocks Heaven’s gates to let the faithful in.

*We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Heb 5:11-14 NIV+

*Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love. 1Cor 16:13-14 NIV+

A few thoughts on how to understand God’s Word:

First pray for guidance from the Spirit to open our hearts, to open our minds to the truth. Come to God’s Word with no personal agenda but only to find the truth, whatever it may be. Whatever we learn, whatever questions we have, discuss them with others, using only God’s Word as a guide. Remembering some things we have to accept by faith until Jesus takes us home. Remembering it is not important who is right or wrong, but only that God’s truth is found.

Use these disciplines to help you:

1. Context - the meaning of the whole Bible must be considered, be used, be put in perspective, and be consistent to understand what is happening, what is being said, what God’s intent is what the truth is. Using isolated passages alone allows one to change, spin, and alter the true meaning to fit their own ideas, their own purposes.

2. Actions – we should use actions, what is happening or will happen to better understand God’s intent (not man’s), in what has taken place, what the words really mean. We should always be aware what is happening, why it is happening.

3. Word searches – can be used to show where the word was used throughout the Bible. This allows Scripture to define its own words. By the action taking place, by the context it is used. Many words will have more than one meaning, and many concepts we are describing with one word, will need more words to clarify exactly what it means.

4. Translate Scripture – today many leaders are trying to go back and translate Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic words. I am not saying this is wrong, but used on its own one has to be very careful. Defining, redefining words is a quick way to alter the meaning of Scripture. It should be done with the guidance of a learned language translator.

Avoid these obstacles to Scriptural truths:

1. Traditions - beliefs held for a long time. More truths in Scripture will continually be revealed to us, we will continue to gain new insights into Biblical truths. Previous inaccurate interpretations, sometimes congregational doctrines, traditions, or beliefs are hard to change back to spiritual truths within congregations, within the minds of leaders. These older misplaced beliefs are often tolerated to keep the numbers up, for financial benefits, though they hide the light of truth.

2. Worldly ideals – can dilute or change the real meaning of the truth. People overestimate their own human intelligence, they try to use their own meager human minds to determine, explain what God wants, what the Bible says. They believe their intelligence can help God manage the world more efficiently, create better social values. These worldly believers pick and choose their way through the Scriptures according to what society believes. Accepting what fits into their lifestyle, while ignoring that which doesn’t.

Jesus never promised an easy physical life on earth for us. He only promised to always love us be with us, reward with blessing in Heaven for doing His work here on earth. We need the truth of the Word to follow the will of our Savior. The faith to accept the many spiritual truths our human minds will never be able to comprehend. The love to put Jesus first in everything we do in our lives.

*He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God. Rev 2:7 ASV

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