Bruce Chant
Pulse - generation-j
22 February 2002
IGNITION
Part 1- TRUTH
The foundations for us this year are to get the basics of biblical (not church) living down. We are going to examine four areas for us to apply to our lives:
1. TRUTH
2. FRUIT
3. LOVE
4. BEAUTY
PART ONE – TRUTH
1)
Why is Truth Important:
a) Without it you will be deceived – our fallen world will have believing tales and you will be unable to live as effective witnesses for God. Eg People saying “this guy asked me out I couldn’t think of why I shouldn’t”
b) It is valuable – treasure in the field – because it is rare, difficult to come by. Much time, searching and wisdom.
c) It is valuable because it is powerful – reveals reality from false beliefs, knowledge of the truth is revolutionary.
d) It will set you free (John 8:32)
2)
The Truth about Truth
a)
The Truth is Jesus.
John 14:6 “Jesus
said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through Me.”
John 18:37 John 18 John 18:36-38 Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
The truth became flesh
You don’t need to know anything else.
Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is TRUTH. He is walking, living, existing, real truth. If you get to know Jesus you will know the truth.
b)
The Word is Truth.
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God.”
John
1:14 “The Word became flesh and made
his dwelling among us.”
Bible. 100% true. The most remarkable book in all history is God – it is Truth.
God’s word is the foundation of our lives.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
Therefore it is not on the same level as our opinions or feelings or beliefs apart from the truth. The bible is authority from God on how to live our lives. That is how important it is.
c)
Jesus brought the truth
John 1:17 “For the law was given
through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
Where did it come from – which direction? Up – Jesus came from the Father. Truth originates in heaven not on earth.
What is truth? Well for me it is… What I believe is… -- don’t want to hear it!
The “truth is out there” somewhere thinking is straight out of this world. Everything being relative doesn’t cut it when you…
Just going to the shops shows that – what happens when you get in the line.
You respect personal space. Why? You rightful expect it back. You trust that the moral truth for you is the same for them and them and them…
James
3:15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly,
sensual, demonic. (context – self seeking/pleasing).
The
dumbness of this is that Christians do it. And excuse it. Because they are self
seeking and have no concept of authority and submission.
The Word the truth came from God our father our creator our supreme head to us His worthless sin riddled fledgling mortal creation. And we want to tell God our version is better. Some of you need the word to rebuke you.
Counsel from trusted people is one thing but looking
to find truth in tea leaves, philosophy books, Will and Grace – it’s foolish
and could well be demonic.
d)
Truth is Taught.
Matthew 22:16 “And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.”
Driving instructors – who liked theirs? No one. Because they tells what to do where to go did this wrong go here do it again. But we learnt.
The truth teaches and instructs.
Through experience re: disobedience and correction.
Through the verbal preaching of the Word.
Through active pursuit of it’s knowledge.
e)
Truth can be known
John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
We can know the truth thru
Christ and He shall set us free – eg Poland rebels
John 16:13 “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
Holy Spirit guides us into truth thru our knowledge of Him.
f)
Truth is Sought after.
John 18:38 John 18 John 18:37-39 Pilate said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, "I find no fault in Him at all.
People want to know. The truth is out there…
I’ll find mine and you find yours. Opinion is not truth regardless of what you are told – it is idolatry to practice anything else.
g)
Truth can be hard to believe.
John 8:45 “But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.”
The biggest argument for why the divine authorship of the gospel – who could think this stuff up? It sounds like something off Springer!?!
Unwed teenage virgin mother gives birth an animal stall. Grows up with a blue collar Dad in rural hicksville town and has a freak of a cousin named John who lives in the desert and eats bugs and honey.
Goes thru puberty, get pummelled by his bro’s, regular looking guy – not voted most likely to be God…
Truth is hard to believe – because it sounds foolish
to those perishing / unbelievers and it hard to take
h)
Truth can Hurt
Ephesians 4:15 “but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ”
Sometimes the truth hurts. You are ugly. You do need to work harder. You are too slow. You’re yet good enough. That’s the truth – but you can improve knowing the truth.
3)
ACTIVE TRUTH. It an
essential and active part of the Christian life.
John 3:21 “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."
Truth is not ideas, or just
words, or propositions – it is for doing / living.
It is practical – not applicable in one place and not the other (spiritual v secular)
Truth challenges, rebukes, directs and encourages us in every sphere of life.
a)
Truth Worships
John 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”
Without truth we can’t worship God. We don’t know Him or understand His ways or the way the world is set-up. We worship in truth – we worship out of knowledge of God, who He is and what He’s done.
b)
Truth Sanctifies
John 17:17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
We are sanctified by truth – made God’s. we can live for God not thru morality or duty but through love.
c)
Truth Manifests as we live
2 Corinthians 4:2 “But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.”
Truth is seen by other through your life
d)
Truth Sets Free
John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
Liberty = splinter is removed.
e)
Truth Rejoices
1 Corinthians 13:6 “does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;”
Truth rejoices
f)
Truth is loved
2 Thessalonians 2:10 “and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved”. –
You need to love the truth
g)
Knowing Truth is God’s Desire
1 Timothy 2:4 “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
2 Timothy 2:25 “”in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,”
Knowledge of the truth is what God desires for you
4)
WITHOUT TRUTH
Those without truth in their lives, those not pursuers of truth have the following characteristics:
a)
Deceived
John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”
Away from the truth – opposite to it is deception, lies and the devil
b)
Suppresses Righteousness
Romans 1:18 “God's Wrath on Unrighteousness For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,”
Unrighteousness suppresses the truth
c)
Idolatrous
Romans 1:25 “who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
Truth runs counter to idolatry – elevation of self
d)
Judged
Romans 2:2 “But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.”
With truth comes judgement
e)
Foolish
2 Corinthians 12:6 “For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.”
Truth walkers are not fools
f)
Condemned
2 Thessalonians 2:12 “that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
Without truth we are condemned because of our unrighteousness
RESPONSE
1.
Get to know the Truth
2.
Live by the Truth – your commitment
3. Speak
the truth to the unbelieving.
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