The Power of the Truth

PART A: TRUTH IS THE WORD OF GOD

I have been in the body of Christ for a long time. However, I have just recently come into the knowledge of the truth. I remember questioning the Lord about the word. I used to think to myself that there was something more than what was being fed to the body. I knew this was true, because even as a babe in Christ, I could see that the word preached was not producing the character of the scripture.

I wanted to know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I was sincere in this. Finally the Lord met me where I was. The Holy Ghost began to lead and guide me into "THE TRUTH".

Truth is a manifestation of God that is revealed to the world.

On a spring day in Jerusalem, Pilate asked Jesus, "What is truth?" I asked the Lord the same question. He replied as follows:

John 17:17

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Pilate did not realize that truth was standing before him. Truth is a manifestation of God. It is God revealed to the world. This is a startling definition, in that, if truth is a revealing of God, then anything outside of God is a lie. I want you to really think about what I am saying. Truth is God. Therefore, truth is holy and righteous. That which is not of God is of the devil. Thus, that which is not of God, is sin. Then it follows that all that is of the lie, is of the devil.

The Word of God is truth. It is the only reality that exists. This is a powerful statement. The Word is the only reality in this world. Everything else is false. To live outside of the Word of God, is to live a lie.

Sanctify or "set them apart", through thy "truth"; through thy Word. Those that have received the indwelling of the Word of God, are set apart. They are in the world but are not a part of the world. The Sons of God have been removed from the lie. They are now of the Truth. John says it this way:

I John 5:19-20

19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Everything that God made was formed inside of Truth.

We are in him that is "true." We are in Christ Jesus. He is the truth. Everything that God made was formed inside of the truth. The whole world lieth in wickedness. Of this, God has given us an understanding.

I need you to really see this through the eyes of God. The world was created by Him. He is a Spirit. A Spirit of Truth. Therefore, everything He made was formed inside of that truth.

The anointed cherub, given charge of this world, took it off course. He was the prince of darkness and he brought the darkness of his character to this world. He intended to rule this planet. This was to be his domain. He was willing to battle the God of the universe; He who created him, for it.

John 8:44

44 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.

Satan did not abide in the truth that was his creator. He left that truth in rebellion. He founded a new order, "The Lie." Therefore, he is the father of the lie. Everything he influenced from that moment on was of the lie.

LUST, GREED AND PRIDE ARE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE LIE.

II Timothy 3:7

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Notice that the thing that moved Satan out of the truth, was lust. He desired to be greater than God, his creator. He wanted dominionship that was not given to him. He is the father of pride and greed. Lust, greed and pride are all manifestations of the lie. They are the characteristics of the new order. Therefore, whosoever abides in them, are of the character of Satan.

Satan was not one to just stand around doing nothing. He was determined to have the things he "wanted." Therefore, he launched the greatest rebellion ever seen in the universe. He became a murderer. He brought death and violence to the kingdom of heaven, causing other angelic beings to leave the kingdom of light and truth, and enter into his kingdom of darkness. This is a separation from God. This is truly death.

St. John 8:12

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Jesus came to take man back from death and darkness to light and life. He is the only manifestation of the light that has been presented to the world. He is our way back to God and the kingdom of light and truth.

The prince of this world has been judged. His days are numbered. His creator is a God of everlasting life. All creatures in him will live forever. All things that are of Him are eternal. This is the truth or reality that is God. The 'lie' is not eternal. It has been given a day of recompense. It is condemned to eternal damnation. Soon it shall be no more.

John 3:16-21

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

In the 18th verse of the above scripture, we confirm that the world was already condemned. Everything in the world was on its way to hell's fire. This was to be the place of Satan's torment along with his angels. However, it enlarged itself to include the race of man, who too, became followers of Satan.

St. John 14:6

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

God loved this world. This was His prized possession. Man was to be His glory, not Satan's. Therefore, the plan of redemption was implemented. He sent the light, He sent the life, and He sent the way. Jesus is the truth and the life eternal.

I want you to fully comprehend the implications of these truths. If you do, it will help you in making a commitment to serve the true and living God. That which is of the world is a lie. It is not the reality that is set before us. The things that the world has to offer, in all of its splendor, cannot compare with the things that God has given to those that love Him and keep His commandments.

If you truly see worldly wealth and social status as vain glory, then you will cease to struggle with entering into His rest. If there is any wantonness in you, it is because you have elements of the lie lodged in your imagination. If so, then there is something in you that belongs to Satan. If the Lord is your true shepherd, then you shall not 'want'.

That which is of the world is a lie.

Does this mean that the Lord wants us to have nothing? I say not. However, He wants us to live according to His will for us. Those that are called to serve must take no thought for their livelihood. This is an important point, because without it, the devil will gain a stronghold in your mind.

PART B: SATAN IS A DECEIVER

The stronghold of the devil is deception. He has persuaded mankind that the lusts of the flesh are the only true pleasures that life has to offer. Man is now in hot pursuit of the pleasures of the flesh. This is what the world lives for. This is the true manifestation of the great "lie".

Satan was cunning. He used the pleasures of the flesh to lure man into serving him. This was the bait that brought him into captivity. Even Adam sought to satisfy his own lust (not love) for Eve by coming into agreement with her sin.

The stronghold of the devil is deception.

Satan dangles fleshy satisfaction in the face of man, and caused man to turn his back on all that he knows to be the truth; just to experience temporal pleasures. Satan uses money, flesh and power to lure men away from serving God. When you are unable to resist the temptation of the devil, then you work to further the lie, by blaspheming the truth.

Study the definition of deceit and deception below and determine if the enemy is successful in using this device in your life.

DECEIT, DECEIVE, DECEITFUL, DECEITFULLY, DECEITFULNESS, DECEIVABLENESS.

1. Nouns.

1. apate ^539^, deceit or deceitfulness (akin to apatao, to cheat, deceive, beguile), that which gives a false impression, whether by appearance, statement or influence, is said of riches, <Matt. 13:22; Mark 4:19>, of sin,<Heb.

3. phrenapatao ^5422^, lit., to deceive in one's mind (phren, the mind, and No. 1), to deceive by fancies (Lightfoot), is used in <Gal. 6:3>,; with reference to self-conceit, which is self-deceit, a sin against common sense. Cf. <Jas. 1:26> (above).

4. dolioo ^1387^ to lure, as by a bait (see A, No.2), is translated have used deceit in <Rom. 3:13>.

5. doloo ^1389^, a short form of No. 4, primarily signifies "to ensnare"; hence, to corrupt, especially by mingling the truths of the Word of God with false doctrines or notions,

(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)

I can truly thank God for His grace and mercy. He did not leave us without an escape. He had compassion on us. We were lost in the midst of the darkness. Drowning in our own blood. The Father heard the faint cry of our hearts, and sent us a savior.

St. John 1:14-17

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Jesus came into the world to bring the light and truth of God. His life is an example as to how the sons of God are to live in this world. You must understand that the tool used to take this world off course was the deception of the flesh. The route back to God is paved with the denial of the flesh.

This is the only way principalities, powers and the sinners of the world will see the manifold wisdom of God. If a man in the kingdom of light walks as though he is a member of the kingdom of darkness, then he blasphemes His God and brings Him to an open shame.

Jesus is the way to God. He is the route that man must take to come unto God, the Father. His life is our example. We must not despise its humility. All things are ours. They have been given to us by the Father. This is just not our season. Our day of glory is set. Note the following passage:

Hebrews 2:5-8

5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou are mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?

7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

The world to come, has been given to the sons of God. We are the inheritors. Nevertheless, in this world, we must prove ourselves worthy of such an inheritance. We must live as sons of the light of the Most High. We must not fall into the divers temptations of the flesh. Many men have been cheated out of the honor of serving the master, because they would not chasten their flesh.

You must not be double-minded in this matter. If you are going to serve the Lord, you must do so soberly, maintaining a good conscience toward God and man. You must settle your mind as to whether you will walk in the truth or the lie. To fulfill the desires of the flesh is to walk in the darkness of this world. To seek after power and wealth is the great deception of the prince of this world. He will give you just what you want. But you will pay a high price.

To want nothing is to be free. The pleasures of this world are lures that lead you into the captivity of the enemy. To have the lie, you must forsake the truth. Believe me, it would have been better for us not to have known the truth than to now hear it and turn our backs on it. Woe unto the heart that does such.

St. John 15:26

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me...

St. John 16:13-15

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:

14 for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

15 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Truth. He is the witness that what we have read of God is indeed the truth. He is the one that beareth witness with our spirit that Jesus is the Son of God. He also bears witness of the light. We could not see the darkness until the light was manifested. We knew not the lie until the truth was revealed. The Holy Ghost is the light of God. He is the Spirit of Christ. He is the only witness that the light is truth. He is our Faith.

Beloved, consider these things. I pray that you decide as I have, to walk in the light. Nothing else is worth the effort. This world is on its way out. God has judged it. You can be a part of the revealing of the master's will for the earth if you commit yourself to the hand of God. He will take care of you. You don't have to be afraid.

Serving the Lord is the greatest opportunity ever afforded to mankind. Don't turn away from this opportunity. You are a creature of light. You can make it. You have all of heaven on your side. For there will be no temptation to befall you that you cannot bear. Be encouraged, our master has overcome the world.