Women's Ministry
John
Truth = a fact that has been verified; conformity to reality or actuality; " accuracy: the quality of being near to the true value; sincerity, integrity, reality, actuality
We are taught as we grow up to always tell the truth, to not lie. Lying is bad, satan is the father of all liars, therefore if I lie then satan is my father & not God.
Yet, it’s in our flesh nature to lie, we don’t teach our children to lie, they do it naturally- I have seen a child that can barely talk, lie- It’s amazing- Did you just hit your brother? Did you just get into mommy’s makeup with the lip stick smeared all over his face- no mommy….. We have to learn to tell the truth because our flesh nature is to lie.
God is a forgiving God > so we seek forgiveness
God is merciful > we enjoy His mercy
God is love > so we walk in love
God is long suffering > so we ask Him to be patient with us
God is the God of truth > but are we truthful with Him? We seek His blessings & other things but do we seek truth?? Usually not!! Why??? Truth is more dangerous…………truth can uncover what’s really deep inside of us that has been buried. We have taken it & covered it up and planted over it & tried to believe that we are ok when really we aren’t.
A lot of times truth can be hidden because of wounds………………. The kind of wounds that have not healed…….the ones we plant flowers on & call a garden when really a garden can’t grow because it’s not good ground and then we wonder why the garden isn’t growing. The truth cries to be delivered up, yet the wound that holds it hostage declares war on any one who would come bearing a shovel to dig the truth up.
When we bury truth in pain, we practice dishonesty before God. Our misunderstanding turn into disappointments & then the disappointments turn to anger & we end up wondering why we are always so angry or why a spirit of anger keeps rising up in us….. It’s because there is some buried truth that needs to come out so that you can be set free!!!!
How many people in here, let’s really be honest with our selves have ever told a lie??? Come on, I know I have....and if you say that you have never told a lie in your life, well then that answer is your first lie because we have all told lies at one time or another.
Then, you have the people that say well it’s just a little lie………….. Well, a lie is a lie is a lie!!! The bible is very clear on it……..Satan is the father of liars & it tells us in Titus 1:2- that God cannot lie- the line is drawn very clearly right there- Satan is lies, God is truth!!! Whose side are you on?
When we really get honest with God, the amazing thing is that we aren’t nearly as bad as we thought we were & God isn’t nearly as judgmental as we thought. The enemy will just keep providing seed for the garden of dishonesty hoping that we will never dig up the truth. Hidden truth is the hidden treasure that will buy our freedom from him.
With out honesty to find the truth, we can never fulfill our call. Without honesty we will never really know liberty, we will always have one foot on top of that grave lest what is buried there emerge when we are not looking.
One of the attributes of lying is fear…………..why do we lie???? Usually because we are afraid of what the truth will bring……….yes if you have made wrong decisions and choices & have lied & done bad things……….there will be consequences that you will have to walk through,……………..but as John 8:32 says……the truth will set you free……. When the truth is out, you will experience a freedom that you have never known before……
When we are deceived, we become afraid of the truth and then religion & tradition replace honesty. We quickly take comfort in those things of religion & tradition & convince ourselves that everything is ok. We figure out a system to survive & that’s where the real trouble begins. Our system usually goes something like this when we are a Christian that has buried the truth.
As long as I don’t get too close to the truth, I can’t be hurt by it. I’ll seek the truth all right because I have been trained to do it. But, I’ll escape from it just in time. I will turn & run; even act busy for Jesus, before the verse, in Hebrews
Jesus said that many are called & few are chosen. Being “called” is just fine. Why bother with being “chosen”? After all Isaiah 48:10 says “Behold I have refined thee, but not with silver, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. Why deliberately go into the fire?? I have plenty of company right where I am. If I just keep my walk with Christ on the surface, I won’t get hurt by it. If I haven’t heard what’s required of me, then my lack of service or performance is no longer an issue of dishonesty, rebellion or disobedience before God. I can’t be accountable for something that I don’t know.
Ok, that’s a neat little system except for one thing………..IT’S FAKE & IT WILL MAKE US FAKE. It’s the stuff that hypocrites are made of & it’s a dishonest approach to our Christianity. I heard a story of a lady that had a yard full of weeds. She got so tired of trying to get rid of the weeds that she decided to water them & mow them. The more she watered & mowed the weeds, the more it looked like a yard until people actually started complimenting on what a nice yard she had. It was a fake lawn, it looked nice & real because it was watered & mowed, but it was actually all weeds & and as soon as you walked on it they would know that it was weeds because they hurt. Weeds poke you when you walk on them. It’s the same way with us. We cover up the truth, hide the lies because it’s easier to do and then get to the point where we can walk the walk & talk the talk, but sooner or later it will come out. God knows the difference when He walks barefoot across your lawn. Our fears & mistrust hurt the Lord- because what we are really saying is that I don’t truly trust you God to work this out for my good regardless of the mistakes that I may have made. It’s easier to keep it hidden because the truth is too painful. We can have faith, but without trust, it will never take us to the abundance God has for us. Jesus doesn’t look back on our troubles; He looks ahead into our triumphs. He doesn’t see us as the victim, but the victor. We must decide to look forward with Christ & let Him dig up the things that keep us in bondage.
King Saul & Kind David were both servants of the Lord. The big difference between the two men is that one was honest before God which made him a man after God’s own heart and the other was not which brought him death.
Honesty before God is a light that reflects our spirit. The Word says that “the spirit of man is the candle of the Lord. Are we keeping our candles lit? Are we brave enough or honest enough to light them?
Paul told Timothy that there are vessels of honor & dishonor in the house of God. We have to choose which shelf we occupy.
Proverbs
The Word says that signs & wonders follow those who believe. So, I ask you, what is following you tonight??? What is it?? & are you willing to turn around & look??? It takes an honest individual to turn around & look & face the truth……………….
Knowing the truth will set you free. See, God wants you to be made whole... with wholeness is a freedom that you have never known before, a peace that you have never known before. Let God make you whole tonight!!
We can't conquer what we're not willing to confront. I pray that you confront everything in your life that is trying to hold you back from the destiny that God has for you. If there's anything I can do to help you or agree with in prayer, please contact me.