One of the greatest revelations we will ever discover is how we embrace the truth of God in our lives. We all like to believe we know the truth, but in reality believing is not enough, we must know the truth. Knowing the truth, like our walk with the Lord, is a continuous process as we “ . . . grow in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18) If we can learn this simple point we too will know truth in a deeper and fuller way. One of the first things we must learn about truth is; it is always from God’s perspective and always progressive. Truth is never ours to own, but ours to use to open up God’s grace to us. What I knew 20, 30, even 40 years ago about God and His ways are different to me today. God has added understanding while subtracting my presumption. This is how the Lord can kill and yet make us alive. (Deuteronomy 32:39)
While we were living in Germany and while I was still pastoring I was invited to a gathering of religions to come and defend the Gospel message. I thought the Gospel message needs no defense, God does a great job in defending His own word. But now I see why I felt to go and speak. At the meetings there were: Buddhist, Muslim, Hindus, Taoist, African Witchdoctors, and many more religions I have never heard of. It was fancy, well catered, and very well attended. Each in turn took their turn in speaking about their religion and why people need to convert to their thinking and ways before it is too late. As I was sitting there the Lord spoke to me and said, “they will not change unless they can realize they have been lied to all of their lives.” When it was my turn I spoke on truth from one verse from John, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) I told all of the other religions Jesus was the only way to God (the Father). Well you can guess what happened, just like today when we speak what we have heard from God (the truth) some speak harshly, full of wrath, and get jealous wanting to distance themselves from us and our ministry, but in reality it is the truth that has offended them and since they know little of the truth they vent their frustrations and presumption toward us. Jesus told the truth and they physically killed Him. My friend if you tell the truth they too may kill you. Jesus time and time again told the disciples not to be surprised when people speak against you. But this thought of needing to realize they have been lied to before they can receive the Gospel message really captured my thought for years and to be honest it still does today. And this truth has not changed. As we sit in many churches around the world we see and hear things that are not true. And for the people to reject them, so they can move in the truth when the Holy Spirit touches their understanding, they must come to the cold, hard fact that the man of God (whomever) has lied to them maybe all of their lives. Now this is a very difficult thing to do. Most people do not have the inward strength to say I have been lied to all of these years and now I will change. It is far easier to continue in the lie than to suffer the shame and loss of humiliation and pride. And worse yet, if our parents have been faithful in taking us to church (or wherever) all of our lives, when the Holy Spirit touches our understanding, we learn they too have lied to us all of our lives. How can we face the truth about people we love and look up to when we learn they have lied to us and led us astray of the truth. Most children do not have the ability, inward strength, and love for their parents to confront them not in vengeances or hatred, but in love to see them changed in God too. It takes God strengthening us in the inward parts to be able to realize we have been lied too all of our lives and then turn from the lie and move now in the glorious truth of the word of God.
On the same note I am very puzzled how the different American denominations each can say they have the truth, everyone else is wrong, and are going to hell useless they join their church to believe like them. I have heard this song and dance for years. Strange how the truth from the word of God has divided people out into different groups or maybe it is not the truth, but other words that have been painted and primped up to represent truth. Never forget what God said is the truth, the Scriptures and the words He speaks to us, everything else often is our (me too) selfish and self-centered attempt to ascend into the heavens (like the Angel Lucifer) making an emotional approach to God with our feelings, intellect, or worse using the truth to manipulate people to get them to do things. When Jesus stood before Pilate He defined something greater than what truth was, He defined who was of the truth, “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.” (John 18:37-38) Pilate heard Jesus speak (face-to-face) and knew He was the King of kings, this is why he could say, “I find in him no fault at all.” He knew Jesus was Caesar and so much more. My friend hearing God’s words (not other’s words) is the key to knowing the truth. But please notice Jesus never answered Pilate’s question. I wonder why not? Because truth is owned by God and He will tell us what He wants us to know. This is why hearing correctly is so important to our spiritual growth and development. And this is why our revelation of God matters, like our teachers. For the one who has a greater, deeper (which is down) revelation of God will walk and teach a greater and deeper understanding of restrictions and limitations, the place of God’s completion and fulfillment for our lives. The babes in Christ will walk and preach a hip, cool, liberty and freedom message appealing to man’s logic and reasoning, are non-spiritual pointing people to God through their emotions, and it always seems they persecutes those with a greater and deeper revelation. This my friend is not what God is looking for.
It seems most disagreements in the church today happen not around the absolutes (the tenants of the faith) of the Gospel message, but around how the optionals (the taste not, feel not, handle not of the faith) are used to share the Gospel message. My friend truth never changes, nor does God, His word, and His ways to share the Gospel message. The Gospel message is designed by God to be shared one-on-one in spoken and written word, period full stop. The fancier we get the less God is involved. Remember if the world is running after your church or book God is not. I still say the more we use technology to share the Gospel message the less of God is in us. Often times the optionals become absolutes and the absolutes become optionals and when this happen there is a conflict in the Spirit and those not of the Spirit of God will get offended, stumble, and fall out of the way, but this can be a good thing if the lesson of offense is learned. It never fails when I write about our critical need for standards, righteousness, and holiness I get attacked by a handful of folks that say I am being legalistic or condemning, well this my friend is nothing more than a sign of them not really knowing the truth. To be honest I like it when someone tells me I am too condemning or legalistic, because I know the truth and I know I have done my job to share the truth with them and now the truth is a mirror (cleaned by the washing of the word of God and polished by the precious Holy Spirit) for them to look deep to expose areas in theirs lives (that includes me too) that only the power of God can change. If not we will be stuck in some dead-end denomination, religion, or maybe a cult that talks about the truth and evens preaches sermons about the truth, but knows nothing of the truth. Truth my friend is to convict us (a most edifying and uplifting work of God in our lives) and bring us to the revelation of who we are apart from Jesus Christ so that we can realize our eternal need for salvation, which is much more than having our sins forgiven. The chief job of the Holy Spirit (someone most denominations know only in word) is to convict or reprove us so that we will know the truth, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter (Holy Spirit) will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8And when he is come, he will reprove (convict) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” (John 16:7-11) And to lead and guide us to all truth. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:12-13) A person, church, denomination, or religion without this element of God’s grace moving in it is following a false doctrine. Remember, a lie and truth is always a lie. And for a lie to be received it must have an element of truth moving in it. This is why churches around the world are full of well meaning folks, but lost to the truth of the word of God. If the message is God loves you (which He does) (the truth), He is going to give you a chicken in every pot, and a new car every year, or you have great freedom to say and do whatever you want (the lie), well you have been deceived and the truth is not in you for these are not totally words of truth.
While we were living in Germany and while I was still pastoring I was invited to a gathering of religions to come and defend the Gospel message. I thought the Gospel message needs no defense, God does a great job in defending His own word. But now I see why I felt to go and speak. At the meetings there were: Buddhist, Muslim, Hindus, Taoist, African Witchdoctors, and many more religions I have never heard of. It was fancy, well catered, and very well attended. Each in turn took their turn in speaking about their religion and why people need to convert to their thinking and ways before it is too late. As I was sitting there the Lord spoke to me and said, “they will not change unless they can realize they have been lied to all of their lives.” When it was my turn I spoke on truth from one verse from John, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) I told all of the other religions Jesus was the only way to God (the Father). Well you can guess what happened, just like today when we speak what we have heard from God (the truth) some speak harshly, full of wrath, and get jealous wanting to distance themselves from us and our ministry, but in reality it is the truth that has offended them and since they know little of the truth they vent their frustrations and presumption toward us. Jesus told the truth and they physically killed Him. My friend if you tell the truth they too may kill you. Jesus time and time again told the disciples not to be surprised when people speak against you. But this thought of needing to realize they have been lied to before they can receive the Gospel message really captured my thought for years and to be honest it still does today. And this truth has not changed. As we sit in many churches around the world we see and hear things that are not true. And for the people to reject them, so they can move in the truth when the Holy Spirit touches their understanding, they must come to the cold, hard fact that the man of God (whomever) has lied to them maybe all of their lives. Now this is a very difficult thing to do. Most people do not have the inward strength to say I have been lied to all of these years and now I will change. It is far easier to continue in the lie than to suffer the shame and loss of humiliation and pride. And worse yet, if our parents have been faithful in taking us to church (or wherever) all of our lives, when the Holy Spirit touches our understanding, we learn they too have lied to us all of our lives. How can we face the truth about people we love and look up to when we learn they have lied to us and led us astray of the truth. Most children do not have the ability, inward strength, and love for their parents to confront them not in vengeances or hatred, but in love to see them changed in God too. It takes God strengthening us in the inward parts to be able to realize we have been lied too all of our lives and then turn from the lie and move now in the glorious truth of the word of God.
On the same note I am very puzzled how the different American denominations each can say they have the truth, everyone else is wrong, and are going to hell useless they join their church to believe like them. I have heard this song and dance for years. Strange how the truth from the word of God has divided people out into different groups or maybe it is not the truth, but other words that have been painted and primped up to represent truth. Never forget what God said is the truth, the Scriptures and the words He speaks to us, everything else often is our (me too) selfish and self-centered attempt to ascend into the heavens (like the Angel Lucifer) making an emotional approach to God with our feelings, intellect, or worse using the truth to manipulate people to get them to do things. When Jesus stood before Pilate He defined something greater than what truth was, He defined who was of the truth, “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. 38Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.” (John 18:37-38) Pilate heard Jesus speak (face-to-face) and knew He was the King of kings, this is why he could say, “I find in him no fault at all.” He knew Jesus was Caesar and so much more. My friend hearing God’s words (not other’s words) is the key to knowing the truth. But please notice Jesus never answered Pilate’s question. I wonder why not? Because truth is owned by God and He will tell us what He wants us to know. This is why hearing correctly is so important to our spiritual growth and development. And this is why our revelation of God matters, like our teachers. For the one who has a greater, deeper (which is down) revelation of God will walk and teach a greater and deeper understanding of restrictions and limitations, the place of God’s completion and fulfillment for our lives. The babes in Christ will walk and preach a hip, cool, liberty and freedom message appealing to man’s logic and reasoning, are non-spiritual pointing people to God through their emotions, and it always seems they persecutes those with a greater and deeper revelation. This my friend is not what God is looking for.
It seems most disagreements in the church today happen not around the absolutes (the tenants of the faith) of the Gospel message, but around how the optionals (the taste not, feel not, handle not of the faith) are used to share the Gospel message. My friend truth never changes, nor does God, His word, and His ways to share the Gospel message. The Gospel message is designed by God to be shared one-on-one in spoken and written word, period full stop. The fancier we get the less God is involved. Remember if the world is running after your church or book God is not. I still say the more we use technology to share the Gospel message the less of God is in us. Often times the optionals become absolutes and the absolutes become optionals and when this happen there is a conflict in the Spirit and those not of the Spirit of God will get offended, stumble, and fall out of the way, but this can be a good thing if the lesson of offense is learned. It never fails when I write about our critical need for standards, righteousness, and holiness I get attacked by a handful of folks that say I am being legalistic or condemning, well this my friend is nothing more than a sign of them not really knowing the truth. To be honest I like it when someone tells me I am too condemning or legalistic, because I know the truth and I know I have done my job to share the truth with them and now the truth is a mirror (cleaned by the washing of the word of God and polished by the precious Holy Spirit) for them to look deep to expose areas in theirs lives (that includes me too) that only the power of God can change. If not we will be stuck in some dead-end denomination, religion, or maybe a cult that talks about the truth and evens preaches sermons about the truth, but knows nothing of the truth. Truth my friend is to convict us (a most edifying and uplifting work of God in our lives) and bring us to the revelation of who we are apart from Jesus Christ so that we can realize our eternal need for salvation, which is much more than having our sins forgiven. The chief job of the Holy Spirit (someone most denominations know only in word) is to convict or reprove us so that we will know the truth, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter (Holy Spirit) will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8And when he is come, he will reprove (convict) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” (John 16:7-11) And to lead and guide us to all truth. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:12-13) A person, church, denomination, or religion without this element of God’s grace moving in it is following a false doctrine. Remember, a lie and truth is always a lie. And for a lie to be received it must have an element of truth moving in it. This is why churches around the world are full of well meaning folks, but lost to the truth of the word of God. If the message is God loves you (which He does) (the truth), He is going to give you a chicken in every pot, and a new car every year, or you have great freedom to say and do whatever you want (the lie), well you have been deceived and the truth is not in you for these are not totally words of truth.
Beloved let us allow the Holy Spirit to open up the truth to us. Oh we say we want this, but our actions (me too) speak louder than our words. How do we resist the Holy Spirit one would ask? Not by saying I resist you, but by every time He brings the truth to us and we turn it aside. Every time the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and we do not agree. Every time He touches us and opens up our understanding to the truth and we reject it. The handful of folks that reject our writings are not rejecting us, but the words God is speaking through us. The Children of Israel thought they were rebelling against Moses, but in reality were rebelling against God, a big mistake. You can ask Korah and the 250 Elders. Every time the Holy Spirit comes to us and we know the truth, but reject it because we do not want to suffer loss in our self. And especially when the Holy Spirit comes to us with truth and we see (understand) it but do not receive it because we refuse to admit someone like our preacher or even our parents have lied to us for years, maybe all of our lives. Only if we allow God to strengthen us can we handle truth, if not truth will kill us and not make us alive. We must accept His word to us and face the truth, if not there will be no change in us and we will lose everything starting with each relationship we have. If not we will stay in a dead-end denomination or religion working for God, but never becoming the work of God (Ephesians 2:10). What is truth? Jesus, said, “I am the truth . . . .” But know this we must face the truth some day. All will stand before God, sinner and saint alike. It is better we face the truth now because later will cost us dearly. Written by David Stahl
2 comments:
Stop condeming folks. God's grace is sufficient for us all (even you). Arm chair quarterbacks who second guess Preachers, Pastors, Deacons, and others in leadership positions are just folks who never succeed because they are never willing to fail. Get out of your chair and get in the game!
Dear Anonymous,
Never underestimate the power of truth. Thank you for reading my article there is still hope. I see your words have proven the main point of the truthfulness of our article. By your word section and previous emails I believe I know who you are. It is better we get condemed now than when we stand before the Lord. Please take time and read our website too, you will see we have been in the game for 47years. Again thanks for reading and replying as I have asked, but next time please leave a way to contact you, I am not ashamed of what I write. David Stahl sends
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