Sermon nuggets Mon Sept 29
Theme The Work of the Holy Spirit
Verses John 15:26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.
27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
Spirit OF TRUTH
Before we go to John 16 Jesus emphasizes the Spirit of God is the Spirit of truth.
Perhaps one of the most helpful books I’ve read as a counselor was “Telling Yourself the Truth” by Christian Psychologist, William Backus. He illustrated how often we are bound by addictions by telling ourselves mistruths, or lies.
One lady told herself she cannot stop smoking since she had tried several times and just couldn’t do it. He informed her she was believing a lie. Assuming he put a gun to her head and threatened to shoot her if she picked up a cigarette, could she refrain from smoking? She got the idea. The motivation was not yet strong enough. But she could stop smoking if she really wanted or needed to. He wanted her to also compare the lies we tell ourselves to the truth of God. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Phil 4:13 KVJ.
It has impressed me often how Satan is called the father of lies. Lies not only keep us bound, but are the greatest enemy to the work of Jesus. Satan’s most effective weapon is having us believe lies. That is how he tempted Adam and Eve. That is how he keeps people from knowing Jesus Christ. He keeps us in falsehood which is in contradiction to the Word of God, the testimony of truth.
The gift of the Holy Spirit will be the one who is a counselor in truth. Most importantly we need spiritual truth. Lying seems to be so ingrained in our nature. But we have a changed nature. We need to be people who stop telling little white lies. We need to lay pride down and accept the work of the Spirit to sustain us in truth.
There are people who have lost my trust completely since I have caught them in so many lies. To cover up their lies they tell more lies. I will no longer go to some businesses because I have been lied to. I have been told parts are on backorder which is why they couldn’t fix my broken item. Why not just say simply, “I have not gotten to it yet?” They think lying will help them get and maintain business, but what does it do to their soul? Habits form quickly. Many competitors will promise things they cannot provide just to get business but in God’s eyes honesty matters more than money.
A testimony is a statement, either written, or spoken of one's experience. If something happened to me, or I had seen something happen and I tell you of my first or second hand experience, I am sharing with you a testimony. When someone is asked to testify in court, they are simply asked to share what they have seen, heard, or experienced. Jesus informs us that the Spirit, sent by the Father to reveal the Son will never tell us a lie. He will always tell us the truth. Anything that isn't truth is not of God.
There are some cults that not only use deception and lies to carry out their work, but fool people into thinking the end justifies the means. Unfortunately there are people who believe in Jesus that think if they can accomplish some good work and must use deception to do it is of the Holy Spirit. That does not come from the Spirit of Truth.
Ask the Lord today to reveal to you when you are tempted to “stretch the truth” or seek deception. Ask why you would respond this way when there is a better way. God’s way is to be people of the truth in the Spirit.
Pastor Dale
