Sermon Nuggets Fri Oct 3
The Work of the 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.
John 16:14,15 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.
15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
The Focus of the Spirit
I read a book by David Howard, The Holy Spirit. In it he told of his experience as a missionary in Columbia. He told how some friends wanted to discuss the work of the Holy Spirit so he could have a deeper understanding and experience the closenss of the Spirit. The more they talked he sensed they had an interpretation of the Scriptures that was very limited and one-sided.
He visited with his pastor about his concern. His pastor said, "Dave, whenever you hear someone who talks constantly about the Holy Spirit, you have reason to doubt that he really knows the Lord the way he should."
He could hardly believe his ears? How could anyone who talks about the Spirit be deficient or in error in his knowledge of God? But his pastor had him look up the verses we are looking at today.
He pointed out the work of the Spirit is to glorify and testify of Jesus Christ, not Himself. The work of the Son is to glorify the Father and the Father glorifies the Son. He said, “I have never found in the Bible were the Father or the Son seek to glorify the person of the Holy Spirit. We have strong warning never to blasphemy the Holy Spirit. We are instructed never to quench the Holy Spirit, we are told to receive the Holy Spirit. But the work of the Spirit according to Scriptures is to glorify Jesus Christ and take what Jesus Christ taught and bring it to our awareness.”
David Howard thought back on what his friends had said. They talked much of the Spirit, but very little about Christ. They conversed much of their own experiences, but little about the objective Word of God. They departed from him convinced he was unspiritual.
I recognize the unique ministry of the Apostles to testify and share the words that Jesus passed on through them, but now that we have the word and the Holy Spirit in us, we too are to share the testimony and witness for Christ. The Bible tells us that "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you..You shall be my witnesses."
It seems to me that the New Testament teaches us to think of the Spirit and His ministry in terms of a personal sovereignty whereby He uses us, not we Him. He changes us internally first by opening our eyes to reality-the reality of God , of Christ, of our sin and need, of the spiritual realm, of the demonic and so on; and then through uniting us to Christ. He changes us so that our desires and attitudes move to become those of Jesus. We should have an increasing drive to please and glorify Jesus and walk in His holiness.
Christ does not call us to be His servants and then utterly neglect to give us any orders as to our work. The trouble is that we have not looked to Him for our directions. Too often we have chosen to work by our own plans instead of asking Him to show us Himself. The focus of the Spirit is to help us see Jesus who helps us see the Father. When we do, and it is from the Spirit, we glorify Him and worship. From that focus He directs our paths.
Pastor Dale
Friday, October 3, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Guiding of the Spirit John 16:12,13
Sermon nuggets Thurs Oct 2
Theme- The Work of the Holy Spirit
Verses- John 16:12-13 "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
The Guiding of the Spirit
In our summer Bible study on Heaven a new thought was impressed on me. That thought was from the word of God and illuminated by the Holy Spirit. It was simply this- We will be spending all of eternity discovering more of God-the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God will be continually creating and His abilities, characteristics, and wonder are inexhaustible. We will find our delight and joy in our relationship with Him and seeing His wonder in new ways forever.
As a child I had been brought repeatedly to Sunday School and church, VBS, Camp, and children’s clubs. I had a mother who read Bible stories to me before bedtime, and when I could read well enough was given Hulburt’s story book of the Bible. In time I would to get bored going to Sunday school hearing the same stories over and over again. I defiantly told my mother I didn’t want to go anymore because I had heard it all and knew it all. I couldn’t count the number of times I had heard about Adam and Eve, Babel, sacrifice of Isaac, Moses and the Red Sea, David and Goliath, Daniel and the Lion’s Den, the Firery furnace. I knew the story of the Christ and the cross and most of the parables.
As I grew in my faith in the Lord I came to understand more about these stories. My greatest discovery was the Bible was not from man’s point of view, but God’s point of view. I came to learn these were not about us, they were about Him.
The guidance of the Holy Spirit wasn’t so much which color of shirt I should wear, or even which bike I should buy. It was about a life seeking to get beyond the mundane human pattern to see the work and wonder of God in and around me that allowed me to love Him more. It wasn’t about the activities, it was about the relationship. The older I get I need to be guided into the truth that it isn’t about what I do for Him. IT is to love Him more and from that love God will do what he wants in me if I am willing to let Him. It wasn’t that if I had enough faith I could kill a giant, but God desires my daily trust as I seek to obey Him and allow His spirit to guide me throughout the day.
Jesus said the disciples cannot bear all that He wanted them to know and learn. They were limited in their ability to appreciate all that was happening to them. The walk in following Him will be ongoing and their need for guidance from the temporary to the eternal needed the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In the world of lies they needed to see truth. They needed to be life long learners and God was not done with them yet.
The paths He leads through the guidance of the Holy Spirit will be filled with learning more about Him. Life will not be about the activities, for they will be both good and bad, hard and pleasurable, but it will be about connected with the glory of God to prepare us for the inexhaustible wonders ahead. He will tell you what is to come.
Pastor Dale
Theme- The Work of the Holy Spirit
Verses- John 16:12-13 "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
The Guiding of the Spirit
In our summer Bible study on Heaven a new thought was impressed on me. That thought was from the word of God and illuminated by the Holy Spirit. It was simply this- We will be spending all of eternity discovering more of God-the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. God will be continually creating and His abilities, characteristics, and wonder are inexhaustible. We will find our delight and joy in our relationship with Him and seeing His wonder in new ways forever.
As a child I had been brought repeatedly to Sunday School and church, VBS, Camp, and children’s clubs. I had a mother who read Bible stories to me before bedtime, and when I could read well enough was given Hulburt’s story book of the Bible. In time I would to get bored going to Sunday school hearing the same stories over and over again. I defiantly told my mother I didn’t want to go anymore because I had heard it all and knew it all. I couldn’t count the number of times I had heard about Adam and Eve, Babel, sacrifice of Isaac, Moses and the Red Sea, David and Goliath, Daniel and the Lion’s Den, the Firery furnace. I knew the story of the Christ and the cross and most of the parables.
As I grew in my faith in the Lord I came to understand more about these stories. My greatest discovery was the Bible was not from man’s point of view, but God’s point of view. I came to learn these were not about us, they were about Him.
The guidance of the Holy Spirit wasn’t so much which color of shirt I should wear, or even which bike I should buy. It was about a life seeking to get beyond the mundane human pattern to see the work and wonder of God in and around me that allowed me to love Him more. It wasn’t about the activities, it was about the relationship. The older I get I need to be guided into the truth that it isn’t about what I do for Him. IT is to love Him more and from that love God will do what he wants in me if I am willing to let Him. It wasn’t that if I had enough faith I could kill a giant, but God desires my daily trust as I seek to obey Him and allow His spirit to guide me throughout the day.
Jesus said the disciples cannot bear all that He wanted them to know and learn. They were limited in their ability to appreciate all that was happening to them. The walk in following Him will be ongoing and their need for guidance from the temporary to the eternal needed the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In the world of lies they needed to see truth. They needed to be life long learners and God was not done with them yet.
The paths He leads through the guidance of the Holy Spirit will be filled with learning more about Him. Life will not be about the activities, for they will be both good and bad, hard and pleasurable, but it will be about connected with the glory of God to prepare us for the inexhaustible wonders ahead. He will tell you what is to come.
Pastor Dale
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Conviction by the Spirit John 16:8-11
Sermon nuggets Weds Oct 1
Theme- The Work of the Spirit
Verses- John 16:8-11 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
Conviction of the Spirit
It is also the work of the Spirit to bring conviction in hearts or minds of both non-Christians as well as Christians. We see the work of the Spirit in conviction here in three ways. First, in regards to sin.
We cannot begin to come to the Lord unless we realize that we are sinners and in need of a savior. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” “The wages of sin is death.” We stand condemned by God for deeds and attitudes, and hearts that are sinful. Many people readily come to that conclusion if they are honest with themselves. But there comes a time in our lives when we feel so spiritually dirty.
I was visiting recently with some people about the Lord's return. Many are uncomfortable about that subject. One reason is fear. Some fear that Jesus will come and they are not ready to meet the Lord. Some are participating in sinful actions that they would not please Jesus.
As we continue to mature in our Christian faith and as we become more familiar with the Word of God the Spirit will bring to mind other attitudes, actions or thoughts that are dishonoring to the name of Christ. This is also the conviction of sin that we might change and respond to Christ “as the spirit moves.” The job of sanctification is seeking holiness in lifestyle as well as in heart.
Secondly, the Spirit convicts “in regards to righteousness because Jesus is going to the Father.” Jesus demonstrated what life should be like. We do not have Jesus here now to observe. But we do have the Holy Spirit that convicts us of what we should be doing, and how we should be living.
Righteousness is being made right with God. The Spirit will reveal if we are right with God or not. The Spirit will move in our hearts if we want him to. He will tell us how we should live and bring the principles of the Bible to reality. He calls us into a fellowship and together we serve him priests one to another.
Thirdly, the Spirit convicts in regards to judgment. If we do not have Jesus take care of our sin, we will be judged. We stand condemned. There will be none other than the all knowing Lord whom we must face. Judgment is an awful thing to think about. No one can hide anything from God.
I get really irritated when I see justice in our country abused by the system. Too often the judgment of guilty or innocent is intertwined with the arguments, not with the facts. If you have a good lawyer, then can twist things around to make the innocent seem guilty and the guilty seem innocent. There are no loopholes with God. He not only knows all but sees our hearts, thoughts, and motives. Coming clean before God is done by the prompting and conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Either we stand forgiven in the righteousness of Jesus or we do not. Satan, even with all of his accusations, cannot change that fact. The price of all our sin and our shame has been paid for on the Cross and we will never have to answer for the past sins paid for in full on the cross. However without the cross, we will be judged ourselves. And the penalty is eternal separation from God forever in Hell.
He speaks to the world that the world might be saved. And He speaks to the believer that we live to the glory of God.
Pastor Dale
Theme- The Work of the Spirit
Verses- John 16:8-11 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
Conviction of the Spirit
It is also the work of the Spirit to bring conviction in hearts or minds of both non-Christians as well as Christians. We see the work of the Spirit in conviction here in three ways. First, in regards to sin.
We cannot begin to come to the Lord unless we realize that we are sinners and in need of a savior. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” “The wages of sin is death.” We stand condemned by God for deeds and attitudes, and hearts that are sinful. Many people readily come to that conclusion if they are honest with themselves. But there comes a time in our lives when we feel so spiritually dirty.
I was visiting recently with some people about the Lord's return. Many are uncomfortable about that subject. One reason is fear. Some fear that Jesus will come and they are not ready to meet the Lord. Some are participating in sinful actions that they would not please Jesus.
As we continue to mature in our Christian faith and as we become more familiar with the Word of God the Spirit will bring to mind other attitudes, actions or thoughts that are dishonoring to the name of Christ. This is also the conviction of sin that we might change and respond to Christ “as the spirit moves.” The job of sanctification is seeking holiness in lifestyle as well as in heart.
Secondly, the Spirit convicts “in regards to righteousness because Jesus is going to the Father.” Jesus demonstrated what life should be like. We do not have Jesus here now to observe. But we do have the Holy Spirit that convicts us of what we should be doing, and how we should be living.
Righteousness is being made right with God. The Spirit will reveal if we are right with God or not. The Spirit will move in our hearts if we want him to. He will tell us how we should live and bring the principles of the Bible to reality. He calls us into a fellowship and together we serve him priests one to another.
Thirdly, the Spirit convicts in regards to judgment. If we do not have Jesus take care of our sin, we will be judged. We stand condemned. There will be none other than the all knowing Lord whom we must face. Judgment is an awful thing to think about. No one can hide anything from God.
I get really irritated when I see justice in our country abused by the system. Too often the judgment of guilty or innocent is intertwined with the arguments, not with the facts. If you have a good lawyer, then can twist things around to make the innocent seem guilty and the guilty seem innocent. There are no loopholes with God. He not only knows all but sees our hearts, thoughts, and motives. Coming clean before God is done by the prompting and conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Either we stand forgiven in the righteousness of Jesus or we do not. Satan, even with all of his accusations, cannot change that fact. The price of all our sin and our shame has been paid for on the Cross and we will never have to answer for the past sins paid for in full on the cross. However without the cross, we will be judged ourselves. And the penalty is eternal separation from God forever in Hell.
He speaks to the world that the world might be saved. And He speaks to the believer that we live to the glory of God.
Pastor Dale
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Presence of the Spirit John 16:1-7
Sermon nuggets Tues Sept 30
Theme- The Work of the Holy Spirit
Verses- John 16:1 "All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.
2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.
3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.
5 "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief.
7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
PRESENCE Of the Spirit
Jesus tells the disciples they will not be left without a counselor. The joy of what was about to happen after the cross, resurrection and ascension was the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in each believer. I am convinced we have not allowed the Spirit to do what he wants in our lives enough.
We are blessed to have God in our daily lives, but unsettled days are ahead of us according to the prophecies. We are in the midst of economic turmoil, threats of nuclear war, and domestic immorality unlike ever before. To identify with Jesus was dangerous business then, and in many countries today. But the encouragement during persecution and hard times is that we are strengthened by the Spirit and encouraged in the hope that is ours even if we die. Jesus is coming to rule as King.
When the disciples did share about Jesus Christ they were beaten, put in jailed, thrown out of the cities, and synagogues, and killed. Tradition has it that Matthew suffered martyrdom by being slain with a sword in Ethiopia. Mark expired at Alexandria after being dragged cruelly through the streets. Luke was hanged upon an olive tree in Greece. John was put in boiling oil but escaped death only to be in exile in the Island of Patmos. Peter was crucified with his head downward. James was beheaded at Jerusalem by Herod. Bartholomew was flayed alive, Andrew was bound to a cross, and preached to his persecutors until he died. Thomas was run though the body with a lance at Coromandel in E. Indies. Jude was shot to death with arrows. Matthias was first stoned and then beheaded. Barnabas of Gentiles was stoned to death at Salonica. Paul, after various tortures and persecutions, was at length beheaded at Rome by Nero. Indeed how would Jesus prepare his disciples with what was to face them? People zealous for God thought they were doing God a favor. During the time of the great Spanish inquisition he "iron Maiden" with its bloody spikes and the torture wrack that pulled limbs out of their sockets were used by the Catholic Church to "convince men of the 'one true faith' and to save their souls from hell."
According to David Barret editor of the World Christian Encyclopedia In this century, an average of 300,000 Christians has been martyred each year. Martyrdom is not an outrageous exception, but a part of a surprisingly regular 2,000 year pattern where persecution and suffering are the normal lot of the body of Christ.
According to Jim Reapsome, editor of the Evangelical Missions Quarterly "missionaries are finding themselves in increasingly dangerous conditions. " He believes that the history of the church confirms that missionaries are bona fide candidates for martyrdom."
They trusted in God and even found a spiritual joy in the power of the Holy Spirit during the most difficult of times.
Jesus said, "I told you all this so that you will not go astray." When the time comes we will not have the courage to stand and testify for Jesus unless we know the power of the Spirit within. You do not need the Holy Spirit to be religious or play at church. But persecution will me an defection if you are without Him.
Pastor Dale
Theme- The Work of the Holy Spirit
Verses- John 16:1 "All this I have told you so that you will not go astray.
2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.
3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.
5 "Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief.
7 But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
PRESENCE Of the Spirit
Jesus tells the disciples they will not be left without a counselor. The joy of what was about to happen after the cross, resurrection and ascension was the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in each believer. I am convinced we have not allowed the Spirit to do what he wants in our lives enough.
We are blessed to have God in our daily lives, but unsettled days are ahead of us according to the prophecies. We are in the midst of economic turmoil, threats of nuclear war, and domestic immorality unlike ever before. To identify with Jesus was dangerous business then, and in many countries today. But the encouragement during persecution and hard times is that we are strengthened by the Spirit and encouraged in the hope that is ours even if we die. Jesus is coming to rule as King.
When the disciples did share about Jesus Christ they were beaten, put in jailed, thrown out of the cities, and synagogues, and killed. Tradition has it that Matthew suffered martyrdom by being slain with a sword in Ethiopia. Mark expired at Alexandria after being dragged cruelly through the streets. Luke was hanged upon an olive tree in Greece. John was put in boiling oil but escaped death only to be in exile in the Island of Patmos. Peter was crucified with his head downward. James was beheaded at Jerusalem by Herod. Bartholomew was flayed alive, Andrew was bound to a cross, and preached to his persecutors until he died. Thomas was run though the body with a lance at Coromandel in E. Indies. Jude was shot to death with arrows. Matthias was first stoned and then beheaded. Barnabas of Gentiles was stoned to death at Salonica. Paul, after various tortures and persecutions, was at length beheaded at Rome by Nero. Indeed how would Jesus prepare his disciples with what was to face them? People zealous for God thought they were doing God a favor. During the time of the great Spanish inquisition he "iron Maiden" with its bloody spikes and the torture wrack that pulled limbs out of their sockets were used by the Catholic Church to "convince men of the 'one true faith' and to save their souls from hell."
According to David Barret editor of the World Christian Encyclopedia In this century, an average of 300,000 Christians has been martyred each year. Martyrdom is not an outrageous exception, but a part of a surprisingly regular 2,000 year pattern where persecution and suffering are the normal lot of the body of Christ.
According to Jim Reapsome, editor of the Evangelical Missions Quarterly "missionaries are finding themselves in increasingly dangerous conditions. " He believes that the history of the church confirms that missionaries are bona fide candidates for martyrdom."
They trusted in God and even found a spiritual joy in the power of the Holy Spirit during the most difficult of times.
Jesus said, "I told you all this so that you will not go astray." When the time comes we will not have the courage to stand and testify for Jesus unless we know the power of the Spirit within. You do not need the Holy Spirit to be religious or play at church. But persecution will me an defection if you are without Him.
Pastor Dale
Monday, September 29, 2008
Spirit of Truth John 15:26,27
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
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
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