Have a Love For The Truth
Many have asked in the past, and many are still asking today, where is the church? Or, when is the church going to get back together, what should we be doing? And these are quite understandable questions for many, because many members in God’s church (too many members) are confused over these issues.
But that ought not to be, because “confusion” is not a trait (a distinguishing character) of the church of God. Confusion is a “worldly” trait, authored as we all know, by Satan. Confusion is part of the world; yes confusion is just another part of the untoward world in which we live, and, (as members of God’s church) are “commanded” to come out of.
The distinguishing character of the “church” (the one and only true church) is “Truth”. And the distinguishing character of the true ecclesia, the true member, is one who is “walking in “truth.”
(And understand something here, if we don’t have the truth, we can’t walk in the truth.)
Truth eliminates confusion. Truth does so many things. Remember, “Truth” is what the Scripture tells us: “will set us free”.
Truth is even the “defining” character of the church. Paul told Timothy that: “the church of the living God is the pillar and ground of the Truth.”
If you’re looking for the church (The true church) you need to be looking for truth. Truth & Church go hand in hand. Like we used to say: “I came into the Truth.” When one is called by the Father, he is called out of the world, including out of the confusion, and into the truth. Truth is even what makes one “holy” or “clean”, or “pure”. Yes, truth is what makes one a “saint”.
Now we are not all saints when we first come into the church, into the truth (I know I wasn’t) one has to grow to become a saint. (Change our ways, change our walk.) In Ephesians 5:3 Paul speak about us “becometh saints” The word means: “to tower up” to be suitable – proper. Yes, we need to grow up and become mature in the faith, and that comes by learning and walking in truth. 2 Peter 3:18 tells us we need to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior. That word “knowledge” means – “acquaintance with facts – truths.”
And you can’t get the facts; you can’t get the truth, unless you investigate. 2Timothy 2:15 Study, to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed (disgraced) rightly divide the word of “truth.”
Brethren, if we are truly looking for truth, we need to realize something. We need to understand that we cannot take any “man’s” word for granted. And we cannot just sit back and relying on what we “proved” in the past. (Especially if someone is questioning some important doctrine, and claiming we are incorrect about some beliefs. We need to check that out. There are things that the church in general has taught (and are still teaching today for that matter), that are quite contrary to what the Scriptures actually says. (That’s the “spirit of error John speaks about in 1 John 4:1- 3. (It’s easy to spot, and it’s in all the hierarchal churches – Good subject for another day.)
Scripture is for searching, Scripture is for proof & reproof. We have been misled by man so much in the past, even with their policy of shunning us away from anyone or anything that is outside the box, or more importantly, outside of their control. (We all know this brethren, at least I hope we do, and if we don’t, we better wake up.) If someone has anything “new” to talk about, James says be swift to hear. And look what we can learn from the Berean’s. When Paul and Silas spoke to them, “they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” That “readiness of mind” means = enthusiasm, eagerness.
Don’t be scared to study any subject including the ones that we think we have correct. Truth will stand on its own two feet. And currently, I believe the church has begun receiving the “Latter Rain”. You may not be aware, but Scriptures are opening up to many brethren at this time. Just check out what some are writing about numerous important subjects. You may find that what some are calling “new” and warning you to stay clear of, might just be Scriptural truth that is destroying some fables.
In John 17:17 we read Christ’s prayer to the Father, when He was praying for “us”. In that prayer He requested for us not to be taken out of the world, but to be kept from the evil, and He went on to ask the Father to “Sanctify” us (make us holy) how, through “truth” (which is the Scriptures.) He said sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth. That’s why every belief we have needs to be supported by Scripture. Not by fables, or ideas of men. And not by assumption, we need the facts, the truth, when it comes to our beliefs.
Many of these church “leaders” continue to lead many astray. Notice how Christ prayed for us “not” to be taken out of the world, but to be kept from the evil. That reminds me about how some of these “ministers” have their own agendas, like the one who won’t allow his members to associate with their own flesh and blood family relatives, if they are not in his particular organization. Where’s the truth in that? How sad and how unbiblical, Paul does tell us not to eat with fornicators etc. But he clarifies that saying not to eat with fornicators who call themselves a brother. Paul is not talking of separating from fornicators of the world. 1 Cor 5:9-12. Our Lord spent much of His time with sinners; He was their physician, their doctor, their healer. And it’s kind of hard to let ones light shine amongst men, if we shun them. We are also called in Scripture God’s “witnesses.” And besides, oftentimes those family members are more righteous than us. Remember, Christ said He came not to call the righteous, but sinners (us) to repentance.
And how about these leaders (many of them in their totally separate organizations) are claiming or insisting that their particular “church organization” is the only true one, the only one where God is working, the only one where you will be protected from the coming tribulation. That is utter nonsense brethren. How sad and how foolish, and how deceived they are. They seem to think that they are the head of the church, not realizing that our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ is alive and well and quite capable of heading His church, and that it is He Christ who will decide who is accounted worthy to escape these troubles that lie ahead.
Brethren, let us not be fooled by these deceived self exalted men. If those men were humble, and looking to Christ as the Head of the church, and listening to His voice and being led by the Holy Spirit, there would not be all these separated divided groups. All that is confusion; and as we stated before, confusion is authored by the arch deceiver. We don’t need confusion; we need something that produces clarity, order.
We’re going to be talking about truth today brethren. Truth is of utmost importance to the members of the body of Christ. It eliminates error, it eliminates confusion. We need the truth because many members are lacking in it. And most importantly today, we’re going to be looking to see “IF” yes, if we have a “Love” for truth. If we don’t have a love for the truth, our fate is not a good one. Let’s go and see that before we move on. 2 Thessalonians 2:10
Paul is writing to the Thessalonians here. They were confused. Confused about the return of our Lord and Savior, questioning whether the day of the Lord had already come. Paul tells them no, that there has to be a falling away first “apostasy” “defection from truth”, and “then” the man of sin, the wicked one, would be revealed, ushering in the return of our Lord. And he went on to say that the wicked one’s coming, would be after the working of Satan, with all power and signs, and lying wonders.
And then he said this: (something that we as members of the church need to heed, and heed big time, because this has to do with our upcoming fate.) He said: And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Well what is he saying here: “with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish.” Exactly who is this “perishing” here?
NIV says: 2 Thessalonians 2:9 “The coming of the lawlessness one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. And they perish because they “refuse” to love the truth and so be saved”. The ones perishing here are those who “refused” to love the truth. You see, they had a love for something else, as the rest of this verse goes on to say: they took pleasure in unrighteousness.
“Many are called, but few are chosen” Why? Because many have the cares of this life, the cares of this world, the pleasures of unrighteousness, on their front burner. We have to high of a calling brethren to allow anything to push our high calling off the front burner. Let us remember, the Father isn’t too happy with those who after they are called, ask to be excused, He says: “None of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.” Luke 14-24. Also, the wise go into the marriage and the door is shut. When the foolish come knocking, they are told I know you not. Matthew 25:12.
Let us also not forget the parable of how the Father comes three years looking fruit, finds none and threatens to cut our tree down. But fortunately, the story doesn’t end there. As we know the dresser of the vineyard requests to dig it and dung it for a year. Then, IF it doesn’t bear fruit, cut it down.
I bring this parable into the picture here because we need to be bearing fruit. But a plant doesn’t bear fruit until it matures. And maturity comes from growth, the very thing that we, as members of the body of Christ are instructed to be doing, growing in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior. And that calls for “truth” Knowledge here is speaking of “knowing” it comes from the verb to “know” “absolutely”, “positively”. Well, to know absolutely – positively, one needs truth. Truth is of utmost importance to us. The powerful and important word “truth” is used 224 times in the Scriptures. In John 18:37 Christ told Pilate that: Everyone who is of the “truth” hears His voice.
Ok, nothing new here, right? We probably all know these Scriptures, and I’m sure we all will agree that “truth” is very important. The question is “do we have it?
Our Lord told His disciples in John 16:12: “I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now. Howbeit when the spirit of truth, is come, it will guide you into all truth: for it shall not speak of itself; but whatsoever it shall hear, shall it speak: and it will shew you things to come.”
Have we reached that point? Have we been guided into all truth? Have we already been shown the things to come? Or do we “individually” need to be continually listening for and hearing that sprit of truth? Notice the word “guide” is used here, not “lead”. Guide means: To assist (a person) to travel through, or reach a destination in an unfamiliar area – to accompany.
Many if not most pulpits falsely preach and teach that we have the truth that we need only to hold on to it. Brethren, let us not deceive ourselves thinking we have all the truth and have completely grown in the faith and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, because we haven’t, not yet. That attitude or mind set is why our Lord and Savior tells many He is on the outside, standing at the door and knocking?
O, that pertains to the church at Laodicea, not us right? That pertains to the ones who are lukewarm, not us. We’re the Philadelphians right? I think we may want to anoint our eyes with a little bit of that “eyesalve” Brethren. We need our eyes opened and our ears hearing because the spirit of truth still has much guiding to do with us. There is much truth that we still need to acquire.
The title of today’s message is “Do You or Do You Not – Have a Love For The truth?” This is very important question, because time is running out. We are not living at the time our Lord began to build His church, His “Ecclesia” we are living at the time when He is about to “complete” that building.
We are lot living at the time of waiting for the falling away to arrive. The falling away is already here, the defection from truth has already transpired. We are not living back when Peter predicted that the way of truth “shall be” evil spoken of. We are living at the time the way of truth “IS” evil spoken of (and more than most realize.) We are living at the time when the man of sin, the son of perdition, is going to be revealed.
We are not living back in the time when they were telling us that the earthquakes were increasing, when they actually weren’t increasing back then. We’re living at the time when the earthquakes “are” increasing, and they are being silent about it. Brethren, are you aware that all the super volcanoes around the world are “expanding” right now, meaning that the lava is rising, which according to all the scientists, is a “sure” sign of eruption? We are not talking one or two, or even a few; we are talking “all” the super volcanoes, including the entire “ring of fire.”
We are living at the time when those without a love for the truth, according to what we read from the Apostle Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:10 are going to perish. Sorry if this is a sobering message, but we are living at the time when we need to wake up. (If that’s possible?) A time when we need to be filling our vessels with something that is vital for our well being.
Matthew 25 please.
The oil in those lamps is not God’s spirit. You can’t buy God’s Spirit. Simon Magus’ incident shows us that. But what we can buy, and better buy, is Truth. The oil in those lamps is “truth”. Truth is what we are instructed to buy (Proverbs 23:23) you buy it with bible study, rightly dividing the way of truth. You buy it with your “time” time is money. Truth is the light that will safely guide us on the correct path. Psalms 119:105.
Let’s take a look at the parable of the 10 virgins, that parable can help us comprehend a few important things concerning the signs of the times in which we are living, and what is soon to transpire.
For those who are acquainted with WWC history, you can possibly speculate verse one of Matthew 25 with the seventies, when they were ready to meet the bridegroom? Verse two should be quite eye opening. “Men” may have the church of God divided into hundreds of separate groups, but in God’s eyes there are only two groups, yes, two “the wise & the foolish” (which one we are in is our choice.)
Verse three & four, as I previously mentioned, I believe that oil which the “wise” virgins took and carried in their vessels with their lamps is “truth”. Now verse five, shows the current condition of the church, slumbering & sleeping. But slumbering & sleeping is soon to end because the midnight cry of verse six is soon to sound. At that time the man made barriers of the hundreds of separated divided churches will end. God’s two groups (wise & foolish) will at that time begin a mission. (No time here to elaborate on that right now) but lets us understand something about that “Midnight Cry” that is soon to sound. That midnight cry comes from that mighty angel of Revelation 10, the one with the little book open, who stands with right foot on land and left foot on sea. It’s the same cry. The Greek tells us that Matthew 25 cry comes out of Revelation 10 cry.
And we might not know what the seven thunders are, but we do know when they will utter their voices, it will occur directly after the angel’s cry. In verse 3 of Revelation 10 that word “when” is defined by strong’s with the meaning of “too”, “as soon as”, and “when”, and “while”. Makes me kind of think they will sound during the cry. I know this for sure brethren, if more like minded brethren could do some conversing (like we are admonished to do Malachi 3:16) we could grow in truth much quicker because Iron still sharpeneth iron. But that’s unlikely to happen for those who are still sitting in one of those hierarchical groups where the Sprit is quenched. Many are even policed, not allowed to think outside the box. How sad, the very thing Christ’s hates “lording over.”
Brethren, we are approaching the return of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto Him. O, I know, we been hearing that since the get go, we been hearing that ever since we were baptized and came into the church. But things are different now. Earthquakes are increasing, volcanoes are expanding. And most importantly, Isaiah 17:1 seems to be imminent. And church always believed that once that prophesy fulfills, all the rest will follow suit like dominos. Damascus is the capital of Syria, its significance is that Damascus is the oldest inhabited city in the world, and it’s soon to become a “ruinous heap.”
Let’s digress here again just for a moment and ask a question, a very important question. Brethren, what is our biggest obstacle when it comes to being on the right track and headed down the road of Scriptural truth? The answer is men. The disciples asked Christ: “What is the sign of your coming and the end of the age” The first word out of His mouth in answering was: “Take heed that no “man” deceive you, because many “men” will come in my name and deceive many.”
Peter said: “There were false prophets among the people, even as there shall be (better put at this end of the game) even as there “are” false teachers among you, bringing in damnable heresies. And “many” (not a few, brethren, but “many”) shall follow their pernicious ways.2 Peter 2:1-2.
These verses alone should make the hair stand up on all of us…. “Pernicious” here means = causing insidious harm or ruin, deadly, fatal. And remember, he is talking to church members here (us today) members of the body of Christ. Peter says that today many in church are being led astray. And he goes on to say that “the way of truth shall be evil spoken of” (better put at this end of the game) the way of truth “IS” being evil spoken of. Brethren, don’t sit back thinking we know it all, because we don’t, not yet. But we do still have opportunity to grow and learn more truth, and correct any and all error. But time is running out!
Let’s clarify something here. The pulpits have the majority believing that “heresy” is bad. Brethren, heresy is: “opinion or doctrine at variance with the orthodox or accepted doctrine, especially of a church or religious system.”
Paul was accused of heresy “for believing all things that which are written in the law and in the prophets” Acts 24:14. Brethren, try to understand something here, Heresy is not necessarily bad, it’s “damnable heresy” that you don’t want to follow. And you better use much caution, because we are living at the time when good is called bad and bad good, and even the way of “truth” is evil spoken of.
Don’t be surprised if you come to find out that even some of the “beliefs” and “traditions” practiced in the church today are contrary to the Scriptures. (That’s why we have to “prove all things, hold fast to that which is good.) That’s why you have to be free to think outside the box. And if you’re still sitting there in one of those hierarchical churches (the very thing that Christ hates!) you need to wake up before it’s too late.
Nowhere in the Scriptures are we “ever” told to follow any man. (1 Corinthians 11:1 is mistranslation in KJV – should say imitate (not follow.) Imitate is big difference from follow. Every where the Scriptures uses the Greek that does mean “follow” is attached to Christ, like: (My sheep hear my voice and follow me.) What the Scripture does say about men is: “cursed be the man that trusteth in man” Jeremiah 17:5. O, and there is that psalm we used to sing every week: “Put your trust not in mortals.” Psalm 146.
How about Jude? (Jude 1 verse 1 tells us he is speaking to us, the servants of Jesus Christ, the called of God, the “sanctified”. He tells (us) that he was going to write about common salvation, but instead realized that he needed to “exhort” us. (And please understand the powerful meaning of some of these words Jude uses here) Exhort here means: urge, advise earnestly – caution us, admonish urgently – to give urgent advice.) Urgent advice to do what? “Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints”. “Earnestly contend” is another powerful word being used here. This is the word used for the Olympic contenders that are earnestly contending – striving for – fighting for, the “Gold Medal”. And the gold Jude is talking about here (that we all need to be deeply engaged in fighting for) is: “The faith once delivered to the saints.” That faith has been lost, or at least is in very short supply in the churches today, wouldn’t you agree? Why? How? The rest of that verse gives us the answer: “Because certain men crept in, unawares, ungodly men, Jude 1:4-25.
Brethren, those ungodly men even corrupted the “Love Feast” or “Feast of Charity” as it was called (Jude 1:12) And then later at the council of Laodicea, the love feast (the very thing that we were given by our Lord Himself, to increase our spiritual strength) was abolished. Many in God’s church are aware of cannon #29 that was imposed on the church at the council of Laodicea which states: “Christians must not judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honoring the Lord’s day”. But how about Cannon # 28 which states: “It is not permitted to hold love feasts, as they are called, in the Lord’s houses, or churches, nor to eat and to spread couches in the house of God.” (Just look on the Internet to verify. (Council of Laodicea 363-364 AD)
Brethren, that was a sad day for the church, the removing of that church tradition brought about the weak & sickly condition that exists in the church of God today. Results are spoken of in 1 Corinthians 11:30, and has even caused some in God’s church in these end times to sleep, meaning death. Few here will comprehend what I’m talking about. Because Love Feast was done away so long ago that most brethren never even hear of it, even though Peter and Jude speak of it, and even though the New Testament church was performing it “often”.
The love feast is something that is quite Scriptural and quite clear. But one would have to believe what the clear Scriptures say concerning it, and not what the pulpits of men have been taught to incorrectly teach about it. Brethren, the Scriptures don’t lie, but men can be deceived and can be deceiving others. Again, that why we can never put our trust in men, and always need to prove all things.
Some of the traditions that we have been practicing in the church are not Biblical, but manmade. We are instructed in 2 Thessalonians 2:15 to “stand fast, and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by Word (the Scriptures) or our epistle.”
Now you may not see or comprehend what I am trying to say in this message, or the urgency that needs to be mustered here. Or you may not heed the warning that Christ gives us concerning being led astray by men, if you’re just sitting in your seat (or comfort zone as some would put it) just floating along, like you’re on some lazy river ride. Brethren, no one, absolutely no one drift’s into the Kingdom of God. The book of acts speaks of: “through much tribulation one enters the kingdom of God.”
The water coming out of the bluff at Caesarea Philippi (where Christ stated He will build His church) flows down into the Sea of Galilee, where it is reinforced on the Tiberias side by those underwater springs at the mouth of the Jordan River. Then that stream continues flowing all the way down the Jordan River to the Dead Sea. That’s where floaters will end up, if they continue to just float along. And it’s not a good place to float into, because “nothing” lives in the Dead Sea. If we still want to fulfill our High calling, we must swim upstream brethren. We have to search for truth, find it, and walk in it. One has to fight, to struggle in order to overcome the ways of this world, and the subtle deceiving tactics of the arch deceiver.
In Revelation 2 and 3 speaking to the churches (all seven of them) no one is told: To him who is “trying” to overcome will I grant this and give that. No, just trying doesn’t cut it with our Master Potter, we have to accomplish – conquer – be complete. And to do that, we need Scriptural truth concerning all matters, concerning all of our beliefs. That “spirit of truth” is still here today trying to guide us into all truth. Let us not shun it, let us pray for ears to hear and eyes to see, and let us pray for humility because that’s who our Heavenly Father plans to dwell with for eternity.
And please don’t misunderstand me in this message. I’m not saying there are no true ministers out there, because there are. God gives us servants & teachers. But not all are true ones. Remember we are told we will know them by their behavior, by their fruits. Our Lord tells us: “IF they have love one to another, they are my disciple.” Some are lacking love, and even cruel. (Especially the ones who love to Lord over the brethren, which Christ hates) from such we are instructed to turn away.
I hope and pray for unity in the church, for us to become of one accord. That will happen and is happening, as we forsake our ways, learn and follow God’s ways by searching the Scriptures, having a love for the truth and putting on the mind of Christ.
So to answer the question where is the church, and when is it going to get back together? The true church is a spiritual organization; its true members are in possession of His Holy Spirit which is dwelling in them, and they are walking in the Spirit. And they are not separated or divided by incorporated groups. The church is also being scattered today brethren. That scattering is part of our Heavenly Father’s plan. Daniel speaks of it in Daniel 12:7. And although they are being scattered in location, they are also becoming of one accord with one another in mind and spirit. There is a Hugh work ahead for His church, and that work is on the horizon. God doesn’t call His people His “witnesses” for nothing.