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SCRIPTURE - John 8:32 OCTOBER, 2013 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. SUBJECT - THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE!! [PT. 1] PLAY/DOWNLOAD [MP3] Taking a phrase from one of TV's iconic programs, 'The X-Files', this message, is about the same thing, that this TV show, promoted, and that is, solving all sorts of mysteries, that consistently occur around us, which seemingly had no logical explanation. But, in each show, the team of Mulder, and Scully, spent their time, trying to find that explanation. At the beginning, or ending of each show, the phrase 'The truth is out there' would appear on the screen. This term, signified one key point in our world, and that is, no matter how strange an occurrence, how unexplainable it appeared to be, somewhere, there was an explanation, and they would search everywhere, to find it. A lot of the shows, left you with the question of, 'is this real, or imaginary??' Even though elements of the show, were fiction, there were supposedly, some events, that were modeled after 'real life.' The point of the show, and this message is, no matter what the case may be, no matter how unexplainable it seems, somewhere, there is an explanation. The problem is, finding it. Many times, in the show, and in our lives, people will manufacture explanations to things, because of a variety of reasons. One of those reasons is based on their intelligence, or lack thereof. They come up with solutions that make sense to them. The more educated a person is, the more complex that explanation may be. Explanations are like opinions, everybody has one. However, as I mentioned, they are usually manufactured, and have no basis in fact. If one were to take the time to investigate it, they would find that it was just another case of fantasy. Ever since mankind has been on this earth, we have had instances when we thought something was one way until evidence came along to show us something different. Some times, we would accept it, and other times, it was rejected. It all depended on just exactly what the evidence was, who presented it, and was it credible. It also was dependent on who it was presented to. Many times, credible evidence was rejected, because the person that it was presented to, couldn't understand it, because it was too far above the level of their intelligence. Other times it was too simple for an intelligent person to accept. There are millions of things that happen all around us everyday, and for each of them, there is an explanation. However, the problem is, is the explanation, the one that we accept, the truth, a half truth or a lie? The only way to know for sure, is to have some sort of reference point, to compare facts with, to see if they can provide evidence that will stand the test of time. By this I mean, truth, is something that will remain constant, for all time. Most of what we considered in the past to be truth, was only temporal, at best, and outright lies, at the worst. A simple example was the earth being flat. For centuries, man thought, and accepted as truth, that the world was flat. Everything he did, was based on this truth until one man, challenged this notion, and set out to disprove it. People thought he would go out so far, and fall off the earth. Well, those of us that know the truth today, know that the earth is round, not flat. So, for all those centuries, man believed a lie, as the truth. In a situation like that, there wasn't any disastrous consequence associated with this misinformation. However, that, is the exception. In far too many situations, the consequences of people believing half truths, and lies, have ended up costing them, and others, their lives. A classic example is slavery. Slavery, as it pertains to blacks in this nation, was based on a lie, that was accepted as truth, that said, blacks, were not human, but rather, animals. If you were to ask most intelligent whites, back in those days, they would say that that is the truth. If asked where did they get that idea from, I suppose they would say, it was someone else, that presented supposedly scientific information, at that time, convinced them, it was true. The result of this lie, ended up costing millions upon millions of blacks, and whites, their lives. Families torn apart, rapes, murders, and the whole gamut, based on a lie. These are just 2 extremes that man has to deal with, even today. There are millions more that fall somewhere in between. There are things that we believe today, as being truth, which, sooner, or later, will prove to be another case of man not knowing what he is doing when he designates something as being a final truth. Well, with all of these situations, and extremes as to what is truth, that can stand the test of time, versus half truths, and lies, how is a person to know what to do?? Well, among all of this, there is a Truth, that has stood far above every attempt to disprove it, for over 6000 years, and will still be there 6000 years from today, and that is the Word of God. When it comes to whether people will accept something as being the truth, it usually comes down to, 'is it something that I can live with??' What this means is, can a person put their faith in it, knowing that it will never change?? If they can, fine. But, if not, then they won't accept it, and will set about to disprove it. Now, while in other instances, accepted truths were challenged, and found to be changeable, challenging and trying to change something that is the truth, can be as disastrous as believing a lie like the one concerning blacks being animals. When it came down to the situation of a man, Christopher Columbus, wanting to prove the world was round, and not flat, where do you think he got that idea from?? He got it from the bible. Isa 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, ...... When people believe a lie, they become a prisoner of that lie. That means they will become a defender of that lie. And, they will fight any opposition to it, no matter what the cost. Once again, look at all the lives that were lost in the civil war, and even up to today by those that were/are defending a lie. What they were/are, is prisoners to that lie, and it cost them dearly. Of course, the same can be said about those that defend the truth. But, in this situation, it is honorable. Any injury or loss of life for the cause of truth, is as noble as you can get. So, in life, with all the myriad of things that we face, everyday, how do you know what is the truth, and what isn't?? You do it, by looking at, or for the evidence. Any time you have a supposed truth, there will be evidence that supports it, that can't be shaken. If there is none, or if the evidence itself leaves you with some doubt, then, you are dealing with something that may not be the truth. If you look at the case of evolution, many tend to believe it is the truth that man evolved from apes. Yet, evolution has always been classified as a theory, meaning it is what a person thinks is the truth, and not that it is the truth. People that believe this as being the truth, are consistently attacking any and all things that prove that their belief is based on something other than the truth. They go out, and look for any little thing that might give them hope that what they believe is the truth, no matter how obscure it is. They will spend all their time, all their money, go to the most desolate places on the earth, and endure all sorts of dangers, just to get a speck of dirt, a fragment of bone, or some other thing, that will support their theory. Now, I don't know about you, but, in all the evidence they glean from all this massive output of money and time, the only thing they really seem to be doing, is digging themselves further in to bondage. And, here is the real kicker. While they are doing all of this, there is a source of information, that we have, that thoroughly explains where we came from as well as why we are here and where we are headed. It is known as the Word of God, the bible. If man would only spend time reading it, he would find answers to every question he has about the past, present and future. And you know what?? It would only cost him, a few bucks. And, in this nation, he could do it, right at home. Christopher Columbus did it. Most of those that opposed slavery, did it, and, as a result, we are better, for it. Why?? Because we are dealing with the Ultimate Truth. In the rest of this message, which will probably go through December, I will be giving you proof, of certain things that many of us, and that includes Christians, tend to believe as being true, that, upon close examination, have no connection with what God says is Truth. Just because something sounds biblical, does not mean that it is. Too many saints today, are walking at odds with Christ, believing that they are in His 'perfect will', when, in reality, they are operating either in His 'permissive will', or are going contrary to it. Let's start with what I just mentioned, as the 'Perfect', and 'Permissive' will of God. As a point of reference, we are commanded by God, and Christ, to be Holy, and Perfect!! Lev 20:7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. 1Pet 1:15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 1Pet 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. These passages of scripture, set the reference point that we need to be aiming for. It is something, that has/will not change. As a result, the idea that nobody's perfect, is not the whole Truth, but rather a partial Truth. The Truth is, no one is born perfect, outside of Jesus Christ, but, that does not mean we are supposed to stay that way. We are supposed to make holiness, sanctification, and perfection our goal. And the only way to do that, is to work at it. Therefore, as long as we are working at it, we can be said to be functioning in His 'Perfect Will.' Why?? Because we are pursuing what He wants us to pursue. How do we pursue it?? By finding out what He approves, and disapproves of, and adjusting our lives according to them. If He approves, we hold fast to it. If He disapproves, we discard, and separate ourselves from it. When we are functioning in His 'Perfect Will', all things are available to us. Every blessing that He has promised us, is ours, bar none!!! When it comes to His 'Permissive Will', things are good, but not as Good as His 'Perfect Will.' In this area, a person may be doing something that God is not Perfectly pleased with, but, because of certain circumstances, like ignorance of what He has to say about something they are involved in, or have had thrust upon them, they get a pass, so to speak. Luke 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. Luke12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. An unsaved person, and myself, can commit the same offense to God, but because I know better, I will suffer the most. More, next month. *********************************************************************** TRACT LIST NEWSLETTERS TAPE LIST HOME PAGE |