TRUE V. TRUTH

11/20/2023

"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth" (John 17:17)

The biggest tool the enemy will wield against the church in these last days is deception. Matthew 24:10-11 NASB paints a picture of the current moment. It says, "And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people." Four things the Bible says would occur: a mass falling away, mass betrayals, mass hatred, and mass deception. 

Deception, however, is the biggest tool because it would be the most difficult to catch for the untrained. Some of the things that would be presented to believers in these last days would be true and verifiable. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11:12-14, "But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light." For deception to be effective, it will have proof. 

For example, many Christians have been led to believe in horoscopes because, in a sense, they are true. The Magi who came to worship Jesus saw his star in the east ( Refer to Matthew 2:1-2) and traveled several months to the place of his birth, but not before they informed King Herod. Was their information accurate? Yes. But where did it come from and who did it serve? 

We know the information did not come from God because of the series of events that followed: God warned the Magi not to return to Herod; God warned Joseph to move Mary and the child Jesus to Egypt, and Herod murdered all the children in Bethlehem and its environs (refer to Mathew 2:12-16) with the information that he got. 

It may not be apparent who a piece of information glorifies and this is why we must develop our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. True information glorifies man and the devil. "But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men" (Mark 8:33).

Truth, on the other hand, will always glorify God. The truth is not just true; it is honorable, just, pure, lovely, good to report, excellent, and praiseworthy. Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."

And so the moment something that is true fails the qualifications of Philippians 4:8 put it aside as deception. 

Have a fantastic day!

Faith-Filled Confession

I am sensitive to the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to distinguish what is true from the truth. I refuse to be moved by temptations to glorify the flesh and only subscribe to that which glorifies the LORD in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Prayer Points:

Psalm 122:6, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you."

• Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. 

• Pray against plans to use the crises in Israel to launch other attacks in the United States.

• Pray for Washington and all who are in positions of authority in the United States.

ONE-YEAR READING PLAN: Ezekiel 16; Hebrews 12