INTRODUCTION
The previous message examined God’s Truth, that brings liberty over the bondage of lies – the Truth that saves. It presented the condition of spiritual death in lies and showed that salvation truth is to believe in Christ; and that belief comes by Grace and being born of God.
This message presents God, the Spirit of Truth and how one may receive his truth by the confession of the faith of Jesus Christ. It also explains the importance of the Heart in this function and posits Truth as the assurance of faith in God.
1. GOD THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH
God is the ‘Spirit of Truth! It is impossible for God to lie unlike Satan, who is the ‘Spirit of Lies’ and the Father of it. God’s word is true from the beginning; and all his works are done in truth. (Hebrews 6:18; Psalm 33:4; 119:160; Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2; John 8:44).
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” and having no confidence in the flesh. (John 4:24; Philippians 3:3). Thus, the “natural man” who is not “born of God”, cannot receive the things that are of the Spirit of God, because they are foolishness to him. Also, he cannot know his Truths because they are “spiritually discerned”. (1 Corinthians 2: 10,14). How then can the carnal man receive God’s Truth?
2. BELIEVE IN CHRIST TO RECEIVE TRUTH
When Adam disobeyed God in the beginning, he gave up dominion of Truth on the earth to Satan’s lies, and under the curse of death. Yet, God demonstrated his love for man again, by incarnating His Spirit in Jesus Christ, to restore Truth in the world. (Genesis 2:14-19). Belief in Christ is necessary to receive God’s Spirit of truth.
Jesus testifies saying: “He that believeth on me … out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)”. And that, “… when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 7:38-39; 16:13)
Brethren, the first man Adam was created “man of the earth, earthy” and “a living soul”. Jesus “the second man is the Lord from heaven”, borne of the spirit of God, not made of earth but “a quickening spirit”. Therefore, “that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual”. (2 Corinthians 15:45-47).
If you believe in God’s work wrought in Christ, you become “born again” of God’s spirit of Truth, with the power to know and discern truth from the lies of the carnal lusts.
2.1 THE CONFESSION OF TRUTH
“Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”. (John 1:17). The confession of the faith of TRUTH is:
“That if thou shalt CONFESS WITH THY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS, and shalt BELIEVE IN THINE HEART that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God”. (Romans 10:8; 1 John 4:15).
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”. (Acts 4:12).
To be born of God’s Spirit of Truth” one MUST confess that JESUS IS LORD. Then by the supernatural act of God, you become a “partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust”. (2 Peter 1:4; Acts 3:19-20; Romans 8:10).
But brethren, note that no one who speaks by the Spirit of God can say “Jesus be cursed”; equally, no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3; Acts 2:21).
And it is by the Spirit that we know that Jesus, the son of God has come and has given us understanding to know him that is true; and that we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. “This is the true God, and eternal life”. (1 John 5:20). This is the foundation of how believers obtain a truthful personality that helps you to overcome the lusts of the flesh.
3. TRUTH DWELLS IN A PURE HEART
Brethren, when one receives Christ Jesus into their heart, after the great confession, God will forgive their iniquity, and will remember their sin no more. They become sons, and God will send forth the Spirit of his Son into their hearts; and His “seed” of truth will remain in their heart because they are born of Him. (Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrew 10:17; Isaiah 43:25; Galatians 4:6; 1 John 3: 9).
This indwelling of His Spirit of truth is a supernatural act by which God gives you “a new heart”; and “put [His] spirit within you, and cause you to walk in [His] statutes, and ye shall keep [His] judgments, and do them”. (Ezekiel 36:26-27; Hebrews 8:10; Psalms 51:6,10).
The gift of the new heart will cause believers to “return” to God with all their heart; and they shall know God and fear him. Such will need no one to teach them about God, because the spirit of truth dwells in them. So, they will know and worship God in Spirit and in truth, as the “TRUE WORSHIPPERS” that the Father seeks. “For the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever”. (Jeremiah 24:7; 31: 33-34,39; Hebrews 10:16; 2 John 1:22).
4. TRUTH IS THE ASSURANCE OF FAITH
The Spirit of truth that our Father gives may abide with you for ever. (John 14:16). It is the assurance of our faith in God, that GOD IS TRUE. But it is important to point out that, they who lust after material worldly desires cannot receive the Spirit of truth because they cannot see him and would not know him. (John 14:17; 17:14).
For the heart of such people is hardened, and their ears are dull of hearing and they have closed their eyes; so that they might not see with their eyes or hear with their ears “and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and [God] should heal them”. (Isaiah 6:10; Matthew 13:15; Acts 28:27).
But even if some do not believe, their unbelief will not make the faith of God without effect; “yea, let God be true, but every man a liar”. (Romans 3:3-4; Psalm 19:9). Believers will know him for he dwells with them, and shall be in them. And it is the Spirit that bears witness to this, because the Spirit is truth. (John 14:17; 1 John 5:6).
Therefore, brethren, “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience…”. We have received a kingdom which cannot be moved; so let us accept the grace of the God’s Spirit of Truth by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. (Hebrew 10:22:12:28)
The next message will complete this series. It will examine the operation of the Spirit of Truth in the life of the agents of truth.
PRAYER
Almighty Father, we give praise and thanks for your word and manifold mercies.
Holy Father, have mercy upon us for choosing to obey Satan’s lusts of lies daily.
O righteous Father, grant us faith to believe that through Jesus, you have offered the sacrifice to deliver use from the agency of Lies.
By your GRACE Lord, sanctify us through thy truth; give us a ‘new heart’ and a right spirit to discern your Truth, to believe and to confess your son Jesus Christ.
Holy Spirit sharpen our desire to love the truth and serve God with reverence and godly fear.
I make this prayer in JESUS NAME.
Have a blessed and fruitful week.
Lots of Love, P. Schwartz (SOG) 23/08/2020.
