INTRODUCTION
The previous message presented God, the Spirit of Truth and how one may receive His truth by the confession of the faith of Jesus Christ. It also explained the importance of the Heart in this function and Truth as the assurance of faith in God.
This final message of the series will examine the operation of the Spirit of Truth in the life of the agents of truth such as: being God’s temple, conflicts with the flesh, the essence of trusting; the works of the Spirit and guarding oneself from evil.
1. TRUTH AGENTS ARE GOD’S TEMPLE
Brethren, if you are born of God by confessing Jesus Christ as LORD, you are entitled to receive the power of the Holy Spirit of Truth after you believed. (Acts 19:2; 11:15-16). You become of the household of God and have access by one Spirit to God; and are His agent of truth on the earth. (Ephesians 2:18-19).
“…Your body [becomes] the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own You are like a “spiritual house”, for a habitation of God through the Spirit; and as God’s temple, the Spirit of God dwells in you”. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 3:16; 1 Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:22).
Hence, your “old man” is crucified with Jesus Christ so that the “body of sin” might be destroyed; that you should not give in to sin nor should you obey it in the lusts thereof, “for the truth’s sake, which dwelleth in [you], and shall be with [you] for ever”. (Romans 6:6,11-12 & 8:10; 2 John 1:2).
2. CONFLICTS WITH THE FLESH
But brethren, even with the Holy Spirit dwelling in you after you are ‘born again’, because you are still human you are prone to the character traits of fleshy lusts. This is because “the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other…” (Galatians 5:16-17).
Therefore, truth agent would face a constant battle between being “carnally minded” to obey the lusts of lying, which is sin and death; and being “spiritually minded” which is life and peace. (Roman 8:6). The war between the flesh and the spirit occurs at two levels.
At one level, it is provoked by one’s lusts, desires and choices. one has direct responsibility to show self-control over such, and over one’s mind, soul and thoughts. At another level, Satan’s agents of lies may seek to snare you.
2.1. SPIRIT VS. FLESH CONTROL
How can truth agents distinguish control by the flesh from spiritual control? First is to understand that the works of the flesh, such as lies, envy, hatred, malice, deceit etc. are proscribed under the law. (Galatians 5:19-21). Whereas, the fruits of the spirit include love, joy, peace, forbearance, meekness, faith etc. “against such there is no law”; but operate by under GRACE by love. If you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. (Galatians 5:18, 22-23; Colossians 3:12; Romans 6:14).
One can also determine the Spirit from the flesh, by what one ponders on. For instance, if you are minding the things of the flesh, then you are under its control; and this ‘carnal-mindedness’ is death. But if you ponder the Spirit, the word and power of God, you will mind the things of the Spirit; and this ‘spiritual-mindedness’ is life and peace. (Romans 8:5-6).
What truth agents must understand is that “You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God, dwell in you…”. This is the “Spirit of Christ”, which, if any man does not have, he is not ‘born of God’. (Romans 8:9-10). Therefore, brethren, we owe nothing to our flesh to live after it for it is death; but if we allow the Spirit to mortify the deeds of our body we shall live. (Romans 8:11-13; Philippians 3:3).
3. THE ESSENCE OF TRUST
It is imperative in the agency relation between the truth agent and God, that you trust in God’s Spirit of Truth and submit to it. This is because, “… [God’s] thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways [God’s] ways …” (Isaiah 55:8-9). His word is right and all his works are done in truth. (Psalm 18:30; 33:4; 111:7-9). Although “every way of a man is right in his own eyes… the Lord [considers] the hearts”, through which, only God can see. (Proverbs 21:2).
Truth agent should therefore, trust the Spirit with all your heart and lean not to own understanding; acknowledge him in all your ways and be not wise in your own eyes. And he shall direct thy paths away from deceit and lies. (Proverbs 3:5-7).
4. THE WORKS OF THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH
God’s Spirit of truth indwells God’s agents to help them overcome the spirit of lies and live in Truth. He will guide His agents into all truth and will shew you the things to come. He will glorify Jesus Christ by revealing the things of Christ to you. (John 16:13-14).
Also, He will help you to discern “the spirit which is of God”, from “the spirit of the world” of “the spirit of error”. This way “… [you] might know the things that are freely given to us of God”.(1 Corinthians 2:12; 1 John 4:6; John 10-27-28).
Further, by the unction from the Holy One, you will know all things. The Spirit will cause you to hear God’s word; so, the devil’s lie cannot overcome you or make you be afraid. And, when you speak, your words will reflect the wisdom that the Holy Ghost teaches comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (John 8:45-47;10:27; 1 John 2:20; 1 Corinthians 2:13).
And, since the Spirit of Truth abides in you as God’s agent, you will need no one to teach you. “The same anointing will teach you of all things and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him”. (1 John 2:27).
5. ABIDING IN THE TRUTH
People of God, how can God’s agents discern the teaching of the Spirit or know that you abide in truth? You will know that you abide in the truth when you assure your heart before God, keep his commandments, confess your sins and continue walk in the Spirit.
5.1. ASSURE OUR HEARTS BEFORE GOD
Brethren, because God’s word is truth and it is Spirit, if the Spirit of truth dwells in you indeed, when you hear the truth you will believe in your heart or be convicted by it. (Acts 2:37; Psalm 51:6). “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things…[but] if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God”. (1 John 3:19-24; Psalm 51:10).
5.2. KEEP GOD’S COMMANDMENTS
God’s agents of truth should keep His commandments. The teachings of the Spirit of truth will only speak of the things of God’s commandments. The first and greatest commandment is to LOVE “God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind”; then to believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ; and love one another. (Matthew 22:37-39; Deuteronomy 6:5; 1 John 3:11).
God is love and love is of God; and it is a fruit of the Spirit, not of flesh. Truth agents should love therefore and have no fear in love. For thereby would overcome fleshly affections of lusts and lies. (1 John 4:7-8,18).
Thus, “if anyone says, “I know [God]”, but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him”. (1 John 2:3-4). It must go beyond observing things in “words” or “tongues” but “in deed and in truth”. It means observing God’s words or laws not according to ‘wisdom of the world’ or of man, but of the Spirit which is judged from the heart. (1 John 3:18; 1 Corinthians 2:6; e.g. Matthew 5:27-28).
5.3. WALK IN THE TRUTH
Also, truth agent ought to walk as Christ walked. You should walk in the Spirit of Truth, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh, which is worldly and of darkness. “[For] If we say that we have fellowship with [the Spirit of truth], and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:” ((1 John 2:6; Galatians 5:16-17; 1 John 1:6; 3 John 1:3).
Brethren if you love the world or are influenced by the worldly things, then the love of God is not in you. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world”. (1 John 2:15-16). So, avoid things that will cause indiscretion and be filled with the Spirit.
To walk always as an agent of truth, learn to speak to yourself in “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”. Also give thanks unto God always for all things the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:18-21; Philippians 4:6-7)
5.4. CONFESS YOUR SIN
Another guidance to ascertain whether one abides in the spirit of truth, is repentance and the confession of sin. The fleshly tendency is usually for man to judge his actions right in his eyes. But “if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us…and If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:8-10).
Therefore, you should acknowledge the conviction of sin by the spirit of truth by confessing your sins. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (John 16: 1 John 1:10). Note that the same spirit which convicts a believer before you are saved, is the same that guides your walk, and will remind you of the unrighteousness of your actions or thoughts when you stumble.
6. GUARD YOURSELF FROM EVIL
Brethren, as God’s agent of truth, consider that the agents of lies may seek to seduce you, to bring you back under the bondage of lusts. (Galatians 2:4; 5:1). Be aware that these agents of lies are full of all subtlety and all mischief, are enemies of all righteousness who would not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord. (Acts 13:10; 20:30). Endeavour therefore to guard yourself from all evil.
First, you must be of the faith that you are of God and have overcome the devil and his agents, because “greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world”. (1 John 4:4).
Also, consider that they are of the world and speak of the world and they of the world will hear them. (1 John 4:5). So, brethren, “…BELIEVE NOT EVERY SPIRIT, BUT TRY THE SPIRITS WHETHER THEY ARE OF GOD: because many false prophets are gone out into the world”. (1 John 4:1; 2 Chronicles 18:21). Note that “every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God”. And every spirit which does not confess this is not of God. (1 John 4:2-3)
Finally, brethren while holding tightly as God’s agent of truth, ensure to speak the truth in love as you grow into Christ Jesus. Put away falsehood and do not lie to yourself or to one another. And as God’s agents on the earth, let us live an walk in the Spirit.
PRAYER
Almighty Father, thank you for your word.
We will sing of mercy and judgment, O Lord.
Holy Father, make us to behave wisely in a perfect way and walk with a perfect heart before You as Your ‘agents of truth’.
Gracious God, let us not set our eyes on a wicked thing nor know a wicked person. But let our eyes behold the faithful who may dwell with us.
Let the workers of deceit not dwell within our house nor: let he that tell lies tarry in our sight.
Lord destroy all the wicked of the land (see Psalm 101).
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
I make this prayer in JESUS NAME.
Have a blessed and fruitful week.
Lots of Love, P. Schwartz (SOG) 12/09/2020.
