God bless you abundantly.
In a world where truth is often seen as subjective and ever-changing, finding a firm foundation can seem challenging. However, the Bible offers a timeless and unchanging truth that provides certainty and guidance for every aspect of our lives. Inspired by a teaching from Rev. Tom Mullins, this lesson delves into the relevance of God's truth, how it sets us free, and why it is essential for living an abundant and purposeful life. Join us as we explore scriptures from Malachi, John, and Psalms to understand the profound impact of embracing and living by God's truth.
If you have a Bible, please turn to Malachai. I am thankful for the opportunity to share with you about the truth tonight. What I’d like to share with you is based primarily upon a recent teaching I heard from Rev. Tom Mullins. And it’s about truth.
Truth is always relevant, always current, and applicable to our lives. God provides truth, which is a firm foundation upon which we can build our lives. Truth speaks to all people, in all places, across all cultures, and all races, and across time. Truth is unchanging because it comes from God that does not change.
Malachai 3:6 I change not.
Turn to John 8.
There is a trend today… to think that there’s no absolute objective truth. And that truth is subjective, based on individual preferences or opinions. People say, “Everyone has their own truth.” Or, “People are living their truth.”
Tonight, we’ll learn that God is the source of all truth. God provides a standard by which we can live an abundant life. God’s truth provides certainty in the midst of uncertainty. Jesus Christ said that the reason for his being born was to make known the truth. And the truth would bring freedom.
John 8:31,32 says, “31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
Truth makes us free. Turn to Psalms 119.
We have truth as a foundation. We can learn about truth to build and develop our lives. And we can share it with others. God makes known truth, which provides guidance and direction on how life can be lived.
So, how does God make the truth known? God reveals truth through His Word. And we learn the Word through resources like fellowship teachings and the research and classes provided by our ministry. So, that’s how we can know the truth.
Today, there is a lot of doubt, speculations, or predictions surrounding us. But truth is an objective reality.
Psalm 119:160 says, “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever.”
Truth is a constant that can be relied upon… for all time.
Psalm 100:5 says, “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”
Truth spans across all time. Turn to John 17.
What is really true… is true for everyone.
Truth doesn’t change because the point of view changes.
Without the truth, we wound’t know what to trust. And this is the bad situation that many people find themselves in today. They don’t know the truth. And we have the joy of sharing the truth with them.
John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” We are sanctified. We are set apart by and for God through the truth. We’re just different. Believers are different. We’re set apart.
Turn back to and read John 14:6. It says, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Right vs Wrong
God’s truth is not based on what other people are thinking. No matter how many people agree, no matter how passionate they are, the truth is what God says is real and right. It’s what provides us with a guiding standard of what is right and wrong.
Rev. Tom Mullins shared a story about when he was out with a friend, and they met a young man, and they were talking about the truth. And the young man said, “Well, truth is all relative. It’s all how you look at it.” And his friend then pointed to the coffee pot nearby and said, “Do you mean that if I said that this coffee pot is a bowling ball, it would be a bowling ball?” And the young man said, “Well, if it’s a bowling ball to you...”
We know that’s just silly. Truth is not relative. The truth is not what you say or think it is. Truth isn’t just how I look at things. There is an established standard. Whether I agree with it or not, my thoughts don’t change the standard.
There are standards in a lot of things. I study the International Residential Code, which establishes an international standard for building a house. Imagine if there was no building standard. What would our houses look like, if everyone had a different idea about how many inches are in a foot? If I use the wrong standard for building a house, I’m going to get the wrong results. I might just build a Hobbit house. Similarly, if I use the wrong standard for building and guiding my life, I’m going to get the wrong results, right?
There are standards in math. 2+2=4, regardless of whether I believe it or not.
Turn to Isaiah 5.
There are standards in life. No matter how much I want to flap my arms and fly like a bird, I’m not a bird. This guy ain’t flyin.
People today say things like, “You have your truth, and I have mine.” They say, “I’m living my truth.”
But here’s the real problem with that. What happens when those so-called truths conflict? If there are as many truths as there are people in this fellowship, how can proper judgments of what’s right and wrong be made? If there’s no absolute truth, then there is no standard for judging right from wrong, good from evil.
Have you seen the news? There’s a lot of evil going on out there. The most terrible acts or crimes against humanity in war could be considered someone’s truth.
Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
It seems that people today look within themselves for truth. They have switched from an objective truth that we can all agree on… to “your” truth, “our” truth, “my” truth.
Accountability
If I reject the objective truth of a situation, I am also rejecting accountability for my thoughts. For example, if I think that I can be consumed with fear in a certain situation, then that will be my reality, my truth. But what I’m doing in that situation is… I’m trying to dismiss responsibility and accountability for what happens as a result of wrong believing. See, the truth is, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
When people reject the truth of God’s word, they endeavor to reject responsibility and accountability for what they think, say, and do. If I reject the building standard, then I need to be responsible for my Hobbit house that I build as a result.
John 3:19 says, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”
God wants us to know and do the truth and stand in the light… by placing the word of god in our hearts and our minds and in our actions. And to speak the truth to everyone.
Ephesians 4:15 says, “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
Speak the truth in love. Turn to Mark 11.
We need to speak and live the truth in love in order to grow and mature in this life. We are to speak the truth in love to those we meet because it is the truth of the Word that will bring freedom to those who hear.
Here’s some “truth” for you. Let me throw down some truth. And if you believe it, you shall receive it. Mark 11:24 says, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Romans 8:37 says, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
This is some good truth, right?
Philippians 4:6 says, “Be careful (or anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” So, we can do all things, through the truth, which strengthens us.
Conclusion
Here’s the truth. God has given us a standard that we can know and act upon. We can live and share this truth with others when we speak the truth in love. When we know the truth, we can live a free and abundant life.
Throughout this teaching, we have discovered that God's truth is unchanging, relevant, and the foundation for a fulfilling life. By recognizing that truth comes from God, who does not change, we can build our lives on a solid foundation. Embracing this truth helps us navigate the uncertainties of life with confidence and clarity. As we continue to learn and apply God's truth, let us also share it with others, speaking the truth in love and living as examples of the freedom and abundance it brings. Remember, the truth sets us free, and by living in this truth, we can experience the fullness of God's blessings in our lives.
God bless you.
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