Buy Truth and Sell It Not
/The very first act of rebellion recorded in God’s word was the result of the serpent’s deception. He caused her to yield to his will through veiled lies. The serpent of the garden is the dragon in the end. If the pages of scripture contain any clue to the diet that causes his growth, it would seem that his ability to deceive the nations would be the main dish. Furthermore, with the attention that he places towards deceiving Israel, it is apparent that God’s people are a delicacy in His diet. It is believed by many that the entire world has been evangelized with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet, the entire world remains bathed in lies, and America, who has the most knowledge of truth, is accepting more lies everyday.
Everyday, some new frenzy takes us by storm and attempts to change the way we were taught to think. There was a time, not long ago, that America agreed that when we talked about God, we referred to the God that sent His Son to die on a cross for the sins of the world. The gates have been opened and laws purposefully passed to dilute the Christian values that once dominated our society. It was what we knew, and it was what we believed. And now the American people are force fed lies. And each generation grows weaker as the dragon grows stronger.
There is a remnant of people on earth who hold to truth. The words in this book supply a foundation for a building called the church that will not crumble, because it has as its power, the Spirit of God! Even religion that masks itself in holiness lies according to Jesus:
John 8:43-47 NASB
43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”
Comparing a Biblical history of Jesus’ time in the Roman Empire to the current state of American culture, reveals some similarities. The Roman Empire was full of commerce and multiple cultures travelled the roads of Rome. The various cultures carried with them the differing forms of worship connected to their gods. I turned 10 in Singapore, so I was exposed and made aware at an early age to other deities. I saw images of the Buddha everywhere. I saw them dancing in the streets with the dragon costume as the multiple bodies in unison caused the dragon’s body to writhe through the streets. I didn’t understand it, but I knew it wasn’t God. I was a privileged little American boy and didn’t understand how significant the privilege of knowing Jesus was to me.
It seems like I started to notice a change in the late 80’s early 90’s, a change that revealed America was being influenced by the other cultures that were crossing our borders, seeking opportunity in this nation that has allowed me so much freedom to seek after prosperity. A land that I firmly believe, no matter the complete back story, has been blessed by the hand of God, he has used our great nation to send more missionaries throughout the world, and much of the American church still partakes in that endeavor.
But she has become like Ezekiel’s prophecy. She has played the harlot with corruption. It’s so much worse than I would ever attempt to expose on a Sunday morning, but I think that the church world as a whole should be made aware that we are responsible for the current condition of the state of our nation. I’m not saying that you personally haven’t prayed for the leaders or the nation, but as a whole, the church has fallen asleep, and while she sleeps an enemy has entered in and sown tares amongst the wheat. And what concerns me most is that the church has allowed political opinions to divide her from her main purpose on earth, which is to seek God in unity that His kingdom, not our kingdom would come upon this earth. That Jesus would establish His reign as sovereign upon this land.
When I was a young man in the 80’s I was influenced politically by others around me. I will say that there is right and there is wrong in the political world. But this is just an example of the deception that I want to expose. The Republican Party championed Ronald Reagan as the answer for the day. Mostly, because of his trickle down economics. He cut taxes, and the thought was that the increased revenue in the average American pocket was used to purchase, and the purchases increased revenue for businesses and through prosperity, everyone benefited. He told Gorbachev to tear down the wall of communism, but let me ask you this, “How did we Christians so conveniently ignore the fact that the Regan’s practiced the occult through astrology, calling on demons for wisdom?” Was it easy to ignore because we believed he put more money in our pockets?
The connection point so far is that Israel as a nation was deceived. Jerusalem as a city had given herself over to idolatry and allowed her self to be sold into the lies of the dragon. America today has allowed the same. The corruption in the land is so grave and yet we have become so anesthetized that we act like it’s not even here. Let me tell what is in the land: deception and lies are rampant in the land, but let me tell you what else is present… you are here my friend. You a vessel of truth, a vessel of honor. You that carry the light of God in the last of these darkened days that we live in. I firmly believe that God plans to allow the light to burn brightest before the end.
I want to transition from introduction to scripture, but my transition is Pontius Pilate. History says that he was the cruelest of men, but I kind of feel sorry for him. He ruled at a time when there was so much deception and lies. There were so many options for gods to be served. Israel was God’s people and the only nation that held truth, but their rebellion resulted in a position of weakness, no one could see the power of their God. And one day, out of nowhere he is face to face with Jesus. The King of the Jews. The person who called Himself Truth:
Look at this quick conversation
John 18:36 My kingdom is not of this realm
37 “So You are a king?”
37 “For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
Pilate *said to Him, “What is truth?”
What a stressful situation! History claims that Pilate was under Caesar’s microscope because the Jews had been causing trouble and skirmishes. The zealots looked for a King that would free them from Roman tyranny, so they caused trouble when they could to the Roman Empire, and here comes Jesus, talk of a king, talk of miracles, now, the Jewish leaders want His blood and Pilate’s wife has a dream, and truth stands in his face… I used to think he said it this way, “What is truth—with a smirk?” Now, I imagine, he runs his hands through his hair or rubs his bald head with uncertainty in his heart and stress on his chest, when he asks, “What is truth? All my life I was told as a Roman to pray to my dead family members. The Greeks introduced us to the pantheon of gods and we can choose Zeus, Apollos, Bacchus, so many to choose from, they offer so many promises, and you Jews only believe in one, O’ what is truth?”
How many times has that question been asked through the years since that memorable day? How many world leaders, how many mothers or fathers, how many Christians have asked that question? How many times have you been in a pressured situation and were faced with truth, Jesus standing before you? Faced with a pressured decision on whether you will choose truth or a lie?
Jesus said to His disciples that He was going away but they knew the way, because He was the way and the truth and the Life. The way to the Father’s house is through Him.
John 14:6
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
He has been telling them the truth, but they don’t want to listen. When you don’t have patience with someone else because they don’t see the truth you see, do you stop and consider your own shortcomings and failure to see the truth that is before you? Or do you only see the spots where they are wrong and you harbor truth?
John 8:32
and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
The vision the Lord gave me— the truth unlocked the door, and you can walk out free, and by the way, His name is Jesus.
Danielle’s testimony of the men in actual prison
The truth that comes from the Father’s house has the power in it for Physical healing, emotional healing, psuchological healing, deliverance, freedom from sin. The grace of God that is poured out from heaven through the Holy Spirit, made available to us by Jesus through the cross is available to us. His kingdom is not of this realm, His truth is truth of another kingdom. God is not governed by the rules of this earthly realm. He can break in any moment and anytime He chooses and do whatever He wants to do:
Miracle of Dion
He told the religious
John 5:39-40
39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.
Is it possible for Christians to become so accustomed to the word of God that we become apathetic? That we can know the written word so well that we would no longer believe in the life that it produces. The supernatural change that it holds, the life that it is ready to release.
The Psalmist said: Prayer for Protection, Guidance and Pardon.
Psalms 25:1-5 NASB
1 To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me.3 Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed. 4 Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.
God has a people and He places truth in their hearts and He asks that the Truth placed in the heart be spoken out of the mouth.
Psalms 40:7-11
7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. 10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. 11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
Proclaim His truth
Psalms 30:7-9 KJV
7 LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled. 8 I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication. 9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit?Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
The truth is that God doesn’t want you to perish. Don’t believe the lies of evil. God has placed His truth in your heart. It’s not His plan that the rocks or the dust praise Him and tell the world of His wondrous works. It’s His plan that you tell the world of His truth. His truth will make them free.
Armed with truth for spiritual battles
Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Just as a belt is worn close to the body, we should hold God’s truth close to us and allow it to surround us. When we remain in His Word, we can distinguish what is true from what is untrue.
In a world full of lies and unrighteousness, we must be armed with truth. The belt girded the loins. It provided support and security. It supported the loins in that it prevented interference from obstacles. I’ve said it many times, but the long, flowing clothing had to be moved out of the way for travel or movement in the right direction to be able to take place. So many things get in our way in life and there are so many lies that try to pull us in so many directions. The belt of truth helps to keep the obstacles of the world’s lies out of the way, so that we don’t trip in our travels as we war in the spiritual battle.
It supports the breastplate of righteousness. God’s truth is righteousness. God’s truth is Jesus— Jn 14:6. God’s righteousness is Jesus— Romans 3:2,22
Conclusion
Pilate posted truth with a placard on the cross:
John 19:19 Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, “JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
20 and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek