In John 8 Jesus is having an exchange with the Pharisees, the religious people of the day.  In John 8:31-32 Jesus says something so profound but simple:

Jesus there was saying to those Jews who had believed in Him, “If you abide in My word, you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

holy-spirit-prayer-thumbThe Jews countered with “… and never have been enslaved to anyone…”

In a passage in Matthew 6:23 “But if you eye is bad, you whole body will be full of darkness.  If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness”.

If what we are believing is not the truth, then we are believing in lies.  We are believing in less than who God is, or His plan, or our value.

How do we recognize if we are believing in lies? Abide in His word!  There is also an element that we need to incorporate into our daily walk with the Lord; the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17).  Without fellowship or inviting the Holy Spirit to lead us and teach us the Word of God we simply have religion.

Our understanding of the Word of God and our relationship with the Father must first start in our own hearts and a willingness to know Him.  It is not up to the pastor of the church, the prophet that comes to give you a word from the Lord, the preacher on TV.  It is up to you to want to know Him, His truth and His will for your life!

Even though I did not really grow up in church I learned a lot from the pastors of different churches.  However, whatever they spoke I had to ask the Holy Spirit whether that was the truth or not.  We must discern the spirits of who is talking!

1 John 4:1 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world”.

1) We must understand that every time some speaks or teaches out of the Word of God may not neccsarily be the truth

2) We must understand that things we have believed in may not be the truth of God’s Word.

3) There is only ONE interpretation of the Word of God that is accurate and correct.  That is the truth from the Holy Spirit.

John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance, all that I said to you.”

John 15:26-27 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me, and you will bear witness also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”

John 16:13-15 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.  He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine and shall disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you.”

 

Why do I speak about the Holy Spirit and truth so much?  It is because there is so much division in the Body of Christ.  There are various reasons why we have so much division but, in my view, division is caused by disagreement with the Word of God.

Just get a bunch of believers from different churches and you will get a bunch of different interpretations.  There are various parts of the Body of Christ but the truth of the Word of God, which only comes from the Spirit of Truth, brings cohesion to the Body.

Many people complain about the divisions in the Church and many churches that don’t get along.  Again, in my view, the root of the problem is there are core differences in the interpretation of God’s Word.

Some say miracles and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not for today.  Other say the only way to Jesus is to be baptized.  Some say that ‘we’ are the only true church.  Others don’t even teach or preach on salvation, the need for baptism, or have rules and strict regulations on how to conduct a church service.  Some even allow sin in the pulpit; regardless of that is sexual sin, drunkenness, dishonesty, or a controlling manipulative spirit – it is not of God – it is sin (period).

What?  Where is the grace of God?  Where is the Holy Spirit that convicts us of sin?  Have we truly surrendered to Jesus Christ and have we truly made Him Lord over our lives, finances, or ministries?

Take some time right now to lay it all down before the Throne of Grace.  Take a moment to allow the Holy Spirit to bring that gentle loving conviction.  And when He does surrender the sin that has so easily entangled you.

Heb 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”.

There has been a time when were enslaved to a lie believed.  If we weren’t enslaved then we would be made perfect now.  Let us now longer practice sin but righteousness.  Let us allow the Holy Spirit bring deliverance.  Let us pick up our sword of the Spirit to go to war over the lies we have believed that have kept us from the fullness of God’s grace, mercy, love, power.

Why are we lacking in miracles in our lives?  Who is the Holy Spirit to us?  Let Him reveal the truth!

Come Holy Spirit Come!