Vision of Hope
Sept 20 THE POWER OF ANOINTED PRAYER
  • Lay Me Down
  • Jesus Does
  • Goodness Of God
  • Hold On To Me

  • Anchored in Truth

    Good morning beloved of Abba. Today’s teaching is going to be a little different. We are going to wade about ankle deep into Christian apologetics together this morning.
    This world and the enemy will try to convince you that there is no absolute truth. That truth is somehow left up to each person. There is an Absolute Truth, a truth that the true believer is anchored in; Jesus Christ.
    Christian apologetics is not “apologizing” for anything. The word comes from the Greek word apología (ἀπολογία), which literally means “a speech in defense”—apologetics is giving a defense for our faith.
    You may be thinking, “Oh, this is not for me!” Yes, it is. Although the Bible doesn't use the word “apologetics,” scripture often speaks of “reasoning.” Jesus and all of the Apostles continually reasoned with the religionists, pagans, agnostics, and atheists of their day.
    There are many people, including self-professed Christians, who will make comments such as “That is your truth, not my truth.”
    Most people who say things like this do not realize they are paraphrasing the devout atheist and moral relativist, Friedrich Nietzsche. This is the same man who coined the phrase “God is Dead.”
    It is interesting that Nietzsche ended up having a major mental breakdown and died within a year of it. Sounds eerily similar to King Saul. Even with that, his ideas remain extremely popular today.
    Like Friedrich Nietzsche, people who practice moral relativism believe that truth is subjective to the individual. That I get to decide “What my truth is,” and you get to decide “what your truth is.” One definition we use for moral relativism is this:
    Moral Relativism - What is morally right or true is relative to the beliefs or emotions of the individual.
    The moral relativist's worldview is one of the most powerful tools the enemy uses to turn people away from God.
    Moral relativism has deeply infected our society and our churches. It is the same tactic the enemy used in the garden with Eve: “Will you really die if you eat from the tree? Is that really true?”
    It is important that we remind ourselves, and allow the Spirit to remind our hearts and minds that there is absolute truth, and His name is Jesus Christ. In John 14:6, Jesus said this:
    John 14:6 NLT
    6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
    Jesus made three I Am statements in this one verse. He was saying this to the religionists, the atheists, the agnostics, and the moral relativists then and now.
    Truth #1. Jesus is the only way to God. There is a difference between pointing the way to a place and taking someone by the hand and leading them there. Jesus is the only way to God.
    Truth #2. Jesus is the Truth. There is a difference between telling someone the truth and living the truth before them. Jesus is the embodiment of truth.
    Truth #3. Jesus is the Life. There is a difference between telling someone about life and actually living life. Jesus is the very embodiment, energy, force, and source of life itself.
    Those are three statements Jesus made that are factual and true, whether someone believes them or not. They are truths that do not yield nor compromise to this world or man-made philosophies.
    Brothers and sisters, we must be on guard, stand our ground, and be prepared, in and out of season. We are told in 1 Peter 3:15:
    1 Peter 3:15 NIV
    15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
    When we talk to others about our faith and the truth, Jesus MUST be at the center of our hearts and minds as the Holy Spirit leads us in those discussions.
    We have to prepare ourselves to give an answer and to reason with people about our faith and the truth of God. If you have not done this, sit down and write out why you believe what you believe. It will blow your mind.
    We are also told to answer and reason with others with gentleness and respect. We do not argue with people about Jesus Christ. We can debate; we can reason with them, but neither Jesus nor the Apostles EVER browbeat or gospel thumped someone into the Kingdom.
    We must always maintain the peace of God that Holy Spirit filled our hearts with when we are reasoning with people who are seeking or do not believe the truth. That is probably why the next verse, 1 Peter 3:16, says this:
    1 Peter 3:16 NLT
    16 Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.
    We looked at three truth claims that Jesus made. Now, we are going to look at three claims that moral relativists make today.
    There is no truth.
    It is true for you but not for me.
    No one has the truth.
    Have any of you heard someone make one or more of these claims? Have you said them yourself? I am embarrassed to admit that I used to believe these things!
    The first claim the moral relativist may make is this:
    There is no Truth
    When someone makes the claim that “there is no truth,” they are making a “truth claim.” In essence, the person is saying, “The truth is that there is no truth.” I usually respond by asking, “Is that true?”
    THE PERSON JUST TRIED TO MAKE A TRUTH CLAIM THAT TRUTH DOES NOT EXIST! Their statement that “truth does not exist” cannot, by their own definition, be true!
    The Apostle Paul told us why people want to believe there is no truth in Romans 1:25.
    Romans 1:25–26 NLT
    25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires.
    It does not sound like “God accepts all truth when we just read that “God abandoned them to their shameful desires.”
    A LOT of people will twist or trade the ABSOLUTE TRUTH of God to serve themselves. To justify focusing solely on their own desires, pursuits, and lusts.
    They create their own “gods” which allows them to satisfy the lusts of the flesh. A god that fits their morals. They become their own gods.
    The Apostle Paul is warning all of us that changing the truth about God or trading it for what we want to be true has devastating consequences.
    God abandons people like this over to their own choices. It is a taste of God’s wrath. If someone chooses to replace the One True God, YHVH, in their life with idols of their own making, God is not going to stop them. But, God is not going to accept it or call it good either.
    How about the second statement:
    2. It is true for you, but not for me.
    This is a common belief and statement made today, especially among younger people. I hear this one all the time from kids and adults alike.
    Our society, under the influence of the enemy, tells us that WE MUST accept that something is true when we know full well it is not true.
    Modern society tells us that we are to exchange tolerance for acceptance. You can no longer tolerate someone you disagree with, now you MUST accept that their “truth” is still truth even though it is not.
    Here are just a few we see and hear today:
    “Love is Love.” No, it is not. The Greek alone has four different words used depending on what is being discussed.
    The entire trans ideology. It is a delusion that defies all logic, biology, and common sense.
    “Islam is a religion of peace.” No it is not. Muhammed was a false prophet, Islam was built on lies and deceit.
    The list goes on...
    Now, someone here or watching online is going to get offended by what I am saying and say to me, “BOB! Aren’t you supposed to accept people just like Jesus does!”
    Let me tell you a little something. People will ask the believer “doesn’t Jesus accept everybody?” The answer is NO, not in the way they are using the word “accept.”
    They try to use this question as a “gotcha” against believers. A way of trying to make you feel bad for believing and stating the truth.
    BE ON GUARD! People like this will try to twist things in such a way that they will try to guilt or shame you into agreeing with them.
    When I am asked if I “accept” people the way that Jesus did, I usually respond like this: “Like Jesus, I will love people where they are. I accept that PEOPLE ARE THE WAY THEY ARE, but I do not accept that all behaviors, lifestyles, or beliefs are good or true.”
    The statement “It is true for you, but not for me” is used to cast away any judgement of right or wrong. It is a statement designed to bypass common sense, intellect, and conscience.
    "It is true for you, but not for me” cannot be an absolute truth statement because the person making the claim is saying “It is true for everyone.” It can not be true and not true at the same time.
    People rarely apply relativism to everything—they don’t treat the law of gravity as relative: “I believe if I jump off this building, I will float!” Try that and see what happens!
    Yet, they become relativists about God’s existence or moral living. But if someone cuts in line, steals their property, or damages their car, they suddenly believe their rights have been violated.
    There are people out there who do this very thing with the Word of God, including Pastors and church leaders. One day they will have to stand before the throne of God, face to face with God, and make the claim “Your truth is not my truth.” TO GOD!
    If the enemy can get the believer to compromise on the most basic, logical truths, how much easier is it for the enemy to snare people in other ways?
    The Apostle Paul warns us against this kind of thinking.
    Colossians 2:8 NLT
    8 Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.
    There are people who can make some great sounding arguments, deliver them with charisma, and twist the truth just enough to make it sound pleasing and right. Sound like someone we know? Yeah, Satan!
    I will be the first to admit that there are some great ideas and philosophies out there, but when it comes to morality, All truth is God’s truth.
    We have seen many believers become “captured” or “enslaved” to worldly philosophies and ideologies. Abandoning their faith and abandoning God in the process.
    Truth is found only in the Word of God. In Christ Jesus. The Apostle John tells us this in John 1:1-3
    John 1:1–3 NIV
    1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
    Jesus is “The Way, the Truth, and the Life.” He is “The Living Word.” Who do you choose to believe and follow this morning? Broken men and women with broken philosophies and falsehoods? People who suffer from the same afflictions, faults, desires, sins, and eventual death that we do?
    Or, your Creator, your Savior? the one who existed before time itself? The one who exists through eternity? I can’t speak for you, but I am siding with the winning team on this one.
    Let’s look at the third statement.
    3. No one has the truth.
    Again, this is a self-defeating statement. If no one has the truth, how do you truthfully know that no one has the truth? Is what you are saying the absolute truth?
    If you claim it is ABSOLUTELY TRUE that no one has the truth, you are claiming to have the truth. A person cannot claim to have the truth if no one has the truth.
    What this statement is, is an attempt to shame Christians for following the truth of God instead of caving to the world and the enemies lies.
    Yes, we are to show love to people, including our enemies. We can accept that people are the way they are. We are to show the grace and mercy of God to others.
    What we DO NOT do is “accept” that which is not of God as the truth. We do not bend His Word to fit human desires, wants, or feelings. There is no compromise in this. Jesus made this very clear in John 8:31-32.
    John 8:31–32 NLT
    31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
    Jesus is speaking of a moral truth; a saving truth; a working truth; a living truth. Truth is not just something we know, it is something that we do.
    Truth does not cave to hypocrisy. Truth does not bow to man made ideologies or philosophies. Truth does not accept lies as truth and it does not compromise with evil.
    Truth is what sets us free from the prison of this world, the lies, the shame, and the bondage of sin.
    Truth has set the believer free from the bondage of death through Christ’s atoning sacrifice at the cross, where his body was broken for you and his blood poured out for you. That you and I would know the truth, and the truth would set us free.
    Communion
    As we take communion, we do so in remembrance of him. In John 17:17, Jesus said this:
    John 17:17 NLT
    17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.
    As we dim the lights and the worship team makes their way up to receive communion, go before your Father in heaven this morning.
    Ask Holy Spirit to search your heart and mind. Is there anything you have put before God in your life? Have you made something an idol? Have you compromised your faith and His Truth to appease yourself or someone else?
    Ask The Spirit of Truth, Holy Spirit, to reveal those things in your heart and mind that need to be pruned, and thank Him for all he has done. He has set you apart, and he calls you his very own child this morning.
    Communion
    Benediction and Prayer

      • James 1:6–7NIV2011

      • James 4:2NIV2011

      • James 4:3NIV2011

      • Isaiah 59:1–2NIV2011

      • 1 Peter 3:7NIV2011

      • Matthew 6:11NIV2011

      • Matthew 6:12–13NIV2011

  • What A Beautiful Name
Vision of Hope
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