The Truth Will Set You Free! John 8:32

Are you struggling with truth?

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

God means what He says and says what He means! My hermeneutics are “literal”, however, that being said…study the scriptures yourself and make up your own mind! Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit…

Scriptures are from King James Version of the Bible KJV.

Unfortunately for most of us we choose to live in the world when we should be choosing to live in the WORD! We choose to pursue “possessions” instead of God. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:19-24 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: ²⁰ But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: ²¹ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. ²² The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. ²³ But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!²⁴ No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

The Biblical definition of Mammon, biblical term for riches, often used to describe the debasing influence of material wealth. The term was used by Jesus in his famous Sermon on the Mount and also appears in The Gospel According to Luke. Medieval writers commonly interpreted it as an evil demon or god.

Probably right now, you’re thinking that “I’m not rich”! I want to tell you that if you live in the USA or most European countries, YOU ARE RICH! Right here in the good old USA, we have poor people living on the streets, you are by far richer than any of them…okay…I hear you…you’re probably saying “well, that’s their choice”. I’ve heard myself say it and now when I look back upon those words, I cringe! We can never know the circumstances of why they’re where they are if we don’t ask and try to make a difference! There are people fighting for a piece of cardboard just to shelter them from the weather for one night because if it rains or snows, the cardboard turns to mush…YES…right this moment, that’s happening someplace in this world…maybe right here in the USA, almost right in your back yard! In some countries, the people are foraging through other people’s trash just for a bite of food or a piece of clothing to cover themselves. Here in the USA, most of us have a closet full of clothes and shelves full of groceries, newer car, a nice house or apartment, the latest cell phone and TV sets in every room. We’d go out to dinner several times a month until this covid-19 hit us! I’m not casting stones at anyone, I’m telling the TRUTH of the matter and I’m just as guilty as anyone else out there of turning my nose up and my gaze the other direction when I’d see someone in need.

Truth hurts, especially when we don’t like what we’re hearing!

Now you may be asking what does any of this have to do with truth? Here’s the truth of the matter…ANYTHING that takes us away from a life dedicated to JESUS can be called mammon! Jesus Christ ~ Yeshua Ha Mashiach (HEBREW) makes it perfectly clear in scriptures that there’s a right way and a wrong way and He’s the RIGHT and ONLY WAY! When the Holy Spirit comes to live in us, we’ll know the TRUTH and because of our belief in Jesus and obedience to His commandments, we will have eternal LIFE! 2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. I pray you realize that this scripture isn’t referring to us to be rich monetarily…it’s to be rich in fruits of the spirit.

John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; ¹⁷ Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

When we accept Jesus into our lives as Lord and Savior, we’ve unlocked our sinful hearts and invited the Holy Spirit to move in. Essentially, we’re announcing to the world that we want to know the truth and that we want to live according to the WORD of GOD. Because of our new found faith, now we MUST WALK AWAY from the World! From that moment forward everything we think, say and do is for the Glory of God! We become Christ-Like in our attitudes and actions and because of our belief that He’s the Son of God, we’re covered with HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS! Romans 2:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

Are you all talk and no action? Just saying we LOVE others is not enough, because our deeds are the fruit of our faith! We’re called to plant seeds of Gospel in everyone we meet. 1 Corinthians 3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. We’re called to help our fellow man both spiritually and physically and for God to present opportunities to us so that we may fulfill His commission. We’re called to testify to what our faith in Jesus has completed in our lives and to be thankful for ALL of his gifts…including the gift of waking up to another day so we can serve Him. YES!!! We are called to serve Him and to worship HIM in prayer, song and rejoicing and most important of all, it’s essential that we study His Word so we will know Him and understand what He expects of us as one of His children. Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Think about the concept of service…now be TRUTHFUL! Are you mostly self-serving…most people are, unfortunately it’s part of being in the flesh and until you desire and allow the spirit to work in you, the flesh will win out. Do you have a tendency to say, I’d like to help, but I don’t have the time or I think that’s a good cause, but I already have plans (maybe the plans are a movie or dinner with friends or family, maybe it’s a shopping spree that you’ve been thinking about for weeks, maybe it’s a football game or a hunting expedition). Have you ever thought about how these things will all fade away someday and all that will be left is what you gave to God? So I ask you…are you laying up treasures on earth or in heaven? Colossians 3:1-3 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. ² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

James 2:14-16 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? ¹⁷ Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

So the TRUTH is that being a Christian is serving God and others!