Walking in Truth and Love. Walking in Truth and Love

Transcription

1 IN THIS ISSUE: Walking in Truth and Love Every lie or untruth confuses our emotions, dulls our minds and wounds our spirit. Then we wonder why we are suffering from things like anxiety, panic attacks, depression and a myriad of physical ailments such as h e a d a c h e s, u l c e r s o r heartburn. God created human beings to walk in truth. Therefore, when anything contrary to truth comes into our lives, our entire ( p h y s i c a l e m o t i o n a l spiritual) being reacts negatively. This New Book is a Must Read!! NORMALIZING EVIL Through False Teaching Request your free copy now! To order or to view other resources by Karen go to our resource page at: He that has an ear, let him hear January-February 2012 Walking in Truth and Love Karen E. Connell Eph 4:15 Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly. AMP T Father, and He will give you another Helper (comforter-kjv), that He may abide with you forever The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16-17, NKJV). The Spirit of truth is the same Holy Spirit of God that causes genuine love to be shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5). Therefore, without walking in truth, it is impossible to walk in the genuine love for which a lost world is desperately seeking. God promises us His help in the form of comfort which can only come through embracing the Spirit of truth. When we do NOT have the Spirit of truth dwelling in us we will live in the opposite of comfort, which is aggravation, distress and tormenting frustration. Those who follow the worlds ways of thinking and living reject the truth... he world s movies, books, TV shows as well as a host of multimedia talk shows are obsessed with the subject of finding true love! This obsession has only led the world into a sick, violent and obscene way of life. The church is to be demonstrating what the world is desperately seeking, namely true love. After all Jesus did say... This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples when they see the love you have for each other." (John 13:35, TMB). Christians know they are suppose to demonstrate true love, as a result there is much teaching, preaching with great The Spirit of truth...the world cannot emphasis placed upon Christians loving receive. When people reject the Spirit of one another. I m sure no follower of Jesus Truth, they live in a place of distress would ever deny that love is vital and continually seeking love in all the wrong what's more is unfortunately lacking places. When this is the case they then forfeit among many in the church. Believing this experiencing the reality of God s comfort to be a truth, Christians therefore strive to through His grace, mercy and peace, Which demonstrate acts of love towards one come only by experiencing God s genuine another. However these acts of love are love when we embrace the Spirit of truth. more often than not based on pretense, a I love in truth, and not only I, but also sense of duty, or sentimentality, which is all those who have known the truth not genuine love! There is a reality that because of the truth which abides in us and we as Christians must face, because it is will be with us forever Grace, mercy, and the foundation for demonstrating genuine peace will be with you from God the love among ourselves. The reality is that Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the without walking in truth we cannot walk in Son of the Father, in truth and love. love. Truth is not merely a compilation of (2 John 1-3, NKJV). right or accurate words and doctrines. The word known in this text is the Truth is not even about having, or teaching the right information. Why? Because Greek word (Strong s 1097) ginosko (ghin-oce'-ko) which according to truth is a spirit... And I will pray the Rev. Karen Connell If you would like Karen to Speak at your church or ministry group Contact: Extended Life Christian Training Ministry 734 Water Street Hancock MI, (906) or go to:

2 the CWSD (Complete Word Study Dictionary), refers to the obtaining of knowledge through intercourse. In other words this refers to knowledge that comes through experiencing an intimate relationship with the indwelling Spirit of truth. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32, NKJV). In order for the Spirit of truth to dwell and remain in us, we must be willing to have the kind of love relationship with God that genders true intimacy with Him. This means there must first be a sincere (true) desire for truth in our inward parts. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. (Ps 51:6, NKJV). The desire for truth goes far beyond desiring truth(s) that we can mentally or intellectually embrace or teach. We must allow the Spirit of truth to penetrate our spirit and expose what is hidden within us so we can wisely discern our true spiritual condition. This can only happen when we are willing to put down our barriers of self-defense, pretense and all other forms of pride. This then produces a true intimate union with God s truth and love. When we give the spirit of truth permission to search our hearts to find any unclean thing within it, the light of God s love will allow us to see what we need without the fear of being condemned by Him; because truth can only abide (remain) in us when God s love is also present. When we live in fear of facing the truth about ourselves we will evade any issues that need to be dealt with and we will do all we can to avoid the exposure and conflict that truth inevitably produces. When we try to protect ourselves from the truth, what we are really protecting is the deception and lies of Satan which cuts us off our intimate relationship with God and others. This also hinders our ability to love God and others. Our love for God is only as strong as our love for His truth. Avoiding the truth causes us to feel unloved by God and others. When this is the case the greatest cure John 16:13-14 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth... He will bring me glory by revealing to you whatever he receives from me. available for feeling lonely and unloved is big dose of truthfulness from the Spirit of truth. Walking In Truth We need to become honest with ourselves about how much our idea of truth is based upon possessing Scriptural answers or right Biblical doctrine and likewise how much of our love is really based upon sentimentality and feelings. We must always remember that... Love does what is best for those we love, including speaking the truth to those we love despite how it makes them or ourselves feel. We may think we are basing our Christian life upon truth and love, until the agitations and pressures from those we profess to love, brings to light the reality of how much truth and love we are really able to walk in. If we as Christians do not demonstrate genuine love among ourselves, the world will never see the true love of God in action. Therefore, God is looking for those of us who are willing to pay the price to walk in His truth. I say this because when we truly desire God s truth it will come as His love (for God is love) but that love will be a consuming fire, that will expose and consume all that is false and defiling within us. For our God is a consuming fire. (Heb 12:29, NKJV). God created human beings to walk in truth. Therefore, when anything contrary to truth comes into our lives, our entire ( physical emotional spiritual) being reacts negatively. There was a group of people that The Apostle Paul was ministering to who were feeling no love for him or his ministry, because what he was teaching put them under distressing pressure. What he had to say to them is very revealing Ye are not straitened in (by) us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels be ye also (you are also being) enlarged Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers (or with that which causes unbelief) for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light withdarkness? (2 Cor 6:12-14, KJV). The phrase straitened in is the Greek word (Strong s 4729) stenochoreo which refers to being distressed by pressure. The Apostle Paul was trying to tell these Christians that the distressing pressure they were feeling was not because of him, but because of what was coming from within their own bowels. In other words the pressure was coming from deep within their inner being. Because of this he went on to say they were being enlarged. This phrase is the Greek word (Strong s 4111) plasso (plas'-so) which in one of its forms means to fabricate or be shaped by what is false. Satan is called the father or source of all lies. Every lie or untruth we receive from him confuses our emotions, dulls our minds and wounds our spirit. Then we wonder why we are suffering from things like anxiety, panic attacks, depression and a myriad of physical ailments such as headaches, ulcers or heartburn. Good health depends on the state of our soul, which is our mind will emotions. Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers

3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (3 John 2-4, NKJV). If we really want to prosper and be in good health, we must walk in truth. The word prosper means to be successful. God does not define success as humans do, which is in terms of obtaining wealth, recognition and power. God s definition for success means to be able to live a life of righteousness, peace and joy through His Spirit of truth. Many professing Christians claim to be walking in truth, but as I once heard it said all one needs to do to see if a person is really walking in truth is to check out their wardrobe, medicine cabinet, or their face. My attention was recently drawn to the account where Jesus encountered a person who had been in need of healing for thirty-eight years. Jesus asked this man a question we must all likewise carefully consider for ourselves... When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made whole?" (John 5:5-6, NKJV). Jesus asked this question because the man was unable to walk. Sadly there are many professing Christians who need healing because they too are unable to walk in the truth. What does it mean to walk in the truth? Walking is an activity that comes naturally when we have developed as we should. Walking in truth then, suggests that it should be natural for a Christian if they have developed as they should, to follow what is true and not false. This means we come out from among (walk away from) a world that is perverse, and twisted because it is being strangled and destroyed by lies and is continually promoting a false reality. Reality is concerned with what is eternal but this world and those who are worldly minded are more concerned with the temporal (what is temporary). A man by the name of Darrel Champlin once said "That which lasts forever is reality, and unless it lasts forever God says it is not real." We will not be walking in darkness or be influenced and led by what is false, if we are more concerned with eternity than we are with the here and now. Many are not able to walk in the truth because as mentioned, they fear exposure from the light of truth. When fear is present it means we need God s healing. In order for that to happen we must be willing to allow God to use his plumb line in our life. And the LORD said to me, "Amos, what do you see?" I answered, "A plumb line." And the Lord replied, "I will test my people with this plumb line. I will no longer ignore all their sins. (Amos 7:8, NLT). If we have something out of line in our being we can only be healed and restored if we allow God to expose it. Basically there are two main reasons why people (including Christians) fear exposure from the truth. The first is, they like their sin and don t want to give it up when it is exposed. The second reason is they don t want to be judged (condemned) or thought ill of because of their sin. We live in a world that says no one has the right to judge me if I feel ok about something then you have no right to judge me! However, humanity has already been judged by God, and deep down we all know this. God sent Jesus to get us out of living in this devastating condemned state... God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it" There is no judgment (criticism or punishment) awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness (without exposure). They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished. (John 3:17-20, NLT). As mentioned, we were created to walk in truth, therefore those who practice sin and hide their sin, or have something false deep within they are not aware of are already living in condemnation. Satan who is called the angel of light, can masquerade through ministers who accuse and criticize people for their sins. When a minister is operating under Satan s accusing influence, it is much like what we see in the movies where the glaring, blinding light of the interrogating authority is used to intimidate and frighten the accused wrong doer by giving them the third degree. This kind of minister may have the true facts regarding a person s sin, but they are not operating according to the Spirit of truth because He is not just the Spirit of truth but He is also the Spirit of love. Speaking the truth in love is motivated by the desire to deliver and encourage growth (even if the truth that is spoken brings pain). But speaking the truth through an accusing spirit only releases words that have no life....but, speaking the truth in love, you may grow up in all things into Him who is the head Christ (Eph 4:15, NKJV). Yes, being truthful about wrong doing is painful to confess, because it is humiliating, but that is why God helps us by giving us comfort through His mercy when the Spirit of truth exposes what is unclean or false within our lives. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him Mercy and

4 t r u t h h a v e m e t t o g e t h e r ; we can become true. Receiving truths in Righteousness and peace have a defiled state perverts those truths kissed. (Ps 85:9-10, NKJV). (making them false) so they have no When the Spirit of truth exposes power to transform us. We desperately sin it is mixed with God s heart of seek to possess truths, but God seeks to mercy which comes through to possess our whole being in order to those who are humble enough to make us true. receive the truth (no matter how When Christianity becomes a religion of having and doing, painful). However, those who fear their loss of reputation more than they fear God, are in pride and will become angry and defensive, when the Spirit of truth exposes what is false or untrue. They will not be comforted by God s mercy when the pain of exposure occurs. Thus they will run for cover in the darkness (embracing what is false) and continue to be manipulated by Satan s false light. Those who do humble themselves and confess and repent (change their mind) concerning what the Spirit of truth exposes, will experience the salvation (delivering power) of God and be kissed by God s righteousness and peace. This is true intimacy with God. The Spirit and Word of Truth As mentioned, truth is more than having a sufficient amount of right answers, laws or beliefs. We are not saved by just having these things as truths but we are saved by becoming true through them. The Pharisees had many right answers, laws and beliefs that were truths, but they themselves were not true. To be true means we are genuine through and through and not just genuine looking outwardly. The Pharisees wanted to appear true outwardly, but were not concerned with being true inwardly. That is why Jesus called them whitewashed graves (Matthew 23:27-28). They looked good on the outside but were defiled on the inside. God is not just merely concerned that we be informed and filled with truths but His desire is that we be transformed by being filled with His Spirit of truth so we loose the desire to be a true demonstration of God s truth. Truth is more than what we know or say, it is suppose to be what we are. Therefore, the truth we seek in the word of God that transforms us must be from the double edged sword of truth. This includes the logos word (truth communicating God s duties doctrines laws) and the rhema word (Spirit communicated truth). For the word of God is living (rhema) and powerful (logos), and sharper than any two-edged sword, (rhema-logos) piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Heb 4:12-13, NKJV). Knowing the truths of God s logos word concerning His required duties doctrines laws is essential if one is to become true, because we must measure our lives by the logos word or we will end up in deception. The following quotation from a true man of God makes this point very well If we once get above our Bibles, and cease making the written Word of God sole rule both as to faith and practice, we shall soon lie open to all manner of delusion, and be in great danger of making shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. Our blessed Lord, though He had the Spirit of God without measure, yet always was governed by, and fought the devil with, 'It is written.' --George Whitefield Becoming a genuine or true Christian cannot be achieved apart from also having the rhema word come to us through the Spirit of truth. The Spirit of truth speaks the rhema word which will discern the thoughts and intents of our heart by using the duties doctrines laws of the logos word as God s plum line. This means it takes both aspects of God s two edged sword of truth (logos rhema) to inform us so He can transform us into being truly genuine people of God. The lost of this world need to witness the true people of God, known as His Holy Nation (1 Peter 2:9). Those of this nation are not immersed in the affairs of this temporary life, but truly live and demonstrate the real Christian life. Many professing Christians succeed at being right but have failed at being real. Always remember God has great compassion for our fears, failures and frailty (when we humble ourselves), because He has given us His Holy Spirit of truth to comfort and empower us so we can be real, and be free of fear, and become successful, strong, genuine Christians. This is why God has every right to expect us to be His genuine witnesses. But you shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit (of truth) is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8) KJV. Becoming true witnesses means we must face our fears in order for God to make adjustments in our thinking, attitudes and behavior, so we can walk in truth and love. There is no alternative to walking in truth and love; our health and sanity require it and our eternal destiny demands it. There is no other way to receive the true, abundant and eternal life that Jesus died to give us! I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10). NKJV

5 Investigating and Experiencing the K.E. Connell New! This booklet is adapted from the book IF POSSIBLE Even the Very Elect Will Be Deceived by K. E. Connell This study is a biblical perspective on a most important but often misunderstood subject known as... The Glory of God This booklet examines such things as: How the Bible defines the glory of God and it s purpose in our lives Biblical patterns for experiencing God s true glory True revival as well as true and false manifestations of God s glory Keys for releasing God s glory through true worship

6 Please complete this form to place an order by mail... For more resources by Karen Connell go to: resource page Name Address City State Zip Phone( ) I have enclosed a love offering in the amount of $ Please check if you would like to be placed on our mailing list How many FREE copies of the following you would like? Copies of the Extended Life C.T.M. Resource Catalog Copies of the Trumpet Sounds Volume #1 Booklet Copies of: this months Trumpet Sounds Newsletter Copies of NORMALIZING EVIL Through False Teaching Copies of Investigating and Experiencing the Glory of God There is no charge for these products or for our newsletter; Of course any offering to help with production and mailing costs is always very much appreciated! Checks may be made payable to: Extended Life CTM 734 W. Water St. Hancock, MI Phone: (906) Also Available! Volume #1 You may now order this booklet containing a series of articles from past issues of the Trumpet Sounds Newsletter Also Register for our on-line Schools at... These courses are free and can be taken as correspondence courses by mail or as an on line courses by at: extended_life@hotmail.com