TRADITIONS, LIES, and TRUTH – PART TWO
Saturday – January 26, 2019, Sh’vat 20, 5779
Greetings dear partners and friends and welcome back to this stimulating study, investigation, and teaching on traditions, lies, and the Truth in the Church. By the way the first two (traditions, lies) did not just start, we see it witnessed in the ministry of Jesus and the other “New Testament” writers. I am still laying a foundation this week for our more detailed study to follow so I don’t think you will need the steel toed shoes or the fire extinguishers but keep them handy as we see where Holy Spirit takes us today. If you are getting this on Facebook, I encourage you to “like” and “share” these teachings. In addition, I encourage you to go to WordPress and register for delivery to your email inbox daily by simply clicking on the link. Last week I left off by defining the words traditions and lies found in the title of this study and I started on Truth. I think most people pretty well understand these terms but this extra precaution hopefully puts us all on the same page for sure. I will now deal with the word ‘Truth’ as it relates to Bible Truth which is of divine origin and therefore capitalized. Those of you who have followed this ministry for a period of time know that I have dealt with Bible Truth on many occasions. The Oxford Dictionary definition of truth is related to faithfulness and constancy, also, verity, accuracy, and genuineness. Now, let’s look at a couple of uses of the word ‘truth’ in Scripture.
1 Timothy 2:4 (KJV)
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
According to The Complete Word Study Dictionary – New Testament the word truth in this verse is defined as follows: alétheia; gen. alētheías, fem. noun from alēthés <G227>, true. Truth, reality; the unveiled reality lying at the basis of and agreeing with an appearance; the manifested, the veritable essence of matter.
So, we see that truth is a reality so one might conclude that a lie in contrast is not a reality at all but a depiction of a reality which does not exist. Notice that the gender of this word is feminine meaning that the truth has the potential to be productive given the right seed. The right seed is our voice speaking the Word of God in faith, in love, in hope, and by the leadership of the Holy Spirit. As a side note in the verse above notice that people can be saved and perhaps never come to a knowledge of the truth, a sad situation indeed but rampant in the Church. That particular word “knowledge” is the Greek word transliterated as ‘epignosis’ and means a knowledge that is clear, exact, engaging, and life changing. Knowledge of the Truth is integral to us being an expression of the Truth, an illustration, a demonstration, a representation, and a revelation of God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) in our lives and others lives. Now, let’s look at another verse to shed further light on this word ‘truth’.
John 4:23 (KJV)
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
True worship is submission to the will of another, in this case the will of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Our Heavenly Father desires people who are submitted or obedient to Him “in spirit and in truth”. We must determine that we will submit ourselves to the leadership of Holy Spirit. Absent our listening to and following the leadership of Holy Spirit we are on our own and have a religion of works (our own works). Lasting fruit will be absent, the presence of the same works that Jesus did will be lacking in our lives, and for sure the greater things will be absent. As we consider the word ‘truth’, the reality of the truth let’s meditate the following verses.
John 14:6 (KJV)
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (Bold added by Dr. Wood)
John 17:17 (KJV)
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (Bold added by Dr. Wood)
John 16:13 (KJV)
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (Bold added by Dr. Wood)
Psalm 119:142 (KJV)
142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. (Bold added by Dr. Wood)
Jesus said the greatest of all the law was the law of love.
Matthew 22:36-38 (KJV)
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
The highest love, Gods love, Godly love is agape (Greek transliteration to English) and is a selfless, obedient to the Word, and an adherence to the Blood Covenant. The law of love is a present and the highest reality of Truth. This love is a spiritual reality which transforms the physical realm (reality) in which we live. So then, in our study of “Traditions, Lies, and Truth” the Truth we are talking about is a transforming reality that we find in our submission to Christ Jesus, the Word, the leadership of Holy Spirit, by faith while walking in love. To walk in love means that God’s agenda is number one (selflessness), that we are obedient to the Word of God, and that we are in Blood Covenant with the Father through (or in) Christ Jesus. In Christ Jesus we are subject to, have inherited, the same obligations, benefits, and protections as Jesus.
Until our next publication, as a Bible Teacher and Prophetic Voice I speak this blessing over each and every one of you, receive it by faith in Jesus name!
Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)
24 The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you;
26 The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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