1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,160 We're gonna continue today in a series 2 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:05,040 that we began last Sunday called Faithful Stewards. 3 00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:07,040 And before we do that, 4 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:08,240 well, I'll go ahead and give you the verse. 5 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:12,800 We're gonna be reading out of 1 Timothy 3 and verse 14. 6 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:16,480 Church, I'm gonna invite and remind all of us 7 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,160 of our responsibility that we have to pray. 8 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:21,960 Let us pray, as you know, this week, 9 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:25,420 very important big election that is happening in our nation. 10 00:00:25,420 --> 00:00:29,380 And my encouragement to you is to vote, number one, 11 00:00:29,380 --> 00:00:33,080 and to pray and vote and pray in alignment 12 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:35,300 with your Christian values. 13 00:00:35,300 --> 00:00:36,820 That is very important. 14 00:00:36,820 --> 00:00:39,440 This is a crucial time that we're living in. 15 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:43,480 And I pray that we would be guided by the word of God. 16 00:00:43,480 --> 00:00:44,700 Amen. 17 00:00:44,700 --> 00:00:46,040 Someone say amen. 18 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:47,800 God and by the word of God. 19 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:51,120 And so let's do our part, everyone, but let's pray. 20 00:00:51,120 --> 00:00:56,120 The Bible teaches us to pray for our leaders, amen. 21 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:57,340 And we need to pray. 22 00:00:57,340 --> 00:00:59,920 These things are all in God's hands, amen. 23 00:00:59,920 --> 00:01:03,700 He causes rulers to rise and to fall, amen. 24 00:01:03,700 --> 00:01:08,080 But we're gonna pray that God's will would be done, amen, 25 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:09,960 and that we can move forward 26 00:01:09,960 --> 00:01:14,180 and that we can live in a more prosperous country 27 00:01:14,180 --> 00:01:17,120 and have the freedoms that we are enjoying today. 28 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:18,880 Praise be to God for that. 29 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:22,720 How many of you are thankful for the right that we have 30 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:27,600 to gather together in an environment like this, amen, 31 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:29,360 the freedom of religion, amen. 32 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:31,520 How many of you are thankful for these things? 33 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:35,120 But you know, we have to protect these things as well. 34 00:01:36,960 --> 00:01:40,600 Amen, and so let's keep these things in our mind. 35 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:43,400 And on that note, on that note, 36 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:46,760 today we're gonna be looking at very important topic, 37 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:48,480 and that's the topic of truth. 38 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:51,440 And I'm going to, how many of you love the truth? 39 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:53,340 Do I got any truth lovers out there? 40 00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:55,440 We love the truth. 41 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,040 1 Timothy chapter three, verse 14 says, 42 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:00,280 These things I write to you, 43 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:03,040 though I hope to come to you shortly. 44 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:06,520 But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know 45 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:10,920 how you ought to conduct yourself in the household of God, 46 00:02:10,920 --> 00:02:13,400 which is the church of the living God, 47 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:16,920 the pillar and ground of the truth. 48 00:02:16,920 --> 00:02:18,480 And without controversy, 49 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:21,200 great is the mystery of godliness. 50 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:23,440 God was manifested in the flesh, 51 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:27,240 justified in the spirit, seen by angels, 52 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:29,920 preached among the Gentiles, 53 00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:34,920 believed on in the world, received up in glory. 54 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,400 Could tune right into the next chapter, 55 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:39,640 chapter four and verse one. 56 00:02:39,640 --> 00:02:44,640 Now the spirit expressly says, or clearly says, 57 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:50,200 that in latter times, some will depart from the faith, 58 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:55,040 giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 59 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:58,120 speaking lies in hypocrisy, 60 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:03,120 having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. 61 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:09,440 My message today is this, can you handle the truth? 62 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:13,400 Can you handle the truth? 63 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:16,400 Amen, why don't we pray? 64 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:18,520 Father, we love you today. 65 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:23,160 We love your presence that is felt so strongly today. 66 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:26,680 Lord, we love all that you have done in our life. 67 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,360 Father, you have met us today 68 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:31,880 and our gathering is not in vain. 69 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:33,560 Your presence is here now, God, 70 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:36,600 I pray that you would anoint the hearing, 71 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:39,240 the understanding of all of us today, God, 72 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:43,080 that we can receive this word with gladness. 73 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:46,680 Father, we can strengthen our foundation, 74 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,520 understanding that we are not just any people, 75 00:03:49,520 --> 00:03:54,440 but we are a peculiar people built upon the foundation, God, 76 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:56,680 of the apostles and the prophets, Lord. 77 00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:00,760 I pray that you would solidify in our hearts today, God, 78 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:03,720 that truth in the name of Jesus, God. 79 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,040 Anoint my lips of clay, God, be glorified in Jesus' name. 80 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:09,200 Someone say, amen. 81 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,400 Amen, you can be seated in God's presence 82 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:16,760 in April of 2017, April 3rd, 83 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:21,560 the cover of Time Magazine asked a question in bold letters. 84 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:23,120 It was an unsettling question. 85 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:26,760 It was, is truth dead? 86 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:28,240 Is truth dead? 87 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:31,760 Displayed in striking red letters, 88 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:36,680 this question epitomizes our culture's growing uncertainty 89 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:41,680 about what truth is and whether it still matters. 90 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:46,680 In an age of disinformation, of shifting morals 91 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:52,240 and relativism, truth is under constant attack. 92 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:56,640 And I believe that more than ever, 93 00:04:56,640 --> 00:05:00,960 we as the people of God must shore up 94 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:05,960 or we must be in tune with what is true and what is false. 95 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:10,640 And we are here to testify 96 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:15,640 that despite Time's cover page several years ago, 97 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:18,840 that we can answer this question today. 98 00:05:18,840 --> 00:05:20,480 How many think we can answer this question? 99 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:21,520 Amen? 100 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:23,080 Truth is not dead. 101 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:26,640 I said truth is not dead. 102 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:27,560 Truth is alive. 103 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:28,380 Why? 104 00:05:28,380 --> 00:05:31,280 Because Jesus is alive. 105 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:33,840 And Jesus is the one who said, 106 00:05:33,840 --> 00:05:37,840 I am the way, the truth, and the life. 107 00:05:37,840 --> 00:05:39,760 And the life. 108 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:41,160 How many of you believe that? 109 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,200 Now, we may not instantly think of truth 110 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:49,960 as an area of stewardship, 111 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:53,720 like we do with our time, our treasures, our talents, 112 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:56,480 such as we spoke of last Sunday, 113 00:05:56,480 --> 00:06:00,080 and as we will in future Sundays, 114 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:02,720 but listen to Paul's words here. 115 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:06,960 We're gonna look at 1 Corinthians chapter four in verse two. 116 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:08,040 Listen to what he says. 117 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:10,680 Let a man also consider us, 118 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:15,680 let a man consider us as servants of Christ and stewards. 119 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:19,280 Stewards, there's that word that we're focusing on, 120 00:06:19,280 --> 00:06:22,000 of the mysteries of God. 121 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:25,920 Moreover, it is required in stewards 122 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:28,320 that one be found faithful. 123 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:32,300 Here, Paul stresses that those who have been entrusted 124 00:06:32,300 --> 00:06:37,300 with the mysteries of God are called to faithfully 125 00:06:37,300 --> 00:06:38,720 steward them. 126 00:06:39,620 --> 00:06:44,620 And this was the force behind his charge to Timothy, 127 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:47,240 Paul's son in the faith. 128 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:50,240 It was a spiritual son that Paul is writing to 129 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:54,480 in 1 and 2 Timothy, his protege, 130 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:58,320 some instructions, some guidelines for his ministry 131 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:02,200 and for life in general, shepherding the flock, 132 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:06,880 living his life, the way he went about his manner of life. 133 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:11,340 And Paul in his charge to Timothy, 134 00:07:11,340 --> 00:07:15,380 reminds him of this very important part of life, 135 00:07:15,380 --> 00:07:17,080 which is true. 136 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:21,040 In 1 Timothy chapter three and also chapter four, 137 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:26,040 Paul is emphasizing the importance of living the truth 138 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:28,720 and the danger of departing from it. 139 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:33,040 He warns that some will at some point in time, 140 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:37,720 abandon the faith and follow other deceiving spirits 141 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:41,920 and doctrines, having their conscience or their minds 142 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:44,400 seared with a hot iron. 143 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:46,880 And this message, I believe, was not only relevant 144 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:50,760 to Paul's son Timothy, but also to us today. 145 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:52,920 It is relevant and crucial for us. 146 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:57,500 So we must ask ourselves, can we handle the truth? 147 00:07:57,500 --> 00:08:00,840 Can we steward the truth properly? 148 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:05,200 The truth that God has given us must be stewarded. 149 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:10,200 It must be managed because God has entrusted it to us. 150 00:08:10,400 --> 00:08:14,840 Everything that we have come to know and realize about God 151 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:17,960 through his word, through personal experience, 152 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:22,140 through his spirit has been entrusted to us like a gift. 153 00:08:22,140 --> 00:08:26,560 Truth is like a gift that has been placed into our life 154 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:30,040 for us to care for and steward properly. 155 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:34,440 God will hold us accountable to the truth 156 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:37,200 that has been implanted in our lives. 157 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:39,880 Once truth has been revealed to us, 158 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:43,780 we don't have the luxury, we don't really have the option 159 00:08:43,780 --> 00:08:46,440 to just say, well, it doesn't matter, 160 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:49,940 or in one ear and out the other. 161 00:08:49,940 --> 00:08:54,940 Once truth has been made apparent to us, we've received it, 162 00:08:54,940 --> 00:08:59,540 we are accountable and responsible to guard, 163 00:08:59,540 --> 00:09:02,220 to steward that truth. 164 00:09:02,220 --> 00:09:05,060 It is incumbent upon each of us. 165 00:09:05,060 --> 00:09:07,460 If you have received the truth of God, 166 00:09:07,460 --> 00:09:09,900 then we must care for that truth. 167 00:09:09,900 --> 00:09:13,100 And I believe today that is the spirit 168 00:09:13,100 --> 00:09:14,900 in Paul's writing to Timothy, 169 00:09:14,900 --> 00:09:18,460 it's the spirit of this message this afternoon. 170 00:09:18,460 --> 00:09:23,460 So if you love truth, amen, this message will inspire you. 171 00:09:23,460 --> 00:09:26,660 And if you have questions about what truth really is, 172 00:09:26,660 --> 00:09:28,820 I hope this message will inform you. 173 00:09:28,820 --> 00:09:31,620 So can we properly steward it? 174 00:09:31,620 --> 00:09:34,660 What can we handle the truth? 175 00:09:34,660 --> 00:09:36,100 And to answer that question, 176 00:09:36,100 --> 00:09:38,620 I think there are three responses to truth 177 00:09:38,620 --> 00:09:40,220 that we must consider today. 178 00:09:40,220 --> 00:09:44,860 And the first is to know, someone say no. 179 00:09:44,860 --> 00:09:47,260 We have to know the truth. 180 00:09:47,260 --> 00:09:50,340 In order to faithfully steward the truth, 181 00:09:50,340 --> 00:09:53,620 we have to know the truth, amen. 182 00:09:53,620 --> 00:09:58,300 Paul uses powerful imagery when he describes the church 183 00:09:58,300 --> 00:10:02,300 as the pillar and ground of truth. 184 00:10:02,300 --> 00:10:05,300 He describes the church of the living God 185 00:10:05,300 --> 00:10:08,460 as being the foundation, the bedrock, 186 00:10:08,460 --> 00:10:11,540 or the secure place of truth. 187 00:10:11,540 --> 00:10:15,700 In other words, if one is looking for truth, 188 00:10:15,700 --> 00:10:17,540 then they ought to be able to find it 189 00:10:17,540 --> 00:10:20,140 in the church of Jesus Christ, amen. 190 00:10:20,140 --> 00:10:22,180 I said, amen, somebody. 191 00:10:22,180 --> 00:10:25,340 Because the church is the habitation 192 00:10:25,340 --> 00:10:28,700 or the stewardship of the truth, amen. 193 00:10:28,700 --> 00:10:30,460 The guardians of the truth. 194 00:10:30,460 --> 00:10:33,300 It is the pillar and ground of truth. 195 00:10:33,300 --> 00:10:38,300 Now those images of a pillar and ground foundation, 196 00:10:38,940 --> 00:10:42,580 it gives us a very strong picture in our mind 197 00:10:42,580 --> 00:10:47,060 because a pillar is something that holds up a structure, 198 00:10:47,060 --> 00:10:49,940 amen, and the ground or the foundation 199 00:10:49,940 --> 00:10:52,580 is what secures that structure. 200 00:10:52,580 --> 00:10:57,380 And as believers, we are responsible for holding up 201 00:10:57,380 --> 00:11:01,980 and securing, amen, the truth of the gospel 202 00:11:01,980 --> 00:11:06,660 and the doctrines of Christ in our lives, hallelujah. 203 00:11:06,660 --> 00:11:11,460 What happens to a structure when there are no pillars? 204 00:11:11,460 --> 00:11:14,820 What happens to a structure when there are no foundations? 205 00:11:14,820 --> 00:11:18,860 The writer of Psalms says, if the foundations be destroyed, 206 00:11:18,860 --> 00:11:21,180 what shall the righteous do? 207 00:11:21,180 --> 00:11:24,900 And so pillars and foundations are very important 208 00:11:24,900 --> 00:11:28,300 and those are the areas that I believe 209 00:11:28,300 --> 00:11:32,940 that the enemy wants to weaken and to distract us from. 210 00:11:32,940 --> 00:11:37,620 And so we have a responsibility in stewardship 211 00:11:37,620 --> 00:11:41,660 and that first responsibility is to know the truth, 212 00:11:41,660 --> 00:11:46,660 both mentally, intellectually, and also spiritually. 213 00:11:46,660 --> 00:11:49,460 In other words, we must not just know the truth, 214 00:11:49,460 --> 00:11:54,460 but the truth must be ingrained, embedded in who we are. 215 00:11:54,980 --> 00:11:59,500 We must be convicted about the truth, amen. 216 00:11:59,500 --> 00:12:02,740 The Lord said in Hosea 4 and 6, 217 00:12:02,740 --> 00:12:07,740 my people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge. 218 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:13,680 My people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge. 219 00:12:13,680 --> 00:12:16,040 So what causes people to be destroyed? 220 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:16,940 Is it the enemy? 221 00:12:16,940 --> 00:12:17,760 Is it the devil? 222 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:19,300 Well, he can play a part in that. 223 00:12:19,300 --> 00:12:21,300 Of course, he comes to attack us. 224 00:12:21,300 --> 00:12:23,060 Is it the affairs of life? 225 00:12:23,060 --> 00:12:24,140 Is the burdens of life? 226 00:12:24,140 --> 00:12:26,700 It could be all of those things that contribute, 227 00:12:26,700 --> 00:12:30,500 but ultimately it's the lack of knowledge 228 00:12:30,500 --> 00:12:32,940 that brings about our destruction. 229 00:12:32,940 --> 00:12:35,460 In other words, what you don't know, 230 00:12:35,460 --> 00:12:37,260 contrary to popular belief, 231 00:12:37,260 --> 00:12:41,340 what you don't know can actually hurt you. 232 00:12:41,340 --> 00:12:45,340 You ever heard the saying ignorance is bliss? 233 00:12:46,340 --> 00:12:49,020 Well, no, it's not bliss actually. 234 00:12:49,020 --> 00:12:50,460 Ignorance is not bliss. 235 00:12:50,460 --> 00:12:51,300 Why? 236 00:12:51,300 --> 00:12:55,560 Because it leads to poor decisions and terrible outcomes. 237 00:12:55,560 --> 00:12:58,060 It can cause your downfall. 238 00:12:58,060 --> 00:13:00,380 It can pierce your life with pain 239 00:13:00,380 --> 00:13:02,980 and keep you from living in victory. 240 00:13:02,980 --> 00:13:06,880 It might feel like bliss, but ignorance is not bliss. 241 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:11,880 We need to be knowledgeable about his word, 242 00:13:12,020 --> 00:13:14,340 knowledgeable about what is the truth. 243 00:13:14,340 --> 00:13:17,420 We need to acquaint ourselves and study the scriptures 244 00:13:17,420 --> 00:13:19,940 because the truth that will save our lives, 245 00:13:19,940 --> 00:13:21,540 the truth that will guide our lives 246 00:13:21,540 --> 00:13:24,860 is all right here in this book to guide us, 247 00:13:24,860 --> 00:13:26,860 to lead us, to direct us. 248 00:13:26,860 --> 00:13:27,700 Hallelujah. 249 00:13:27,700 --> 00:13:29,620 So there really is, if you think about it, 250 00:13:29,620 --> 00:13:32,220 there really is no excuse for not knowing. 251 00:13:33,220 --> 00:13:35,160 There really is no excuse for not coming 252 00:13:35,160 --> 00:13:36,940 to the knowledge of the truth. 253 00:13:36,940 --> 00:13:37,780 Hallelujah. 254 00:13:37,780 --> 00:13:41,020 Sin entered the world through a lie that was told 255 00:13:41,020 --> 00:13:42,720 and believed through the serpent. 256 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:46,140 And the only way to reverse that is to do the opposite, 257 00:13:46,140 --> 00:13:51,140 to believe the truth and to know it and to believe it. 258 00:13:51,340 --> 00:13:54,780 Jesus said, and you shall know the truth 259 00:13:54,780 --> 00:13:57,180 and the truth shall make you free. 260 00:13:57,180 --> 00:14:00,260 Do you really wanna know what the key is to freedom today? 261 00:14:00,260 --> 00:14:02,920 Freedom from whatever it is that's plaguing your mind, 262 00:14:02,920 --> 00:14:04,940 whatever it is that's disturbing you, 263 00:14:04,940 --> 00:14:07,500 whatever it is that's causing you grief and trouble, 264 00:14:07,500 --> 00:14:11,100 whatever it is that's conflicting with the joy 265 00:14:11,100 --> 00:14:13,940 and the blessings and the abundance 266 00:14:13,940 --> 00:14:16,420 that you all, I believe, want to experience, 267 00:14:16,420 --> 00:14:17,940 it's the truth. 268 00:14:17,940 --> 00:14:19,540 It's not some emotion, 269 00:14:19,540 --> 00:14:22,580 it's not some thrill that you get in life, 270 00:14:22,580 --> 00:14:25,380 it's not some manmade prescription. 271 00:14:25,380 --> 00:14:29,340 What's really gonna set you free from the inside out 272 00:14:29,340 --> 00:14:32,060 is a healthy dose of the truth. 273 00:14:32,060 --> 00:14:36,220 And when the truth gets in you, it will set you free. 274 00:14:36,220 --> 00:14:37,500 How so? 275 00:14:37,500 --> 00:14:39,900 Because it turns the lights on. 276 00:14:39,900 --> 00:14:44,500 Truth illuminates, it makes clear things that are fuzzy, 277 00:14:44,500 --> 00:14:47,060 it makes clear things that are unclear. 278 00:14:47,060 --> 00:14:50,500 It helps you distinguish between that which is false 279 00:14:50,500 --> 00:14:53,700 and that which is right, wrong and right, 280 00:14:53,700 --> 00:14:56,420 and it'll guide you in the right way. 281 00:14:56,420 --> 00:14:58,580 So if anything, what we need to get, 282 00:14:58,580 --> 00:15:01,340 in all you're getting, get understanding. 283 00:15:01,340 --> 00:15:02,660 Hallelujah, somebody. 284 00:15:02,660 --> 00:15:05,380 In all you're getting, get wisdom. 285 00:15:05,380 --> 00:15:07,580 In all you're getting, get truth. 286 00:15:07,580 --> 00:15:09,900 How many of you love the truth today? 287 00:15:09,900 --> 00:15:13,820 The Bible says, buy the truth and sell it not. 288 00:15:13,820 --> 00:15:17,300 Once you get the truth, don't you dare let go of it. 289 00:15:17,300 --> 00:15:18,980 Once you get the truth, 290 00:15:18,980 --> 00:15:22,500 don't let nobody pry the truth out of your hands. 291 00:15:22,500 --> 00:15:25,460 It's the truth and nothing but the truth. 292 00:15:25,460 --> 00:15:29,380 So help me, God, that's gonna help me, sustain me, 293 00:15:29,380 --> 00:15:31,740 and lead me into his promises. 294 00:15:31,740 --> 00:15:34,700 If you love the truth, give God some praise today. 295 00:15:34,700 --> 00:15:36,420 Hallelujah, somebody. 296 00:15:36,420 --> 00:15:38,260 Thank you. 297 00:15:38,260 --> 00:15:41,180 I'm thankful that I know the truth 298 00:15:42,380 --> 00:15:45,540 and only the truth can set us free. 299 00:15:45,540 --> 00:15:48,540 But how can you really know the truth? 300 00:15:48,540 --> 00:15:50,980 That's where the Holy Ghost comes in. 301 00:15:50,980 --> 00:15:55,340 Jesus said in John 16, 13, 302 00:15:55,340 --> 00:16:00,340 when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, 303 00:16:01,940 --> 00:16:06,620 he will guide you into all truth. 304 00:16:06,620 --> 00:16:09,300 The Spirit of truth, capital S, 305 00:16:09,300 --> 00:16:13,180 is in reference to the Spirit of God, the Holy Ghost. 306 00:16:13,180 --> 00:16:17,100 Jesus was prophesying about the coming of his Spirit. 307 00:16:17,100 --> 00:16:20,300 And he says, when the Spirit of God comes, 308 00:16:20,300 --> 00:16:25,300 he will guide you into all truth. 309 00:16:25,900 --> 00:16:29,660 So it's not just opening up your Bible, 310 00:16:29,660 --> 00:16:32,220 which is where you ought to start, 311 00:16:32,220 --> 00:16:34,580 but then you need the Holy Ghost. 312 00:16:34,580 --> 00:16:36,340 If you don't have the Holy Ghost, 313 00:16:36,340 --> 00:16:39,740 you need to be baptized with the Spirit of God today 314 00:16:39,740 --> 00:16:42,500 with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. 315 00:16:42,500 --> 00:16:46,060 You need to receive the Spirit of God in your life 316 00:16:46,060 --> 00:16:50,740 so that the Spirit of truth can lead you into truth 317 00:16:50,740 --> 00:16:53,580 and lead you into the proper thinking 318 00:16:53,580 --> 00:16:56,060 and the revelations of God. 319 00:16:56,060 --> 00:16:57,740 This is what we need. 320 00:16:57,740 --> 00:17:00,420 Just reading the Bible alone is good, 321 00:17:00,420 --> 00:17:03,740 but it's not enough to lead you into all truth. 322 00:17:03,740 --> 00:17:06,140 You need the Spirit of truth. 323 00:17:06,140 --> 00:17:09,260 And when you marry together, watch this, 324 00:17:09,260 --> 00:17:12,460 when you marry together the Spirit of truth 325 00:17:12,460 --> 00:17:15,740 with the word of truth, the Spirit of God 326 00:17:15,740 --> 00:17:17,540 with the word of God, 327 00:17:17,540 --> 00:17:20,060 and those two come together in your life. 328 00:17:20,060 --> 00:17:21,900 Are you hearing what I'm saying today? 329 00:17:21,900 --> 00:17:26,900 It will open up for you revelation, wisdom, and knowledge 330 00:17:27,100 --> 00:17:30,020 about God's perfect will for your life. 331 00:17:30,020 --> 00:17:31,300 Hallelujah, somebody. 332 00:17:31,300 --> 00:17:33,380 Man, I get excited when I think about this. 333 00:17:33,380 --> 00:17:34,280 Oh, Lord. 334 00:17:37,360 --> 00:17:38,980 There are different types of truth. 335 00:17:38,980 --> 00:17:41,580 There are two types of spiritual truth. 336 00:17:41,580 --> 00:17:43,420 I'm not gonna spend a lot of time on this. 337 00:17:43,420 --> 00:17:44,780 I'm fascinated by this. 338 00:17:44,780 --> 00:17:46,980 I can really do a deep dive here, 339 00:17:46,980 --> 00:17:49,180 but I'll just, you know, 340 00:17:49,180 --> 00:17:50,860 what's your appetite is what I'll do. 341 00:17:50,860 --> 00:17:52,520 Okay, there are two types of truth. 342 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:54,660 There are mysteries and secrets. 343 00:17:54,660 --> 00:17:56,020 There are really only two types. 344 00:17:56,020 --> 00:17:58,480 We can deduce it down to just two types of truth. 345 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:00,540 There are mysteries and secrets. 346 00:18:00,540 --> 00:18:04,200 Mysteries are revealed truths 347 00:18:04,200 --> 00:18:07,860 that are discovered in the word of God in the Bible 348 00:18:07,860 --> 00:18:10,060 or through his Spirit. 349 00:18:10,060 --> 00:18:11,620 And the thing that you ought to know 350 00:18:11,620 --> 00:18:14,080 is that they will never contradict each other. 351 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:16,340 So if you're hearing something in your head 352 00:18:16,340 --> 00:18:17,780 or in your mind or you think, 353 00:18:17,780 --> 00:18:20,800 oh, that's the Lord that told me that or not, 354 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:23,660 well, if it contradicts the word of God, 355 00:18:23,660 --> 00:18:25,720 then likely that was not the Holy Ghost. 356 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:27,260 That was not the truth. 357 00:18:27,260 --> 00:18:29,220 So they will always agree. 358 00:18:29,220 --> 00:18:31,500 The voice of God and the written word of God 359 00:18:31,500 --> 00:18:33,480 will always agree together. 360 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,420 But mysteries are revealed truths 361 00:18:36,420 --> 00:18:39,620 and secrets are concealed truths. 362 00:18:39,620 --> 00:18:40,460 Amen. 363 00:18:40,460 --> 00:18:43,000 Mysteries are hidden for us, 364 00:18:43,000 --> 00:18:46,540 but secrets are hidden from us. 365 00:18:46,540 --> 00:18:48,980 God wants you to know the mysteries. 366 00:18:48,980 --> 00:18:52,980 God wants you to discover the mysteries of his word, 367 00:18:52,980 --> 00:18:57,100 the mysteries of his plan, the mysteries of truth. 368 00:18:57,100 --> 00:18:58,760 He wants you to know those things. 369 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:00,340 They are hidden for us. 370 00:19:00,340 --> 00:19:01,220 What does that mean? 371 00:19:01,220 --> 00:19:04,580 It's like when you're hiding certain things from a child 372 00:19:04,580 --> 00:19:08,260 and you're playing the game and you want them to find them. 373 00:19:08,260 --> 00:19:11,020 You plant some things around the house 374 00:19:11,020 --> 00:19:13,100 and you see if you can find it, right? 375 00:19:13,100 --> 00:19:14,940 They planted those things. 376 00:19:14,940 --> 00:19:19,420 They hid those things so that they could be discovered 377 00:19:19,420 --> 00:19:20,860 because what's the fun in hiding 378 00:19:20,860 --> 00:19:23,540 and then they never find it, right? 379 00:19:23,540 --> 00:19:25,540 It's to be discovered. 380 00:19:25,540 --> 00:19:26,900 That's the whole point of it. 381 00:19:26,900 --> 00:19:30,460 So there are truths that have been planted in the word, 382 00:19:30,460 --> 00:19:35,460 in the spirit that God invites us to seek and to search for. 383 00:19:35,860 --> 00:19:39,260 And when we do that diligently with an open heart 384 00:19:39,260 --> 00:19:42,220 and an open mind, we will come to the truth. 385 00:19:42,220 --> 00:19:43,740 Amen, hallelujah. 386 00:19:43,740 --> 00:19:46,220 But you have to want it, you gotta seek it. 387 00:19:46,220 --> 00:19:50,260 But the secrets, those are different types of truth. 388 00:19:50,260 --> 00:19:52,700 There are some things that you and I 389 00:19:52,700 --> 00:19:56,100 are never gonna know this side of eternity. 390 00:19:56,100 --> 00:20:00,660 There are certain things that only God is going to know. 391 00:20:01,540 --> 00:20:03,140 Amen, somebody. 392 00:20:03,140 --> 00:20:05,140 There are certain things about our lives, 393 00:20:05,140 --> 00:20:06,580 certain things about what happens, 394 00:20:06,580 --> 00:20:10,460 certain things that are going to remain unknown 395 00:20:10,460 --> 00:20:13,420 until we get there where the half has been told, 396 00:20:13,420 --> 00:20:17,380 until we possibly come to where Jesus is in heaven, 397 00:20:17,380 --> 00:20:20,820 then maybe God will reveal to us the secrets. 398 00:20:20,820 --> 00:20:22,780 Moses explained it this way. 399 00:20:22,780 --> 00:20:23,860 This is important. 400 00:20:23,860 --> 00:20:27,020 And I included this because I feel it wouldn't be helpful 401 00:20:27,020 --> 00:20:28,580 for someone to understand. 402 00:20:28,580 --> 00:20:29,900 He said, well, if we know the truth, 403 00:20:29,900 --> 00:20:30,720 then why is this? 404 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:32,020 Some things don't make sense. 405 00:20:32,020 --> 00:20:34,300 But listen to what Moses said. 406 00:20:34,300 --> 00:20:37,420 He said the secret, in Deuteronomy 29, 29, 407 00:20:37,420 --> 00:20:40,660 the secret things belong to who? 408 00:20:41,860 --> 00:20:43,540 Oh, come on, help me out today, church. 409 00:20:43,540 --> 00:20:44,940 Y'all being a little quiet on me. 410 00:20:44,940 --> 00:20:46,900 The secret things belong to who? 411 00:20:48,900 --> 00:20:51,100 So all the secrets belong to the Lord. 412 00:20:51,100 --> 00:20:54,340 But those things which are revealed belong to who? 413 00:20:55,340 --> 00:20:56,780 Oh, hallelujah. 414 00:20:56,780 --> 00:20:58,220 Those that are revealed, 415 00:20:58,220 --> 00:21:01,260 those things which are revealed belong to who? 416 00:21:01,260 --> 00:21:02,580 To us. 417 00:21:02,580 --> 00:21:04,500 And to who else? 418 00:21:04,500 --> 00:21:06,060 Our children, amen. 419 00:21:06,060 --> 00:21:07,100 Forever. 420 00:21:07,100 --> 00:21:08,260 That why? 421 00:21:08,260 --> 00:21:13,260 That we may do all the words of this law, of the truth. 422 00:21:14,140 --> 00:21:16,820 So there are two levels of truth. 423 00:21:16,820 --> 00:21:19,660 There are mysteries and there are secrets. 424 00:21:19,660 --> 00:21:23,380 There are secret things that belong to God and him alone. 425 00:21:23,380 --> 00:21:28,380 And we may never understand those things in this life, 426 00:21:28,660 --> 00:21:29,740 in this world. 427 00:21:29,740 --> 00:21:31,940 But those things which are revealed, 428 00:21:31,940 --> 00:21:35,500 those are the mysteries of God, the truths of God. 429 00:21:35,500 --> 00:21:39,340 And they belong to us for us to steward them, 430 00:21:39,340 --> 00:21:40,700 to manage them. 431 00:21:40,700 --> 00:21:42,460 They've been entrusted to us 432 00:21:42,460 --> 00:21:45,100 and to teach them to our children 433 00:21:45,100 --> 00:21:47,380 so that we may walk in truth 434 00:21:47,380 --> 00:21:50,100 and live it out all the days of our life. 435 00:21:50,100 --> 00:21:52,860 And that brings me to my second aspect 436 00:21:52,860 --> 00:21:54,580 of can we handle the truth? 437 00:21:54,580 --> 00:21:57,860 And that is we must live the truth, hallelujah. 438 00:21:58,900 --> 00:21:59,980 Can't just know it. 439 00:21:59,980 --> 00:22:02,740 You gotta live it, someone say live it. 440 00:22:02,740 --> 00:22:03,580 Gotta live the truth. 441 00:22:03,580 --> 00:22:05,060 Knowing the truth is one thing, 442 00:22:05,060 --> 00:22:09,620 but living it is the true test of your stewardship. 443 00:22:10,660 --> 00:22:15,460 And this was the crux of Paul's warning when he says, 444 00:22:15,460 --> 00:22:20,460 now the spirit expressly says that in latter times, 445 00:22:20,860 --> 00:22:23,460 some will depart from the faith. 446 00:22:24,540 --> 00:22:28,180 And the question we could ask is how? 447 00:22:28,180 --> 00:22:32,100 How does someone depart from the faith? 448 00:22:32,100 --> 00:22:34,380 How does someone depart from the truth? 449 00:22:34,380 --> 00:22:39,380 How does a believer turn from the truth? 450 00:22:41,060 --> 00:22:42,300 Couple of things I wanna note there 451 00:22:42,300 --> 00:22:45,140 before I continue to read is that, 452 00:22:45,140 --> 00:22:47,340 first of all, he mentions latter times. 453 00:22:47,340 --> 00:22:52,340 So there is a period on humanity's timetable 454 00:22:52,340 --> 00:22:55,340 in which the things that we're talking about now, 455 00:22:55,340 --> 00:22:58,300 departing from the faith, will escalate. 456 00:22:59,140 --> 00:23:04,140 There is a period of time, latter times, latter times. 457 00:23:04,420 --> 00:23:05,420 You know what that means? 458 00:23:05,420 --> 00:23:10,420 The last days, the times leading up to the coming of Christ. 459 00:23:12,260 --> 00:23:17,260 So there's a time period in which truth will be under attack 460 00:23:17,500 --> 00:23:21,000 and we'll see some depart from the faith. 461 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:24,860 That's one characteristic of this verse that we need to see. 462 00:23:24,860 --> 00:23:26,940 And the other thing is that he says 463 00:23:26,940 --> 00:23:28,620 that some will depart from the faith. 464 00:23:28,620 --> 00:23:31,060 Now, there are some who may think 465 00:23:31,060 --> 00:23:33,740 that he's talking just about a person 466 00:23:33,740 --> 00:23:36,020 who just outright backslides, 467 00:23:36,020 --> 00:23:38,940 just completely walks away from God, 468 00:23:38,940 --> 00:23:40,500 stops attending church, 469 00:23:40,500 --> 00:23:44,420 just doesn't want anything to do with God 470 00:23:44,420 --> 00:23:46,660 or with the church or with the things of God. 471 00:23:46,660 --> 00:23:48,620 That's not exactly what he's talking about. 472 00:23:48,620 --> 00:23:50,740 He's not just talking about someone 473 00:23:50,740 --> 00:23:52,500 who you think just completely walks away 474 00:23:52,500 --> 00:23:54,340 and says, I'm done with God. 475 00:23:54,340 --> 00:23:57,540 What he's talking about is departing from the faith. 476 00:23:57,540 --> 00:23:59,620 He's talking about the faith. 477 00:23:59,620 --> 00:24:02,020 In other words, there is a pure faith. 478 00:24:02,020 --> 00:24:07,020 There is a pure truth that God has given us 479 00:24:07,020 --> 00:24:09,660 and in the latter times, some would be deceived 480 00:24:09,660 --> 00:24:11,860 and walk away from that pure faith. 481 00:24:11,860 --> 00:24:14,340 Now, the only way to make something impure 482 00:24:14,340 --> 00:24:16,960 is by adding other things to it that don't belong. 483 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:20,180 Amen, somebody. 484 00:24:20,180 --> 00:24:22,180 The only thing to make something impure 485 00:24:22,180 --> 00:24:25,660 is add other things that are not like it. 486 00:24:25,660 --> 00:24:27,300 That compromises it, right? 487 00:24:27,300 --> 00:24:28,980 That makes it less pure. 488 00:24:30,660 --> 00:24:32,140 And so there's coming a time 489 00:24:32,140 --> 00:24:34,460 and we're living in those times now 490 00:24:34,460 --> 00:24:39,100 where the truth of God is being compromised. 491 00:24:39,100 --> 00:24:41,020 Well, Paul tells us how. 492 00:24:41,020 --> 00:24:43,460 He says, giving heed, in verse one, 493 00:24:43,460 --> 00:24:48,300 to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. 494 00:24:48,300 --> 00:24:53,300 Deceiving spirits, doctrines of demons. 495 00:24:53,300 --> 00:24:55,220 You know, just give me a few more moments 496 00:24:55,220 --> 00:24:58,260 of your time today, church, but I need to deal with this. 497 00:24:58,260 --> 00:24:59,820 I need to deal, can I deal with this? 498 00:24:59,820 --> 00:25:01,180 I need to deal with this. 499 00:25:02,300 --> 00:25:03,860 I need to deal with this. 500 00:25:03,860 --> 00:25:06,420 Deceiving spirits, doctrines of demons. 501 00:25:06,420 --> 00:25:09,500 Ooh, they both sound really serious and they are. 502 00:25:09,500 --> 00:25:12,220 But there's more than meets the eye here. 503 00:25:12,220 --> 00:25:13,540 More than meets the eye. 504 00:25:13,540 --> 00:25:17,060 Deceiving spirits refer to the spiritual eye 505 00:25:17,060 --> 00:25:20,340 refer to the spiritual influences 506 00:25:20,340 --> 00:25:22,980 that lead people away from truth 507 00:25:24,140 --> 00:25:28,420 through subtle lies, 508 00:25:28,420 --> 00:25:32,020 confusions, false claims, 509 00:25:32,020 --> 00:25:35,180 or things that just don't line up. 510 00:25:37,540 --> 00:25:41,260 Measure up to exactly what the word teaches us. 511 00:25:42,260 --> 00:25:47,020 It twists the truth in ways that seem reasonable. 512 00:25:47,020 --> 00:25:52,020 Now, you know what makes deception so effective 513 00:25:52,020 --> 00:25:54,620 is that there's always a little element of truth in it. 514 00:25:55,700 --> 00:25:57,500 Like a dose of it. 515 00:25:57,500 --> 00:25:58,500 Like not the whole thing, 516 00:25:58,500 --> 00:26:00,540 but there's like a little element of truth. 517 00:26:00,540 --> 00:26:03,300 And that's what gives us its persuasion. 518 00:26:03,300 --> 00:26:04,980 That's what makes it sound like, 519 00:26:06,020 --> 00:26:08,900 maybe that could work. 520 00:26:08,900 --> 00:26:10,180 Maybe that is. 521 00:26:10,180 --> 00:26:13,740 The serpent did this with Eve in the beginning, right? 522 00:26:13,740 --> 00:26:17,540 He did that, he deceived her by mixing together 523 00:26:17,540 --> 00:26:20,220 some truth and some lie. 524 00:26:21,740 --> 00:26:23,940 And that made it confusing for her. 525 00:26:23,940 --> 00:26:26,460 And it seemed reasonable and appealing. 526 00:26:26,460 --> 00:26:27,940 And this is exactly what happens 527 00:26:27,940 --> 00:26:30,460 when deceiving spirits come into someone's life 528 00:26:30,460 --> 00:26:32,540 or attempt to derail your faith, 529 00:26:32,540 --> 00:26:34,300 take you out of the will of God. 530 00:26:34,300 --> 00:26:37,860 And it's hard for people to discern that deception. 531 00:26:37,860 --> 00:26:39,860 For instance, the spirit, 532 00:26:39,860 --> 00:26:44,340 they'll say, for instance, the spirit says, 533 00:26:44,340 --> 00:26:46,660 this spirit, not the spirit of God, 534 00:26:46,660 --> 00:26:50,980 this deceiving spirit says, well, God is love. 535 00:26:50,980 --> 00:26:52,740 Oh, how many of you know God's love? 536 00:26:54,980 --> 00:26:56,300 Let's try that again. 537 00:26:56,300 --> 00:26:58,260 How many of you know God's love? 538 00:26:58,260 --> 00:27:00,460 Amen, he's love. 539 00:27:00,460 --> 00:27:03,300 So those deceiving spirits say, well, then God is love. 540 00:27:03,300 --> 00:27:04,220 Then God is love. 541 00:27:04,220 --> 00:27:06,300 Then he can't judge you. 542 00:27:06,300 --> 00:27:08,260 Because he's love. 543 00:27:09,700 --> 00:27:13,420 Well, on the one hand, you're right, God is love. 544 00:27:13,420 --> 00:27:17,140 But on the other hand, he's also a judge. 545 00:27:18,140 --> 00:27:20,340 You know that God can be both? 546 00:27:20,340 --> 00:27:22,300 How many of you know he can be both love 547 00:27:22,300 --> 00:27:24,500 and he can also be both the rule of law? 548 00:27:25,740 --> 00:27:28,660 He's both, it's not one or the other. 549 00:27:28,660 --> 00:27:32,380 Hmm, so don't ever allow that spirit 550 00:27:32,380 --> 00:27:34,260 to force you to pick a side and choose. 551 00:27:34,260 --> 00:27:36,340 No, God is both of these things. 552 00:27:37,980 --> 00:27:42,140 But it's that lie that mixes in a little bit of truth 553 00:27:42,140 --> 00:27:46,020 in there and it sounds reasonable and it sounds good. 554 00:27:46,020 --> 00:27:49,220 It's like, wow, that sounds kind of right. 555 00:27:49,220 --> 00:27:50,540 I think there's some truth. 556 00:27:50,540 --> 00:27:53,500 I think I can find a Bible verse that even agrees with that. 557 00:27:55,020 --> 00:27:56,700 But is it the whole truth? 558 00:27:56,700 --> 00:28:04,700 Is it the whole truth, so help me God. 559 00:28:04,700 --> 00:28:08,580 Deceiving spirits, how do I know if I'm being deceived? 560 00:28:10,300 --> 00:28:13,820 Hmm, how do I know if I'm being led astray? 561 00:28:15,620 --> 00:28:17,620 If we're staying in the word of God, 562 00:28:18,860 --> 00:28:20,700 whatever that thing is we're hearing, 563 00:28:20,700 --> 00:28:24,580 if it doesn't agree with this, 564 00:28:24,580 --> 00:28:29,260 then we know we should reject it, amen. 565 00:28:30,740 --> 00:28:33,780 Another way is that we as iron sharpening iron 566 00:28:33,780 --> 00:28:37,140 can help each other point out things 567 00:28:37,140 --> 00:28:39,620 that are, that that's not the truth. 568 00:28:39,620 --> 00:28:44,300 Now, he also mentions the doctrines of demons. 569 00:28:45,300 --> 00:28:50,020 Hmm, people hear doctrines of demons and they think, 570 00:28:50,020 --> 00:28:53,780 oh, Paul must be talking about sorcery and witchcraft 571 00:28:53,780 --> 00:28:58,780 and Satanism, and he's not. 572 00:29:00,940 --> 00:29:03,980 Doctrines of demons sounds kind of, I mean, it sounds evil 573 00:29:03,980 --> 00:29:08,300 and it is, but it's not the sort of dark black magic 574 00:29:08,300 --> 00:29:10,180 or things you think are doctrines of demons. 575 00:29:10,180 --> 00:29:11,500 Ooh, what could that be? 576 00:29:11,500 --> 00:29:14,380 Paul's examples in verse three highlight 577 00:29:15,700 --> 00:29:17,820 what doctrines of demons were. 578 00:29:17,820 --> 00:29:20,820 He gives us the examples because in his examples, 579 00:29:20,820 --> 00:29:25,020 he tells us how some were promoting false, 580 00:29:25,020 --> 00:29:29,380 a false sense of holiness by forbidding marriage. 581 00:29:29,380 --> 00:29:31,980 Imagine that, enforcing special diets. 582 00:29:31,980 --> 00:29:34,380 You read it for yourself here, church, 583 00:29:34,380 --> 00:29:37,100 you can read it on your own, but I don't know about you, 584 00:29:37,100 --> 00:29:39,900 but when I read that first verse, doctrines of demons, 585 00:29:39,900 --> 00:29:42,380 I was like, oh, this is gonna get real scary. 586 00:29:42,380 --> 00:29:43,420 Whatever he's talking about, man, 587 00:29:43,420 --> 00:29:46,860 this is gonna be really bad, bad, bad, evil stuff, 588 00:29:46,860 --> 00:29:48,140 dark stuff. 589 00:29:48,140 --> 00:29:52,060 And then he goes into talking about these weird philosophies 590 00:29:52,060 --> 00:29:55,220 about marriage and forbidding to marriage 591 00:29:55,220 --> 00:29:57,900 and then talking about special diets. 592 00:29:57,900 --> 00:30:01,540 And there's gonna be people saying that you can't eat that 593 00:30:01,540 --> 00:30:04,060 because you'll be more holy if you don't eat that. 594 00:30:04,060 --> 00:30:07,020 And this kind, I was not ready for this, Paul. 595 00:30:07,020 --> 00:30:09,380 I thought we were gonna go to some other kind of dark place, 596 00:30:09,380 --> 00:30:13,300 but when you started talking about doctrines of demons, 597 00:30:13,300 --> 00:30:16,220 I mean, that sounds very, very, very serious. 598 00:30:16,220 --> 00:30:17,500 That sounds important. 599 00:30:17,500 --> 00:30:20,260 And then he goes into talking about really, 600 00:30:20,260 --> 00:30:21,820 what is a doctrine of demon? 601 00:30:21,820 --> 00:30:23,220 I'll tell you what a doctrine of demon. 602 00:30:23,220 --> 00:30:25,820 Here's the principle that Paul is trying to teach us. 603 00:30:25,820 --> 00:30:28,540 He's trying to teach us a doctrine of demon 604 00:30:28,540 --> 00:30:32,060 is when someone imposes their view on scripture 605 00:30:32,060 --> 00:30:33,820 and tries to make it doctrine. 606 00:30:36,820 --> 00:30:38,420 He said, well, this sounds good to me 607 00:30:38,420 --> 00:30:40,300 and I think this is the way it should be 608 00:30:40,300 --> 00:30:42,100 and I think this is how it should be. 609 00:30:42,100 --> 00:30:44,580 And we ought to abstain from that or we ought to do this. 610 00:30:44,580 --> 00:30:46,260 And then Paul said, well, wait a minute, 611 00:30:46,260 --> 00:30:48,220 where is that in the Bible? 612 00:30:48,220 --> 00:30:53,220 And okay, now he's saying this is a doctrine of demons 613 00:30:53,340 --> 00:30:55,260 because it didn't come from God. 614 00:30:55,260 --> 00:30:58,860 You're trying to impose your view, your philosophy, 615 00:30:58,860 --> 00:31:01,300 your worldview, your opinions, your feelings, whatever it is 616 00:31:01,300 --> 00:31:03,860 and trying to pass it off as doctrine. 617 00:31:03,860 --> 00:31:06,020 And Paul said that's a doctrine of demons. 618 00:31:06,020 --> 00:31:06,860 Why? 619 00:31:06,860 --> 00:31:08,660 Because it didn't come from God. 620 00:31:08,660 --> 00:31:12,300 Even what's this, even if it's in the name of God, 621 00:31:12,300 --> 00:31:13,780 it didn't come from him. 622 00:31:13,780 --> 00:31:16,860 So in the last days, church, 623 00:31:16,860 --> 00:31:19,900 there's going to be deceiving spirits 624 00:31:19,900 --> 00:31:22,980 and there's going to be doctrines of demons 625 00:31:22,980 --> 00:31:26,180 and there's going to be ideologies and theories 626 00:31:26,180 --> 00:31:29,300 and all kinds of sorts of things that will come against us 627 00:31:29,300 --> 00:31:31,820 to try to dilute the truth in our life, 628 00:31:31,820 --> 00:31:35,580 to weaken our foundation and take us off course. 629 00:31:35,580 --> 00:31:38,900 But today we're gonna stand on truth. 630 00:31:38,900 --> 00:31:41,020 We're gonna stand on the word. 631 00:31:41,020 --> 00:31:43,500 We're not gonna up, we're not gonna down. 632 00:31:43,500 --> 00:31:45,380 We're not gonna subtract. 633 00:31:45,380 --> 00:31:47,060 We're not gonna add. 634 00:31:47,060 --> 00:31:49,700 Because unless all the curses in this Bible 635 00:31:49,700 --> 00:31:52,420 be brought upon us, if we subtract 636 00:31:52,420 --> 00:31:55,340 or if we take away anything from his word, 637 00:31:58,900 --> 00:32:01,940 if one continues down the path of deception 638 00:32:01,940 --> 00:32:05,020 and false doctrine, watch what happens, amen. 639 00:32:06,340 --> 00:32:09,140 In verse two, they will risk. 640 00:32:10,780 --> 00:32:12,660 I'll be just a couple more minutes and I'll be done. 641 00:32:12,660 --> 00:32:14,620 They will risk, in verse two, 642 00:32:14,620 --> 00:32:19,620 having their own consciences seared with a hot iron. 643 00:32:26,140 --> 00:32:28,100 A seared conscience. 644 00:32:30,260 --> 00:32:33,220 How many of you wanna know what a seared conscience is? 645 00:32:33,220 --> 00:32:34,500 You know what a seared conscience is? 646 00:32:34,500 --> 00:32:36,820 It's a calloused. 647 00:32:36,820 --> 00:32:41,820 It's a calloused mentality. 648 00:32:43,900 --> 00:32:48,900 It is a insensitive, when something has been seared, 649 00:32:49,340 --> 00:32:51,980 it loses its sensitivity. 650 00:32:52,860 --> 00:32:55,700 It becomes numb. 651 00:33:00,340 --> 00:33:02,220 Oh God, I feel the Holy Ghost today. 652 00:33:02,220 --> 00:33:06,180 Numb, numb to what? 653 00:33:07,540 --> 00:33:08,700 Numb to God? 654 00:33:10,300 --> 00:33:12,380 Numb to the word of God? 655 00:33:13,980 --> 00:33:16,260 Numb to the things of God? 656 00:33:16,260 --> 00:33:21,260 It loses sensitivity to what the spirit wants to do 657 00:33:24,940 --> 00:33:25,940 in his or her life. 658 00:33:25,940 --> 00:33:32,940 It loses, it becomes seared, calloused, hardened. 659 00:33:34,380 --> 00:33:38,460 And over time, the more numb you become to the word, 660 00:33:38,460 --> 00:33:41,420 the more numb, in the beginning it's all like, 661 00:33:41,420 --> 00:33:43,100 it doesn't quite, maybe you can't even 662 00:33:43,100 --> 00:33:46,660 distinguish the difference, but over time, 663 00:33:48,460 --> 00:33:53,460 over time, you become more and more vulnerable 664 00:33:53,460 --> 00:33:57,100 to the lies of the enemy. 665 00:33:59,060 --> 00:34:00,700 Nobody backslides overnight. 666 00:34:02,980 --> 00:34:04,620 It's a process. 667 00:34:04,620 --> 00:34:07,500 Just like it's a process to get saved, 668 00:34:07,500 --> 00:34:09,660 it's a process to get unsaved. 669 00:34:12,580 --> 00:34:16,580 And I can tell you that, piano, come on over, 670 00:34:16,580 --> 00:34:21,580 I could tell you that in almost 30 years, 671 00:34:21,580 --> 00:34:25,300 almost 30 years, oh man, I'm getting, of ministry, 672 00:34:27,500 --> 00:34:31,780 I can tell you, from the time that I first started out 673 00:34:31,780 --> 00:34:34,420 as the local youth president of my church, 674 00:34:35,980 --> 00:34:39,740 to a small group leader, to being a deacon, 675 00:34:39,740 --> 00:34:42,420 to serving all the different areas where God 676 00:34:42,420 --> 00:34:45,580 has graciously allowed me to serve and work with people, 677 00:34:45,580 --> 00:34:50,580 and to those who I've seen the most rooted, 678 00:34:51,620 --> 00:34:52,460 you can imagine. 679 00:34:54,420 --> 00:34:56,020 The Bible says the very elect, 680 00:34:57,700 --> 00:35:02,340 the very elect of God in the last days will depart. 681 00:35:03,580 --> 00:35:06,900 But the one thing, everyone has a story, 682 00:35:06,900 --> 00:35:09,940 everyone has like this or that or whatever, 683 00:35:09,940 --> 00:35:13,580 but the one thing that kind of ties the individuals 684 00:35:13,580 --> 00:35:17,580 all together who at some point either walked away from God, 685 00:35:20,620 --> 00:35:22,820 lost out in their purpose with God, 686 00:35:24,780 --> 00:35:29,780 or just lived way beneath their God-given purpose and destiny 687 00:35:33,900 --> 00:35:35,300 is that they got numb. 688 00:35:39,260 --> 00:35:41,020 I've been trained to look for this. 689 00:35:41,020 --> 00:35:43,660 Just because I don't tap you on the shoulder, 690 00:35:43,660 --> 00:35:45,220 don't think that I don't see it. 691 00:35:46,460 --> 00:35:50,820 I'm your pastor, and I see it and I know it. 692 00:35:53,980 --> 00:35:55,820 But I'm also not the Holy Ghost. 693 00:35:57,940 --> 00:35:59,700 God, He's the Holy Ghost. 694 00:36:01,420 --> 00:36:05,620 But it's that numbness, it's that numbness. 695 00:36:05,620 --> 00:36:10,620 And the only thing that's being heard is me. 696 00:36:14,380 --> 00:36:17,020 The truth of God wants to get in. 697 00:36:17,020 --> 00:36:19,300 The truth of God wants to set us free. 698 00:36:19,300 --> 00:36:23,100 Remember, you shall know the truth 699 00:36:23,100 --> 00:36:26,580 and the truth will set us free. 700 00:36:26,580 --> 00:36:31,580 But God forbid that any one of us get to a place in our life 701 00:36:31,580 --> 00:36:36,580 where our conscience has been seared. 702 00:36:37,740 --> 00:36:39,380 You know, you can still praise God, 703 00:36:39,380 --> 00:36:40,780 you can still do a lot of things 704 00:36:40,780 --> 00:36:42,820 and have your conscience seared. 705 00:36:48,300 --> 00:36:50,340 I'm not even gonna get to my last point today 706 00:36:52,460 --> 00:36:54,100 because this is where the Holy Ghost has us. 707 00:36:54,100 --> 00:36:56,980 We're gonna just, we're gonna hang on this right here. 708 00:36:58,180 --> 00:36:59,700 I'm gonna invite everyone to close your eyes 709 00:36:59,700 --> 00:37:03,020 if you can, just let us just tune in to God. 710 00:37:04,540 --> 00:37:06,540 You can block me out here, that's fine. 711 00:37:08,380 --> 00:37:09,220 That's fine. 712 00:37:11,940 --> 00:37:14,940 I want the Holy Ghost to just work 713 00:37:18,860 --> 00:37:23,860 like only He can in our lives. 714 00:37:23,860 --> 00:37:28,860 In our lives. 715 00:37:28,860 --> 00:37:31,060 You know the thing about when your conscience 716 00:37:31,060 --> 00:37:35,180 has been seared, Lord, I had no idea, Lord, 717 00:37:35,180 --> 00:37:36,740 this is where we were going today. 718 00:37:37,740 --> 00:37:38,580 Thank you, Jesus. 719 00:37:39,580 --> 00:37:42,100 When your conscience has been seared and you're numb, 720 00:37:42,100 --> 00:37:43,100 you know what happens? 721 00:37:43,100 --> 00:37:45,300 You start getting hurt and you don't feel it. 722 00:37:46,460 --> 00:37:48,340 You're wounded and you don't feel it. 723 00:37:49,340 --> 00:37:50,900 You ever had a numb area in your part 724 00:37:50,900 --> 00:37:52,300 that gets wounded, gets cut? 725 00:37:52,300 --> 00:37:53,340 You're bleeding and you know, 726 00:37:53,340 --> 00:37:57,900 some of you right now are bleeding and you don't feel it. 727 00:38:01,420 --> 00:38:05,220 Shalom, kandol, yoshi, kalamayashi. 728 00:38:05,220 --> 00:38:08,540 Or maybe you do, but not the way that you need to 729 00:38:08,540 --> 00:38:10,100 because when you feel these things, 730 00:38:10,100 --> 00:38:13,060 when you feel, you're not being convicted by the word 731 00:38:13,060 --> 00:38:14,540 the way you need to be. 732 00:38:14,540 --> 00:38:17,220 It's not penetrating the way it needs to be. 733 00:38:17,220 --> 00:38:19,380 Whatever it is that's causing that numbness, 734 00:38:19,380 --> 00:38:20,820 whatever it is that's causing that it, 735 00:38:20,820 --> 00:38:25,380 whatever has searing your conscience from experiencing 736 00:38:25,380 --> 00:38:28,260 what the Holy Ghost wants to do in your life 737 00:38:28,260 --> 00:38:31,860 and what the word wants to work in your life, 738 00:38:31,860 --> 00:38:34,380 this is what God's going to do right now. 739 00:38:34,380 --> 00:38:38,740 If you will let him, he's gonna restore sensitivity 740 00:38:38,740 --> 00:38:40,660 back into your spirit. 741 00:38:40,660 --> 00:38:41,780 Shalom, kandol. 742 00:38:41,780 --> 00:38:46,780 He's gonna restore sensitivity back into your heart. 743 00:38:46,860 --> 00:38:49,380 Restore sensitivity. 744 00:38:49,380 --> 00:38:52,700 Oh rabbi, break up the fellow ground. 745 00:38:52,700 --> 00:38:57,700 He's going to turn that heart of stone into a heart of flesh. 746 00:38:58,220 --> 00:39:02,940 Oh God, he's gonna restore sensitivity to the word of God, 747 00:39:02,940 --> 00:39:05,940 restore sensitivity to the truth of God, 748 00:39:05,940 --> 00:39:08,180 to the spirit of God. 749 00:39:08,180 --> 00:39:11,740 Oh my Lord, to the things of God, 750 00:39:11,740 --> 00:39:14,380 to the ministries of God. 751 00:39:14,380 --> 00:39:17,580 Oh, hallelujah, to the man of God. 752 00:39:17,580 --> 00:39:21,020 He's gonna restore this sensitivity in your heart. 753 00:39:21,020 --> 00:39:24,140 If you'll let him, oh hallelujah. 754 00:39:24,140 --> 00:39:26,020 But this is what I know. 755 00:39:26,020 --> 00:39:29,900 I know that God wants to give us more truth. 756 00:39:29,900 --> 00:39:32,060 Truth that'll set us free. 757 00:39:32,060 --> 00:39:34,420 Truth that'll set our families free. 758 00:39:34,420 --> 00:39:36,660 Truth that'll set your children free. 759 00:39:36,660 --> 00:39:39,340 Truth that'll set your mind free. 760 00:39:39,340 --> 00:39:44,340 True that'll set your heart free, hallelujah. 761 00:39:44,340 --> 00:39:49,340 Oh, but I need God to restore the sensitivity in my life. 762 00:39:49,340 --> 00:39:52,180 Lord, hallelujah, Jesus. 763 00:39:52,180 --> 00:40:15,180 Oh my God, my God, let's just.