John 8:31-32 (KJV)
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 

 

In this passage we find Jesus speaking to some Jews that had believed on Him, and He nailed something important down that all of us should give our attention to the details of this relevant conversation. First, He pointed out that we must continue in the Word, and if we do so, then we are truly His disciples. I wonder what His thoughts are concerning those who do not continue in His Word? Are they disciples? Then He goes on to reveal how that knowing the truth will in fact, make you free! Now what I want you to gather in within this weeks devotional is that the truth is not some man's opinion. The Truth is an insight or revelation which evolves from a divine source [the Word of God] which can never be repudiated or changed. Warning: be careful that you are not tempted to alter the pure Word of God to make some logical sense out of it, thereby creating a human opinion of what it means. It is the Anointing that leads us into all truth!

 

I have read the Bible many times over and have come across things like in one case for instance, a donkey talking like a man; another account showed a whale swallowing a man and after three days vomit him onto a beach alive and well. There are numerous detailed descriptions in the Bible that just will not fit into a neat logical and intellectual understanding as to how it could possibly happen as it states. This is why faith is of necessity if we are to actually understand spiritual truths. Carnality negates the rightful entrance into the spiritual dynamics of the Holy Ghost. Faith on the other hand, is required of the Father if we are to apprehend spiritual truths. Otherwise, the God kind of truth [which is the only truth] can not be realized as it will be swallowed up with doubt and unbelief. Logical and reasoning folks rely heavily on what they can see at present and refuse to believe in anything that is invisible. Unfortunately, most of the carnal intellectuals, fail to understand that the things that are, were essentially made of things that could not be seen (Hebrews 11:3).

 

Therefore, according to John 8:32, how are we made free? Through knowing the truth, of course! The correlation between the two is that knowing the truth: is that it will completely make me free, and freedom is simply the by-product of knowing the truth. I am not playing with words here, but reinforcing this conjecture which Christ used in His address to these that had believed that He was who He said He was. If I am afflicted with some kind of sickness which has been medically diagnosed by a professional in that field, then I am left to believe that this is the truth of my condition. However, if I believe what the Word of God says regarding my condition, then I can speak to my sickness to go and it must obey. Why? Because the Word of God is a spiritual truth that will always trump earthly wisdom and its many diagnosis'. Someone might pose a reasonable question, "Is not the sickness actually a truth based on its apparent manifestation within that person's body?" Of course, it is! The manifestation of that sickness in their body is evidence that it exists and therefore, it is ridiculous to say its not there. But I can spiritually speak and command it to go based on a higher truth that proceeds from the Word of God.

 

Let's get this straight, it doesn't take much mental effort to realize that poverty is on this earth and is very real. Sickness is also real. And all other forms of misery in this world are just as factual. But the Word of God was sent to this world to heal us and deliver us from our destruction (Psalm 107:20). In other words, the "Truth" was sent here to be a remedy for every negative experience that we may be faced with as humans who are under the demonic influences of Satan. And because Jesus defeated the devil lawfully, He was able to take back everything that Satan had stolen from mankind and has now restored it back to you and me. Therefore, the devil's diabolical works are real enough, but they are not the final say or truth of the matter at hand. My friends, this is good news, and if this truth has entrance into your heart and the profession of your mouth is in agreement as such, then no negative situation is permanent to stop the force of divine truth which will take you into freedom. Now look with me over in 1 Corinthians.

 

1 Corinthians 2:12-14 (KJV)
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receive not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

As I reflect on my earlier days of ignorance to the truth I recall now just how I came to find so much turmoil in my life. I was born into this world and therefore, I was spiritually filled with its nature. I learned its ideologies, philosophies and its limited reaches as a human. I essentially had received the spirit of the world and knew of no other way to do this thing called life then what I was born into naturally. However, when I came to know Christ Jesus as my Savior and Lord, I was born again spiritually, and that old nature could be put to death. What that means is that I chose to leave off from exercising my natural beliefs, and my will that had been in conjunction with the spirit of this world. On the contrary, my born again experience became the process of renewing of my mind to exercise my will to the Word of God, thus establishing a new belief based on the greatest truth in existence, God's Word. This is why Jesus said, "If you continue in my Word, then you are my disciples." The spirit of this world is defiling and deadly, whereas, the spirit which is of God, enables you and I to know the things that we have been freely given by God. This renewal of the mind through God's Word changes the way you will think, which changes the way you will speak (vs. 13). In other words, you will no longer say deadly things like, "I am so sick; or, I am so tired of being broke all the time." Your focus will no longer be on what you don't have, but on what you surely have in Jesus Christ and you will communicate it strongly. Your vocabulary will be infused with power synonyms that clearly evolve from your new found expressions in the Holy Ghost which fill you with faith to believe and speak the truth.

 

As you can probably see from our teaching today: to remain carnal or natural in your thinking, will rob you from receiving the things of the Spirit. If you choose to be a person who bases their whole belief system on what is logical and makes natural sense, then the Bible will seem like a foolish book for weak minded people who need a crutch to fall on for all of their difficulties of life. However, the Word of God is not meant or given to be an excuse to fall back on for weak minded people. But rather, a source of truth that is to be communicated commandingly by the bold and courageous saints of God. Freedom demands standing up to all opposers of that freedom at all cost, even death if necessary. I don't think this Bible is a book or a belief for weak minded people at all. Let me point out another wrong foundation that people have laid in their life: God does not say in His Word within the new dispensation that He will fight our battles for us. The Word has already taken the spoil and declared its truthful testimony to you and me that believe on it. We just need to enforce it, we need to act on what it says! In addition, the Word teaches extensively that He will equip us with a protective armor that cannot be penetrated for anyone who will put it on. The Word is a sword upon your heart and lips, which decapitates the head of your enemies. In other words, it removes the life force of our adversary and his lies. We are to use this Word against the devil and his devices of destruction that is used against all of mankind. As believers, we must quit sitting around crying and screaming before our enemies for God to bail us out!

 

Isaiah 54:17 (KJV)
17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. 

Notice that it says, we shall condemn those demonic forces who rise up against us, not God. It is our heritage as God's people to carry out what our Lord has provided us in authority over the devil and his lies. If you know the truth, the truth shall make you free. Are you bound by something that keeps you from advancing in the fullness of what God has promised within His Word? Then you are believing more in the power of the devil who is holding you back from the promise, rather than having the resolve that Christ has finished this work completely and all that needs to be done now, is stand and speak the truth of what God's Word says, firmly and consistently. Look with me to one more passage before we close this weeks devotional out of the Amplified Bible.

 

2 Corinthians 9:6-10 (AMP)
6 [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings.

There are weeds that are taking over in many people's lives and their homes are broken down because they have failed to be diligent to study and know the truth from God's Word. These are those who sow the Word in their life sparingly and therefore, they have reaped sparingly. When the Word of God is scarce within a person's life you will always see things crumbling down around them. God's Word always comes to us in seed form and where it has entrance into the heart it will give light (Psalm119:130). 

Circumstances, and troubles will touch all of us in this world at some point, but it does not have to have the last say in your life. Recall over in Exodus 14:13-15, Moses said unto the people, fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show to you today. The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace. But listen to what God said, "Moses, why do you cry unto me? Speak, and tell my people to go forward!" We need to know what is the truth of our future, so we can speak and go forward with confidence in it. It is therefore, the Word of God, the Source of Truth, that declares we have victory because of the work of Christ our Lord. The criteria for freedom: is knowing the truth! Therefore, speak it, speak it, speak it! And go forward in that freedom that truth has liberated you into. Can I say it again? Speak it!