"FALSE REPORTS"

Exodus 23:1: "Do not spread reports that are false. Do not help an evil person by telling lies in court." NIV

This week I want to talk about false reports and I'm not going in the direction you may be thinking I'm going in based on the above Scripture. I'm not going to be talking about people spreading reports about other people or anything like that. I'm talking about the false reports of the enemy.

One of Kristen's doctors last week made a statement that one of her tests was a false report. Those two words have stuck with me all along. Some of you reading this are dealing with the false reports of the enemy in your life. How do we know they are false? If they go against the Word of God, they are false. I have seen many in our church family over these past few months be continually attacked, physically, by the enemy. From accidents to medical reports and I want to encourage you this week, don't take the false report of the enemy!

This is how I want you to apply this Scripture to your life. Don't speak the lies of the enemy over your life, don't spread reports about yourself that are false. Don't help the evil one, satan, by telling lies in court! You have an advocate, his name is Jesus!

1 John 2:1 says: "My little children, I write you these things so that you may not violate God's law and sin. But if anyone should sin, we have an Advocate (One Who will intercede for us) with the Father - [it is] Jesus Christ [the all] righteous [upright, just, Who conforms to the Father's will in every purpose, thought, and action]." There are many out there that believe they are sick because they sin, that's a false report! When you sin, your Father doesn't put sickness on you to judge you so quit spreading reports that are false and stop helping the evil one by telling lies in court! This Scripture tells us who our advocate is. It tells us if we do sin, He will intercede on our behalf, He has our best interests in mind!

So, what does an advocate do? I did some research to see what some advocacy organizations claim they do, this is what one of them said. First of all, a visit will be arranged to be sure a person wants an advocate. An advocate will meet privately with a person to talk about what is happening and help them understand the choices they have. An advocate will help you think about the choices in your life. Advocates help people to think carefully about what they want and what they want to tell people. Advocates sometimes speak for people. With the right support lots of people can speak for themselves. This might mean an advocate sitting next to someone at a meeting to give them the confidence to speak up. An advocate can remind a person about what it was they had decided to say. If a person can't attend a meeting, an advocate can sit in their place and speak for them.

Sounds familiar, does it to you? This is the advocate you have. When the enemy tries to accuse you, when the enemy sends sickness and disease your way, let your Advocate take over. He will guide you, He'll give you direction. He'll give you the confidence you need to speak to the enemy. And when you're at a point in your life when you feel like you can't fight anymore, you can't speak anymore, let your Advocate sit in your place and speak for you!

In finishing, don't take the false reports of the enemy any longer. You're healed, you're prosperous, you're free, now let your Advocate refresh your memory this week of your standing in Christ and watch the reports of the enemy be made false!

 Blessings Steve -