Monday, May 16, 2005

What Is Truth?   "What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. John 18:38   Authority and the knowledge of truth.   In exercising love for God with all of our heart, soul, and mind (reasoning), and in following guidance from Peter that we are to always be ready to give an answer to every man who asks the reason for our hope, it is important that we understand what is truth and by what authority do we do we chose to believe what we believe is truth.   With that in mind, the following thoughts may allow you to establish a reasoning framework for this important understanding. Our mind (reasoning) is a gift of God to be used in seeking the truth.  Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' Matthew 22:37. Presenting our reasoning for our belief is something we are asked to be able to do. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.  1 Peter 3:15. Understanding the authority for our belief is a key component in our reasoning for determining truth. What is authority, power, knowledge, and truth? Definitional Background: Authority - the right to command, control, or determine without further challenge. Power - the ability to forcibly to make something happen. Knowledge - acquaintance with facts. Truth - that which is true, that which is factual.  Conformity with reality. What is the value of knowing the truth? Truth is the one possession that must never be sold for any price.  Obtain it at any cost and do not trade it for anything. Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.  Proverbs 23:23. Truth is the key to personal freedom.  The truth is the means of being free.  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.  John 8:31-32. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.  Timothy 2:25-26. My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5 Those who do not love the truth are under God's wrath. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Romans 1:18. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.  2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. Where does truth rest? All truth rests on faith in some authority.   All voluntary behavior is done in conformity to some standard to which one attributes authority.   Examples of Authority for our Belief and for our Behavior: Authority based on expertise (knowledge). Authority based on reason. Authority based on conscience (moral right vs. moral wrong). Authority based on law (imposed rule). Authority based on preference (the way we would like it to be). All Authority Is Not Equal Example:  Preference is not equal to expertise.  Preference is not equal to conscience.  Preference is not equal to law. Not all testimony is equally expert.    To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. 1 Timothy 1:5-7. Speaking with authority is not the same as having authority. Jesus viewed as someone speaking with authority by the people. They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.  Mark 1:21-22. Jesus viewed as someone with authority by people.  "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." Mark 1:25-27. Not all who give commands are of equal authority. God's authority vs. government authority (Cannot submit to lower authority if it is in violation of the higher authority). Parent's authority over our own children vs. another adult's authority over our children. Types Of Authority Inherent Authority - authority resides there by nature of relationship. Creator has authority of use of work that was created by creator.  (Copyrights/Patents) God's creation is subject to God based on the fact he is our creator.  "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."  Revelation 4:11 Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.  Psalm 100:3 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. God has demonstrated his authority (sovereignty), thus his authority is validated. Control over natural laws. Behold, I will bring the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down with the sun on the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward." So the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down. Isaiah 38:8 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. Mark 4:34. Control over demonic powers.  (His authority even over Satan in respect to demons). Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see.  All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?" Matthew 12:22-23. Control over earthly rulers and kings.  The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.  Proverbs 21:1 He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them.  He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.  Daniel 2:21 God's enforcing standards of  human conduct.  "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:24-29. God's prerogative of election. Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? Romans 9:21 Delegated (or derived) Authority - Individual authorized by Inherent Authority to act as a their representative.  God delegated dominion over other created living things to man. Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all[a] the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."  Genesis 1:26. God delegated head of household to man.  But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 1 Corinthian 11:3. God gave Jesus all authority in heaven and in earth.  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Matthew 28:18. God gave Jesus authority over the Church.  And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church. Ephesians 1:22. Jesus delegated authority to Disciples.  And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, "Sons of Thunder"; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.  Mark 3:13-19. Jesus delegated authority to Paul.  But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.  Acts 9:15. Considerations for delegated authority: All such Delegated (or derived) Authority is subordinate and subject to God's authority.  For he "has put everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.1 Corinthians 15:27. All such Delegated (or derived) Authority is limited to a sphere (range of activity). Typical framework for delegation of authority: Home But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 1 Corinthian 11:3. Government Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.  Romans 13:1-4. Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.  1 Peter 2:13-14. Church Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.  Hebrews 13:7. Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Hebrews 13:17. Authority of Scripture:  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21.   If scripture is the word of God, then it is the final authority of what is truth.  Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.  John 17:17. Taken from The Authority Of Scripture Series (Lectures #1 and #2) by Steve Gregg.   Steve is a noted author (Four Views Of Revelation), radio show host (The Narrow Path), and teacher who founded both the Berean School of the Bible and the Great Commission School.    5:06:09 PM    comment []

The Story Money Tells - Part I Taken From The Book The Law of Rewards By Permission From Randy Alcorn. The Story Money Tells - Part I Jesus did not and does not call all his disciples to give away their last pennies.  But he also knows that none of us can enthrone the true God unless in the process we dethrone other gods.  If Christ is not Lord over our money and possessions, then he is not our Lord.  The principle is timeless:  There is a powerful relationship between our true spiritual condition and our attitude and actions concerning money and possessions.   The early church exemplifies this connection.  The depth of transformation in the early Christians was clearly evident in their willingness to surrender their money and possessions to meet each others' needs (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35).  It was no more natural for these Christians to cheerfully liquidate and disburse assets they had spent their lives accumulating than it would be for us.  And that's the whole point.  Conversion and filling of the Holy Spirit are supernatural experiences that produce supernatural responses - whether in the first century or the twenty-first.  Although private ownership of property was still practiced by early Christians, the joyful giving and sharing of this property became the new norm of supernatural living.    A study of the early, the poor widow, the rich fool, Zacchaeus, the rich young ruler, and many other Bible characters shows that our handling of money is a litmus test of our true character.  It's an index of our spiritual life.  Our relationship of our money and possessions becomes the story of our lives.   If this is true of all people in all ages, doesn't it have a special application to us who live in a time and place of unparalleled affluence and who live in a country where the "poverty level" exceeds the average standard of living of nearly every other society in human history, past or present?   If you have sufficient food, decent clothes, live in a home that shields you from the weather, and own some kind of reliable transportation, you're in the top 15% of the world's wealthy.  Add some savings, two cars (in any condition), a variety of clothes, and your own house, and you have reached the top 5 percent.  You may not feel wealthy, but that's only because you're comparing yourself to the megawealthy.   Copyright 1989,2002,2003 By Eternal Perspective Ministries.   7:26:25 AM    comment []