Page 66 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2011

“…THAT YOUR WORDS MAY BE TESTED
TO SEE WHETHER THERE IS ANY TRUTH IN YOU…”

Gen. 42:16

In stating that “God tests the righteous” (Ps. 11:5), it is TRUTH that has been, and always will be, the
litmus test by which God tests His people. The Old Testament bears witness that for the most part
God’s people have demonstrated a horrendous record for being willing to compromise God’s truth:

“NO ONE CALLS FOR JUSTICE, “THIS IS A NATION THAT DOES NOT OBEY
NOR DOES ANY PLEAD FOR TRUTH. THE VOICE OF THE LORD THEIR GOD NOR

THEY TRUST IN EMPTY WORDS RECEIVE CORRECTION.
AND SPEAK LIES…” TRUTH HAS PERISHED AND HAS BEEN
Isa 59:4
CUT OFF FROM THEIR MOUTH.”
“…CONCEIVING AND Jer 7:28-29
UTTERING
“THEY ARE NOT VALIANT FOR
FROM THE HEART THE TRUTH ON THE EARTH.
WORDS OF FALSEHOOD,
JUSTICE IS TURNED BACK, FOR THEY PROCEED FROM EVIL TO
EVIL, AND THEY DO NOT KNOW
AND RIGHTEOUSNESS ME, SAYS THE LORD. EVERYONE
STANDS AFAR OFF; TAKE HEED TO HIS NEIGHBOR,
AND DO NOT TRUST ANY
FOR TRUTH IS FALLEN IN THE STREET,
AND EQUITY CANNOT ENTER. BROTHER; FOR EVERY BROTHER WILL UTTERLY
SO TRUTH FAILS, SUPPLANT, AND EVERY NEIGHBOR WILL WALK
WITH SLANDERERS. EVERYONE WILL DECEIVE HIS
AND HE WHO DEPARTS FROM EVIL NEIGHBOR,AND WILL NOT SPEAK THE TRUTH…”
MAKES HIMSELF A PREY.”
Isa 59:13-15 Jer 9:3-5

It is quite weighty to consider that God stated that His present people (the Church), are a people
saved by Jesus who is THE TRUTH (Jn.14:6), a people guided and empowered by THE SPIRIT OF
TRUTH (Jn. 14:17), a people to be set free and set apart by THE TRUTH (Jn.8:32, Jn.17:17),
and are to be known as “THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, THE PILLAR AND THE GROUND OF
THE TRUTH” ( 1 Tim. 3:15). Forgive all my underlining emphasis above, but it is imperative that we
begin to see ourselves as God sees us! If we fail to do so, then we may very well repeat the failed
testimony of God’s first covenant people toward truth.

As important as the subject of “peace” is, we must realize that truth cannot be compromised for the
sake of obtaining peace. God wants us to love and strive to accomplish both together:

“THESE ARE THE THINGS YOU SHALL DO:
SPEAK EACH MAN THE TRUTH TO HIS NEIGHBOR;
GIVE JUDGMENT IN YOUR GATES FOR TRUTH, JUSTICE, AND PEACE;
LET NONE OF YOU THINK EVIL IN YOUR HEART

AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR;
AND DO NOT LOVE A FALSE OATH.
FOR ALL THESE ARE THINGS THAT I HATE, SAYS THE LORD.
…THEREFORE LOVE TRUTH AND PEACE.”

Zach. 8:16-18

Much relational conflict in our lives stems out of confrontation over God’s truth. One side loves it-
the other side hates it. Therefore one chooses heartily to embrace it, and the other totally rejects it.
Therefore we have such relational conflict as Jesus states in Matthew 10:34-37 and in Luke 12:51-53
(front page-opening Scriptures).There may be indeed disputes based on debating the proper answer
to the preverbal question, “What is truth?” (Jn. 18:38). However, most conflict is not based on
interpretation of truth, but rather stems out of the outright rejection of God’s truth in favor of the world’s
erroneous philosophies. The apostle John makes this terse contrast for us:

“YOU ARE OF GOD…THEY ARE OF THE WORLD.
THEREFORE THEY SPEAK AS OF THE WORLD, AND THE WORLD HEARS THEM.

WE ARE OF GOD. HE WHO KNOWS GOD HEARS US;
HE WHO IS NOT OF GOD DOES NOT HEAR US.

BY THIS WE KNOW THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH AND THE SPIRIT OF ERROR.”
1 Jn. 4:4-6