In John 18:38 Pilate asks what is truth. That is very ironic because he is looking right at truth.
You see, truth is not a
Religion
Way of Life
Philosophy
Truth is a person - Jesus!
In Ephesians 4:15 we are commanded to speak the truth in love.
All through Scripture, truth is who God is and a thing He highly values in us as His people.
Truth is to be part of our worship of Jesus.
John 4:23-24
But the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.
Truth is found in and by the Holy Spirit.
John 15:26
But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about Me.
Truth is found in God’s Word.
John 17:17
Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth.
Truth is found in the Gospel.
Galatians 2:5
We didn’t give in and submit to them for a single moment, so that the truth of the Gospel would continue to be with you.
Truth is found in the church.
1 Timothy 3:15
So if I am delayed, you will know how everyone who belongs to God’s family ought to behave. After all, the church of the living God is the strong foundation of truth.
The truth is vital because it does two things that are absolutely necessary if we are to follow Jesus.
Truth frees us.
John 8:31-32
To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Truth purifies us.
1 Peter 1:22
Now that your obedience to the truth has purified your souls, you can have true love for your Christian brothers and sisters. So love each other deeply with all your heart.
So since according to The Ephesians 4:15 passage I am to speak the truth in love, I want to share a truth that can transform you and all God’s people if we will believe it and live it.
The truth is that we were created by God to be in Community. God didn’t created us to be lone rangers. God created us to relate to others for support, encouragement, and accountability.
We live in a culture that emphasizes individuality and independence.
Jesus emphasizes community and interdependence.
So what does community consist of?
C : commitment
Psalm 37:5-6
Commit your way to the Lord ! Trust Him! He will act and will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like high noon.
We are to be committed to Jesus and His church and His Kingdom, not our own comfort and convenience.
O : others
Philippians 2:1-4
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourself, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
It is not about you! It is about JOY - Jesus, others, you.
M : mature
2 Corinthians 13:11
Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
We are to grow into the likeness of Jesus. If your children were not progressing as you believed they should, you would seek out help. We need to progress by growing to be more like Jesus every day.
M : men
1 Chronicles 12:32
From Issachar’s descendants there were 200 leaders who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.
Our churches, our communities, our nation will not be healthy until men step up to be the spiritual leaders in their families.
Men, we are commanded by God to love our wives unconditionally
Men, we are commanded by God to provide for our families.
Men, we are commanded by God to lead our families to Jesus.
U: unity
Romans 15:5-6
Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The church is a family. We are the Body of Christ. Jesus desires that we be in unity.
N : new
Ezekiel 36:26-27
I will give you a new heart and a new mind. I will take away your stubborn heart of stone and give you an obedient heart. I will put My Spirit in you and will see to it that you follow My laws and keep all the commands I have given you.
Jesus gives us a New mind, a New heart, a New spirit. The newness of Jesus brings refreshment. He brings new works of God into our lives. He brings changes. Changes are hard but good and necessary.
I : intensity
Romans 12:11
Do not slack in your faithfulness and hard work. Let your spirit be on fire, bubbling up and boiling over, as you serve the Lord.
We need to passionately
Love Jesus
Worship Jesus
Study God’s Word
Serve Jesus
Pray
Share our Jesus story
T : transparent
1 Thessalonians 1:5
And here is why: what you experienced in the good news we brought you was more than words channeling down your ears; it came to you as a life-empowering, Spirit-infused message that offers complete hope and assurance! We lived transparently before you so that you would know what sort of people we truly are. We did it for your sake.
We have to take off the masks. We have to let God work in our lives like He wants to. We have to let the world see who we are and how God is transforming us from sinners to saints.
Y : yield
Romans 12:1
Therefore I exhort you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice - alive, holy, and pleasing to God - which is your reasonable service.
Give yourself to Jesus with nothing held back.
Submit everything to Jesus.
Surrender yourself and all you have to Jesus as your King.
God is inviting you to go on a great adventure with Him and His people. He makes some awesome promises to us as His people, His community.
Jesus promises:
That He has a plan for us that will give us hope and success
That He will listen when we call on Him
That He will direct our lives
That He will reveal Himself to us
To know the truth, believe the truth, act on the truth we have to be in community. And we have to do it with our whole hearts.
With Truth and In Community Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe
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