l The following post is based on our “Lord Help Me!” series across C3 Sydney’s 11 Locations l
"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” "
John 14:6 (NIV)
It is important that the Word of God be prominent in our lives. When our society tells us that our truth is wrong, we need a firm foundation in truth to withstand these challenges. The world is looking for truth but truth that helps, not truth that judges.
God is truth
The first thing it is important to know is that our truth is a trinity of truth. Truth is not what but who God is. The Father is “the God of truth” (Isaiah 65:16), Jesus is “grace and truth” (John 1:17) and “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6) and the Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of truth” (John 16:13). The Bible is all three: God’s Word; Jesus is the Word and the Word is Holy Spirit breathed.
Jesus shows us the way, declares the truth and embodied the truth in life. If you never actually read the Bible for yourself however, you have no solid foundation, and no weapons to fight off shame and guilt when the enemy sends them your way. It can be dangerous to rely on what other people tell you second hand - our enemy is the “father of lies” (John 8:44).
Holy Spirit Reveals Truth - Inspiration & Revelation
The Holy Spirit brings the Bible alive for us. John warns us that there is our Holy Spirit reality (the Spirit of Truth living in us and with us) and the world’s truth which is based only on what can be seen or reasoned (John 14:16-17). God’s truth needs to be louder for us than the world (1 Corinthians 2:9).
The Bible is not just about being informed but transformed. When we read scripture during the week and wrestle with what it says, the Holy Spirit reveals things to us (Ephesians 1:17-19).
Often we read stories like Jacob wrestling with God (Genesis 32:22-32) and never consider the deeper questions like why are they wrestling in the first place? Ask yourself whether you believe it, how it can change you and what does it mean because these questions open the door to the Holy Spirit to reveal things to you.
- Be ready to lean in and wrestle with the Word;
- Take the time - if your don’t read it, it won’t change you;
- Like Jacob, you are wrestling in order to get the blessing;
- God’s word will change your nature and the way you walk;
- This change will flow out to those around you.
Truth Must Be Apprehended - Application
"Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!" (James 1:22 MSG)
Can you expect to lose weight just by reading a diet book? Of course not! You need to put the advice into action. When you read the Bible, you need to believe the good things that it says about you and make corrections of the bad things the Holy Spirit makes you aware of. Learn a truth, allow it to sink into your soul, change your behaviour and then continue to live it (2 Timothy 3:14-15 & John 8:32-33). Allow God’s truth to become the firm foundation for your life (Matthew 7:24-27 MSG).
Something to talk about:
- Were there any lies you were told growing up that you discovered weren’t actually “what the Bible says”?
- Have you had the experience of reading a verse many times and then receiving a new revelation about it?
- Share with each other any reading plans, devotionals, studies, websites and habits which
