WE ARE IN A BATTLE – A BATTLE OF IDEAS (TRUTHS AND LIES)
2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
TRUTH WILL GIVE YOU LIFE AND LIES WILL GIVE YOU DEATH
John 8:32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…..
TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE MAKE US STRONG. LIES AND IGNORANCE MAKE US WEAK
Proverbs 24:5 A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
2 Corinthians 1:8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.
THE LORD AND HIS KINGDOM BUILD LIVES BY TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE
Joshua 1:8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
THE DEVIL AND HIS KINGDOM STEAL, KILL, AND DESTROY LIVES BY LIES AND IGNORANCE
John 8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
HOW WE LOSE THE BATTLE FOR TRUTH AND LIFE
- When we reject God who is truth
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Romans 1:28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness….
- When we reject the Bible which is truth
John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
1 Samuel 15:23.… Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.”
- When we don’t pursue truth and knowledge
Proverbs 1:29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD
- When we don’t practice the truth that we know
James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
- When we don’t stand up for the truth when it is being undermined and twisted
Jude 1:3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
- When we don’t expose the lies that are propagated in order to steal, kill, and destroy
Ephesians 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
HOW WE CAN WIN THE BATTLE FOR TRUTH AND LIFE
- Follow God who is truth
John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
- Embrace the Bible as the authoritative and reliable Word of God and source of ultimate truth
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Proverbs 8:32 “And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. 34 Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. 35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, 36 but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”
- Pursue truth and knowledge
Proverbs 15:14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
- Practice the truth that you know
James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves… 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
- Stand up for the truth that is being undermined or twisted
Galatians 2:11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
- By exposing the lies that being propagated in order to take advantage of and destroy people
1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Leviticus 5:1 “If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity;
PURSUE TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE AND FIGHT FOR IT
Proverbs 1:5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,
Jude 1:3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.