Time With Christ: Tuesday, August 4th 2015 Daily Devotionals - Hold On To The Truth

Topic: Hold On To The Truth (Tuesday, August 4th 2015)

Memorize: Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17

Read: John 17:13-17 (NIV)

13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.

14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 

15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 

16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 

17 Sanctify them by[a] the truth; your word is truth.

Message:

Hosea 4:6 reveals that that knowledge is an indispensable commodity if one is to become relevant in God’s scheme of things. It also tells us that contrary to what some people believe, what is responsible for the destruction of God’s people is not the devil; rather, it is their ignorance. This means that the enemy capitalizes on what you do not know to plunder you. If you fail to recognize and act on your kingdom rights for instance, the devil will definitely take advantage of you. If you do not recognize that good health is your right, Satan will definitely shove sickness down your throat. The devil loves those who rob themselves of their rights through a false sense of humility, because they are helping him to do his dirty work. If you believe that poverty is part of godliness, or that you do not need to fight or resist the evil plans of the enemy, or that being sick is part of the cross you are to bear in the Christian faith, Satan will definitely celebrate your ignorance. To this end, the devil will do everything to keep such a fellow in the dark concerning the truth.

Do you know that there is a difference between stating the facts and knowing the truth? The facts are what can be physically perceived in a given situation. Facts are a product of the natural human senses. Satan tries to control his victims using the prevailing circumstances. Most times, he controls manipulates and distorts the things we can see. As long as you choose to believe what you can see, you may likely end up as a victim of sight and a prisoner of the devil. This is why 2nd Corinthians 5:7 says:

“(For we walk by faith, not by sight)”

On the other hand, the word of God is truth (John 17:17). Facts can easily change, hence, it is wrong to base your victory or joy on them. Rather, base it on God’s word which is settled in Heaven forever. For instance, when you have prayed for healing and you are standing in faith to receive it, you must be prepared to discountenance the facts that sight brings to you. You must be ready to ignore or resist the pains, discomfort and weakness you can still feel. You must confess the healing and good health which the word of God has promised you, even if you are yet to experience it. As you keep on insisting on what God’s word says, eventually the truth will swallow up the facts.

Key Point: Every situation that confronts you introduces a conflict between facts and truth; what prevails is a function of your choice.

 Bible in one year: Nehemiah 12:27-13:31, John 8:31-47