You were told the truth!

TEXT:

‘I decided to write it all out for you, most honourable Theophilus, so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught’ (Luke 1:4 MSG)

Theophilus had been taught the gospel and believed it. Yet doubts had arisen making him ask, “Was I told the truth?” To settle these doubts, Luke was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write two letters to Theophilus, that he might know the certainty of the things he had been taught. The Book of Acts starts with, ‘Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he said good-bye to the apostles’ (Acts 1:1 MSG). The first letter was about how Jesus evangelised and taught. The second showed how His disciples continued evangelising through the power of the Holy Spirit.

By silencing Theophilus’ doubts, God has done the same for countless millions, right down to the present day. Today’s Teaching focusses on what hinders and helps faith.

1. The carnal mind is prone to doubt and fear

It’s programmed to work on understanding and reason. Christianity works by faith. The carnal mind fights faith and can never be brought under control. Scripture confirms this, ‘The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so’ (Romans 8:7 NIV). Satan works on the carnal mind, challenging what God has said. He encourages us to use our natural senses to determine what is the truth. Satan’s opening remark to Eve was, ‘Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?’ (Genesis 3:1 NLT). That was a lie, because Eve replied, ‘Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, the woman replied. It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die’ (Genesis 3:2-3 NLT). Satan then implied God was keeping something from them and the “sight” sense took over. Eve saw the tree was good for food and took it and gave some to Adam.

When God says “No”, it’s always for a good reason and has our best at heart. The world would be a better place if we heeded God when He says, “Love your neighbour”, and say “No” to sexual sin, greed, lust, envy and the love of money. Once natural senses are in control of our actions, we will never go God’s way. Satan says, “Please yourself” because that’s what he does. God says, “Love” because that’s what He is!

2. God gives everyone a gift of faith to help them believe He is telling the truth – ‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God’ (Ephesians 2:8 NIV).

Faith is designed to change the heart, not the head. God promised, ‘And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart’ (Ezekiel 36:26 NLT). The New Testament confirms this, ‘For it is by believing in his heart that a man becomes right with God; and with his mouth he tells others of his faith, confirming his salvation’ (Romans 10:10 TLB). So, it’s from the heart to the head that real change takes place in the believer’s life.

3. The Bible determines whether what you believe is true – ‘But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name’ (John 20:31).

We can trust the Bible is God’s Word. ‘The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever’ (Psalm 119:160). ‘Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth’ (John 17:17).

When your actions agree with the Bible, it will confirm you are walking in the truth. When your actions do not, it will condemn you for walking in sin and disobedience. The Bible says, ‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, For He will abundantly pardon’ (Isaiah 55:7).

Naaman made a journey of faith, based on what he had heard about the prophet in Israel who would heal him. Yet, when Elisha’s servant told him what to do, Naaman allowed his natural senses to take over, and went off in a rage. ‘He said, I was sure Elisha would come out to me. I thought he would stand there and pray to the Lord his God. I thought he would wave his hand over my skin. Then I would be healed’ (2 Kings 5:11 NIRV). To him, that was more dignified that dipping seven times in the River Jordan. He would have gone home still a leper had his servants not intervened.

Many are drawn to church. They’ve heard something that gives them hope that they can be helped, but during the service they allow their natural senses to take over. They make a judgment about the building, singing, minister etcetera, and their natural mind, fuelled by doubt and fear says, “It can’t be done.” Others see the same images, but in their heart, not in their head, something says, “It’s true, believe it and it will work for you!” They go home transformed in body, soul and spirit, while others leave unconvinced and unchanged.

It boils down to just one thing, who do you believe? What hope can the carnal mind give to someone near the end of their life, but troubled by a guilty conscience? The atheist says, “There’s no God, no life after death”, but the very thoughts troubling that dying person are the very ones God can use to save them.

The rich young ruler had everything except the answer to one troubling question, ‘What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?’ (Mark 10:17). That’s why he came to Jesus. When Jesus told him what to do, he went away sad, but not before he knew that Jesus loved him.

God loves you. He tells you the truth. Believe it and you will be saved and prosper. Follow your heart, not your head for Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28 NLT).