DANGEROUS TRUTH

Acts 9:22-23,29

Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him.

He debated with some Greek-speaking Jews, but they tried to murder him.

It is a wonder why anyone will think to kill another because of their faith. It is so terrible, from the Islamics, christian crusaders, arabs, jihadists, atheists scientist and other ignorant ones of old. Even today we see it happen again and again.

I remember many years ago a young boy ran away from the north and came for asylum in our church down south because his family attempted to kill him. Their reason was that he changed faith and accepted Christ Jesus and that it was the mandate of family to execute him. Wondering how true this horrible believe was, I further had more examples when I went to live in the north.

It is an age old foolishness of humans to want to suppress the truth. For if it is a lie why worry, it will be exposed, for more and more lies are needed to maintain a lie. However the truth is pure it has nothing to hide.

We read the story of a king - Ahab who was to go to war, a lying spirit had manipulated all the prophets to lie to him. King Jehoshephat who still walked in the way of the Lord (unlike Ahab) who was to go with him, was not satisfied:

1 Kings 22:7

But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not also a prophet of the Lord here? We should ask him the same question.”

Listen to Ahab's answer:

1 Kings 22:8-9

The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, “There is one more man who could consult the Lord for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.”Jehoshaphat replied, “That’s not the way a king should talk! Let’s hear what he has to say.”

So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Quick! Bring Micaiah son of Imlah.”

Now what was the problem? Was Micaiah a prophet of doom, or was he just speaking the truth?

Let's hear the testimony of Ahab:

1 Kings 16:29-30,33

Ahab son of Omri began to rule over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twenty-two years.

But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him.

Then he set up an Asherah pole. He did more to provoke the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him.

So we see that the problem was not the prophet but the king himself, he was living in wickedness, he was living a lie.

People who live a lie are always threatened by the truth they do not want to hear the truth, they even wish or plot the death of those who tell them the truth.

Jesus told the Jewish leaders who were plotting to kill Him:

John 8:40,43

Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing.

Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me!

Remember when we read about Stephen:

Acts 7:56-58

And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand!”

Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.

No matter how much those who hold or live a lie are agitated, violent, or pissed off by the truth, their only antidote is the truth. For they are in a bondage:

John 8:32

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

See you cannot have eternal life living a lie:

Revelation 21:8

“But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Who is a LIAR?

Listen carefully:

1 John 2:21-23

So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies.

And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.

Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

It is that simple, Jesus said:

John 14:6

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

No other being can claim this, none can!

No matter what people, think, say or do, we must abide in the truth, we remain pure that way.

John 17:17

Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

We pray for all those still in bondage of a lie that the mercy of the Lord will get to them and they will come to the truth, yes the light. We who hold the truth - spread it.

Thank you Lord for your truth.

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher