Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. – John 17:17
2019: The Year of Truth
It’s the final month of the Year of Truth, 2019, teammates. We started this year with that theme by the leading of the Spirit. And, while every year is a year to learn, grow, and walk in the truth of the Word of God, this year was a great time to prepare for what will emerge in the next decades to come.
Remember our first Team Huddle e-mail of the year?
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BE A FRIEND OF TRUTH
Teammates! Welcome to another year to continue – or begin – your committed pursuit of Truth through the Word of God. Truth is a Spirit. The Spirit of Truth desires to dwell in us and lead us into all things that are true in every area of our lives (John 14:17).
Start your 2019 with the intentional commitment to nurturing your relationship with Truth – listen, follow, and guard your hearts.
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There’s a Method to the Mandate to Embrace Truth
Have you looked around lately, Team? The world, the society around us is becoming a place that does not appreciate nor embrace the truth. This lack of appreciation is growing in its boldness and nonchalance.
As a matter of fact, how many of you have been criticized, ostracized or looked at like you were crazy for believing the Word of God or upholding godly principles? How many times have you heard lies like, “Jesus can’t be the only way to God“, or “We are all children of God” spoken with such resolve and conviction?
Exactly. Many of us have and will continue to experience this as the ability to endure sound doctrine wanes (2 Timothy 4:3).
Some have labeled this rejection of truth as evidence of a growing post-Christian or post-Christianity era, where there is a loss of the primacy or relevance of Christian beliefs and values, especially in the Western world where Christianity previously flourished, in favor of alternative worldviews such as secularism, nationalism, environmentalism, and others (source).
Studies by Pew Reseach and Barna show an aversion to Christian beliefs and the erosion of respect for biblical principles. For example, here’s Barna’s 2019 research on the most post-Christian cities in America.
Whatever the label or description of these trying times, it’s increasingly important to gird our loins – protect the center of our strength – with truth (Ephesians 6:14).
Why We Need to Get Closer to The Truth
Part of our mission as advocates for a unified and victorious Team Jesus is to keep us in the knowledge of the opposing team’s strategies and devices. We, like Paul, stand against Team ignorance, wherein the enemy could get an advantage over us – if we let him (2 Corinthians 2:11).
With that being said, take heed to what is to come in our society and see why it’s important for us to have a firm grip, right now, on truth:
1. The Outbreak of Itching Ears
It’s spreading, Team. Humanity’s itch for “Christian” leaders who will only teach what they want to hear will deepen. We will continue to see ministries “flourish” as there will be less talk about sin, repentance, and sanctification in exchange for the more palatable message of “love”.
We must not shun or be afraid of truth that corrects or convicts. Incline your ears to the Spirit of Truth and live (Isaiah 55:3).
2. Unity in Falsehoods
Assimilation. Group thinking. Demonic influence cloaked in the name of Jesus. Sound doctrine will decrease in popularity, so much so that followers of Christ will question biblical principles due to the sheer magnitude of how many people are unified in a lie.
There is no strength in numbers against the knowledge of God. I don’t care how many people believe it – if it does not align with the Word of God, it stands cursed from the root! As we become the growing minority, stand fast, Team! Stay true to the gospel and reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine (2 Timothy 4:2).
3. The Awe of Signs and Wonders
Many false Christs and false prophets are rising up with signs and wonders in one hand (Matthew 24:23-24) and doctrines of devils in the other (1 Timothy 4:1). Because we are so thirsty for entertainment in the body of Christ and drawn to amazement over righteousness – many will be deceived.
Pray earnestly for the discerning of spirits so that you will be able to distinguish between the truth and a lie.
4. The Idolatry of Identification
The proliferation of self-identification will continue its groundswell as society exchanges the truth of God to champion the lie of “one’s” truth (Romans 1:25). “How do you identify?” “What do you call yourself?” “How do you think things should work?”
The idolatry of Self is not simply an LGBTQ-thing. Many facets of society will be driven by what we think and feel (see below). But be aware – where there is idolatry, there will be a demand for worship. Where there is self-identification in society, there will be an expectation for not only acceptance – but approval.
That’s a no for us, Team. We will not trade the truth of the living God to self-identify “as the Most High God” (Isaiah 14:14).
5. The Increase of Imagination
Speaking of being like the Most High, there will be an increase in the imaginations of man. Man wants to be like God. Creator. Powerful. Man wants to rule the world. As such, there are platforms and technologies on the brink that will allow for the creation of one’s own world – build your own reality. No rules, just your way.
Be on the lookout for the emergence of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerburg, has already announced the coming of Facebook Horizon, a social network where one can build his or her own world and via “magic-like portals—called telepods—transport people from public spaces to new worlds filled with adventure and exploration.” The old social media wall or timeline will be replaced with visiting the “worlds” we create.
Truth must first be real to be true, Team. The norm of reality will be exchanged for false-reality. Be on notice for truth “building” in the near future.
So, What’s the Play Call?
Tie the truth of the Word of God close to your heart and mind (Ephesians 6:14), and consecrate yourselves to God. Deception, as we’ve never seen before, is here. It’s subtle and effective. Perverted truth will become more popular than God’s original.
Having done all to stand for Truth, stand therefore, Team! Manifest God’s truth and hold it as sacred to the life of your very soul, because it is.
Just came across this article. Wow! That this was written right before the pandemic is unreal. I would love to see your follow-up to this since then. It seems like distortion of truth has been on warp speed ever since this was published.