Picture this stress ball. What thoughts come to mind? Danger? Fun? Confusion? Just a toy?
Each of us sees the world uniquely, shaped by our experiences and beliefs.
In my sermon, I’ll use clips from movies like “The Matrix” and “Braveheart” to make my points.
When we talk about sticking to the truth, it’s about how we see things and what we believe. As life goes on, how do we figure out what’s true? How do we sift through all the noise?
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The Truth Hurts
We all have our own way of looking at the world. We want to base our view on truth, not lies.
Life is a spiritual battlefield, where truth and lies fight for control over our minds. We all have a part of us that wants to do what’s right and another part that doesn’t.
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
EPHESIANS 6:11-12
Jesus didn’t leave any middle ground. Sometimes, telling the truth can sometimes make people very offended which can lead to persecution.
When my wife and I lived in Spain, I was preaching in another language and afterwards I asked my wife honestly how I did and I had to be okay with accepting the truth which I knew wasn’t good. At first, I didn’t like her opinion, but reflecting afterward I realized that she would never allow me to live in a delusion and I was grateful for that. She always has my best interest at heart and wants me to grow even if it hurts.
Jesus’ Perspective on Truth
Jesus’ teachings were challenging then, just as they are now. The truth hurts.
There are three enemies of the soul:
- Satan
- Our flesh
- The world
To fight against the lies, we use the Bible, which tells us what’s true and what’s not.
Do we look at things the way the Bible tells us to? Do our actions match what the Bible says? The truth has the ability to set us free.
Let’s see what the Bible says:
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.”
“Abraham is our father,” they answered.
“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 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. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
JOHN 8:31-47
In the Bible, Jesus talked about how important it is to follow his teachings. He said that’s what sets us free.
In “Braveheart,” Mel Gibson questions the sons of Scotland: Are they ready to sacrifice everything to return and proclaim to their enemies that though they can take their lives, they can never take their freedom? We need to understand that the world can never take our freedom away from us.
Watch below:
In the movie “The Matrix,” characters have to choose between seeing the truth or living in a fake world.
Watch below:
Do You Want to Keep Living a Lie?
Do we want to live in the real world, with all its truth? Or do we want to believe in lies?
People go to church because they’re looking for answers.
Why do some people ignore the truth? Because it’s hard to believe sometimes? But ignoring the truth can lead to doing things we shouldn’t.
Believing lies can lead to doing bad things because we’re scared or insecure. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the lies around us.
What lies does satan tell you today? Right now?
Common Lies that Satan Can Tell Us
- You’re not good enough: Satan often whispers doubts about our worth and capabilities, leading to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.
- You’re alone: Satan may try to isolate us, convincing us that no one cares about us or understands us, fostering feelings of loneliness and despair.
- God doesn’t love you: Satan distorts the truth of God’s unconditional love, making us question His love and care for us, leading to a sense of abandonment.
- You don’t need God: Satan may tempt us to rely solely on our own strength and wisdom, convincing us that we don’t need God in our lives.
- Sin isn’t that bad: Satan downplays the consequences of sin, making it seem harmless or even desirable, leading us away from God’s path of righteousness.
- You can’t change: Satan discourages us from seeking forgiveness and transformation, convincing us that we’re stuck in our sinful ways and incapable of change.
- Your past defines you: Satan may exploit our past mistakes and failures, convincing us that we’re defined by our shortcomings and unworthy of redemption.
- You’re too far gone: Satan may lead us to believe that we’re beyond saving, convincing us that God could never forgive us for our sins.
- Your worth comes from success and possessions: Satan distorts our understanding of true value, convincing us that our worth is determined by worldly success, possessions, or status.
- There’s no hope: Satan tries to extinguish our hope for the future, convincing us that our circumstances will never improve and that there’s no point in striving for a better tomorrow.
Many of these lies are whispered to us when we are the most vulnerable: when we were a kid.
Today’s Statistics May Surprise You
According to the Barna Institute:
- Only 6% of American adults hold a Biblical worldview and among evangelicals, this has dropped from 21% to 14% since 2020.
Only 14% of Christians filter life through the Bible, believing it’s God’s word.
Commitment to absolute truth is declining, even among Christians.
We must stand firm on God’s word, even if it leads to hate or persecution.
How deep are your convictions? Are you willing to stand firm when it’s tough?
Our Faith Will Be Remembered
The world may challenge us, but our steadfast faith will be remembered. In tough times, our courage will shine, and our commitment to faith will be talked about. Let our names be known for never giving up on our convictions, even when times are hard!
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