1 John 2:18-27 "Truth Never Changes"

Read 1 John 2:18-27.

"I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray." NIV

This is an interesting passage because it is one of those that to be totally understood, you must know the context in which it was written and to whom it was written. Remember that one of the main purposes of this letter is to refute Gnosticism.

I want to focus specifically on verses 24-27. John says that we need to be sure that "what you have heard from the beginning remains in you." In their case it was the truth that the apostles taught them. The same is true for us through the written Word, but it can also be through preaching, teaching, and discipling that we have received. Keeping the Truth of Jesus Christ hidden in our hearts and not opening the door to distortion or doubt is our first objective. Truth does not change; our Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever. So anyone that tells me this is not Truth is claiming an evolution of Truth which is not possible. And that's a trick of the enemy.

Secondly, the Holy Spirit is our daily teacher. It is through the anointing within us that we are to be guided through the process of daily living. He is our True Counselor and Guide. The Gnostics believed that they had a higher anointing, but Jesus told us that each of us would receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He lives within us. There isn't a higher anointing than that.

Further Thoughts:

1. What is your initial action when you need Truth? Do you seek it from your family and friends? the Bible? Oprah? 
   
2. Can we have an absolutely complete understanding of the Bible? Why or why not?
   
3. What is the relationship between our understanding of the Word and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives?
   
4. Are you allowing any Truth doubters into your life? Why? (I'm not speaking about non-believers you are trying to develop a relationship with. I'm talking about people who are trying to convince you that Truth is not Truth.)
   

Matthew 26:69-75 "What is Your Resolve?"

Read Matthew 26:69-75.

"I don't know the man!" NIV

Five terrible little words that can change a life for eternity. I know thousands of my brothers and sisters around the world throughout centuries were faced with this dilemma - Do you know Christ? When said in a friendly conversation, it's a wonderful opportunity to share what Jesus means to you. But amidst persecution, your answer could mean death. And for too many, it has.

You really can't cast too much animosity toward Peter for denying Christ. How many of us would have done the same thing? Even though Jesus had warned His disciples that this would happen, when faced with reality, the human resolve can be very weak. Peter had been traveling for three years as a close confidante of Jesus. He had watched a gentle carpenter's son reach out to people all over the region to offer healing from their sicknesses and demons. He heard the parables Jesus told the people and the great wisdom He layed before them. So if these religious leaders would want to kill this gentle giant of a man, then what would happen to a simple fisherman that had followed Him? Peter probably thought he was a dead man walking and the fight for preservation kicked in big time. Notice how his denial escalated each time he was accused of being with Jesus. He was reaching panic mode.

Fortunately, that is not the end of the story. Peter's resolve later turned from self-preservation to complete surrender. Peter died for his beliefs because He would not deny his Lord again and is one of the great fathers of the Christian church for the leadership He gave after Christ's resurrection.

Not many in America have been faced with death for being a follower of Jesus Christ, but we do face a verbal persecution all the time. The same question, Do you know Jesus? when said in a hostile, hateful way takes on a whole new meaning. How many times have I been sitting in on a conversation that turned to a "those Christians" diatribe. A little part of me wants to run from the conflict. It's not easy being in the minority or having to defend what you believe when you are standing alone. What do we do with Jesus then? Deny or defend? Flee or stand?

When we are confronted with opposition to our beliefs, we don't have to prove anything. We do not have to have twenty Scriptures to rattle off, commentaries to whip out, or extensive debates to prepare. We need to know one thing - what Jesus did for me. I sat in church last week and watched video testimonies of fellow believers given right before they were baptized. Some were children that had the simple faith only a child-like heart can have. Others were older that had faced a lot of life. But all of them had one thing in common -- they'd met Jesus. There is nothing more powerful than hearing how Jesus transformed someone's life. That is why I believe what I believe - because Truth touched me and I was changed forever. That's what I can stand on. That is why when faced with opposition for being a Christian - physical, verbal or emotional - I can stand.

Further Thoughts:

1. Think of a situation where you were tempted to deny Christ. How did you handle it? Why? How would you do it differently next time?
2. Read further about Peter after Christ's resurrection? What was Peter's resolve? How did he reach that? How did he pay for that?
3. What Scriptures can we rely on when faced with opposition to Christ? Search for and memorize them so you are ready to face temptation.

Matthew 21:18-22 "Faith Without Doubt"

Read Matthew 21:18-22.

"If you have faith and do not doubt...." NIV

Jesus' authority is making itself more evident in the narrative. Before this point, He has shown his authority mostly through healing and through His preaching. He has been very vocal with the Sadusees and Pharisees. But after the temple event where He physically throws out the hypocrites, Jesus displays a power He has not shown before this. Is it because the time is short and He feels the pressure of making His point quicker? Somehow, He must make the people see the truth.

Then of course in this particular passage, we see two messages. First, that anything that isn't bearing fruit is cursed. A tree with leaves should have fruit. The leaves could represent the appearances of a Christian walk. But without the evidence of fruit, the tree is useless. In the same way a Christian is useless without producing fruit. There is no depth to their belief and thus no lasting, productive service to the Master. He desires our heart more than our sacrifice. But a heart surrendered to Him will yearn to serve. And one serving Him and others will produce fruit.

Secondly, Jesus points out the power we have in Him if we have faith AND do not doubt. We can say we trust someone, and we may have some level of trust. But complete trust comes without doubt. It's like rappelling. I can say that I trust that the harness and the rope and the belayer are all going to do their job. Afterall, I've watched several people go down the mountain before me, and nothing has happened. However, there is probably a small part of my brain that is still unsure if I'm not going to be the exception. Jesus is saying that inkling of doubt is what stops us from being able to tap into the complete power He provides. If God is leading us to do something, we must throw ourselves into it with complete abandon for it to happen. The results are not based on God's ability to do it, but on our ability to trust Him. That's His priority - not the result, but the process. He wants us to grow in our faith in Him to the consistent point of complete abandon. If God says it will be, and we believe completely, it will be.

Let go and fly -- the harness is secure.

Further Thoughts:

1. Moses began with a tremendous amount of doubt. List what His doubts were. Then list the amazing steps of faith that Moses took so God's power was displayed.
2. What does it mean to pray according to His will? How do we know what God's will is in a given situation? Support with Scripture.
3. What is it that God wants you to do in complete trust of Him? Do it!

Matthew 17:14-23 "To Stand"

Read Matthew 17:14-23. For commentary on mustard seed faith, see previous post.

"'O unbelieving and perverse generation,' Jesus replied, 'how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?'" NIV

Does God get frustrated with our lack of faith? Does He ever just want to throw in the towel over our puny attempts to believe? Why does He have such patience with our human tendency/sin to doubt?

I remember so many times when my kids were little, I would tell them to trust me. I'd be teaching them how to say a word, and they didn't think that was how it was said. "Trust me, that's how you say that word." Or I'd tell them to jump, and I would catch them. They'd argue that I wouldn't do it. "Trust me; I will not let you fall." My middle child is my most adamant arguer. Sometimes he would continue arguing so long, my patience would run out, and I'd finally say, "You know best." And then let him suffer the consequences of his arrogance.

Thankfully, the Father is so different. Our God is a gentleman. He will not press Himself on us, but wait with extreme patience for our eyes to refocus on Him. Sometimes, He must stand by and watch us suffer the consequences of our doubt. But then the next time, He is faithfully there to catch us if we will only have faith in Him.

I so do not want my Lord to look at me when I stand at the judgment and say, "O unbelieving and perverse generation." Surely, I can find deep within me a small seed of faith that will trust Him no matter what comes my way.

That same middle child asked his father and me last night how we would handle someone threatening our children because of our faith. I pray that we never have to face that situation. But in all I do, small and monumental, I want to possess a faith that will stand.

".... because it is by faith you stand firm." 2 Corinthians 1:24

Further Thoughts:

1. Do doubts plague you? If yes, why? Do you believe in God or do you believe God?
2. Read Hebrews 11 again. Many have come before us that needed much more faith than we need.
3. Is God calling you to take a step of faith? Watch this video clip from "Indiana Jones and the Holy Grail."
   

Matthew 13:31-35 "Mustard Seed Faith"

Read Matthew 13:31-35.

"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed...." NIV

I can't count the number of times this verse has pulled me through a difficult time where my faith was tempted to totally fall apart. The visual this parable presents is so dramatic it captures your heart with courage.

The mustard seed, as Jesus points, out is one of the smallest seeds. It looks to be about the size of a peppercorn -- only 2 mm in diameter. Dozens can fit in the palm of your hand. Yet this little seed can grow into a very large plant. Scripture even says that it is large enough that birds can perch in it.

In the same way if we can grab onto a little faith, it can grow and grow to the point of not only sustaining our spiritual walk, but supporting others as well.


When my husband and I were getting ready to plant a new church in a brand new area of our city, we bought our very first house. I remember driving out to the area to sign the contract and almost having a panic attack on the way. The cost of the house was more than I ever imagined paying for a home. I stared out the window of the car, the blurry scenery flying by, and repeated over and over, "Lord, help me in my unbelief." You see, I knew that we were to plant this church, without any doubt. But buying this house was the first step of faith in the process, and I felt like I was stepping off the ledge of a thousand foot cliff.



By God's grace, I found that mustard seed of faith to take the steps He had called us to take. And through His faithfulness, that little seed has grown into a mighty tree. I look back now and think, "What was I so afraid of? After all, I serve a mighty God." But when we are in the midst of the struggle, it's so hard to see the big picture. And when we let our guard down, the enemy will take that little crack and widen it to a chasm if we let him.



Have I had other mustard seed moments? Yes. But with less panic. The more and more I walk in faith, the greater confidence I have in my God who calls me. He's never let me down and my list of successful faith moments continues to grow. I wish I didn't struggle with doubt, ever. After all, I serve the Almighty Creator of the Universe who loves me. My doubt is not that He can accomplish what He wants to do; He is God and can do anything. My questions are whether He can use me to do it.



So I hang onto my mustard seed and plow forward. His Spirit will guide me, and His strength will empower me.

Further Thoughts:

1. Do we manufacture faith or does God place it within us? Support your answer with Scripture.
2. There's a fine line between faith and recklessness. How do we know when we have crossed that line?
3. We have a tremendous heritage of faith-walkers that have come before us. Read Hebrews 11 and thank God for the examples that we have to draw from and the founding fathers' shoulders we can stand upon.
4. There are dozens of Scriptures on faith. Read through several and memorize some for those times your faith is wavering.

Matthew 11:1-19 "Forceful Living"

Read Matthew 11:1-19.

"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." NIV

I don't remember ever reading this phrase before, but I love it. It shows such abandon and passion for Christ. People were so hungry and hurting that they came in great droves to see Christ and receive his message of healing and love. They committed themselves -- many even to death -- to follow the Rabbi. Oh, how I wish I had been there living at the beginning of a revolution that continues to this day.

But what saddens me is how few people still come running to Jesus. The hunger is still there -- the faith is lacking. Over time, the enemy has grown doubt in people's hearts. It began even back then. Look at verses 2-6. John starts questioning Jesus and Jesus must warn John the Baptist of doubting the true Messiah. Jesus begins teaching John's followers, reminding them of the prophesies that John has fulfilled. No matter what John and Jesus did, they had their critics and naysayers following them.

Doubt continues to plague the advancement of the gospel and the growth of the body -- internally and externally -- to this day. How many times must Jesus prove Himself? When will the unbelieving generations stop fighting and surrender to the power that He promises to give? All it takes is faith the size of a mustard seed. Can today's generation not even find that? They have faith in movie stars, athletes, musicians, and themselves. But so many can't seem to find a grain of faith for the Almighty Creator of the Universe to be Who He says He is. They can't trust Jesus Christ to be the Son of God as the prophesies foretold. Where will it end?

"Wisdom is proved right by her actions." The Truth will prevail, and we must plod on to bring as many with us as possible. We must daily surrender to His will and power and deny the force of doubt to invade our thinking. Live as forceful people taking hold of a forceful God. The Body with a passion for Jesus Christ will prevail.

Further Thoughts:

1. Where is John the Baptist prophesied about? HINT: He is referred to as a "messenger."
2. Doubt is a virus that will attack, and if we allow it, fester as in a wound. It will continue to grow unless we eradicate it immediately. How do we do that? What should we do when doubts begin to try to override our faith?
3. In what ways can we live as forceful men and women? Write down what we must do and what we must be. Support with Scripture.

Matthew 9:27-34 "The Doubt That Blinds"

Read Matthew 9:27-34.

"Do you believe that I am able to do this?" NIV

How many times through the circumstances of my life has God asked me this question? Too many to even name. And I'm ashamed to say that there have been many times that I have said, "No." Oh, not necessarily with my intellect; I know God is able to do anything. But my heart and my actions spoke volumes of doubt. And it's not like God has never done anything for me. If I wrote down all the miracles He has performed in my life - known and unknown - I could fill volumes. So why do I allow the doubts to creep in? Why does the enemy get that foothold in my heart to sway me away from that which I know to be absolutely true?

So often we allow the circumstances of the moment to drive out the faith of our history. Not that He's required to prove anything to me, but He has over and over - in my life, in the lives of others around me, and in His Word through the lives of history. But in those crucial moments of decision when I can choose to stand by faith or turn an ear to doubt, I allow my eyes to be blinded to the Truth - That He is Lord, and He is able to do ANYTHIING.

Fortunately, for these two blind men, at the crucial moment their spiritual eyes were open. They saw Jesus for who He was -- the Messiah -- and had no doubt that they would be healed by the Lord. How ironic that the ones who couldn't see all the miracles in life happening around them, could "see" the Son of God standing in front of them. And because of their belief, they received the touch of Christ.

Lord, forgive me for my moments of doubt. Help me in my unbelief to see you as the one and only Messiah that can do anything. Give me an unshakable faith. Open my eyes to Your Truth and power in my life.

Further Thoughts:

1. Why does calling Jesus, "Son of David" demonstrate that these men recognized Jesus as the Messiah?
2. When we doubt, we will not only continue walking in blindness, but there can be severe consequences to our doubt. What if Abraham had doubted God when he took Isaac up to Mount Moriah? Read Genesis 22:1-18. How is faith and obedience tied together?
3. Click on "faith" label to read other posts on this subject.
4. Have you been allowing your eyes to be blinded to the Messiah's true power? Has the enemy placed so many doubts in front of you that you can no longer see by faith? Repent of your doubt and see by faith with eyes that are healed.

Ephesians 6:17a "Truly Living in Hope"

"Take the helmet of salvation...." NIV

I can't read this verse without thinking about a really bad hair day. But that's irrelevant.;-)

This one is hard to write about. Everything I would put makes me want to say, "Duh!" It just all seems so obvious to guard our minds, the center of our will, our thoughts and the very essence of who we are with our salvation. His grace and mercy, the cleansing of my sins, the hope of eternity with Him is what will protect me. I need to be sure it's securely in place as the enemy will try to attack those areas of my life -- probably mostly with doubt. It's when doubt creeps into our thinking that our shield of faith begins to waver, the belt of truth becomes subjective, and peace is replaced by confusion.

But when I have the protection of salvation surrounding my every thought, desire, development of who I am, then my thinking and will line up with my Father's plan. I see with His eyes; I hear with His ears. His desires are my desires. And my hope of coming out of all of this in victory with Him is sure.

Father, thank you for the protection of my salvation. Help me to keep my thoughts and will in line with Yours. I want the very heart of who I am to consistently be in tune to You.

Further Thoughts:

1. How am I guarding my mind from the enemy's attacks? Am I careful about what I see and hear? Am I keeping the hope of my salvation always before me as the most important part of my life? Answer, then read 1 Peter 1:13-16.
2. What do I need to change in my lifestyle to stay away from the dangers that will attack my mind? (What needs to be taken away; what needs to be added?)
3. Do I live as a true believer in the hope of my salvation? In other words, do I live my life as a soldier who has the Almighty as the commanding officer? Am I walking boldly and sure? If not, why? What lie is the enemy feeding me that I'm believing?
4. Read Matthew 21:18-22 and James 1:6. Why is doubting counterproductive to the Christian life?