Truth In Love #1

Posted on FaceBook Jun 18, 2020

HELLO KINGDOM!

Before this year began, God placed on my heart the need for revival, which became my word for the year. Before the pandemic hit, I had posted a couple posts relating to that theme. Since the beginning of the pandemic, I have continued to post about what is going on, usually referring to the need for revival. Lately, my posts have been sporadic and getting progressively longer. I’ve been writing what He places in my heart, when He places it in my heart. I don’t worry about the length, or about the likes they garner (or lack of likes.) I don’t worry about “empty chairs.” I only plant the seed and God will do the watering according to His plan. A few days ago He planted the Truth in Love theme, in response to the current social injustice crisis gripping the country (and world.) He also has me breaking it into a series. I finished this first segment Wednesday afternoon, before going to Wednesday night service, and listening to Pastor Timothy Mutchler deliver the message.

Truth in Love Part 1

The Holy Spirit is still in control! We attended our church on Sunday and watched a couple other church services on-line, and read several devotionals. All had similar themes around being bold and speaking out in TRUTH. I ended my last Kingdom post Jun 7 with “be the Voice of Truth.”

Pastor Robert Madu spoke of grace and truth at Elevation Church yesterday. If you have a chance, listen to it. His message centered on John 8:1-12 and John 1:14. John 8:1-12 covers the story of the adulteress brought before Jesus by the scribes and Pharisees. They were trying to trick Jesus. In the process, they were twisting the facts and law to do so. They said that the Mosaic law stated that such caught in the act of adultery should be stoned and wanted to know what Jesus would say. At first Jesus appeared to ignore them, writing on the ground. When pressed again, He rose up and said, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” He could have retorted with throwing the Mosaic law back at them, stating that it takes two to commit adultery and asking where the other participant was, thus standing on the truth of Law. But He didn’t. He exemplified what John wrote at the end of John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” He used grace to defuse the attempt to trap Him, and spoke with the full weight of truth of the Law.

The scribes and Pharisees tried to use shock and awe to entrap Jesus. They burst in on the middle of Him preaching in the temple, plopped the woman down in their midst and challenged Jesus, quoting Law. Much like a lot of the media and people with agendas are doing today, whether in print in newspapers, over the airwaves (radio) and broadcasts (TV), or on social media posts. Most are using little to no grace, preying on emotions. Few are speaking truths, or at most using only partial truths or twisting the truth to suit their purposes. Unfortunately, Christians are taking the bait and responding in worldly ways.

A lot is being said, and done, from all sides: black lives matter, police brutality, rioting, property destruction and more killings. Many are taking sides and speaking out, one way or another. This country is on the verge of chaos. But God is moving, He is lifting pastors and Christians, who walk in Christ, up from the ashes to preach the Truth in Love. Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:11-16: “And He himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ – from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

And Jesus tells us that we must love our neighbor as ourselves. (Mark 12:31) More than that Jesus told the disciples, after his resurrection to “make disciples of all the nations” and “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) In other words PREACH THE GOSPEL. There will be only One Solution to this crisis, only One Answer, only one Source. That is found in Jesus Christ. As Christians, we must rise up as One Voice, do the will of God, and speak Truth in Love, as He has shown us. This is just the beginning.

I mentioned at the beginning of this post that I had completed writing this Wednesday afternoon, before going to Wednesday night service and receiving Pastor Tim’s message. I’ve also mentioned several times that the Holy Spirit is touching the hearts of many with similar themes, as Christ-Centered Pastors seem to be following the same Liturgical Calendar. After reviewing my post this morning before actually posting it, I realized two things that confirm this thought. First, the title of Pastor Tim’s message? The answer to that question is found in the last paragraph: PREACH THE GOSPEL. Second, speaking of answers, his mother Cindi Mutchler, was wearing a T-shirt. The front of the shirt had “Jesus.” The back of the shirt? “The Solution, Answer, Source.”

Make no mistake, He is moving in a mighty way. Focus on doing His will and let your light preach the Gospel. They are watching to see how we will react. What will you do?

Be Blessed!