Garch7
05-24-2008, 06:36 PM
Have you ever studied this verse?
"And you shall know The Truth, and The
Truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)
Questions that immediately arise are: "What
is truth?" and "Make me free from what?"
Good questions! Let's start with The Truth.
Jesus Himself said: "I am Truth." (John 14:6)
Jesus also said, "Everyone who is of The
Truth will hear My voice." (John 18:37)
If you read John 18, it's about the arrest
and trial of Jesus,.. and after Jesus makes
the above statement (before Pilate) He is
asked: "What is Truth?" (John 18:38)
Pilate spoke Greek. The Phrase in Greek
is: "QUID EST VERITAS?" The Anagram
of that phrase is: "EST VIR QUI ADEST",
which means: "IT IS HE WHO STANDS
BEFORE YOU." Interesting!
Paul tells the Ephesians: "You have heard
Him and been taught by Him, as the Truth is
in Jesus." (Eph. 4:21)
Later, Paul says: "For the Fruit of the
Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness
and truth." (Eph. 5:9)
Jesus had told us: "When He, The Spirit of
Truth is come, He will guide you into all
Truth,.." (John 16:13)
If we have believed, we have received the
Spirit of Truth,.. and He lives in us, and
He reveals Jesus to us, and reminds us of
the words of Jesus, The Truth.
The Spirit (Holy Spirit, God's Spirit) is
living and active in our hearts and lives.
He is God. He is another personality. He
is seeking to do His will in you and through
you. But, He can only do what you will allow
Him to do. He does not force His way. He is
loving and patient. He waits for you to
yield to His will,.. and to His ways.
He is The Lord, inside of you. He is King.
He is God. He's not a second, or a third
God. He is All of God inside of you! He
gives us gifts. He is the Giver and when He
comes, He brings His gifts with Him!
He is NOT separate from His gifts. He will
not GIVE us His gifts, and then leave! He is
the Gift, and He is the Giver! The gifts are
ours,... because He is ours. The Gifts are
inside of us,... because HE is inside of us!
I sometimes hear people pray, "God, give
me the Gift of Prophesy,.. or "Give me the
Gift of Healing..." and it seems to me that
it's as though they are asking for The Gifts
of God,.. and that they will use His Gifts to
Heal or whatever,.. seemingly apart from
HIM. That we want His gifts to use them
as WE SEE FIT. We will decide WHEN
to use His Gifts,... IN OUR TIME,... and
according to our will,... and usually for our
own glory!
However, The Gifts come WITH the Giver!
The Gifts are dispersed according to His will,
and in HIS good time,.. and are to be used in
HIS ways,.. for HIS Glory!
I sometimes hear people pray, "Oh God,
or "Spirit of God".. or "Dear Jesus..."
as if they think God is really THREE, and
not ONE! Yes, God has revealed Himself
in THREE ways. Jesus talked about His
Father. Jesus talked about the coming of
The Spirit. But, He is still just ONE being.
The Israelites knew Him as ONE: " Hear
O Israel, The Lord our God, The Lord is
One." (Deut. 6:4)
If you come to know someone, you don't
talk to him using three names,.. usually you
talk to him using just ONE name. I just
talk to God as "Lord." That's how the 12
Disciples talked to Him, "Lord, teach us to
pray." (Luke 11:1)
They knew Him as a friend. They had a
very close, personal relationship to Him.
They could talk to Him as I am talking to
you. Do you have a close and personal
relationship to Him? Pick one name and
use that name when you talk to Him.
The Second Question: He makes us free
from what? Well, Free from our sins! He
died to pay for ALL of our sins! There is
NOTHING remaining between YOU and
GOD! He has dealt with sin. It's a problem
NO MORE. Yes, you and I still sin,.. but,
ALL SINS have been paid for, removed
and forgotten!
Nothing can keep you from God! But, free
from what else? Free from doubt! Why do
we still question God,... about our position,
or about our salvation? God has received
us, because of His Grace, through our faith.
Yet, someone might say, "But, I sin every
day,.. Me and God get separated everytime
I sin." Not True! God separated Himself
ONCE and for ALL TIME, when YOUR
sins were on Jesus! Why would He need
to separate Himself from you again, every
time you sin? He separated Himself from
Jesus at the cross. At that time ALL of your
sins were on Jesus! He did it ALL for us!
And we are free from guilt. Since ALL of
my ins were laid on Jesus,.. and He died to
pay for them, and forgives me fully and
completely,.. why should I still feel guilty?
That's satan, trying to make you feel guilty!
But, you have been set free from guilt!
There is NOTHING remaining for you to
feel guilty about! It's all been taken away!
Freed from pride. And Freed from worry.
"What do you say? You've made a vow,
a foolish vow,.. and you think God has left
you?" Has GOD forgotten HIS Promises?
Even if you go back on Your word,.. GOD
will NEVER go back on HIS Word!
Freed from legalism. Free from works, out
of duty,.. or obligation. If the Spirit of God
dwells in you,.. won't HE do good works
in and through you? Of course He will!
Freed from MY will,.. and MY ways.
God is MUCH more interested in doing His
will through you than YOU are! He will do
His will through bodies that are Yieded to
Him. He CAN'T work through believers
who AREN'T surrendered to Him!
Know these truths,.. Believe these truths,
and you will be set free!
Gary <><
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Lord,.. Continue to reveal your Truths to me,
and enable me to Believe Your Truths as I read
them in Scripture. As I believe your truths, set
me free from doubt and fear, from feelings of
guilt and worry, and from pride. Free me of
My SELF, and My Needs and My Wants.
Allow YOUR Spirit to fill me and give me
confidence in You, In the name of Jesus,
and for YOUR Glory, amen
Gary Christensen,
See you soon, with another study!
Gary <><
"And you shall know The Truth, and The
Truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)
Questions that immediately arise are: "What
is truth?" and "Make me free from what?"
Good questions! Let's start with The Truth.
Jesus Himself said: "I am Truth." (John 14:6)
Jesus also said, "Everyone who is of The
Truth will hear My voice." (John 18:37)
If you read John 18, it's about the arrest
and trial of Jesus,.. and after Jesus makes
the above statement (before Pilate) He is
asked: "What is Truth?" (John 18:38)
Pilate spoke Greek. The Phrase in Greek
is: "QUID EST VERITAS?" The Anagram
of that phrase is: "EST VIR QUI ADEST",
which means: "IT IS HE WHO STANDS
BEFORE YOU." Interesting!
Paul tells the Ephesians: "You have heard
Him and been taught by Him, as the Truth is
in Jesus." (Eph. 4:21)
Later, Paul says: "For the Fruit of the
Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness
and truth." (Eph. 5:9)
Jesus had told us: "When He, The Spirit of
Truth is come, He will guide you into all
Truth,.." (John 16:13)
If we have believed, we have received the
Spirit of Truth,.. and He lives in us, and
He reveals Jesus to us, and reminds us of
the words of Jesus, The Truth.
The Spirit (Holy Spirit, God's Spirit) is
living and active in our hearts and lives.
He is God. He is another personality. He
is seeking to do His will in you and through
you. But, He can only do what you will allow
Him to do. He does not force His way. He is
loving and patient. He waits for you to
yield to His will,.. and to His ways.
He is The Lord, inside of you. He is King.
He is God. He's not a second, or a third
God. He is All of God inside of you! He
gives us gifts. He is the Giver and when He
comes, He brings His gifts with Him!
He is NOT separate from His gifts. He will
not GIVE us His gifts, and then leave! He is
the Gift, and He is the Giver! The gifts are
ours,... because He is ours. The Gifts are
inside of us,... because HE is inside of us!
I sometimes hear people pray, "God, give
me the Gift of Prophesy,.. or "Give me the
Gift of Healing..." and it seems to me that
it's as though they are asking for The Gifts
of God,.. and that they will use His Gifts to
Heal or whatever,.. seemingly apart from
HIM. That we want His gifts to use them
as WE SEE FIT. We will decide WHEN
to use His Gifts,... IN OUR TIME,... and
according to our will,... and usually for our
own glory!
However, The Gifts come WITH the Giver!
The Gifts are dispersed according to His will,
and in HIS good time,.. and are to be used in
HIS ways,.. for HIS Glory!
I sometimes hear people pray, "Oh God,
or "Spirit of God".. or "Dear Jesus..."
as if they think God is really THREE, and
not ONE! Yes, God has revealed Himself
in THREE ways. Jesus talked about His
Father. Jesus talked about the coming of
The Spirit. But, He is still just ONE being.
The Israelites knew Him as ONE: " Hear
O Israel, The Lord our God, The Lord is
One." (Deut. 6:4)
If you come to know someone, you don't
talk to him using three names,.. usually you
talk to him using just ONE name. I just
talk to God as "Lord." That's how the 12
Disciples talked to Him, "Lord, teach us to
pray." (Luke 11:1)
They knew Him as a friend. They had a
very close, personal relationship to Him.
They could talk to Him as I am talking to
you. Do you have a close and personal
relationship to Him? Pick one name and
use that name when you talk to Him.
The Second Question: He makes us free
from what? Well, Free from our sins! He
died to pay for ALL of our sins! There is
NOTHING remaining between YOU and
GOD! He has dealt with sin. It's a problem
NO MORE. Yes, you and I still sin,.. but,
ALL SINS have been paid for, removed
and forgotten!
Nothing can keep you from God! But, free
from what else? Free from doubt! Why do
we still question God,... about our position,
or about our salvation? God has received
us, because of His Grace, through our faith.
Yet, someone might say, "But, I sin every
day,.. Me and God get separated everytime
I sin." Not True! God separated Himself
ONCE and for ALL TIME, when YOUR
sins were on Jesus! Why would He need
to separate Himself from you again, every
time you sin? He separated Himself from
Jesus at the cross. At that time ALL of your
sins were on Jesus! He did it ALL for us!
And we are free from guilt. Since ALL of
my ins were laid on Jesus,.. and He died to
pay for them, and forgives me fully and
completely,.. why should I still feel guilty?
That's satan, trying to make you feel guilty!
But, you have been set free from guilt!
There is NOTHING remaining for you to
feel guilty about! It's all been taken away!
Freed from pride. And Freed from worry.
"What do you say? You've made a vow,
a foolish vow,.. and you think God has left
you?" Has GOD forgotten HIS Promises?
Even if you go back on Your word,.. GOD
will NEVER go back on HIS Word!
Freed from legalism. Free from works, out
of duty,.. or obligation. If the Spirit of God
dwells in you,.. won't HE do good works
in and through you? Of course He will!
Freed from MY will,.. and MY ways.
God is MUCH more interested in doing His
will through you than YOU are! He will do
His will through bodies that are Yieded to
Him. He CAN'T work through believers
who AREN'T surrendered to Him!
Know these truths,.. Believe these truths,
and you will be set free!
Gary <><
_ _ _ _ _ _ _
Lord,.. Continue to reveal your Truths to me,
and enable me to Believe Your Truths as I read
them in Scripture. As I believe your truths, set
me free from doubt and fear, from feelings of
guilt and worry, and from pride. Free me of
My SELF, and My Needs and My Wants.
Allow YOUR Spirit to fill me and give me
confidence in You, In the name of Jesus,
and for YOUR Glory, amen
Gary Christensen,
See you soon, with another study!
Gary <><