​​Welcome  to    Joy By Surprise

We live in a sinful world; a world where deception abounds and where truth is a rarity. Lies, innuendos, exaggerations and errors of all kinds flourish in every land. Indeed, corruption, falsehood and greed are at the heart of almost every enterprise. What's more, human society is also being inundated with new ideas on how to live, how to dress, how to behave and even how to think. Religious, political and economic 'breakthroughs' are on the increase; but no sooner has one new idea been tried and discredited when an even more spectacular claim is made for another. Like the ancient Greeks, modern man is ever seeking something different, something new!

And yet, deep down inside, we all know that not all is right with human society. In every country you'll hear the older generation tell of the 'good old days' when life wasn't so stressful and people had more time for each other. To be sure we are better fed, better clothed and have more leisure time; but there is ample evidence to prove that human society is sick to the core and is drifting deeper and deeper into trouble. People are not interested in the Truth. Therefore, Scripture tells us, the Spirit of Truth will be withdrawn from human society and mankind will be handed over to the Antichrist.

This withdrawal of the Holy Spirit has begun and the vacuum left behind is being filled with the Spirit of Deception. However, this morning I want to talk about truth not deception.

Believe it or not this is an age-old question. At the trial of YAHUSHUA the Messiah it was asked by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, who was no stranger to deception. Pilate often acted as a judge in high court cases in ancient Israel and had witnessed much falsehood. As a result he had grave doubts that anyone spoke the truth. Too often had he seen falsehood presented as truth: and, almost contemptuously, he asked the question:

What is Truth? (John 18:38)

Yes, What is truth? According to the dictionary, truth is something that is 'in accordance with the facts, something genuine, correct and accurate, something that lives up to its claims.' Do we find Truth in our society? Not much, you will agree. But back to our question: What is Truth?

The answer to this vital question is found in the Scriptures, the Word of the living YaHuWaH.

• YAHUSHUA said in John 14:6: ......... I AM the way, the truth and the life.
• John 17:17 ......... Thy Word is truth.
• Psalm 119:142 ... Thy Torah is the truth.

In a world of error, deception and confusion, it is reassuring to find such positive and true statements. YaHuWaH 's only

begotten

2. Lack of Truth Causes Chaos

Truth is vital to human society. Its absence causes mistrust which often leads to hatred and even to war. The absence of truth is the main cause of humanity's sins and resulting woes. The presence of truth uplifts. The absence of truth degrades. The Bible puts it thus:

In other words, right living - which cannot be guided by anything other than Truth - will lift a nation high in the estimation of YaHuWaH and will win His approval and blessing. Sin, on the other hand, will produce the opposite result. The more deceptive and unrighteous a nation becomes the lower and lower it will sink into disaster. This spiritual formula works with individuals just as it does with nations. It is an eternal formula which we ignore at our peril.

3. Truth Brings Freedom

Error corrupts and enslaves. Truth brings freedom - freedom from fear, freedom from hate. Truth replaces fear with faith and confidence. People who hold and live the truth are not afraid of privation, persecution or even death. They have the truth, they know the truth about life and death, the present and the hereafter, and fear has no hold on them. These are the only free people on the face of this earth! All others are slaves of error and fear! The Savior once said:

4. Truth Sanctifies / Separates

Truth opens people's eyes to the corruption and utter worthlessness of Satan's life-style. Truth brings YaHuWaH 's Torah into focus. YaHuWaH 's Torah is truth. Knowledge of YaHuWaH 's Torah - if acted upon - separates and sanctifies a person. A believer of YaHuWaH 's truth, His Torah, will progressively separate him/herself from sin in every form. In fact Truth is the only thing that can identify and define error. Without the truth it is impossible to know what sin is. Truth brings spiritual eyesight which leads its possessor into the pathway of holiness.

5. Rejecters of Truth

Truth, for all its value, is not popular. Multiplied millions of people reject truth; simply because they love sin, even though they know it's wrong. Sin is a spiritual drug with deadly side-effects. Sin brings pleasure, instant pleasure: but in the end sin leads to death - eternal death.

People are rejecting the Bible record of the creation. They are rejecting the Torah of YaHuWaH. Instead they are embracing the anti-Messiah teaching of the false apostle Paul and the falsehood of Evolution.

6. Truth is Invincible

Truth is as powerful over falsehood as light is over darkness. Nothing can destroy the truth. Sinners may hate truth, reject truth and fight truth with all their might; but truth is unaffected: it cannot be destroyed. Truth is invincible. Truth can penetrate even the darkest recesses of the human mind. Truth is eternal, as eternal as YaHuWaH Himself.

7. Truth Protects

Truth is the best insurance policy an individual or community can invest in. The Most High places great value on people who revere His truth. To hurt them is to hurt YaHuWaH Himself. YaHuWaH will spare entire towns if He finds even a few residents who revere His truth. Consider these verses:

8. The Spirit of Truth

In the final analysis truth is far more than a reiteration of cold facts. Truth is a divine Being; and all that emanates from that Being is Truth. To effectively worship YaHuWaH the Most High and YAHUSHUA His Son a believer must needs have the right Spirit, the right attitude; else his worship is futile. Correct doctrine, correct procedure (the right posture, the right day, the right place etc.) are all important; but without the right Spirit, the Spirit of Truth - all worship is worthless. By the right Spirit I mean the Spirit of the Most High. He it is who produces in His followers the right frame of mind (meekness) and the right attitude (a willingness to learn) and the right behavior (righteousness). The Savior put it like this:

In other words, correct doctrine must not only be understood, believed and accepted, it must be lived out in the right attitude. For our worship to be acceptable to YaHuWaH, we must (note that word 'must') worship Him in spirit; that is, with repentance, meekness, gratitude and awe. This is the kind of worshiper the Almighty is diligently searching the earth for! Do you have the spirit of truth? If you think you still have a long way to go (and I most certainly have) then here is a short prayer you could pray each day.

A Closing Prayer