Recently, I was in a conversation with my younger daughter. As we discussed, I felt she just told a lie. So, I probed; “Stop lying to me.” Her response taught me a great lesson; “Daddy, I’m not lying. Go and ask God, He would tell you I’m not lying.” Well, I later found out she was saying the truth.
Friend, how do you discern truth from lies (1 John 4:1)? How do you know when someone is out there to deceive you? How do you decipher teachings or prophecies that come from God and the ones that are from the pit of hell or mere human arraignment? How important is the operation of the Spirit of truth in our lives these last days?
We don’t just follow the truth; we follow the Spirit of truth (Acts 16:16-18). You can hear what is true but from the wrong source (Genesis 3:11, Luke 4:1-13). The Spirit of truth is the antidote to lies and deceptions these last days. Truth must be a stronghold in your heart and mind that lies and errors cannot get you no matter what (John 8:31-32, Colossians 3:16).
What do you do when the voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau (Genesis 27:22)? What do you do when what you hear looks good, but you are not just settled about it? The greatest temptation that would face believers these last days won’t be about what is right and what is wrong. It would be about what is right and what is good (Hebrews 5:14, 13:9).
The Spirit of truth is basically the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). But His operation in your life is limited to the amount of truths you have on your inside. The Holy Spirit cannot function in your life beyond the depth of God’s word (truth) in your life. This is why you must let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. This is why you should constantly sit under the right atmosphere of truth and light (Isaiah 30:20-21, 1 Timothy 3:15).
Like my younger daughter told me to ask God, do you bounce things off God, or do you just use your logic to test things (Genesis 25:22)? Listen, assumption is very lethal to your health and destiny. Stop assuming things. Stop taking things at their face value. Learn to bounce things off God. Take issues to God in prayers. Don’t make decisions based on what feels right (Proverbs 14:12). Let the Spirit of truth guide you. You will succeed. Amen.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria