THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE

John  8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;  8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

What is Truth?

Toye: the quality or state of being true.

Samson: Truth is the exact representation of an event/situation.

"In the dictionary, Truth is the quality--- or state of being true

According to Wikipedia: Truth is the property of being in accord with fact or reality.

In everyday language, truth is typically ascribed to things that aim to represent reality or otherwise correspond to it, such as beliefs, propositions, and declarative sentences.

I’m not even going to lie when I started to study for this teaching, I actually wanted to change it to something else because it was becoming more complicated than I imagined it.... so we’re doing this together...

Are there types of truth? Can a truth turn out to be a lie?

When I was studying for this teaching, I discover that there are actually different types of truth... I’ll narrow it down to two, Empirical truth and Convenient truth

Empirical truth: Empirical truth is based on evidence, research and reason. It is the truth that scientists seek. It is the truth that people seek when they want to achieve predictable results.

I’m sure if you’ve gone to Uni or Poly... there’s a part in your project Chapter 2 where you talk about empirical reviews....

In relation to time, empirical truth is more about past proof and future value than any present purpose.

Convenient truth: This is base on need, desire and emotion. It is the truth that people seek when they want to be right, when they suspect they are wrong.

In relation to time, convenient truth is about now and bother less about the past or future. Does this mean a truth can be a lie... ????

In the theory of probability( sorry I studied Statistics in Poly😊)  it is either truth or false, there’s no half truth/ half fallacy 

That means if it’s not the truth then it’s a lie .... be it a convenient or empirical truth... if it’s proven to be false then it’s no longer a truth...

This brings me to another question can I be living a lie thinking it’s the truth?

Samson: Yes. Someone can take a lie and make it his or her own reality. However, truth should be absolute. It should be universal. If it isn't universal or absolute, it can't be truth.

Yes... it’s very possible to be living a lie as the truth until you come in terms with truth

Let me cite an example Isaiah 53:5  says 

...and with his stripes we are healed 

Do you know it’s possible to continuously live in the lies of the devil when we do not know that by his stripes we’re healed?

I was very particular about this topic, because there would come a time you may forget the truth you know and begin to believe the lies of the devil... I’ve been in this position several times... but there’s something about knowing the truth... It sets you free

How can the truth set you Free?

1. The first criteria for the truth to set you free is to know the truth

John 8: 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

It is the truth you know that will set you free... The truth you are not aware of can not set you free... and you know the truth by studying the word of God

2. After knowing the truth, you believe....

Acts  13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

It is one thing to know the truth and a totally different thing to believe the truth...

At the end of the day what you believe is what is true to you. What do you believe to be the truth?

The truth can set us free: 

* when we believe and come in terms with our reality in Christ not with our present situation

* Recognizing the truth, you’re liberated from the illusion of your present reality

* By seeing that the truth in the word should be one and the same with your reality you’re liberated from the conflict of self and other vices

* When you become one with this reality(your reality in Christ) you see that you’re god, and have become liberated from the bonds of mans law;

*Can truth be relative? What is true to you can it be different from what’s true to me? 

John  14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

To me there’s only one truth, but for it to be our truth it all bores down to our believe. 

For example, imagine someone having constant headache and this person keeps sleeping it off after ticking all the boxes (I.e you’ve taking your medication, you’re not stressing your self, etc.... because knowing the truth doesn’t mean not doing the right things, in fact you do the right things because you know the truth)... then it finally dawns on you that Christ is the balm of Gilead and you accept that truth and exercise your faith. 

You know that your present reality isn’t tallying with the truth God said to you... he is the balm of Gilead, sickness have no place in your body

Though your present reality says something else but you begin to confess God’s truth in your life

What Happens to you when you embrace the Truth?

*You learn how to see the world, shining and dazzling in its purity with new eyes, with fresh perspective.

*You do not let your current reality determine who you’re in Christ

*You live more at peace, You’re less troubled by what’s happening around you

Mark  4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.  4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

We see here that the Disciples couldn’t understand why Jesus was so at peace and sleeping even during the storm. Lol when you come to the reality of your truth in Christ people will marvel at how calm you’ll be in very tough situations... some will ask what kind of human being are you...

*You become more available for life to breathe through you. Yes you will stop being overly too conscious... you’ll begin to live your life to the fullest

*You become unstuck. The air around you begins to blow, there is movement...

In Summary I’m very particular about us knowing our reality in Christ cause this is our truth, our current situation don’t determine this, devil will continuously poke his ugly head to make you forget this truth... he will show you all the difficulties and the terrible things happening to make you forget the truth.... but in all these DO NOT FORGET YOUR TRUTH IN CHRIST, YOU KNOW THIS TRUTH BY CONSTANTLY STUDYING THE BIBLE

KOINONIA; THE COMMUNION OF THE SAINTS

G2842Greek: κοινωνία

Transliteration: koinōnía

Pronunciation: koy-nohn-ee'-ah 

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 Description: from κοινωνός(G2844); partnership, i.e. (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction:

Translation: (to) communicate(-ation), communion, (contri-)distribution, fellowship.

We established last time that it is important we fellowship with the spirit; to share life together with the spirit. To have a companionship relationship with the spirit

Today, we look at Koinonia with one another

1John.1.1 - [We are writing] about the Word of Life [in] Him Who existed from the beginning, Whom we have heard, Whom we have seen with our [own] eyes, Whom we have gazed upon [for ourselves] and have touched with our [own] hands.

In this first verse, John first established that they had had fellowship with Christ they had shared life with the one who existed from the beginning. 

1John.1.3 - What we have seen and [ourselves] heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. And [this] fellowship that we have [which is a distinguishing mark of Christians] is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

One thing is evident here, the disciples enjoyed fellowship with Christ. They had something intimate with the living one and it was sweeeeeeeet. And here is the thing about this sweet fellowship, you can't keep it to yourself. You want to share. That's really what fellowship means, to share together. You just want to share in this experience with others too. 

1John.1.7 - But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].

If we say we walk in the light, fellowship comes naturally to us. We want to be with other believers. Those who walk in the light enjoy fellowship with other believers.

If we are finding it difficult to relate with other believers, give it small time, you will find that person walking in darkness.

I personally have noticed when fellowship is reduced (church, friends etc), fellowship with the spirit can easily be affected too. And before you know it, you are sinning.

If we really live and walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another

Any believer that loves isolation is most likely not walking in the light

Remember that first, we fellowship with the spirit.

The Holy spirit is in every believer, thus standing as a common factor between us all.

Remi has the Holy Spirit, Bola has the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is Remi intersect Bola

Remi n Bola

The magnet drag automatically happens.

For every believer that fellowships with God, there is a magnet dragging you to other believers around because of the spirit in them which is a common factor

1 Corinthians  12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.

For the body is not one member but many. We are "legion"

There is nothing like isolation or me or alone in this walk. If we are truly part of the body of Christ, there is no standing alone.

Can the ear stand on its own and claim to be a body? No! It has to join with other members: eyes, nose, legs, hands etc.

Let's look at the very beginning of the body of Christ and the entrance of the spirit

Acts  2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

They were all together in one place, in one accord. Here is the establishment of the church, togetherness, a sharing together. Such a perfect entrance for the spirit as this is His mission, to share God's mind and will to us

This was the very foundation of the church

The believers spent their time listening to the teaching of the apostles. They shared everything with each other. They ate together and prayed together. The believers shared a common purpose, and every day they spent much of their time together in the Temple area. They also ate together in their homes. They were happy to share their food and ate with joyful hearts. The believers praised God and were respected by all the people. More and more people were being saved every day, and the Lord was adding them to their group.

Acts 2:42‭, ‬46‭-‬47 ERV

The believers had a common purpose so they united over it. They spent time together, shared their belongings too. And the bible recorded that more people were added to them

As we fellowship, there is an expansion

Now here's a mistake most people make, we assume that going to church is fellowship. While this is the start, it is not all that it means. Fellowship is way more intimate

We are not just church members, we are intimate members of the body of Christ.

It's possible that we gather together and stand against each other. Fellowship is sharing together, communion, intimate friendship.This is what we are meant to share

The same way we give our all to the Spirit In total abandonment, we do same with the body of Christ. And this fellowship is not just a mark attendance thing.

Acts 2:42 says the apostles devoted themselves to fellowship. Without devotion, there cannot be unity

Let me go back to the Spirit as this is our template.

I am devoted to fellowship with the spirit. He reveals God's mind to me intimately. I am unified in thoughts and mind with God as fellowship increases

Let's fix this with the body of Christ.

We devote ourselves to fellowship with the body of christ (not just marking attendance), there's a unification that happens in this place. Look at some churches, you will see that the members think alike.

Even if Pastor has not preached, their response aligns. 

And this is found majorly in devote membership. Devotion brings a unification among us, even in the things of the spirit. In fact, especially in the things of the spirit.

Remember the spirit is our common factor

And what does unification does? It births more believers. It's also in fellowship that we learn to love others better.

Are you having issues with a fellow believer? Or they keep getting on your nerves? Find your way into their space, just fellowship with them for 2 weeks to 1 month. Don't go to fight or trash anything o

Even if its just 15 min daily. 

"Hello Bro Toye, are you free? Let's study the word together briefly and pray"

If you feel the same way about them after 1 month, come and collect all the money in my account. 

In fellowship, you know the mind of God abi. As you fellowship with them in spirit, you get to know God's mind towards that "annoying believer"

God's mind towards us is always sweet. Scripture says His thoughts towards us are of good and not evil.

And like we said the last time, God rubs off on us in fellowship. You begin to inherit His mind about these people. And everything just changes

You see them a new way, exactly as God sees them. And you love them in this way.

Probably, you want to ask "Remi, but people go to church and keep malice/fight etc". Well, church attendance doesn't equal fellowship

Even in marriage, if a couple is having issues and resentment is setting in, it's fine, just fellowship.

Don't come trying to make God point out who is right or wrong. Just focus on God, the both of you. Do this for a while and you will see God pointing out new things to you about that annoying partner.

Fellowship helps us to stand firm in Faith

Ecclesiastes 4:9 It's better to have a partner than go it alone. Share the work, share the wealth.

Ecclesiastes 4:10 And if one falls down, the other helps, But if there's no one to help, tough!

Ecclesiastes 4:11 Two in a bed warm each other. Alone, you shiver all night.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 By yourself you're unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped.

In this movement, we never walk alone

Stop trying to do this God walk alone, stop it. It's exhausting. You can't keep up

It is better for us to do this with other believers.

There is something special about standing in agreement with other believers and the only way we stand is in the spirit: Fellowship

It is easier to fall when we are walking alone. I don't know if we've noticed this pattern with people that fall from the faith

They usually first start with. "I can worship God alone in my house. I don't need to go to church"

They stop church, stop praying, start questioning things and stop believing. The devil has a goal, his target is our lives and he knows our lives are safely hidden in Christ by faith

So he finds ways to make us stop believing: 

Let me use an analogy.

We are 119 on the group abi. We are gathered together in one nice island, let's say Bali 😉Then one big strong guy comes and tries to take Samson away. Even if the guy is very strong, because we are much, we will fight. And there is high chance we will overcome him, cos of our strength in numbers. What the devil does is push the person he wants out of a support group. Nobody to fight back

We see that the devil himself knows he doesn't have strength. He uses lies to get what he wants and deceive us to do his dirty job for him. 

There is so much strength in our number as the body of Christ. So much. Don't think you are strong alone. You won't last on your own. Stay with the pack!

25 This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing, because we need each other! In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning. Heb 10: 25 TPT

Churches are not meeting physically. This world we sojourn in is not as we used to know it, but please This is not the time to pull away. 

More than ever, we need each other. Attend your church services online. Don't be tweeting or watching BBN while pastor is preaching.

Pay attention as you'd in a physical setting. We can't meet in 100s or 50s but we can gather in 10s or 5s.

Hang out with people from your church (not to gossip about others o), just fellowship together. If you cannot hangout physically, God has given us wisdom for a time like this, connect online.

Little Exercise

Please I'd like us all to do this. Reach out to someone that has been pulling away from the gathering of saints. Don't talk about their pulling away (might make them defensive). Just tell them you called to just pray as they came to mind. Pray with them and gist about the word. Do so for a couple of days/weeks. We can drop feedback here as time goes on. 

If you don't know anyone that pulled out, you can reach out to normal members too.

It is God's will that we fellowship intimately. Also note that this intimate fellowship does not mean you should go and fall in love with that brother/sister o 😭😭😭. That's not what God sent me o (but if God wills that it happens that way too, nice 😁)

Just note that the focus is Christ. The spirit points us to Christ. In helping us to love one another better, He is helping us live our new life which is Christ's

Fellowship births love, forgiveness, strength and encouragement. It is a prerequisite for survival. And for those that have stopped fellowshipping as they used to because of some ills in the church. Maybe you've been hurt by someone in the church.

It could even have been consistent. I know this feeling. I have been here

And I tell you, one of the greatest things God did was help me stay in the body of Christ and love regardless. Things changed after a while

If you are in this space and hurting or know anyone who is, we have a message on CHURCH HURT.  It's been helpful for so many of us that have been here too.

And if you have questions or need to talk, please reach out to me privately via sermons.wordalive@gmail.com. I'm available

Again, God doesn't want us in isolation. He wants all of us together

Stay with the pack!

God bless you all