One of Adolf Hitler’s propagandists, Joseph Goebbels was often quoted concerning truth and lies. One such quote states “If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it, and you will even come to believe it yourself. “ This, friends, is how tyrants take over. This same use of constant lies was used in Hitler’s rise to power, in Lenin and Stalin’s takeover of Russia, in Mao’s take over of China, and is continued on over and again the world over to the advantage of tyrants everywhere, including here in the US. Mike Winger, who I am sure was repeating the quote from someone else, stated “a lie is already halfway around the world as the truth is just waking up and getting out of bed.”
The reason I’m saying this is I hear sincere Christian people repeating lies and untruths, and, when presented with the facts, the lies have been ingrained, and they ignore the facts presented. A lie spoken in ignorance, no matter how sincerely spoken, is still a lie. It is important we do our research! Our enemy seeks to kill, steal and destroy; we don’t need to pick up torches and pitchforks to help him! Loved ones, measure everything by truth, and the only real truth is God’s standard which is found in His word. Does your “truth” make you more worldly, or does it make you more in tune with the Holy Spirit? Are you becoming more Christ-like, or are you becoming more world-like? Are you destroying, or are you building? Is what you’re saying true, and do you know that for sure? Above all things, speak the truth in love. Measure yourself against the standard of God’s word, and make sure what you’re saying is in line with it!
Galatians 5
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
