Quest for Truth

“What is truth?” retorts a cynical governor, not wanting to get an answer. He‘s interrogating a man who was brought to him on what he knows are trumped-up charges - lies and deceit, through envy. The accused man faced him, without uttering a word of defence, then counselled the judge: “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” John 18:37. 

Questioned for His life, the Son of God speaks about hearing truth! 

Truth would set this governor free - knowing truth. “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32. 

Truth is important to God - He is truth! He never lies, cannot lie, does what’s true and right faithfully. We can trust God in everything in our lives based on that. 

And we need truth. 

We’re living in a world filled with error and misconceptions. Worse still, deliberate lies. It’s the inevitable reality of a fallen world subjected to the father of lies. In the Garden of Eden, Satan used guile, manipulation, distortion and the direct lie, “You won’t die - God lied to you! He’s keeping you from knowledge that will make you like Him!” 

Truth is light in the darkness, showing us the way, setting us free, keeping us from harm. Truth relates to every aspect of our lives. 

Fiction that’s stranger than facts. 

People have earnestly believed things that are bizarre to us today. Educated ancient Greeks, with their brilliant mathematical calculations and science, believed the earth flowed through water. Learned navigators of just a few hundred years ago had been terrified that they’d plunge over the edge of the world. Their theory that the earth was flat seemed like common sense to them.

Sounds reasonable, but is it true?

Those navigators who feared that they’d fall off the edge of the world reasoned, “We know that water falls downwards. If the world were round like a ball, it would run off! Obviously, the earth is flat!” They might demonstrate, “Here’s proof. Here’s a plate. We put water on it, keep filling it - it overflows! It’s folly to sail too close to the edge. Powerful, irresistible currents will drive you over the precipice to your doom!”

To us, this conclusion is absurd. Then again, how many things might we believe based on incomplete facts, inadequate evaluation and our own acquired prejudices? A quiz book series, with sales of over 1 million copies, challenges current beliefs and declares facetiously, “Everything you think you know is wrong.” With a vast pool of misinformation to draw on, the researchers have had material for book after book. Todays “truths”, beliefs and theories are subject to challenge and justifiably so.

Believe it or not!

We all believe some things which aren’t true. 

Octopus marginatus (the veined octopus) “walking”. Of course, some information is less relevant; knowing an octopus has only two legs helps marine biologists and may improve our own observations. Discovering that Napoleon wasn’t short but taller than average by French and taller still by British standards of his day, aids historians and teachers to write and teach credibly, and reminds us to check our sources and cross-check.

But what about facts that really affect our lives? Learning that mercury tooth fillings are so toxic has led to legislation requiring their disposal by dental practitioners, which has changed attitudes to dental choice.

And what about the crucial truth issues - our beliefs about God, His ways, ourselves and how that affects us? How many things might we need to re-evaluate? 

Seeking Truth with a good attitude.“What is truth?” asked Pontius Pilatus, not seeking the answer. We may ask the same question with a seeking heart. God cannot lie, knows all things, and is never in error. 

We can receive or reject truth by our attitude. The good thing is, we can choose to be receptive. That’s like the Berean Jews, who Paul preached to after finding those of Thessalonica stubborn and hostile. Paul reasons, explains, and demonstrates the truth from the scriptures. The Bereans have a good attitude: “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica… they received the word with all readiness and searched the Scriptures daily to find out if these things were so. Therefore, many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks…” Acts 17.  

Finding the truth in your life. 

Let’s now see how we can seek truth in our own lives. Being willing to examine what you believe can save your life - really. Here’s John and Jane, who find the truth about healing: ‘We’re with John and Jane. When they started their spiritual journey, they accepted everything that they were told. They assumed that it would be valid. As time went on and their experience and knowledge grew, they began to be concerned by something that they were told was a truth: ‘Healing and other spiritual gifts were for the early church to get them started. But now, those things aren’t needed anymore in the established church.’ It troubled them. Was it true? They asked themselves, ‘God said in Romans 11:29 that the gifts and His call can never be withdrawn. If someone is seriously ill, regardless of when, God will surely want to heal them?’ And so, they applied Spiritual Forensics to get to the truth. As expected, they prayed for God’s guidance and received it. They studied the biblical record on healing and spiritual gifts, and they found that healing is a part of God’s gifts throughout the time span of the bible. Certain bible texts leapt out at them as if energised. In particular, they found that as a sign from God, believers, in the name of Jesus, “will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover,” and “…the prayer of faith will save the sick.” Mark 16:17-18, James 5:15. 

They realised that if healing from God happened throughout the bible regardless of when, and it was a sign from God to all believers, then what they were told wasn’t true - healing from God hadn’t passed away. John and Jane had carefully examined all the evidence. They found that what they’d been told wasn’t true. They then accepted the truth and applied it. They also joined a church that taught and applied bible principles such as healing. And they soon knew how to use scriptures on healing in their prayers. 

One day, John and Jane were with a man who wanted a prayer for a sickness. He told them that he never took medicines or went to doctors. Because of their bible studies, they could show him, out of the bible, that Paul travelled with Luke, a doctor and advised Timothy to take some wine (not grape juice) for his ailments: 1 Timothy 5:23 “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities.” Then, they prayed for his healing. 

Do you need healing? Take advantage of sound medical advice and be sure to consult the Great Physician who can do what’s beyond medical science or medicine… This teaching could save your life or the lives of others. 

It’s spiritual forensics in practice. If we carefully study healing in the bible we find that in some cases, we may need to pray once for a healing. But at other times, repeatedly or keep on praying. Jesus prayed more than once for a healing, and His faith is perfect. “(Jesus) put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking. Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.” See Mark 8:22-24. So, if you’re told, “I prayed for your healing in faith. If you ask for prayer again, then you don’t have faith, and you won’t be healed.' Reject that. It’s wrong. Jesus prayed for a man’s healing more than once, so should we when needed. Why? Because spiritual forensics backs the procedure… The great advantage of seeking truth and not confirming pet theories is that you experience the fullness of the kingdom in spirit and truth…’ 

Spirit of Truth, lead me! The Holy Spirit will continually instruct you in all truth. He’s our faithful, loving friend and guide. “Holy Spirit, teach me!” “He, the Spirit of truth… will guide you into all truth” - “the fruit of the Holy Spirit… all goodness, righteousness and truth.” John 16:13, Ephesians 5:9. 

Receiving more truth from God.

A prayer to help us become more receptive: “Thank you for leading and teaching me. I have areas I need to grow in, false memories to correct, beliefs to adjust, and behaviour to correct. Help me to be sensitive to You and responsive. Open my eyes, enlighten my mind. Guide me in all Your truth.”

Knowing the Holy Spirit and living a life led by the Spirit are among God's greatest gifts to believers. In a world filled with skewed thinking and lies, the Spirit of truth is our constant guide and teacher - if we will let Him. Knowing the fullness of the Holy Spirit is the way to Quest for Truth, in truth. I have co-authored a comprehensive book to fully reveal the Spirit of God called 'The Holy Spirit Book'. Discover the Holy Spirit and a new dimension of power. ‘The Holy Spirit Book’ takes you on a fascinating journey into who the Holy Spirit is, His person, His personality, abilities and works. Demystify the mystery, theology and doctrine on the Holy Spirit. Discover who the Holy Spirit is, what He’s like, what He does and why He was given to us. Find out how to have a personal relationship with Him and how He’ll help you. Learn how to be empowered and gifted by the Holy Spirit and use these to transform your life and the lives of others. Come on a journey through the bible that will lead you ever deeper in knowledge and relationship with the Spirit and an empowered life. Start the journey by clicking the button below, and please use my free resources by subscribing to great monthly content.

Do you know someone who can benefit from this post? Send them this link...

https://a-victor.com/quest-for-truth