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The Need Of The Hour - Truth
Author : Ann Doupont
Those of you who know my ministry know that I’m adamant about the truth, knowing that it’s in knowing the truth that a person will be made free (John 8:32). Free from what? Error, deceptions, lies, and sin. There is great joy that comes when we see a person we’ve ministered to then walking in truth (3 John 4).
In 1989, I went to revival meetings 5-6 nights a week for most of the year. The presiding minister told me that I was like a female John the Baptist. Well, that’s true; but what does that mean? John the Baptist preached the gospel of repentance (and had the spirit of Elijah, turning the hearts of the children to their parents and the parents to their children). That, too, is my thrust, that of preaching repentance. Many have not liked hearing the truth; as their deeds are dark and they like to continue in their sins. They haven’t come to realize that their sin hurts God. (See Genesis 6:6.)
Today, I was thinking about the two thieves on the cross who had been next to Jesus. One of them was most likely upset and angry because he’d been caught in his trespasses. The other, who knew he’d done wrong asked for mercy, and that mercy was given to him as Jesus said that “this day shall you be with me in Paradise.”
Knowing that His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), I come to Him each morning and look to Him, who is the author and finisher of our faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured His cross. (See Hebrews 12:1-3.) We’re to pick up our own crosses and follow Him (Luke 9:23). I’m not to pick up your cross, but my own. Jesus had to endure the contradiction of sinners against Himself and in the Garden of Gethsemane He even sweated drops of blood as He knew what He was about to face. (See Luke 22:44.)
As we go through our various trials and testings in this life, we’re to count it all joy, allowing patience to be worked into us. It is then when this patience has had its perfect work in us, we become perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (See James 1:2-4.) We enter into a place of rest from doubt and unbelief, knowing in whom we have believed and trusting that what He has said shall come to pass...if we don’t give up believing for it.
Some things take longer to manifest than others. What I’ve waited for 30 years is just now starting to happen. Joshua and Caleb were sent ahead into the Promised Land to see what was there. They came back with a good report, saying that we can handle it. Others who were also sent out came back and said that it’s too hard for them. Because of that, they did not enter in.
The words on the pages of our Bibles are all true, yet not everyone understands what is written…because of their failure to continue to believe, to study, and/or to pray correctly. There are many deceived in the land. Following the deceived will lead a person into the same ditch as they are in. (See Matthew 15:14.)
When we’re in the Word for ourselves, and get it into us through meditating on it every day and also at night, we will learn how to live the way God intended (Joshua 1:8). There is a falling away from sound doctrine spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. Many have already fallen away, but you don’t need to be one of them.
You can be persuaded that God is able to perform that which He promised (Romans 4:21). You can be one of those who come to the truth, and stays in the truth. You can be free from all doubt and deception and lies of the enemy of your soul.
Most of us have heard that God has a wonderful plan for our lives…and He does have that for us. However, there is a price to pay for that “wonderful plan” to be fulfilled. It’ll cost you the price of surrender. You’ll need to surrender the control of your life to Jesus, allowing Him to be your Lord and lead you instead of you doing your own leading.
A man once told me that he decides where to go on vacation and then invites the Lord to come along. He laughed as he said that, thinking it was funny. On the other hand, when I go somewhere, I instead ask the Lord where and when He wants me to go and I follow Him there. I found it especially interesting since doing this that I am never really on vacation, as He always has someone for me to minister to there.
Being adamant about the truth has brought dismay into my life by some other Christians who don’t seem to care as much as I do. It’s not comfortable for me to experience the hostility I’ve had to endure because of my stand and walk of righteousness. However, pleasing God is my goal, no matter who chooses otherwise.
When the Father is pleased through our obedience, other things seem to fall by the wayside. Hearing Him say “well done, good and faithful servant” is well worth the price, and we don’t have to wait till we get to Heaven to hear those words. We can have a “Heaven on earth” experience on this earth if we’re willing to seek the Father for it, and walk differently than others.
This is no longer business as usual, if it ever was that. Turning off the “bad news” (television and other forms of media lies) and tuning into the “good news” of the Bible, prayerfully considering its many words, will take us from glory to glory (experience with Him to experience with Him). Others won’t understand us, but that’s all right. They don’t understand us, anyway.
As we approach our Bibles daily, let’s let Him show us new things in it. If we approach our Bible reading with that in mind, expecting to be able to understand how to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4), we will then learn how to do it.
Speaking the truth with love,
Ann Doupont
Author, Intercessor, Motivational Speaker
www.anndoupont.org
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Ann Doupont is a Christian author as well as having a heart for revival in America. Please see www.anndoupont.org to see more about her and her writings.
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