TRUTH

Good morning church family,

    “For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”  Romans 1:20

    GIVING THANKS:

    *    PRAISE GOD & THANK YOU!   This congregation through the 150 years of his existence has always been a benevolent church.  We were blown away but the generous contributions for the food drive for Spooner House!  Two HUGE food deliveries were delivered to the Spooner House on Sunday and Monday.   Thanks to everyone for their generous donations and efforts in serving the Lord in this way.   Keeping it going…if we each bring two cans of food each weekend, times the number of members that come to worship can be over 100 cans of food each week. They can always use pillow cases as well. Thanks to Carol Ligouri for hand -sewing many pillow cases for Spooner House.  So many people work quietly and humbly…it is heartwarming.  Thanks to all!

    Matthew 25:35-40 

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited me in.  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.  Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'  “The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, 

whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' “

*    Beulah Collymore is home safely from Trinidad.  Her trip went well. Thanks to everyone for your prayers!

*    Cindy Holly gives thanks that Taylor's breast tissue biopsy came back negative!  Continued prayers for Taylor's wellness.

*    Joe Nuzzo's leg surgery went well.  Thanks for everyone's prayers.

*    We give thanks to God, for HE IS GOOD!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

    *    Pat Yaglowski continues to deal with excruciating pain.  Prayers for her doctor to be able to help her.  She is going for an MRI of her neck and back soon.  

    *    Olivia Likely (Ashley Stephens sister) will be having eye surgery in April.  Prayers in advance for all to go well.

    *    Eric Stephens asked for prayers for his brother Charles who will have his thyroid removed on March 20th. The biopsy was unclear.  They pray it is not cancerous but won't know until after the surgery.  

    *    Leah's co-worker Maureen is dealing with so much as she faces cancer and depression being alone without family.  She is a very private person and in a very bad place. 

    *    Angela asked for prayers for her sister Franca and her husband Will, and her Mom who all have covid.

    *    Ron had a nice conversation with a man by the name of Tamar, who works for Orkin and services our building, and who expressed interest in coming to church.

    *    Ray Fernandes sister-in-law Teri is in much pain due to her cancer. Continued prayers for Teri and Mike, Ray's brother.

            

LADIES BIBLE CLASS RESCHEDULED:

    *   Due to the weather, the Ladies class which was scheduled for today will be rescheduled for Saturday, March 18th at 10:00 a.m. at the building Tori Saracino will lead the ladies bible study.  We will continue our study on STANDING FIRM in the Lord.  The lesson will be “ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND”.    

NOTE:  This message was put out on our Robo call messaging system.  If you did not receive the message on your cell or home phone, please see Ron and provide your best number for being notified of cancellations.

    *   Tuesday morning ladies bible studies will be on March 21st,  April 4th and 18th at 9:30 a.m.  Join Mary Lou and Lisa for a terrific study on 1st and 2nd Thessalonians.

    *    Saturday March 25th at 6:30 p.m. Beyond Reasonable Doubt series will be shown here at the building.   Our groups are getting larger which is great news!  Join us for a time of fellowship after the videos.  The pandemic kept us apart for years, but it's TIME to get back to fellowshipping again! 

APRIL

    *    Saturday April 22nd at 11:30 a.m. we will have a baby shower here at the building for Jessica Lennon.  Jessica is registered at Target.   

    *    Saturday April 29th at 6:30 p.m. Beyond Reasonable Doubt series will be shown here at the building.  

SNEAK PEAK AT MAY:

    *    Friday night May 5th at 7:00 p.m.  Laney and Tori will be leading our ladies bible study.  The topic is “ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND”  .   So proud of these young girls who are growing in Christ by leaps and bounds.  

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS TOMORROW –  PUSH YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD TONIGHT

Mankind has a daily choice to either be good or not; to be truthful or lie;  to live a righteous life, or live for the evil one.  It brings each of us to making a decision, do we live for God, or Satan?

What is truth?

Wikipedias definition of truth is – “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. Truth is usually held to be the opposite of falsehood.”

Truth is one of the central subjects in philosophy.   It is also vast in nature. Truth has been a topic of discussion for thousands & thousands of years.  It is a deep topic and one that has many different divisions within it…for example:   Neoclassical theories of truth; realism & anti-realism, truth – pluralism; deflationism; the correspondence theory; coherence and pragmatist theories; and the list goes on!  Aristotle was known for his correspondence theory…”To say of what is, that it is, or of what is not, that it is not, is true”.  

The opposite of truth, is falsehood or lies.    Lies are squelched when truth is made known!  All truth is made known, eventually!

There is an expression about the rapid transmission of lies…”A lie can travel halfway around the world, while the truth is putting on its shoes.”  Sad, isn't it? 

   

The true definition of 'truth' flows from God.  

God's very nature is Truth.  

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” John 14:6

Hebrews 6:18 “It is impossible for God to lie.”

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SPIRIT of TRUTH 

John 15:17 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- the Spirit of Truth.“

John 15:26 “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.”

John 14:16 & 17 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

THE WORD IS TRUTH

The apostle Paul calls scripture “The word of Truth” – 2 Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

John 17:17 “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is Truth.“

Psalms 119:160 “The sum of your word is truth,  and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.”

HOW VALUABLE IS TRUTH?

It's worth is more than gold – Psalms 19:10″They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold' they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; In keeping them, there is great reward.” 

GOD OF TRUTH

John 14:6 Jesus said,  “I am the truth”

John 8:31 Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.“

Psalms 31:5 “Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.“

Isaiah 65:16  “Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the God of truth; he who takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth. For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes.”

NO ONE CAN BE SAVED without the truth.

What are the distinguishing properties of truth?

Truth is from above, and not of this world. Romans 3:4 “Let God be found true, though every man be found a liar.”

“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolators, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”  Revelation 21:8

John 8:51 “I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.“

GOD'S TRUTH DOES NOT CHANGE!   It is permanent, fixed and established. It will never cater to the crowd. It is constant, lasting, enduring, timeless, binding and un-changing!

Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.“

Matthew 24:35  “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words will not pass away.“

Right will always be right, and wrong will be forever wrong.  Our society may try to redefine morality, kingdoms will rise and fall, but Jesus is forever.  

God's Truth has the final word in all matters…  in how to worship, how to walk, and how to follow Jesus Christ. 

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, 'LORD, LORD' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, 'LORD, LORD, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do mighty works in your name?” And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.“

When most people think of Truth, they associate truth with obeying the law, or walking uprightly, being responsible, obedient and good citizens.

Laws, as we know them, are supposed to protect us, and keep good order.   Laws are not to be broken.

We've seen lots of court cases that help us know what will happen when we break the law.  

Our United States constitution provides for trial-by-jury in most situations. Therefore, even though the judge presides over the activities in the courtroom and rules on issues of law, the decisions about facts are made by ordinary, average citizens. The jury system is not just an American invention. Trial-by-jury and the grand-jury existed elsewhere before our states were even colonies. 

The judge determines the appropriate law that should be applied to the case and the jury finds the facts in the case based on what is presented to them during the proceedings.  At the end of a trial, the judge instructs the jury on the applicable law. While the jury must obey the judge's instructions as to the law, the jury alone is responsible for determining the facts of the case.  

The Judge decides on the sentence of the individual after the jury agrees if a conviction is made.  That decision is based on what crime was done.

THE UNFAIR TRIAL OF OUR LORD

Jesus Christ, who was perfect truth, in human form, was tried, tormented and tortured by the unrighteous.  Jesus was the word in flesh.   He had no sin, yet he endured six, unfair trials by the religious leaders who lied throughout the process.  These Jewish leaders who were supposed to uphold the – law – broke nearly every law designed to protect a defendant from a wrongful conviction.  

Jesus was brutally tortured, mocked, flogged, and crucified. He was wrongly convicted and had no sin.  He healed the sick, did kind things, loved everyone, and was Truth.   

John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.“

Yet, He came to die…

                                for each of us…

                                                for you and me…

Romans 1:18-19 “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.“

We will all be held accountable

 Romans 2:6-8 “God, “will give to each person according to what he has done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth, and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.”

Love rejoices with the TRUTH

 1 Corinthians 13:5-6 “Love is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

When we think about our spiritual fate, we will be judged by everything that is said and done in this life.   

James 4:12 “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy.“

Can we imagine when it is time to be face to face with God our Creator?   

No one else will stand by our side, it will just be… our self….and GOD.

For the baptized believers, God will see that we are covered in the blood of Jesus Christ, the lamb that was slain so we can be found blameless before Him.

We long to hear the words, “Well done my good and faithful servant”  Matthew 25:21

Revelation 21:14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may go through the gates into the city.“

PRAISE HIM & KEEP SINGING…

ALL TO US

Precious cornerstone, sure foundation,

You are Faithful, to the end.

We are waiting, on you Jesus,

We believe, You're all to us.

Let the glory of your name

be the passion of the church,

Let the righteousness of God be a holy flame that burns,

Let the saving love of Christ, be the measure of our lives,

We believe, you're all to us.

Only Son of God,

sent from heaven

Hope and Mercy, at the cross

You are everything, you're the Promise,

Jesus, You are All to Us!

You're All to Us,

You're All to Us,

You're All to Us,

Yes you are!

When this passing world is over,

We will see you Face to Face,

And forever, we will worship,

Jesus, You are All to Us!

Let the glory of your name

be the passion of the church,

Let the righteousness of God be a holy flame that burns,

Let the saving love of Christ, be the measure of our lives,

We believe, you're all to us.

Jesus, You Are All to Us!

As we live each day of our lives, let us continue to promote the Gospel of Christ to share his life saving message – the TRUTH – to all the world.    

Psalm 19: 7-9 

“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.  The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart . The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.“

“The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!”  “Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life!” 

Revelation 22:17

May God bless us and keep us as we hold out His Truth to all of the world.

Our love in Him,

Bruce & Paula