John 8:32 'Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free'. In the first story (Mark 4:35-40), Jesus was sleeping while his disciples were worried about a raging storm; the second (Numbers 13:26-14:1) reveals the nation of Israel (save Joshua and Caleb) weeping upon discovering the existence of giant inhabitants in the land God had promised to give them. It is interesting to note that in both scenarios, the promise of God was abandoned or forgotten in the face of turbulence.
In the first story, Jesus' comment to His disciples before they embarked on the boat trip was very simple, was very clear and absolutely unambiguous: His comment was 'Let us go over to the other side' Clearly, He didn't say 'let's go into this boat and perish' or 'let's take a trip into the sea and die'. The disciples should have realised that no matter how fierce the storm was, they would definitely get to the other side SIMPLY because Jesus had said so. The second account is similar to the first. The children of Israel panicked and wept at the news of giants who inhabited the land God had promised them. Here as in the first story, they quickly abandon God's promise in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacle. Again the promise was very clear and unambiguous: 'I will give you the land and all your descendants after you.' Clearly, what the promise didn't say was: 'I will take you to the land so giants could devour you in the land'I see two sets of Christians in the world today. There are those who panic when issues arise and there are those who are calm in the face of trouble; there are those who doubt the promise of God when tragedy befalls and there are those who have quietness in the midst of storm. There are those who are discouraged, disillusioned and ultimately limited by what they see, such as their circumstances; their joblessness; their childlessness and so on, and there are others who see beyond what they see; those who see beyond their immediate predicaments, those who see only the promise of God even in the face of their lager than life situations. The only time you see problems is when you remove your focus from God. There are those who fret in the day of trouble and there are those who know that God is with them especially in the midst of trouble -- Psalms 46: say God is our present help in times of trouble. They know that when they are in trouble that is exactly where God is. Psalms 103:8 says: though I pass through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil for thou ART WITH ME.
There are those who run after miracles and there are others who activate their own miracles. There are those who think they have to be at a particular 'miracle conference' or be anointed by a 'great man of God' for them to receive their miracle; and there are others who KNOW that miracles are their birthright and that they don't have to anointed by any man of God for them to receive what is lawfully theirs. Mark 16:17 says -- 'these signs shall follow them that believe, in my name they shall cast out devils . . '
Romans 8:28 says 'we KNOW that all things work together for good for them that love God'. Many Christians recite this scripture easily but do not grasp the implication therein. They recite: 'we know that all thing work together for good' but the million dollar question is: do they really KNOW? People who KNOW do not fret in the midst of trouble; people who KNOW do not get disillusioned when tragedy befalls. The difference between Jesus and His disciples in the boat experience is that Jesus KNEW but His disciples did not KNOW. Jesus was sleeping in the midst of storm because He KNEW without a doubt that He would certainly get to the other side but His disciples were fretting in the same situation because they did not KNOW. How you react to tragedies and troubles depend on whether or not you KNOW
You may have just lost your job and your bills are piling up but do you KNOW that He will never leave or forsake you (Joshua 1:5). Your bank account is in red and you have no idea where your next meal is coming from; but do you KNOW that He will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory (Phil. 4:19). You may have just been diagnosed with a terminal disease and doctors are saying you have about six months to live but do you KNOW that by His stripes you have been healed (1Peter 2:24). You are looking to God for fruit of the womb and it seem your time is fast running out but do you KNOW that His word says there shall be none barren in the land (Exodus 23:26). It is not just about reciting bible verses, it is about owing and letting it permeate your spirit; it is about you anchoring your spirit on the infallible word of God.
In John 8:32 the scripture says 'you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free'. Now this is the crux of the matter. Your interpretation of this piece of scripture is absolutely crucial. Notice that the scripture says 'and you shall know the truth'. Sadly many Christians have substituted truth for fact. They have elevated the facts of their lives to be the truth and that exactly is where the problem lies. The Oxford dictionary defines fact as: actual occurrence; truth; reality. In the earthly realm, facts are true but in the spiritual realm they simply are NOT. Never forget that as Christian we operate according to kingdom principles and not earthly ones. Though we are in the world we are not of the world (John 17:16). Everything that does not conform to the will of God in your life is a lie. Romans 3:4 'Let the whole world be a lie and only God be true'. The scriptures also say: 'who has spoken and it comes to pass when God has not spoken?' Everything in your life that God has not spoken is a lie. Yes, you are jobless presently and have no clue where your next meal is coming from -- that is a fact but it is not the truth. THE TRUTH IS: GOD WILL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY. Now that is the truth and if you can hold onto it, it will certainly set you free -- free from anxiety; free from worry.
Yes, you have cancer in your lungs; that is a fact but not the truth. The truth is: by His stripes ye have been healed (Isaiah 53:5). Yes, your husband has walked out on you leaving you with 2 children to support all by yourself and the future seems gloomy; that is a fact but truth is: God shall never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). Your son is wayward and on drugs and seem bent on self-destruction; that is a fact but not the truth. The truth is: your children are for signs and wonders.
There is a difference between facts and truth. Fact is what the enemy throws out there wanting you to believe. Fact is the joblessness you see, the sickness in your body; your failed marriage and so on but they are not the truth. Whatever God has not said concerning you is NOT the truth. Unfortunately, we often allow facts to shape our belief system keeping us bound to the lies of the enemy. Most Christians have substituted the truth for fact; they have elevated facts to the place of truth. In John 8:32 the scriptures say: You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free (John 8:32). If facts set people free, the scriptures would have read: and you shall know the facts and the facts shall set you free. There is a reason why facts do not set anyone free, because they are not the truth.
The truth about facts:
„X Facts are intimidating and easy to believe simply because they are sight-based. We are surrounded by facts -- our sub-zero bank balance, the sickness we carry in our bodies, the persistent problems in our marriage, etc but because you don't see the truth, you are less inclined to believe the truth. However the bible teaches that we should ignore what we see - 2Cor 5:7 we walk by faith, not by sight.
„X Facts are earthly-based. If we were to follow facts we wouldn't be Christians because we cannot factually prove the existence of God but we know deep down in our spirit that God is real. The reason many do not believe in God is because they cannot proof His existence. We don't have to prove anything, we KNOW.
„X Fact is the enemy's version of the truth, fact is not the truth, but it is the enemy's version of the truth; his attempt to subvert the truth. It is what he wants you to believe. You are childless and the enemy would have you believe that your time is fast running out and you may never have a child -- that is the enemy's version of the truth. For everything that is original, there is a counterfeit. Fact is the counterfeit of truth
„X Facts are temporary, they cannot last forever. The people who think they will last forever are people who cannot see beyond them. 2Cor 4:17-18
„X Facts may prevail for some time but it will eventually be overtaken by the truth.
„X Facts enslave, but truth sets free. When your knowledge is based on fact, you will be enslaved by that fact. If doctor say you have cancer, you will find out very quickly that your mind will absorb that fact and everything you do will be a derivation of the fact that you have cancer
„X When facts are interpreted as truth, miracles are lost; blessings are forfeited. When facts are elevated to the place of truth Christians will not experience the miracle working power f God. Many Christians walk by sight and sight alone. What is real to them is what they see.
