Don't Sell Out

Don’t Sell Out

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

OPENING: - Truth is a rarity, but that’s only part of what makes it so valuable. Truth aligns with what is real; it reflects God’s character; it guides us through life. Once we possess TRUTH, no amount of rationalizing, mocking, or threatening should ever cause us to part with it. Living in truth is courageously acting for the common good, supporting communities of fairness, and choosing to be a steward of what is right and decent. Living in truth is also the means for advancing civilization, and acknowledges our diversity of views, appearances, and contributions to the whole as our sustaining strength. Speaking the truth makes things clear for everyone, builds stronger relationships, and most importantly establishes trust. Speaking the truth inspires others, overcomes fear, opens our hearts, and makes an impact on the world we live in.

However, we’re living in a day and time where the idea of absolute truth is nearly abolished and replaced with the concept of what is true for me right now is all that matters. There is the concept you can have your truth, and I will have mine, because that is the postmodern way of doing things. People today operate in lies and tell more lies to try to cover the other lies and the truth is being pushed further and further away.

Because the truth is of so little value in this tumultuous age, many of God’s people have become spiritually powerless holding onto opinions and the rudiments of men instead of unadulterated truth of the Word of God and convictions, and they are selling out because they have given the infallible, unchangeable Word of God little to no place in their lives or they use it as a tool to gain prosperity, prestige, and popularity.

This week I was appalled when I saw the news about how Paula White-Cain, Donald Trump’s favorite pastor and special government employee as the White House Spiritual Advisor, says “she will deliver seven supernatural blessings just in time for Passover season” and all you have to do is send her $1,000.

Immediately when I heard the news my mind was drawn to the scripture of Proverbs 23:23 “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding”. That means that truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding should be valued above all else yet we have people that will compromise their values, forfeit their integrity, and compromise their salvation for popularity, prosperity, prestige, and position selling out truth and manipulating scripture.

It is baffling especially this issue with Paula White-Cain selling out and basing her seven blessing on Exodus 23 when it begins with this warning in verses 1&2 “Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment”. Yet she has foregone all of that and says she will deliver seven blessings if you send her 1000 dollars.

I want to encourage you today “Don’t Sell Out”.

PRAYER

SCRIPTURE: - Proverbs 23:23 “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding”.

Proverbs 23:23 connects to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 13:44-46, where He compares the kingdom of heaven to a treasure worth giving up everything to obtain.

What is TRUTH? John 18:38 says, “Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all”. John 1:17 “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”. John 8:31-32 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth”. Truth is the commodity we are urged to buy, therefore TRUTH is the Word of God as taught by Jesus Christ.

UNDERSTAND all truth is God’s truth, whether scientific, philosophical, historical, political, or theological. Therefore, we must treasure truth and realize that truth is indispensable. The Bible calls itself the Word of truth in 2 Timothy 2:15, The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of truth in John 16:13, Jesus our Lord and Savior, is the way, the truth and the life John 14:6 the church is the pillar and the ground of truth 1 Timothy 3:15 and we as the children of God give Him no greater joy than to know that his children walk in truth 3 John 1:4. God is the essence of truth Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good”; Psalm 33:4 “For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth”; Isaiah 65:16 “That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes”; Jeremiah 10:10; John 3:33, and He wants His people to reflect His truth in their lives Psalm 15:1–5 “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved”. Ephesians 4:25 “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another”.