Truth Bombs
Pt. 1 - Delivery
I. Introduction
Truth is talked about a lot. It has been said that truth is different for everyone. I would beg to differ. Truth is truth because it is truth across the board. That is what makes it truth. There has to be a standard of truth by which what we believe to be true is judged. We have been very clear in our declaration that the standard for a true believer is the Word. By the way . . . Just because we don't like the truth, can't handle the truth or even if truth doesn't line up with our experience/feelings that doesn't make it any less truth.
So, over the course of the next few weeks I want to drop some truth bombs. You might ask what is a truth bomb? The urban dictionary defines a truth bomb as "a fact spoken in clear, easy to understand terms and without bias." So, my goal is to share some thoughts and ideas as simply and clearly as I can. We know truth is important because we know that truth is the basis of freedom. Truth will set you free! The logical conclusion then is that the lack of truth will keep you bound. We also need to know is that not only does truth make you free it will often also make you miserable until you embrace it.
II. Text
Acts 8:3-24
And Saul just went wild, devastating the church, entering house after house after house, dragging men and women off to jail. Forced to leave home base, the followers of Jesus all became missionaries. Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus. Going down to a Samaritan city, Philip proclaimed the Message of the Messiah. When the people heard what he had to say and saw the miracles, the clear signs of God’s action, they hung on his every word. Many who could neither stand nor walk were healed that day. The evil spirits protested loudly as they were sent on their way. And what joy in the city! Previous to Philip’s arrival, a certain Simon had practiced magic in the city, posing as a famous man and dazzling all the Samaritans with his wizardry. He had them all, from little children to old men, eating out of his hand. They all thought he had supernatural powers, and called him “the Great Wizard.” He had been around a long time and everyone was more or less in awe of him. But when Philip came to town announcing the news of God’s kingdom and proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ, they forgot Simon and were baptized, becoming believers right and left! Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. From that moment he was like Philip’s shadow, so fascinated with all the God-signs and miracles that he wouldn’t leave Philip’s side. When the apostles in Jerusalem received the report that Samaria had accepted God’s Message, they sent Peter and John down to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Up to this point they had only been baptized in the name of the Master Jesus; the Holy Spirit hadn’t yet fallen on them. Then the apostles laid their hands on them and they did receive the Holy Spirit, When Simon saw that the apostles by merely laying on hands conferred the Spirit, he pulled out his money, excited, and said, “Sell me your secret! Show me how you did that! How much do you want? Name your price!”Peter said, “To hell with your money! And you along with it. Why, that’s unthinkable—trying to buy God’s gift! You’ll never be part of what God is doing by striking bargains and offering bribes. Change your ways—and now! Ask the Master to forgive you for trying to use God to make money. I can see this is an old habit with you; you reek with money-lust.”“Oh!” said Simon, “pray for me! Pray to the Master that nothing like that will ever happen to me!”
This is a powerful account of a man named Simon who has an encounter with the truth of Jesus. Instantly impacted. Instant follower. Instant change. But we also know that very shortly after this change when he witnesses the power of the Holy Spirit he tries to buy the power he sees demonstrated. The Message has an interesting phrase in the account. Peter responds to Simon with this statement, "I can see this is an old habit with you!" Stop a moment and really think about that statement - Simon has a Jesus encounter. He walks away from his sorcery business. Then a few days later he goes back to trying gain power over people. An old habit according to Peter.
Here is the truth bomb for today . . . Can you handle it?
Dormant doesn't mean delivered!
Simon's issues were dormant but it is apparent that he hadn't been delivered. In the blink of an eye, he reverts back to old habits. The power of Christ had been allowed to change him but not allowed to unchain him.
How many of us are there? Too many of us have encountered and experienced Jesus and He has changed us but instead of allowing Christ to set us free we have settled for allowing Him to move into our home but never allow Him to clean house.
And before you dismiss this as an issue only for someone who has followed for a short period of time, may I also remind you that we see the same thing played out in Samson's life. Called to be a prophet, used mightily by God, a long season of anointing and obedience and yet also constantly proving that he hasn't dealt with dormant areas of life. We see it demonstrated in Saul's life. Hand picked by God to be king. Anointed. Stands shoulder to shoulder with prophets and prophecies. But later dormant issues arise and he consults a witch, disobey's God, and fails as king. In the New Testament Demas is a prime example. A follower. A hard worker. Right hand to Barnabas and Paul. But right in the middle of a missions trip with the greatest missionary on the planet he returns to his hometown and very likely to his childhood gods.
So let's talk about us . . . Jesus is the way and the _______! Truth! If the Son sets you free, then you are free indeed. That is truth we can embrace and experience. However, having an encounter with Jesus which makes you socially acceptable in church circles, resolves your eternal destination questions, and maybe feeling better about yourself isn't enough. If you don't allow Jesus to do a delivering work in your life, then you have embraced half truth. You haven't gone far enough.
The result of knowing the saving side of Jesus and never experiencing the delivering side of Jesus is that issues will lie dormant and at the worst moments they will resurface!
It is apparent that many of us need deliverance. In a moment of stress, in a moment of pain, in a moment of confrontation things that are dormant rise to the surface. When we worship and still battle addiction, attitudes, actions then we must come to grips with the truth that we aren't delivered! When alcohol still has control. When anger still rules. When lust looms. When cynicism is our constant. When gossip is our go to. When depression is our deal. When brokenness is our badge. When insecurity is our identity. Then we may be saved but not delivered. Allowing our issues to remain dormant simply means we are practicing cover-up instead of clean out. It doesn't matter if it is one week or a decade if stuff keeps surfacing then we need to go further with Jesus and allow Him to deliver us!
I am glad He saved you but has He delivered you? What are you still dealing with after you met Jesus as savior? What surfaces? What is alive under the surface that has the ability to destroy you openly? You can either do your best to continue to bury it, doctor it, conceal it, deny it, or you can bring it out in the open and get delivered!
Some of us have been saved for decades but have never experienced deliverance. Jesus is a savior and a deliverer!
The reason these things continue to surface isn't to make you look like a fake or to make you miserable but rather to make the areas you must address apparent. We must identify the issue or we won't address it. We can't become comfortable with our condition. We can't conclude that this is the end. No, this is exposed so that we will dig it out and bring it to Jesus for deliverance. Deliverance is never found in denial! Jesus met the needs of people whose needs were apparent. In fact, I don't seem to find any instances of Jesus dealing with hidden needs other than woman at the well. Lepers on other side of street. Corpses in tombs. Lame and broken. Blind. Obvious needs.
In Luke 4 Jesus drops a truth bomb. They handed Jesus the scroll and He opens it and read Isaiah 61:1 "The spirit of the Lord is upon me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heart broken, announce freedom to all the captives and pardon for all prisoners . . . Then Jesus says today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." He arrives on the scene and declares that He is able to save and deliver. My question is has the reality of this declaration that Jesus made about Himself become a reality on this day in your life?
Prayer for deliverance!
