GOD'S GOOD NEWS FOR A FAKE NEWS GENERATION
Introduction
Fake news, which has become popular in recent years, is news or stories written
especially to misinform or deceive readers. On the other hand, the Bible contains good
news written to inform people about the goodness of God. How can we detect fake
news and discover good news about God?
I DISCOVER THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD'S SALVATION
Our text in Psalms 40:9,10 speaks about the salvation of God. Authorities tell us that we
can detect fake news by its currency, meaning that it has been written recently, and its
contents have not been researched to test their accuracy. However, God's salvation has
stood the test of time, and millions can testify that God's salvation is good and real.
God's salvation goes back to the time of Adam and Eve, after they had sinned in the
Garden and God provided covering for their nakedness from the skins of animals,
prefiguring the sacrifices for sin later (Genesis 1:21). God's salvation goes back to Noah,
whose family was saved from the flood by the ark God had told him to build. (Genesis
8:15). God's salvation goes back to Abraham whose belief and faith in God was counted
to him for righteousness, which means he was saved (Romans 4:3). Then the greatest
evidence of salvation took place on Calvary when Jesus died that we might be saved
from sin and death and inherit eternal life. However, the best test of salvation comes
from the millions and millions of people down through the centuries whose lives have
been changed by the power of God. They can testify that God's salvation is no a fake,
but is good news for all who will receive it. Other verses about salvation:
a.Saved by God's mercy Titus 3:5
b.Saved by confession and belief Romans 10:9
c.Saved by grace Ephesians 2:8
d Salvation belongs to God Psalm 3:8
e Call on the Lord for salvation Acts 2:21
II DISCOVER THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD'S FAITHFULNESS
The authorities tell us that we can test fake news by its relevance or importance to our
lives. However, God's faithfulness is relevant because he has promised never to leave or
forsake us. (Deut.3:1:6) God's faithfulness is relevant because he has promised to
supply all of our needs.(Phil.4:19) God's faithfulness is relevant because he will lead us
into the green pastures of his righteousness (Psalm 23) He has promised to do
exceedingly above and beyond all we can think.(Ephesians 3:20) Fake news may not be
relevant to our needs, but God's faithfulness is relevant because with him as our
shepherd, we shall want for nothing.I recently read about a preacher and his wife who
experienced God's faithfulness in supplying their needs in miraculous ways. One day at
dinner he passed around a bowl of liver and gravy to the family and noticed that after
everybody had helped themselves, there was more food in the bowl. Not believing what
he was seeing, he passed the same bowl around one more time for second helpings,
and there was still more food in the bowl. It appeared as if God was multiplying food
before their eyes as he did with Elijah in 1 Kings17:15,16. Another time he was shopping
in the market with no money in his pocket, but when he came to the checkout station,
the clerk told him to go on through. Those incidents may have been miracles, but they
show God's faithfulness in supplying our needs. No wonder Lamentations 3:22,23 says
great is your faithfulness to us! God can not deny himself: if we are faithless, he
remains faithful.(2 Timothy 2:13) Psalms 36:5 says God's faithfulness extends to the
clouds! Other verses on God's faithfulness are:
a He who promised is faithful. Hebrew 10:23
b Faithfully to strengthen and guard. 2 Thess: 3:3
c God is faithful. 1 Corinthians 1:9
III DISCOVER THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD'S LOVE
Authorities tell us that fake news is not true and lack authority. Nothing is more
accurate than the fact that God loves us. The great theologian, Karl Barth said that the
most important thing for him was that Jesus loved him because the Bible told him so.
Someone has said that everybody is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own
facts. The detective on that famous TV show often said, "the facts, madam, give me
only the facts." The fact is that God loves us because he has said so in his Word. It's a
fact that God proved his love for us while we were yet sinners through Christ's death on
the cross. The Bible is our final authority on the love of God. The Bible says that God so
loved us that he gave his only-begotten son that we should not perish but have
everlasting life.(John 3:16) Fake news may not be accurate, but the Bible is our final
authority on the love of God. It's a fact that the Lord said in Jeremiah 31:30, "I have loved
you with an everlasting love." It's a fact that David said in 1 Chronicles 6:34 that "God's
steadfast love endures forever." It's a fact that Paul said in Romans 8:35, "Who will
separate us from the love of God?" Then he goes in to say that neither hardship nor
distress,persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword can separate us from the love
of God. Then to put the icing on the cake, he says "Nothing in all creation shall be able to
separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Other verses about God's
love include:
a.God abides in them who love. 1 John 4: 16
b.Abide in God's love. John 15:9
c.Through God's love we become his children. 1 John 3:1
d.His love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:12
DEFINE THE PURPOSE OF GOOD NEWS
Authorities tell us that the purpose of fake news is to deceive us and spread untruth.
However, the Psalmist in Psalms 40:9 says he has told the good news to the great
congregation. The purpose of good news is to share it with others. A minister who had
just finished an interim position in a church told me that he had shared God's goodness
to that congregation, citing Psalms 40:9. I like the way the Message version translates
this passage. It says, "I did not keep the news of your ways a secret, did not keep it to
myself.I told it all, how dependable you are and how thorough. I did not hold back pieces
of love and trust for myself alone. I told it all and let the congregation know the whole
story." Many of the readers of this sermon will be preachers. However, preaching is not
the only way of sharing the gospel, which means good news. Every believer can share
the good news, not only with words, but in deeds. The best way to share God's
goodness is to let our lights shine so that others may see our good works and glorify
our Father in heaven.(Matthew 5:16)
CHALLENGE
How can you refute fake news and share the good news?
