Seeing Truth Clearly - Part A

Spiritual vision spiritual clarity spiritual acuity belongs to those who go to the optometrist in this case, Dr. Jesus and admit that they don't see as clearly as they are in the fiction but did you know that you can be doing the things a Christian should still be spiritually blind today on connect with Skip Heitzig Skip begins a series called 2020 and helps you sharpen your focus on God's truth in your life at the end of the program, skip, and a son named Scheer about some resources that will help you get more out of your time and God's word. If you have Alexis scale.

Everybody was like the little stuff still is something you get for Alexa poet is the asset you have an Alexa enabled piece of technology in your home. Alexa skill for your Alexa biceps, software, hardware, software software, so skill is not result we have connect with Skip available on Alexa skill that you Skip innate, be sure to stay with us after today's message to hear the full discussion right now want to tell you about a special resource that will help you tap into a deeper faith and more meaningful prayer life. Recent research has found that Google searches for the word prayer surged worldwide alongside the spread of the novel coronavirus Google trends data shows that the search intensity for prayer doubles for every 8000 2/19 cases, but is there a right way or a more effective way to bring best-selling author Kay Arthur where the battle is raging were to be on the frontlines on the front lines on her knees on the front line standing in the full armor of God Chi's book, Lord, teach me to pray in 28 days offers simple but powerful instruction on how and what to pray and what to expect when you do, and it's on our way to say when you give a gift of $25 or more today to help keep this ministry on the air. Give online securely connectwithskip.com/offer call 800-922-1888 we were in second Timothy chapter 4 as we get into the message with skip-how many of you have noticed or are noticing that your vision changes. Get over what I say change it gets worse. Right so you become farsighted, yet all things are really far away to be able to see that it's a condition called presbyopia. And it's because as we age we lose elasticity in the lands of RI so were unable to focus up close.

Now that's not the only eye condition. Of course, if you're like me, I had to get glasses at a pretty early age.

As a kid because my vision became impaired and we have a standard that wastes that are doctors upset for what is called normal vision.

It's called 2020 vision.

We've all heard that what that means is that's what the average I is able to read on and I chart at 20 feet away. That's normal.

If you have worse vision than that, like 2030 vision what that means is if the average I can read that chart at 30 feet, you have to get closer 20 feet to be able to read so vision can change if your vision with corrective lenses is 2200 or worse, you are considered legally blind to what is true in the physical world is also true in the spiritual world.

Spiritually, our vision can change.

Perhaps once we saw things very clearly there were black-and-white, there were things that we commonly understood, but as time goes on we change could be life experiences could be sand that enters our life that is on Delaware. The produces a haze, a loss of sharpness lines become blurred.

We can even become blinded. That's what Peter met in second Peter chapter 1 when he wrote to a young church told them to add to their faith to continue to grow, for he said, the more you grow like this. The more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ brought those who failed to develop these virtues are blind or at least very shortsighted. They've already forgotten the God cleanse them from their old life of sin. You may even recall that our Lord spoke to religious leaders who claimed to have 2020 vision.

It was so prideful so boastful they thought they saw everything clearly and nobody else dead and Jesus called them blind. John chapter 9 Jesus said I've come to bring sight to the blind and to show those who think that they can see that they are blind Pharisees were standing there heard him and asked are you saying we are blind. If you were blind, you wouldn't be guilty. Jesus replied but you remain guilty because you claim that you can see, so here's the deal.

Spiritual vision, spiritual clarity, spiritual acuity belongs to those who go to the optometrist in this case, Dr. Jesus and admit that they don't see as clearly as they ought to see and he'll fix you up, whereas spiritual blindness is a metaphor for the unwillingness or the inability to see spiritual truth. That's what I want to talk about spiritual truth. There is a crisis of truth today people are cynical about truth people as they age come to this place like Pontius Pilate who stood before the truth himself, Jesus Christ, who spoke of the truth and Pilate in a very cynical fashion said what is truth. I think even with this coronavirus pandemic people are left scratching their heads trying to figure out. So which expert is right.

We've heard so many models and narratives and so many of been wrong and what we thought was lawyer was isn't the way it really is. So what exactly do we believe, what is the truth so many contradictory messages. There's a little video to illustrate that you may have seen this on social media that I really do understand why everybody is upholding the same rules right now very clear statement.

Let's go over them again. First, you must not leave the house for any reason unless of course you have a reason, then you may leave the house. All stores are closed except those that are open.

All stores must close unless of course they need to stay open this virus is deadly. But don't be afraid only kill people who are vulnerable and also those who are not vulnerable.

We should stay locked down into the virus stops infecting people will only stop infecting people with an infected and build immunity. So it is very important that we get infected and also do not get infected. You should not go to the doctor's office or the hospital unless you have to go there unless of course you were too sick to go there.

Virus has no effect on children except for those children in which it affects the virus remain active on different services for two hours or four hours or six hours but in most cases it hours in the damp environment, cold environment that is warm and dry air. Unless there is plastic schools are closed seeming to homeschool your children unless you can send them to school because you are not home you are at home to school your children using various portals in online classrooms unless you have poor Internet more than one child. Only one computer, or you are working from home taking case can be considered now are you are home educating.

You can include household chores with in their education curriculum and if you are home educating. You may start drinking at approximately 10 AM every day you are not home educating children. You may also start drinking at approximately 10 AM last useless at protecting you against the virus, but you still need to wear one because it can save lives. In some cases it may even be mandatory, but also maybe not must not go to work but you can get another job, at which point you may go to work, stay home. Celebrities need to have to tell you how important it is to go outside and take care of your mental health. There's no shortage of groceries in the supermarket. There are simply many things missing. You need to go by a bunch of paper, but you should buy some. In case you needed your sick, you may go out once you are better those in her household he cannot go out once you are there less course they need to collect animals are not affected by the except It tested positive in Belgium in February. Plus a couple times the number of corona related deaths will be announced daily, but we don't know how many people are infected because we are only testing. Those were almost dead to determine if that they will die. The people who die in Corona who are not counted or will be counted, but maybe not. To help protect yourself during these times should be eating well and exercising exercise and eating what you have at home to avoid going to the stores in the city, toilet paper or fence panel is important to get fresh air, but don't go to parks do go aloft other places still sit down as your old pregnant but if you do sit down does it for too long.

Unless you are old, pregnant, in which case you need to sit down if you do sit down delete unless you have a long walk which will amount to do if you are old or pregnant except for times in which you aren't physical people, but you have a moral obligation to take care of old people and bring them food and medicine and finally no businesses will go down to the coronavirus except those businesses that go down to the Cove in 19 help clear up any questions about what we should should not be doing during this time. Please educate your friends and family. With this information so we can any and all confusion surrounding this time they are so now we know exactly what we should be doing during this time, and you can understand why people like Pontius Pilate might look at this bill. What is the truth.

We are in second Timothy chapter 4, let me just give you a brief thumbnail sketch of the background of this book.

This is the final letter to Paul the apostle ever wrote. You might see it as his last will and testament, certainly not his last words, but his last recorded words there written to young Timothy's protégé, the one he raised up in the faith and placed at the city of Ephesus. Largely, though there are themes in the book that are very largely he speaks about his worry over apostasy. That means a falling away from the truth. A departure from the truth because of deception in both first Timothy and second Timothy as well as other writings.

Paul is concerned that people who once believed the truth could gradually become deceived because of false teachers that come in because they become jaded over what is right and what is wrong.

So here's a real concern about deception. Somebody wants Saddam's attributed typically to Mark Twain that a lie can travel halfway around the world while truth is still lacing up her boots. Satan from the very beginning question God's truth in the garden of Eden he said to Adam and Eve has God indeed said, did God really say what you think he said how do you know that's the word of God. How can you be sure that you are listening to the voice of God.

That's the same question that lingers today has God indeed said most people frankly are not sure what God has indeed said so we felt it's time to get a refresher course on the foundations of biblical truth. This is an introductory message. Second Timothy chapter 4 would you look at three steps to seeing truth clearly three criteria for spiritual vision there simple be concerned. Be cautious, be careful easy right be concerned. Be cautious, be careful say that with me. The concern be cautious, be careful. Now let's see about what what Paul tells Timothy in these verses is be concerned about knowing the truth.

Look at how he frames it verse one I charge you, therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dad at his appearing and his kingdom preach the word be ready in season and out of season convinced rebuke, and exhort with all long-suffering and teaching for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables, but you be watchful in all things, endure affliction do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. I want to string together a few words in these five verses. I want you to notice them with me. They are all appositional terms.

Let's look look at verse to notice the phrase the word I'll get back to that in a minute.

The word preach the word. Also in verse two. You'll notice the word at the end of the verse teaching so connect that with the word and teaching verse three. Notice the phrase sound doctrine verse four. Look at the phrase the truth and then in verse five the very end of it. Your ministry. The word teaching sound doctrine the truth your ministry. All those are appositional nouns, meaning there all speak about the same things are just a little nuance with each work a little bit of a twist.

What Paul is basically saying in these five verses is your ministry Timothy is to teach people the word which is sound doctrine that sums up your calling that what is Paul mean when he says preach the word while we would understand that the New Testament Christians as the New Testament the Old Testament the whole Bible, the Scriptures, and we are accurate, but you need to see it in its context go back in.

You don't mind her chapter 3 verse 14 as well as want to look at every text in its context and its unmistakable as you read it, but you must continue.

Verse 14 and the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine reproved correction instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. Keep reading without end our passage I charge you, therefore, based on what I just said about the Scriptures. I'm charging you. Therefore Timothy preach the word so the word equals the Scriptures equals doctrine equals truth truth, we are primarily people of the truth.

We are those who follow the one who said I am the way, the truth and the life of Daniel.

Chapter 10 calls the Scripture. The Scripture of truth because the Scriptures tell us the truth about God, about us, about our condition about our need and truth is tied to the word doctrine. He says the time will, they will not endure sound doctrine now.

That happens to be a word Paul like a lot.

He uses it a lot.

19 times in all of Paul's writings, he uses that word D.Scully.

The Greek word for doctrine to support the means teaching. Teaching or instruction.

It's a good word. It's a word you shouldn't be afraid of, and yet it's a word I feel a lot of people are sort of afraid of.

In fact, the word doctrine is one of those words.

I feel sorry for if that's possible to feel sorry for word insert like somebody gets a name that's where to go guys feel sorry for the guy has to have that name is: Skip Skip over this doctrine is a word I feel sorry for because I hear the conversations of well-intentioned believers who marginalize the idea of Dr. I want to talk about doctrine and its technical and potentially divisive. I'd rather just talk about Jesus because it's just good and loving but not doctrine. Listen, you would know who Jesus was word not for doctrine, it means teaching it's instruction about Jesus and I fear that many Christians treat Scripture like they treat their operators manual for their vehicle. You know it's there somewhere. Probably your glove compartment. I'm guessing most people keep it there. Most manufacturers put their but who really buys a car and goes home and reads the owners metal you might have one or two, but honestly nobody reads that thing on tell something breaks. If it goes wrong, you consult the owner's manual to find out what to do with it. My fear is that the manual of truth. This is the manufacturer's manual for how to do life is overlooked by many Christ followers summer preaching that what you feel about the truth is more important than the truth itself. Your feelings are paramount, not the truth, not objective truth, but subjective feelings about. That's a danger.

The prophet Hosea in chapter 4 declared my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge are not destroyed for lack of love they're not destroyed for lack of spirited singing are not destroyed for lack of emotion there destroyed for lack of knowledge. Acts chapter 2, verse 42 tells us what the priorities were of the early church. They continued steadfastly in the number one on the list of apostles doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer. First Timothy chapter 4, the apostle says until I can't give attention to reading exhortation and doctrine when he writes to Titus, another protégé of Paul's people say teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. One of my favorite quotes regarding truth in Scripture comes from the late Dr. James Montgomery Boyce put it up so you can see what he said. He said we do not have a strong church today, nor do we have many strong Christians. We can trace the cause to an acute lack of sound spiritual knowledge asked the average Christian to talk about God.

After getting past the expected answers. You will find that his God is a little God of vacillating sentiments" see in this case. In this case, ignorance is not bliss pattern. I don't know if I'll survive in ignorance is not a good position to take my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge that Skip Heitzig message from the series 2020. You Skip sure about some resources you get more out of your time and God's word in today's message we learn why it's so to know God's truth. It really helps us avoid becoming spiritually blind skip.

We so many resources for listeners so they can begin to all of the truths found in God's word. Can you share about some of those for us what we have so many and I love the fact that so many of our listeners tap into them, use them and then write us about how those things are benefiting them. We have a for example, a website connectwithskip.com connectwithskip.com puts our listener in touch with over 3500 full-length sermons messages that unpacked the entire Bible verse by verse on there's resources on that website books that you can order on the website and then we have one of my favorite little things as you know you version this like the best online Bible that there is for your phone.

I can't imagine life without you version it out. It's just so nice to have every version just about at your fingertips and we have a different devotionals on you version like the biography of God. My newest book thoughts about Thanksgiving, how to cultivate a grateful heart. All all things like that that are available just by clicking only you version and in the type and Skip Heitzig Sigg and you'll find that also we have a podcast that's on spot a fire Apple podcast or Google play and then one of my favorite things to talk about is our YouTube channel. The Skip I see YouTube channel gets so many we just reach 50,000 subscribers to thank you if you're subscribing to our YouTube channel to huge milestone 50,000 subscribers is quite a platform. You know, and we have the ability to put sermons on their product. Personal messages on their we also have something called Devo mail or we say it's truth delivered right to your inbox.

I have to do is go to connectwithskip.com and that we can send you those updates weekly. Bring encouragement to you and then if you have Alexis skill and everybody was let Celexa the skill is something you get for Alexa over this.

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Thank you, Skip the night.

The Bible tells us that God longs to have a relationship with you and once you know him personally.

I mean like sharing these difficulties is listeners like you support this ministry you have these messages left on the call right now to get hundred 19 to 1800 9288 or visit connectwithskip.com/donate connectwithskip.com/donate. Thank you. Come back tomorrow and Skip pictures practical ways to nourish spiritual truth in your daily Skip Heitzig presentation of connection communications changing truth