Love for Truth: A study by Dr.Pravin Moudgill

The Lord has been teaching me many things. (All transformation begins in the head Rom 12:2—which is why He insists that I keep feeding my mind, meditate on the word, day and night.)

Let me share some of the things that He has been impressing upon me.

I will be judged on the basis of the command to ‘love my neighbour whom I can see’. I, Pravin know that I cannot love—it is not in me. So I sought God, ‘God, how do You equip people to love?’

His answer was, ‘I provide the enabling to love. But those who would seek Me for ‘love for man’, must first seek Me for ‘love of truth’’

Those who want to be saved must first receive the love of truth.

“With all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved” 2 Thessalonians 2:10

Those who do not receive this will perish.

So, what does this mean operationally? His answer was that I need to seek three sets of truth

1. What is it that He wants to do—what is the heart and mind of God—what is the end-time scenario, what will the kingdom of God on earth look like, what is the ‘Z’?

2. What is the situation that prevails today—what is the ‘A’?

3. How does one move from ‘A’ to ‘Z’—what are the ‘ways of God’, the ways in which He works?

(‘Z’ is where God is headed for. Unless I know where He is going, and unless I know the ways in which He walks, how can I walk with Him?)

Let me first however make a digression. Let me first talk a bit about the consequences of failing to seek the truth.

Deception

I am placing below some truths about deception

• To not know (walk in) the truth is, by definition to be (walk) in deception.

• Deception is defined as ‘I don’t know that I don’t know’. ‘I think that I am walking right, but in reality I am off-track’.

• Truth sets free Jn 8:32. Deception blinds and binds.

• Can a person who does not love truth claim to love Truth (Jesus)?

• Can a person who does not deliberately set out to seek truth ever uncover the deceptions he may be in, specially the deceptions of his heart Jer 19:7?

• The degree to which I, in my work/ministry choose to overlook truth, to that degree I am building on deception.

• Will such work survive, or will it be burnt up 1 Cor 3:15?

• What is it that brings glory to God, ‘fruit that dies’ or ‘fruit that remains’?

Revival

I am placing below some truths about revivals

• Every revival movement so far has died—often sooner than later. All the major denominations came out as a result of revival. But the fires soon grew cold. The longest single revival that I am aware of is the Moravian revival—that lasted 100 years. So also local churches. They start well, they start as relational churches, but soon become program oriented. (The Church continues to grow, but specific revivals and local churches die.)

• This has always been the case. Five of the seven churches of the Book of Revelation, e.g., entered into deception within the first or second generation (depending how Revelation is dated). The church in Sardis that was once alive died—and they did not even know that they were dead Rev 3:1. (Many of us do not believe that it is possible to lose salvation—that names can be cut off from the Book of Life.) "I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life" Revelation 3:5
  

If they had believed, they would have continued to work out their salvation in fear and trembling Phil 2:12. (The churches in Ephesus and Laodecia were not yet dead, but in danger of dying. But they did not know the danger they were in—they were under deception.)

• Jesus warned (prophesied) that many will be deceived, and their love will grow cold Mt 24:11-12. He said that many believers walk the broad path, while only a few walk the narrow path Mt 7:13-14. (We know that the Sermon on the Mount is addressed to born again persons—those who call God ‘Father’)

I can go on and on. But I will get back instead to what the Lord is (and has been) showing me.

‘A’ and ‘Z’

I am placing below one-word descriptions of ‘Z’, the end God has in mind. (This can be elaborated, but for now this will suffice.)

The ‘A’ is described in some detail—in terms of ‘heart attitudes’ of the individual. The symptoms of the heart-attitude of the individual can be seen at the church level. I am not even mentioning the many things that are wrong at the nation level, even in the so-called Christian nations.

	Z	A
Individual	Christlikeness	Love for blessings; rejoicing in biblical truths that are ‘convenient’ rather than ‘all truth’; preference for activity over relationships; seeking quick returns rather than laying foundations for work that will survive; walk by sight (e.g., blessings, results) rather than faith
The church	Unity	Preference to ‘me and my ministry’ rather than ‘do unto others what I would have them do for me’ and ‘bearing the burdens of others’; focus on evangelism rather than discipling (unlike Jesus); playing the numbers game; where ever there is self-seeking our wisdom is ‘demonic’ Jas 3:14-16
The nation	Righteousness

Ways of God

The question is how to go from ‘A’ to ‘Z’?

This involves first change of heart—receiving from God a heart that is contrite and trembles at the word. Then (to a degree, concurrently) receiving from Him His strategies or ‘ways’

I won’t talk about how to change the heart. This is a major subject in itself. The Lord has begun to work this in me. (He has begun to show me how vile is my heart.) I cannot teach how to change the heart till I myself undergo at least a degree of change.

Some of the basics however are:

• A decision to ‘seek God and God alone’ 1 Chron 16:11 (not blessings, not ministry, nothing else)

• A decision to claim only one promise: ‘Behold, I come quickly’ Rev 22:7

• A decision to know nothing except (which means: become like) the crucified Christ 1 Cor 2:2

• A decision to search out every jot and tittle of the law—so that He may teach me all things, guide me into all truth, thoroughly equip me for every good work Jn 14:26, 16:13, 2 Tim 3:16-17

• Practice stilling the heart, that I may know God Ps 46:10

• Judge myself against the law, that I may not be judged 1 Cor 11:31

• Learn to wait upon the Lord so that He may not only teach me His ways, but also His timing Ecc 3:1, 11

Again, I can go on and on. But I will stop

Pravin Moudgill

Where am I? At what stage am I in my walk with God?

I have far to go. I do not ‘glory in tribulations’ Rom 5:3. I have not yet learnt to delight in weaknesses, insults, hardships, etc. 2 Cor 12:10—the pride of my heart and its desire for self-preservation does not allow me.

I am full of talk (I know a lot of theory); but not able to walk the talk. Which means I am a hypocrite. Which means that I do not have the ‘wisdom that is from above’ Jas 3:17

Pillar & Ground of the Truth: The Church

Apostle Paul in his letter to his spiritual son Timothy writes many Spirit led instructions which are necessary for a young Preacher, Pastor & Evangelist to live an exemplary life in the midst of believers and non-believers in this world.

I would like you to pay attention especially to 1Timothy 3:15 "but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth."

Paul desire is that; Timothy and other believers in the Church should know how they ought to conduct themselves in the House of God (Church of the living God) which is also the PILLAR & GROUND OF THE TRUTH.

It is through His Church that the Lord Jesus Christ reveals Himself to His people. The Church is the place where the TRUTH is revealed and exalted in and through the saints of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In John 14:6, "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
This is not just a saying but a claim which Jesus does about Himself to describe who He is.

HE IS THE WAY - TO GOD.
HE IS THE TRUTH - OF GOD.
HE IS THE LIFE - WHICH GOD HAS SENT FOR MANKIND.

Truth is not an emotion, just a good value or a thing of instance rather it is a person, whose name is JESUS CHRIST Himself.

Any person who desires to know the TRUTH can only know the real TRUTH when he or she comes in touch with the TRUTH Himself which is none other than Jesus Christ.

(If you desire to know the TRUTH and desire to walk in TRUTH on a daily basis, please refer to the prayer at the end of this blog).

Jesus Christ is the head of the Church (Ephesians 1:22), and it is through the Church that the Truth is spread in this world. Apostle Paul's desire is that people should know the Truth but also they should know how to conduct themselves in the pillar and ground of truth which is the Church itself. One of the purpose for which the Lord Jesus Christ helped Apostle Paul to pen down this verse in the book of 1Timothy3:15 is that the people who come to the house of the Lord should know how their conduct should be while they worship Jesus in the Church.

It is when our conduct is right in the Church and in accordance with what the Truth (Lord Jesus) Himself desires, then we will be able to reap the blessings and the benefits that the Truth desires to give to us. The key benefit of knowing the Truth is FREEDOM.

Deception or Lies binds us but Truth sets us FREE.
Bible tells us in John 8:32, "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

If we desire to be free from the shackles of sin and satan, we are required to be a part of a Church which is the ground and pillar of Truth and being a part is not just the end of it. It is very much important that we conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of God's acceptance and praise in the House of Truth. A lackadasical approach or a wayward conduct towards the House of the Lord could lead us into deception and ultimately into rebellion which can lead us far from God into the pit of hell.

May the loving Holy Spirit speak to us and encourage us to believe, honour and value the TRUTH and also His Church which is the Pillar and Ground of Truth.

Prayer: Lord fill my heart with fear of the Lord, that I may conduct myself in a manner which is worthy, honorable and which glorifies you when I am in your House - your Church. May You receive all glory always through my life, my emotions, my thoughts, my conduct and infact through all of my being. In Jesus name - Amen!

(If you desire to know the Truth - kindly pray this simple Prayer.)

Lord Jesus, I am a sinner and I acknowledge that there is lies, hypocrisy and other sins in my life. Today I humble myself in your presence, I desire to know the Truth which is You. I believe that You are the Son of God you died for my sins,by shedding your precious blood on the Cross of Calvary for me and rose again on the third day from the dead.
I invite you into my life Jesus - O the Truth of God! Help me to walk in Truth and teach others the same. You are my Lord from today and I will serve You. Thanks for coming into my life. In Jesus name - Amen!