How To Walk in the Truth

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” (III John 1:4 NKJV).

Beloved, in the previous post entitled “Choose to Be On The Side Of Truth,” we emphasized how important it is for every man to know the truth and to be on the side of truth. We noted that there are two kinds of knowledge or information in this world: Facts, and Truth. And we explained that Facts are primarily based on scientific research and investigation, whereas Truth is from God (and is revealed in the Word of God or the inspired Books of the Bible). We also mentioned that all truth are facts, but not all facts are truth. Then we explained (with examples) that Truth never changes, but Facts do change. Today we will continue that discussion by explaining how those who have come to know and to be on the side of truth ought to walk in the truth.

Just like the apostle John, I have no greater joy than to hear that believers walk in truth. To walk in truth is to walk in love or in the light of God’s Word; it simply means to walk just as Jesus walked. (see 1 John 2:3-10). Jesus walked according to the truth of God's Word. He said during His earth walk that He came to do the will of the Father (see John 6:38), and that the words that He spoke were not His own, but the Father's words. (see John 12:49-50). And so our emphasis in this post will be on speaking and doing the Father's words as opposed to speaking the world’s words. In other words, we will explain in this post how important it is for us to always confess or speak (and act in line with) the truth (which is God's Word) and not the facts (man's wisdom or knowledge).

Obviously, you cannot speak the Father's words unless you know and understand the Father's words. And so the first step to walking in the truth or walking as Jesus walked, is to know and understand the Father's words (or the Bible). The Spirit, speaking through Paul, said, “LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY IN ALL WISDOM, teaching and admonishing one another...” (see Colossians 3:16 NKJV). The Word of Christ is the Word of God the Father, because Christ spoke the Father's words. (see John 12:49). When you know and understand the Father's words, when the Word of Christ dwells in you richly in all wisdom, you will also know the Father’s will, because God's will is revealed in His Word. But how can God's Word dwell in you richly in all wisdom? Paul again gives us the answer in his second letter to a young pastor named Timothy. He said, “STUDY to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV). This is right in line with what God told Joshua in the Old Testament. He said, “This Book of the Law SHALL NOT DEPART FROM YOUR MOUTH, but you shall MEDITATE IN IT DAY AND NIGHT, that you may OBSERVE TO DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT IS WRITTEN IN IT. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8 NKJV, emphasis mine). In other words, Joshua was being asked to study the Word of God and meditate on it until the Word becomes his consciousness, until everything he spoke and did was right in line with the Word of God. Joshua was to make his home in the Word of God. God is telling all of us the same thing. In fact, Jesus said to His disciples that we are to abide or make our home in Him (and of course, He is the Word, just as John 1:1, 14 says); we are also to allow His words to abide or make their home in us. (see John 15:7). We are all to STUDY the Word of truth or the Word of God to understand it so that we can rightly divide it in a way that is approved by God. We are never to speak anything that is not in agreement with the Word of God, but are to meditate on God’s Word day and night, that we may be doers of the Word. (see Joshua 1:8, with James 1:22). And we have the Holy Spirit to help us to accomplish this. The Bible says, “the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as THE SAME ANOINTING TEACHES YOU CONCERNING ALL THINGS, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” (I John 2:27 NKJV). Thus, the first step to walking in truth is to STUDY the Word of God with the help of your Teacher -- the Anointing or the Holy Spirit -- who abides or remains in you. You have to let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.

When the Word of Christ dwells in you richly in all wisdom, it will show in your speech and your actions: you will be a transformed man; you will not speak like the rest of the world do; your speech and actions will not conform to the speech and actions of unbelievers or those who are of the world. (see  Romans 12:1-2). You will be unique and distinct from the world, because you will be a man sanctified (or set apart) by the truth, which is the Word of God. (see John 17:17). You will have the mindset of the righteous. You will be as separated from the world as light is separated from darkness. (see 2 Corinthians 6:14-15). Your light will so shine before men, that they will see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven. (see Matthew 5:16). This is the reason Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14 NKJV). You will SHINE in this world and STAND OUT as a city on a hill, when you walk according to the truth of God's Word. When Jesus walked on this earth, He stood out as Light in this dark world, because not only was He the truth, He also walked in the truth. To the Jews who did not believe in Jesus and sought to kill Him, Jesus said, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and DOES NOT STAND IN THE TRUTH, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (John 8:44 NKJV). Here, Jesus gave us a very important revelation about Satan (the devil), and the revelation is that the devil DOES NOT STAND IN THE TRUTH. This means that when you stand in the truth (of God’s Word), Satan will not stand with you. When you walk in the truth (of God's Word), Satan will not walk with you. In other words, Satan is afraid of the truth. This is why every believer must stand and walk in the truth. The only safe ground in this world is the truth, and the Truth is Jesus Christ (see John 14:6); the Truth is the Word of God (see John 17:17). James says, "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7 NKJV).

Many people often quote the last part of James 4:7 and ignore the first part. But the truth is that you cannot resist the devil without first submitting to God. To resist anything, you must first be leaning on something stronger. For instance, in order for you to successfully resist a strong wind, you must be holding on to and allowing yourself to be held by a rock or an object which cannot be moved by the wind. Similarly, God and for that matter, our Lord Jesus Christ, is our Rock (see 1 Peter 2:6-8; Isaiah 26:4), and we have to submit to and lean on Him in order to successfully resist the devil. Submitting to God and to the Lordship of our Lord Jesus Christ is accomplished by submitting to the Word of God, which is the Truth. We have to submit to or agree with and walk according to what God’s Word says about who we are in Christ, what we have in Christ, and what we can do through Christ and with the power and authority that we have in Christ. When we believe God's Word and do (or act on) God's Word, then have we submitted to God, then are we leaning on the immovable Rock, then are we walking in the truth or standing in the truth; and Satan will not stand with us, because he does not stand in the truth. Satan flees when we resist him with the truth of God's Word. When we walk in the truth, we can successfully resist the devil; we can successfully resist every attack and every temptation of the devil. Indeed, we know we have truly submitted to God when we have full assurance in our heart that the Bible is in truth the Word of God, and thus renew our minds with what the Bible says. We have to make God’s thoughts our thoughts and His opinions our opinions. After all, the Bible says we (i.e in our spirit) have the mind of Christ. (see 1 Corinthians 2:16). We should make this truth manifest in our body. When Jesus walked here on earth, He was able to resist the devil by leaning on the truth of God's Word when the devil tempted Him in the wilderness. (see Luke 4:1-13). Because the devil does not stand in the truth, he fled when Jesus continually confessed and did what the Word of Truth says, as opposed to what Satan wanted Him to do. Confessing and doing the truth (which is God's Word) is how we resist the devil. Satan may also know the written Word of God and may even quote it sometimes, but the truth is that he does not have the revelation and an understanding of the Word, so he cannot rightly divide the Word of truth; nor does he stand in the truth or do the Word. This is why the ministers of Satan who have infiltrated Christian churches today are not able to preach the truth and do the Word. Yes, they can quote the Scriptures alright, but because they themselves don't understand it and cannot rightly divide it, they deceive their followers with their teachings. On a certain occasion, when the disciples of Jesus asked Him why He spoke the way He did (and in that particular context, why He spoke in parables) to the people, “He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, BUT TO THEM IT HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN.  Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, NOR DO THEY UNDERSTAND.” (Matthew 13:11‭, ‬13 NKJV). Indeed it has been given to every believer to know and understand the Word of God, and by submitting to it, resist the devil, and he will flee from us.

Beloved, it is important that you study the Word of God to acknowledge and become CONSCIOUS (or aware) of who you are in Christ, and what good things are in you. Paul said to Timothy, "MEDITATE on these things; GIVE YOURSELF ENTIRELY to them, THAT YOUR PROGRESS MAY BE EVIDENT TO ALL." (1 Timothy 4:15 NKJV, emphasis mine). MEDITATION brings CONSCIOUSNESS, and thus PROGRESS. Staying conscious of who you are in Christ, what you have in Christ, and what you can do in Christ (which was also Paul’s prayer for the Church of Ephesus -- see Ephesians 3:14-19), can be achieved through constant meditation on the Word of God. (see Joshua 1:8-9; Psalm 1:1-6; Proverbs 4:20-22; Acts 20:32). Give yourself entirely to the Word of God. When you meditate on the Word of God and know the truth, you will not focus on the lies of this world that are told through the philosophies of men, and through your own adverse circumstances or afflictions. When you know and are constantly conscious of the truth of God’s Word, you will come to understand like Paul, that every affliction is light and momentary (see 2 Corinthians 4:17); that every affliction comes not to stay, but to pass, and to work for your good. And so you will not look at these temporary afflictions. You will not look at what is seen. You will not walk by sight, but by faith (or by the Word of God). And so we all as Christians should heed to James’ admonition when he says, “My brethren, COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU FALL INTO VARIOUS TRIALS, knowing that THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PATIENCE.” (James 1:2‭-‬3 NKJV,  emphasis mine). Indeed, no trial can overcome the child of God. All trials work to perfect us or bring us to maturity in the faith, to the stature of the fullness of Christ. And so we have to look at all trials through the right lenses. Face all trials with the right attitude. The Bible says, “And WE KNOW that ALL THINGS work together FOR GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NKJV). “And we (believers) KNOW... “ Beloved, what do you KNOW? We know that ALL THINGS work together for OUR GOOD. What you know can make or break you. Know the truth and walk in it.

As believers, the Bible says that even though our outward man (or body) is perishing, our inward man (or spirit) is renewed day by day. (see 2 Corinthians 4:16). Whenever you look at that pain or sickness in your body, you are looking at the wrong thing. Whenever you look at the negative balance in your bank account, you are looking at the wrong thing. Stop looking or focusing on your outward man and start focusing on your inward man. Be conscious of the inward man, and see (or focus on) how he is faring, because the inward man is the real you, and he is doing REALLY WELL; he is healthy and prosperous (see 3 John 1:2; 1 Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 8:9), and he is blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. (see Ephesians 1:3). When you are constantly conscious of who you are on the inside, you will live the life that your inward man lives -- a life of victory, a life of prosperity, a life of abundance, a life of joy, a life of peace, a life of good success. Indeed the life of your spirit (which is the life of God) will manifest in your body as you walk in the consciousness of who you are in the spirit.

Beloved, this is so important that I will repeat it: Don't look or focus on your body and your outer circumstances; don’t focus on the negative report (or those things which your adverse circumstances tell you), because those things are temporary. You need to focus instead on who you permanently are (in the spirit). Focus on the things which are not seen. Paul said, "While we LOOK NOT AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN, but AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN: for THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN are TEMPORAL; but the things which are NOT SEEN are ETERNAL." (2 Corinthians 4:18). Look at the things which are not seen. And that can only be done through faith. Through faith you can see who you are in your spirit. Your spirit is prosperous and always flourishing. It is renewed day by day. When you are conscious of this, of the good things God has blessed you with in the spirit, of how your spirit is being renewed day by day, (then in your body also) your youth will be renewed like the eagle's. (see Psalm 103:5). The Psalmist says, "The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance." (Psalm 16:6 NKJV). You need to have the same attitude, and say the same thing, because you have a good inheritance. The Bible says that in Christ, "WE HAVE OBTAINED AN INHERITANCE." (see Ephesians 1:11). It is a good inheritance. It includes every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. (see Ephesians 1:3). It includes all things that pertain to life and godliness. (see 2 Peter 1:3). Indeed it is a good inheritance that must be unpacked and possessed. As Paul puts it, this inheritance, this package of salvation must be worked out. (see Philippians 2:12). It must be unpacked and possessed. Just as God gave the children of Israel the (promised) land and told them to go in and possess it (see Deuteronomy 1:8), we are being asked to do the same thing -- to possess or lay hold on our inheritance in Christ. This is where we separate the real or practicing Christians from the lipservice ones (or those who just profess to be Christians, but are not Christians in deed or are not doers of the Word). Beloved, you have to be a doer of the Word. James said that only the doers of the Word will be blessed in what they do. (see James 1:25).

The Bible makes it clear that there are two main opinions in this world: God’s opinion and the world's opinion (or Satan's opinion). God's opinion can be found in His Word (the Bible). And the world's opinion (or Satan’s opinion) is every opinion that is contrary to the Word of God. And so every single moment, you have a choice between God’s opinion (the Truth) and Satan's opinion (the Lie). The Bible makes a clear distinction between these two opinions. On a certain occasion in Israel, the prophet “Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between TWO OPINIONS? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if BAAL, follow him....” (I Kings 18:21 NKJV). From this verse, it is clear that there is the opinion of God, and the opinion of Baal (or Satan). As believers we are always compelled to choose between these two opinions. God's opinion is in His written Word – the Bible. And the world's opinion or Satan's opinion often includes what is communicated to us by our own physical circumstances, doctor's reports, news media reports, and the opinions we get from the world through our five senses – hearing, seeing, smelling, feeling or touching, and tasting – and from friends, family and everybody. God wants us to always choose to believe His opinion and to conduct ourselves or walk according to His opinion. That is what it means to walk in truth. This is called faith. And it is the only way we can truly walk with God, because faith is the only language God understands. The Bible says without faith it is impossible to please God. (see Hebrews 11:6). God does not want us to falter or waver between two opinions. He wants us to be fully persuaded about His opinion, and to always walk in line with His opinion. Whenever you choose another opinion over God's opinion, you choose a lie over the truth (or the reality), you choose Satan's opinion over God's opinion, because, you see, lies are from Satan. The Bible says Satan is a liar from the beginning; he is the father of lies, and there is no truth in him. (see John 8:44; ). But God does not lie. (see Titus 1:2). The Bible says, “God  is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19 NKJV). God’s Word is truth. (see John 17:17). His opinion is truth. Hence, the Bible says we are to walk in the truth. (see 3 John 1:3-4). Walking in the Truth is walking in the Spirit.

Beloved, how long will you falter between two opinions? God's opinion is that if you believe in Jesus Christ, you will not perish but have eternal life. (see John 3:16). God’s opinion is that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (see Romans 10:13; Acts 2:21). God's opinion is that whoever has the Son has life. (see 1 John 5:12). God's opinion is that whoever believes in Jesus Christ has been forgiven of all their sins and declared righteous. (see colossians 1:14; Romans 3:22, 24; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:17; Ephesians 4:24; 1 Corinthians 1:30). God's opinion is that Jesus Himself took our infirmities and bore all our diseases, and by Jesus' stripes we are healed. (see Matthew 8:17;  Isaiah 53:5, 1 Peter 2:24, ). God's opinion is that Jesus became poor on the cross to make you and I rich. (see 2 Corinthians 8:9). Do you believe God's opinion or do you believe the opinion your present circumstance is giving you? Are you faltering between two opinions or is your mind fixed on God's opinion? Are you fully persuaded about God’s opinion? You need to be, because no one can truly walk with God, unless they are fully persuaded about His opinion. The Bible says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3 KJV). We have to agree with God’s opinion. We have to walk with God just like Abraham did. The Bible says Abraham “did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” (Romans 4:20‭-‬21 NKJV). Be fully convinced about God’s opinion. You have to agree with God's opinion, because it is the only truth. God’s opinion is His Word. And God is His Word (see John 1:1). Therefore, anyone who doesn’t believe in God’s Word (or opinion) doesn't believe in God. Period!

Beloved, whose opinion would you believe today? Every single moment, you have a choice between God’s opinion and Satan’s opinion. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had a choice between God's opinion and Satan's opinion, and they chose to believe Satan's opinion over God's opinion. Like the sinners of today, they “exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever...” (see Romans 1:25 NKJV). And we all know the consequence of that choice. The person whose opinion you choose to believe or obey becomes your master or your god. (see Romans 6:16). This is why the Bible calls Satan the god of this world. (see 2 Corinthians 4:4). Adam made Satan the god of this world by choosing to obey Satan over God. But as believers, Satan is not our god. We are no longer in his kingdom. (see Colossians 1:13). We are in the Kingdom of God’s dear Son (the Kingdom of Light), and in our Kingdom, we only believe in one opinion – the opinion of God. Today, regardless of how you feel and what the doctor is saying, choose to believe and confess God’s opinion that by the stripes of Jesus you were healed and are healed. (see 1 Peter 2:24, with Isaiah 53:5). Regardless of the balance in your bank account, choose to believe and confess God’s opinion that Jesus though He was rich became poor that through His poverty you might become rich (see 2 Corinthians 8:9), and so you are rich. Regardless of your failings today, choose to believe and confess God’s opinion that you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (see 2 Corinthians 5:21), and that as Jesus is, so also are you in this world. (see 1 John 4:17).

Unfortunately, there are some “believers” who doubt the opinion of God; there are some who falter (or waver) between the opinion of God and the opinion of the world. And to such believers I ask, how long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Satan (the liar), follow him. The choice is ultimately yours. I choose to believe God’s opinion. I choose to obey God’s Word. And God’s opinion is that I am saved; I am righteous; I am blessed; I am highly favored; I am the beloved child of the Living God; I am healed; I am rich; I have all things that pertain to life and godliness; I am an heir of God and joint-heirs with Christ; the world is my inheritance; I lack no good thing; I eat the good of the land; I am a victor and a success; I am a world overcomer; all because I believe in Jesus Christ. He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world; and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Glory be to God! You have to make it a habit to speak/confess who you are in Christ and what you have in Christ. You confess because you believe it in your heart. (2 Corinthians 4:13). You don't confess in order for you to believe it or to have it; you confess because the Bible says you already have it, and you believe from deep within your heart that it is true. Thus when you confess, you say things like: eternal life is mine, prosperity is mine, good success is mine, righteousness is mine, victory is mine, divine health is mine, power is mine, all blessings are mine, the whole world is mine. Hallelujah! Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45; Matthew 12:34). He said,  “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART HIS MOUTH SPEAKS.” (Luke 6:45 NKJV,  emphasis mine). If you're a true believer (or Christian), you're a good man; you're the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. (see 2 Corinthians 5:21). And so your words (which are spoken out of the abundance of your heart) will tell us if you are indeed a true believer or not. You have to choose to be sanctified (or set apart to God) by (speaking the truth, which is) the Word of God (see John 17:17; Romans 12:1-2), rather than defile yourself with the words of this world. (see  Matthew 15:11; Mark 7:15).

Beloved, you have to understand the power of your words and always speak or confess  faith-filled words or words that agree with the Word of God. The Bible says, "By faith we understand that THE WORLDS WERE FRAMED BY THE WORD of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." (Hebrews 11:3 NKJV, emphasis mine). Indeed, words are the most powerful things in the universe. The whole universe was created with words; God called things that did not exist as though they did. (see Romans 4:17). And they came into existence. In fact, without words, the entire creation wouldn't exist. The Bible says that Jesus holds everything in place by the Word of His power. (see Hebrews 1:3). And so all of creation responds to words. Therefore, the words that proceed from your mouth are important in framing your world or charting the course of your life. Negative or fear-filled words will bring you defeat, and positive or faith-filled words will put you over the top. Many people have habitually spoken Satan’s opinion (or the words of this world which are contrary to the Word of God), and by so doing, they have put themselves in bondage. But God's Word (or promises) when habitually spoken out in faith from the heart will produce liberty, success and victory in your life. Indeed faith-filled words on your lips will give substance to all of God's promises for you; they will cause God's promises to manifest or materialize in your life. Begin speaking faith-filled words over your life from this moment onwards, and you will see yourself rising higher in life each day.

Moreover, the Bible says that we are to hold fast our confession (see Hebrews 4:14). In other words, we are to continually confess what the Bible says about us, and what we want to see happen in our lives (in the light of the Word of God). We are to confess with our mouth unto salvation (see Romans 10:10) -- salvation from diseases, poverty, and every power of darkness or negative circumstance. Begin to use your mouth today to chart the course of your life. The Bible says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit." (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV). Determine today never to walk or judge by what you see or hear. Don't speak what you see; speak what the Word of God says; speak what you want to see, because the Bible says that you will have whatever you say. (see Mark 11:23). Speak life. Speak God's blessings or promises. Imitate your Father God by calling those things which do not exist as though they did. (see Romans 4:17). Begin to call health where there is sickness or disease, call life where there is death, and call the abundance of provision where there is need. Let the words you speak be the words of the Father, and the works you do be the works of the Father. That is how you walk in the truth. Remain blessed.

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