"Truth, a Rare Commodity On this Earth"...

"Truth, a Rare Commodity on this Earth"   by Pastor Stephen Benton
(reprint from the Weekly Word of the HoGN - 2.6.2001.)

Hello Gang!

Our theme song was answered in the service Sunday morning as the Lord took us "deeper, deeper in his holy word."
The message also reminded us that no matter how diligently we study, the full light of the scriptures are dependent upon revelation.  But by now we should come to expect a revelation of the truth every time we gather together. Even though I haven't said much these days about missing services, the sheer volume of revealed truth each week should alert the most negligent member of the necessity of assembling oneself together during this stretch run.

Today I would like to pen a few words on the subject of THE TRUTH.

Truth is a commodity that is difficult, if not impossible to find here on this earth.  Whenever I think on the subject of "truth," my thoughts immediately turn to Pilate and the trial of Jesus. Let's turn to that passage in John 18:33:
            "then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus and said unto him, art thou the king of the Jews?"

Understand, as I have often instructed you, Jesus did not go to trial because of any crime he committed.  his trial did not center upon what he did, rather, on who he was.  This question came up repeatedly during the first trial by the Sanhedrim court: "art thou the Christ?" The high priest asked that question.  Where Jesus was concerned, it was the question to ask.  For if he is the Christ, he is also the fullest embodiment of Truth itself!  that is exactly what Jesus meant when he declared himself to be THE TRUTH.

When it comes to religion, Satan sowed his seed very carefully and very plenteously when he invaded the earth with a surplus of so-called truths. Every religion upon the face of the earth thinks that their mode of belief is the only true concept among the prevailing truths.  I grew up identified with the Pentecostal faith.  I showed you a dictionary last week identifying the various denominations within Pentecost.  As a member of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, I naturally believed that anyone not affiliated with that organization was not really saved.  I know that sounds ridiculous but my thinking reflected that denomination's belief.

Notice also in the text that Pilate asked if Jesus was THE king of the Jews.  One can easily miss the implications of the question.  Pilate knew enough to know that the Jews were expecting the ultimate king to come, one of the loins of David who would rule out of Zion forever.  That is the King Pilate was asking about.  Because of Pilate's thinking and subsequent question, Jesus' response makes a little more sense.

"Jesus answered him, sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?"

It was a stinging comment.  In reality, Pilate should have thought those things himself.  This is a sad commentary on Pilate. Here is man who had a unique situation offered to very, very few.  He had Jesus' undivided attention and the time and opportunity to ask him many things.  What Pilate knew about Jesus was told to him by others but Pilate himself was never interested enough to probe into any additional information about Jesus on his own.  Which, in turn, elicits a defensive response from Pilate to Jesus' question:
"Pilate answered, Am I a Jew?"  What does his answer mean?  It means that Satan has done a good job saturating this world with enough false truth wherein most people will not bother to look into a personage who is outside of their nationality or religious affiliation.  Pilate figured that Jesus was a Jewish issue.  Many people will go to hell for thinking the same way.  Now, skip to verse 37 because that is the heart of what I want to address.

"Pilate therefore said unto him, art thou a king then…?"  Notice the difference!  The first time Pilate asked if Jesus was the king. Now Jesus has appeared to be diminished in the eyes of Pilate so he lessens the kingship of Jesus from the to a.
"…Jesus answered, thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.  Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice"

If Jesus bears witness to the truth and came to earth for that purpose, then there was no one else on earth bearing witness to Truth!  What a grand statement!  As I said in the opening, the truth is a rare commodity upon the earth.  Pilate knew enough about truth (which was nothing) to ask the question "what is truth?"

"…and when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews."

Notice that Pilate didn't stick around for an answer.  In that posture he echoes the actions of the world where Jesus is concerned.  He didn't wait for the answer from the One who embodied Truth.
We have come to learn that this entire worldly system is built upon a lie. There is no truth in it because its architect himself is a Liar in whom there is NO truth! As the word of God continues to unplug us from this worldly matrix, release the ideas and concepts you have had and even when and where the Truth doesn't make sense or it doesn't answer all of your questions at once.  We were given the promise that "there is nothing hid that shall not be revealed."  Embrace that fact and expect the holy Ghost to ever more give us this bread from heaven, the only Truth!