July 23, 2025

Protocol Three: Embracing Truth in a World of Lies

Protocol Three: Embracing Truth in a World of Lies
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Protocol Three: Embracing Truth in a World of Lies

In this episode of Battle Ground, we delve into the concept of authority and obedience within the spiritual realm, drawing parallels to military structure. We explore how true power and freedom are found not in rebellion, but in submission and alignment with divine order. Through biblical examples and philosophical insights, we discuss how obedience is not about blind following but about finding clarity, safety, and spiritual covering. The episode challenges listeners to reflect on their own spiritual alignment and the importance of respecting the chain of command as a path to spiritual growth and authority.

We also introduce Protocol Three, which calls for a commitment to truth-telling. In a world filled with polite lies and curated masks, speaking the truth becomes a revolutionary act. We explore the cost and power of truth, using biblical stories to illustrate the importance of integrity and authenticity. Listeners are encouraged to embark on a 48-hour challenge of speaking only what they believe to be true, reflecting on how this impacts their relationships and self-perception. The episode emphasizes that truth is not just a spoken word but a lived reality, urging listeners to embrace authenticity as a path to true authority.

00:00 - The Importance of Authority in Spiritual Warfare

05:56 - Protocol Three: Embracing Truth

11:05 - Biblical Examples of Truth and Integrity

25:07 - Living Authentically: Truth in Action

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NOTE
Transcription provided by Podhome.fm
Created: 7/20/2025 8:07:24 PM
Duration: 1776.039
Channels: 1

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Welcome back, warrior.

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By now, you know.

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You're in training.

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You're in a war.

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You're not here by accident.

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But here's something most don't realize.

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Even in war,

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authority

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matters.

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Boot camp isn't chaos,

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it's structure,

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it's

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command hierarchy,

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and in the spiritual realm,

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it's no different.

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Imagine an army where every soldier just followed their truth.

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No chain of command,

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no respect,

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no discipline,

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just

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opinions,

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feelings,

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freelance

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spirituality.

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That army,

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defeated.

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God is not insecure.

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He's not a tyrant.

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He's a

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commander who knows.

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Without order,

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your soul drifts into destruction.

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Hebrews thirteen seventeen.

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Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls.

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This isn't about blind obedience.

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It's about spiritual

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covering,

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alignment,

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clarity,

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safety.

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Even angels

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have ranks.

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Even Jesus

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submitted.

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Think about this.

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John six thirty eight. I have come not to do my will,

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but the will of him who sent me.

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Jesus, equal to God,

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chose

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obedience.

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Why?

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To teach us that

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power flows

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through humility.

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Luke two fifty one.

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Jesus, as a child,

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submitted to his earthly parents.

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Philippians

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two:eight.

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He humbled himself,

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becoming obedient to death.

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Even Christ had a chain of command.

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Why would you reject what even God

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incarnate

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embraced?

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Let's get real.

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Saul loses the throne for defying God's command.

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First Samuel

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15.

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David,

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though anointed king,

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refuses to strike Saul.

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I will not touch the Lord's anointed.

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The Roman centurion

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in Matthew eight understood authority so well,

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Jesus

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marveled

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at his faith.

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I too am a man under authority, he said.

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He got

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it. The chain matters.

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So what does that look like now?

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You feel called to something great,

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but don't want to submit to anyone.

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No pasture,

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no mentor,

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no structure,

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just vibes.

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That's not awakening.

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That's

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spiritual

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anarchy.

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Or maybe God's telling you

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wait,

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but you're moving fast,

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building things

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he didn't authorize.

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That's not freedom.

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That's

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disobedience with a glow filter.

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Boot camp teaches this.

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Submission

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isn't loss.

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It's

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leverage.

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Obedience isn't slavery,

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it's how you hear

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and move in sync with divine

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timing.

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Even the philosophers

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whisper this truth.

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Kierkegaard said the highest form of self is found through obedience

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to the eternal.

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Augustine

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taught that the soul must be ordered under God to experience peace.

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Even Plato believed the soul must submit to the form of the good,

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something higher.

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So whether theology

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or philosophy,

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the message is clear.

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You were never meant to be your own god.

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Let's ground it. When you want to lash out, but pause because the spirit whispers,

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stay silent,

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that's submission.

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When a leader gives correction

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and you resist,

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but then humble yourself and grow from it,

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closes a door. And instead of forcing it, you bow and say,

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your will be done.

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That's warrior

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obedience.

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Right now,

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ask yourself,

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who do I answer to?

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Am I listening to God's voice

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or my own emotions

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dressed as truth?

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Do I resent structure

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or respect it?

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Your formation

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depends on alignment.

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You can't wield power

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you refuse to submit

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under.

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In this boot camp,

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rebellion

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isn't power.

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Rebellion is defeat.

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Satan fell not from weakness,

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but from insubordination.

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And Jesus rose not just in glory,

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but in obedience to the cross.

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The chain of command is sacred,

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and to rise in authority, you must first kneel to

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it. Next time, we'll suit up. We'll walk through the spiritual armor. What it is,

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how it trains you, and how to wield it. Until then, stay submitted.

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Stay clear.

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Stay in command alignment.

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This

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is metaphysical

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boot camp.

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Now for protocol three,

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lies are easy

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truth costs.

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You can believe in truth and still speak lies.

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Every day, we disguise ourselves with polite masks.

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Most lies

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aren't monstrous.

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They're microscopic,

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coated in survival instinct,

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dipped in sugar.

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But every lie you tell fractures your alignment.

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The body may survive,

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but the soul bleeds out in silence.

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Objective,

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move from belief systems to truth embodiment.

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Exercise,

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speak only what you believe to be true

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for forty eight hours.

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No flattery.

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No white lies.

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Just truth.

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You might wanna warn your loved ones.

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You're only as strong as your willingness to be seen.

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Truth is the armor

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of the awakened.

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Ask

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how much of my speech

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is designed to protect me,

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not express me.

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Who would I be if I told the truth

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without armor?

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What truth have I been afraid to say out loud?

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Who am I when no one's watching?

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Speak the truth,

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each one to his neighbor.

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Ephesians

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four twenty five.

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So

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here it is.

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For forty eight hours,

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speak only what you know

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is true.

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No flattery,

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no soft lies,

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no false nods.

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Then reflect

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what changed in my relationships,

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in my voice.

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Then read Ephesians

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four.

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Truth doesn't shout.

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It doesn't charm. But when you speak it,

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something ancient wakes up in others,

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and you begin to walk with your soul

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fully

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intact.

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Truth must be felt.

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We live in a world fluent and pretending.

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Social media is a daily costume party.

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Conversation is often layered with polite lies.

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And even in faith communities,

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people say,

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I'm fine, while their soul quietly bleeds.

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Truth,

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real embodied

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inconvenient truth has become a rare currency.

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Protocol three calls us to recover it.

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This isn't just about theological

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accuracy

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or shouting your opinion online.

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It's about choosing to speak what is true for you

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even when it's vulnerable,

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awkward,

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or costly.

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It means answering,

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how are you

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with,

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honestly,

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I'm exhausted.

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Or telling your spouse,

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I'm feeling resentful, and I need to talk.

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Instead of bearing it beneath silence or sarcasm,

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It's saying, I don't know, when the world pressures you to have answers.

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You don't need to be cruel

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to be truthful.

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You need to be courageous.

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When you stop lying to others to protect your image and stop lying to yourself to stay comfortable,

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something shifts.

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You begin to walk in alignment, and in that alignment,

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you gain something better than approval.

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You gain authority.

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Authenticity

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carries a weight the world can't fake.

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So today, try this.

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Catch yourself before you say something just to be liked

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or safe

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or comfortable.

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Then choose the truth,

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even if your voice shakes.

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In a world of curated masks,

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truth is a revolution.

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And in the boot camp of eternity,

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it's the voice of your soul

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learning

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to lead.

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Truth must be felt is about living authentically

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where truth isn't just known,

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it's embodied.

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In the Bible, this theme appears repeatedly.

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Truth telling that costs

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something.

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Integrity and speech and moments when

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silence or falsehood would have been easier.

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But someone chose to speak or live the truth

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instead.

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Here are 20 bible examples that bring protocol three to life.

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Nathan confronts David over his sin.

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Second Samuel

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twelve one through 14.

281
00:11:12.329 --> 00:11:17.149
Nathan tells David the uncomfortable truth about his sin with Bathsheba.

282
00:11:18.205 --> 00:11:19.825
Truth as confrontation,

283
00:11:20.845 --> 00:11:21.985
not comfort.

284
00:11:22.845 --> 00:11:25.505
David's anger at the rich man in the parable

285
00:11:26.045 --> 00:11:29.105
reveals his own deep seated guilt.

286
00:11:29.725 --> 00:11:31.825
Nathan then reveals that David

287
00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:33.579
is the man in the story.

288
00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:36.779
Jesus declares,

289
00:11:37.320 --> 00:11:40.300
I am the way, the truth, and the life.

290
00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:42.540
John fourteen six.

291
00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:45.100
Truth is not just a doctrine.

292
00:11:45.654 --> 00:11:46.475
It's a person,

293
00:11:47.095 --> 00:11:48.475
a lived essence.

294
00:11:49.175 --> 00:11:50.875
Jesus identifies himself

295
00:11:51.335 --> 00:11:52.395
as the truth.

296
00:11:53.015 --> 00:11:55.035
This means that he embodies

297
00:11:55.415 --> 00:11:58.875
the ultimate reality and represents God's truth.

298
00:11:59.940 --> 00:12:05.320
This connects the truth with the idea of a path or way to God.

299
00:12:06.020 --> 00:12:11.880
Jesus is presented as the way and understanding and accepting his teachings

300
00:12:12.575 --> 00:12:14.995
is presented as the path to God.

301
00:12:15.775 --> 00:12:19.635
A soldier's life often involves facing difficult situations

302
00:12:20.175 --> 00:12:22.275
where the truth can be critical

303
00:12:22.815 --> 00:12:24.835
and for carrying out those duties.

304
00:12:25.375 --> 00:12:26.275
For a soldier,

305
00:12:27.050 --> 00:12:29.709
truth might mean adhering to orders,

306
00:12:30.410 --> 00:12:31.870
understanding the mission,

307
00:12:32.889 --> 00:12:34.350
and acting with integrity

308
00:12:35.130 --> 00:12:37.709
even in stressful or confusing circumstances.

309
00:12:39.415 --> 00:12:43.515
Jesus states, he is the way, the truth, and the life.

310
00:12:43.895 --> 00:12:45.755
Therefore, truth as Jesus

311
00:12:46.295 --> 00:12:47.995
is the only way.

312
00:12:50.055 --> 00:12:55.360
John the Baptist calls out Herod's sin. Mark six seventeen through 29.

313
00:12:56.220 --> 00:12:57.600
John tells the truth

314
00:12:57.980 --> 00:12:58.480
publicly

315
00:12:58.940 --> 00:12:59.760
and boldly.

316
00:13:00.779 --> 00:13:02.640
It cost him his life.

317
00:13:04.060 --> 00:13:04.960
John fiercely

318
00:13:05.685 --> 00:13:08.505
confronts Herod about his unlawful marriage,

319
00:13:09.125 --> 00:13:11.785
demonstrating a commitment to truth and righteousness

320
00:13:12.325 --> 00:13:14.025
even when it puts him at risk.

321
00:13:14.805 --> 00:13:20.745
The passage serves as a stark reminder that speaking truth can come with personal cost

322
00:13:21.149 --> 00:13:26.129
and that worldly power can be used to suppress truth and justice.

323
00:13:26.990 --> 00:13:29.649
This can be interpreted as a call to courageously

324
00:13:30.430 --> 00:13:32.129
pursue truth and righteousness

325
00:13:33.385 --> 00:13:35.165
even in the face of opposition.

326
00:13:37.225 --> 00:13:40.045
Peter denies Jesus then weeps bitterly.

327
00:13:40.425 --> 00:13:43.325
Luke twenty two sixty one sixty two.

328
00:13:44.265 --> 00:13:47.005
The pain of failing to live truthfully.

329
00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:51.680
His heart knew what his voice had denied.

330
00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:58.640
Jesus had previously predicted that Peter would deny him three times before the rooster crowed.

331
00:13:59.340 --> 00:14:02.400
This emphasizes the intense moment when Jesus,

332
00:14:03.045 --> 00:14:04.665
amidst his own tumultuous

333
00:14:05.045 --> 00:14:05.545
situation,

334
00:14:06.404 --> 00:14:08.904
turns and looks directly at Peter.

335
00:14:09.605 --> 00:14:12.904
This look triggers Peter's memory of Jesus's prophecy,

336
00:14:13.765 --> 00:14:15.065
leading him to realize

337
00:14:15.524 --> 00:14:16.985
the extent of his denial.

338
00:14:18.959 --> 00:14:20.339
Jesus before Pilate.

339
00:14:20.959 --> 00:14:26.180
Everyone on the side of truth listens to me. John eighteen thirty seven.

340
00:14:27.040 --> 00:14:28.579
Even facing death,

341
00:14:29.040 --> 00:14:31.779
Jesus speaks calmly about truth.

342
00:14:32.735 --> 00:14:35.795
Jesus's statement in John eighteen thirty seven

343
00:14:36.255 --> 00:14:38.515
positions him as a witness to truth,

344
00:14:39.055 --> 00:14:42.115
implying that truth is not merely a concept,

345
00:14:42.815 --> 00:14:44.355
but something embodied

346
00:14:44.850 --> 00:14:46.630
and revealed through his life,

347
00:14:47.010 --> 00:14:49.190
his teachings, and his actions.

348
00:14:50.529 --> 00:14:55.750
The phrase, everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice,

349
00:14:56.209 --> 00:14:59.190
suggests that truth is not just intellectual

350
00:14:59.730 --> 00:15:00.230
ascent,

351
00:15:01.405 --> 00:15:03.345
but also involves a personal

352
00:15:03.725 --> 00:15:05.505
response of listening to

353
00:15:05.805 --> 00:15:07.185
and following Jesus.

354
00:15:08.925 --> 00:15:09.985
Pilate's question,

355
00:15:10.365 --> 00:15:11.585
what is truth?

356
00:15:12.045 --> 00:15:13.265
Reflects a skeptical

357
00:15:13.645 --> 00:15:15.505
or perhaps even cynical

358
00:15:15.899 --> 00:15:16.639
view of

359
00:15:17.019 --> 00:15:20.399
truth, suggesting a contrast between Jesus's claim

360
00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:22.319
and the Roman worldview

361
00:15:22.940 --> 00:15:24.639
and even our worldview.

362
00:15:25.899 --> 00:15:30.399
The passage highlights the contrast between a view of truth as objective

363
00:15:31.045 --> 00:15:31.705
and absolute,

364
00:15:32.405 --> 00:15:33.625
embodied by Jesus,

365
00:15:34.245 --> 00:15:35.145
and a more

366
00:15:35.925 --> 00:15:37.065
relative or

367
00:15:37.525 --> 00:15:38.985
subjective view of truth,

368
00:15:39.765 --> 00:15:42.105
possibly reflected in Pilate's question.

369
00:15:42.485 --> 00:15:42.985
Ananias

370
00:15:43.525 --> 00:15:44.345
and Sophia

371
00:15:44.805 --> 00:15:46.185
lied to the Holy Spirit.

372
00:15:46.640 --> 00:15:48.660
Acts five one through 11.

373
00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:52.660
They pretend to be more generous than they are.

374
00:15:53.280 --> 00:15:54.340
Truth faked

375
00:15:54.800 --> 00:15:55.700
for status.

376
00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:58.260
The result is sobering.

377
00:15:58.985 --> 00:16:01.885
The immediate deaths of Ananias and Sapphira

378
00:16:02.425 --> 00:16:04.605
underscored the gravity of their actions

379
00:16:05.225 --> 00:16:07.485
and the severity of God's judgment

380
00:16:08.024 --> 00:16:09.084
against deliberate

381
00:16:09.785 --> 00:16:10.285
deception.

382
00:16:11.430 --> 00:16:12.090
In essence,

383
00:16:12.470 --> 00:16:14.730
Acts five one through 11 is

384
00:16:15.030 --> 00:16:15.610
a powerful

385
00:16:16.150 --> 00:16:18.650
illustration of the importance of truthfulness,

386
00:16:19.750 --> 00:16:22.810
particularly within the context of faith and the church.

387
00:16:23.375 --> 00:16:27.315
It serves as a reminder that God is not to be deceived,

388
00:16:27.774 --> 00:16:31.555
and that truth is a foundational principle for Christian

389
00:16:33.295 --> 00:16:36.274
life. Paul opposes Peter publicly for hypocrisy.

390
00:16:37.230 --> 00:16:39.810
Galatians two eleven through 14.

391
00:16:40.590 --> 00:16:43.650
Paul doesn't shy away from uncomfortable truths,

392
00:16:44.270 --> 00:16:46.130
even with respected leaders.

393
00:16:46.910 --> 00:16:47.410
Peter,

394
00:16:47.790 --> 00:16:51.090
a Jew, had been eating with gentile Christians.

395
00:16:51.710 --> 00:16:52.210
However,

396
00:16:52.995 --> 00:16:54.855
when some Jewish Christians

397
00:16:55.235 --> 00:16:56.375
from Jerusalem

398
00:16:56.995 --> 00:16:59.415
who adhered strictly to Jewish law

399
00:16:59.795 --> 00:17:00.775
and circumcision

400
00:17:01.155 --> 00:17:01.655
arrived,

401
00:17:02.115 --> 00:17:04.695
Peter separated himself from the Gentiles.

402
00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:08.540
Paul directly challenged Peter's actions,

403
00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:11.660
pointing out that Peter was living

404
00:17:11.960 --> 00:17:12.780
like a Gentile,

405
00:17:13.320 --> 00:17:15.660
but then trying to force Gentiles

406
00:17:16.040 --> 00:17:17.340
to live like Jews,

407
00:17:18.115 --> 00:17:21.975
which was a direct contradiction to the gospel's message.

408
00:17:23.154 --> 00:17:24.294
Paul's confrontation

409
00:17:24.674 --> 00:17:25.654
highlights how

410
00:17:26.034 --> 00:17:29.654
Peter's actions were not in line with the truth of the gospel

411
00:17:30.289 --> 00:17:31.590
and this hypocrisy

412
00:17:31.890 --> 00:17:33.590
was leading others astray.

413
00:17:34.289 --> 00:17:35.190
Even Barnabas,

414
00:17:35.730 --> 00:17:38.230
who was also carried away by this hypocrisy.

415
00:17:40.049 --> 00:17:40.950
Paul's confrontation

416
00:17:41.330 --> 00:17:44.309
emphasizes the importance of aligning one's actions

417
00:17:44.770 --> 00:17:46.775
with the truth of the gospel

418
00:17:47.555 --> 00:17:49.015
rather than giving in

419
00:17:49.315 --> 00:17:51.095
to fear or peer pressure.

420
00:17:52.435 --> 00:17:53.895
The woman at the well,

421
00:17:54.435 --> 00:17:56.135
Jesus reveals her truth.

422
00:17:56.595 --> 00:17:59.015
John four sixteen through 18.

423
00:18:00.510 --> 00:18:03.170
Jesus lovingly confronts her hidden pain.

424
00:18:03.870 --> 00:18:04.690
Her truth,

425
00:18:05.070 --> 00:18:07.250
once faced, sets her free.

426
00:18:07.870 --> 00:18:12.770
Jesus's statement reveals his knowledge of her past and present relationships,

427
00:18:13.645 --> 00:18:16.465
highlighting the contrast between what she says

428
00:18:16.845 --> 00:18:18.625
and the reality of her situation.

429
00:18:19.725 --> 00:18:23.425
The woman's initial response is technically true,

430
00:18:23.965 --> 00:18:28.225
but Jesus exposes the deeper truth of her marital history.

431
00:18:28.789 --> 00:18:31.370
This interaction about her physical relationships

432
00:18:31.990 --> 00:18:32.809
serves as

433
00:18:33.429 --> 00:18:36.650
a transition to the broader discussion of spiritual truth.

434
00:18:37.669 --> 00:18:38.169
Jesus

435
00:18:38.549 --> 00:18:40.890
will soon explain that true worshipers

436
00:18:41.669 --> 00:18:42.650
worship God

437
00:18:43.275 --> 00:18:44.015
in spirit

438
00:18:44.395 --> 00:18:45.855
and in truth.

439
00:18:47.755 --> 00:18:49.935
The Pharisees outright righteousness

440
00:18:50.395 --> 00:18:52.095
versus inward corruption.

441
00:18:52.635 --> 00:18:54.975
Matthew twenty three twenty seven.

442
00:18:56.040 --> 00:18:57.580
You are like whitewashed

443
00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:58.460
tombs.

444
00:18:59.240 --> 00:19:03.340
Jesus exposes their disconnect between appearance and reality.

445
00:19:04.360 --> 00:19:06.780
The verse emphasizes that true righteousness

446
00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:10.700
is not just about external actions, but also about

447
00:19:11.085 --> 00:19:13.345
the internal state of one's heart

448
00:19:13.645 --> 00:19:14.625
and mind.

449
00:19:15.565 --> 00:19:19.265
Matthew twenty three twenty seven calls for authenticity

450
00:19:19.725 --> 00:19:22.784
and honesty in one's relationship with God

451
00:19:23.100 --> 00:19:23.840
and others,

452
00:19:24.380 --> 00:19:25.679
rather than a superficial

453
00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:27.840
display of being religious.

454
00:19:30.140 --> 00:19:32.720
David confesses his sin in

455
00:19:33.340 --> 00:19:34.720
Psalms 51.

456
00:19:35.225 --> 00:19:38.205
You desire truth in the inward being.

457
00:19:39.065 --> 00:19:40.765
Psalms fifty one six,

458
00:19:41.705 --> 00:19:45.485
confession is internal truth made visible.

459
00:19:46.745 --> 00:19:48.285
Psalms fifty one six

460
00:19:48.660 --> 00:19:51.240
emphasizes God's desire for truth

461
00:19:51.540 --> 00:19:54.040
in the inward parts of a person,

462
00:19:54.580 --> 00:19:58.600
specifically in the hidden depths of the heart and

463
00:19:59.300 --> 00:20:00.920
the impartation of wisdom.

464
00:20:01.795 --> 00:20:04.535
It highlights that God seeks authenticity

465
00:20:05.075 --> 00:20:05.975
and a genuine

466
00:20:06.595 --> 00:20:07.655
inner transformation

467
00:20:08.435 --> 00:20:09.655
rather than superficial

468
00:20:09.955 --> 00:20:11.255
displays of righteousness.

469
00:20:12.755 --> 00:20:15.575
This verse connects truth with wisdom,

470
00:20:16.120 --> 00:20:17.419
showing that true wisdom

471
00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:20.220
comes from a place of inner honesty

472
00:20:20.600 --> 00:20:22.460
and alignment with God's will.

473
00:20:24.760 --> 00:20:26.620
Stephen's speech before his death,

474
00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:27.820
acts seven.

475
00:20:28.695 --> 00:20:31.995
He tells the truth about Israel's rejection of the prophets,

476
00:20:32.455 --> 00:20:34.235
knowing it would cost his life.

477
00:20:34.934 --> 00:20:39.434
This chapter highlights the tension between truth and religious tradition

478
00:20:40.054 --> 00:20:41.755
as Stephen's words ultimately

479
00:20:42.455 --> 00:20:43.755
lead to his

480
00:20:44.250 --> 00:20:44.750
martyrdom.

481
00:20:45.690 --> 00:20:46.430
In essence,

482
00:20:46.890 --> 00:20:47.710
Acts seven

483
00:20:48.090 --> 00:20:51.950
portrays a clash between those who cling to religious tradition

484
00:20:52.410 --> 00:20:54.350
and those who embrace the truth

485
00:20:54.730 --> 00:20:56.430
of God's revelation in Jesus,

486
00:20:57.225 --> 00:20:58.045
with Stephen's

487
00:20:58.425 --> 00:20:58.925
martyrdom

488
00:20:59.305 --> 00:21:00.684
serving as a testament

489
00:21:01.065 --> 00:21:05.085
to the cost of speaking truth in the face of opposition.

490
00:21:07.225 --> 00:21:12.525
Jesus and the rich young ruler. Mark ten seventeen twenty two.

491
00:21:13.360 --> 00:21:16.419
Jesus tells him the one thing he doesn't wanna hear,

492
00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:17.860
sell everything.

493
00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:19.700
Truth is a challenge,

494
00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:21.539
not comfort.

495
00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:25.299
This passage emphasizes that true discipleship

496
00:21:26.164 --> 00:21:29.625
requires more than just outward obedience to rules.

497
00:21:30.725 --> 00:21:32.345
It demands a willingness

498
00:21:32.645 --> 00:21:35.784
to let go of worldly possessions and attachments

499
00:21:36.645 --> 00:21:38.424
and to follow Jesus wholeheartedly.

500
00:21:39.660 --> 00:21:43.200
It reveals the truth that earthly wealth can be a barrier

501
00:21:43.580 --> 00:21:48.480
to spiritual growth and that true treasure is found in following Christ.

502
00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:52.720
Jeremiah called to speak unpopular truths.

503
00:21:53.555 --> 00:21:57.255
Jeremiah one seven to nine and twenty nine.

504
00:21:58.355 --> 00:22:01.175
His word is my heart like a fire.

505
00:22:02.195 --> 00:22:04.695
He couldn't stay silent even when rejected.

506
00:22:05.570 --> 00:22:09.430
The concept of truth is central to the book of Jeremiah

507
00:22:09.970 --> 00:22:12.710
and is intertwined with his prophetic

508
00:22:13.010 --> 00:22:13.510
ministry.

509
00:22:14.690 --> 00:22:19.750
Jeremiah conveys God's truth, which is often difficult and unpopular

510
00:22:20.355 --> 00:22:22.535
to a nation steeped in idolatry

511
00:22:22.995 --> 00:22:23.975
and rebellion.

512
00:22:25.875 --> 00:22:28.375
Rejecting God's truth is a major theme

513
00:22:29.155 --> 00:22:30.535
as the people's disobedience

514
00:22:30.915 --> 00:22:32.775
leads to judgment and destruction.

515
00:22:34.100 --> 00:22:41.480
Jeremiah's faithfulness in speaking the truth emphasizes the importance of upholding God's word above personal comfort.

516
00:22:42.020 --> 00:22:44.280
God's truth is linked to righteousness,

517
00:22:44.900 --> 00:22:47.800
and ignoring it leads to ruin.

518
00:22:49.095 --> 00:22:50.315
Jeremiah's calling,

519
00:22:50.695 --> 00:22:52.075
struggles, and message

520
00:22:52.375 --> 00:22:55.595
are about proclaiming and heeding God's truth

521
00:22:56.135 --> 00:22:57.595
even when it is painful.

522
00:22:59.175 --> 00:23:02.635
Jesus refuses to lie about his identity to save himself.

523
00:23:03.630 --> 00:23:06.370
Luke twenty two sixty seven to 70,

524
00:23:06.830 --> 00:23:10.530
he chooses death over denying the truth of who he is.

525
00:23:11.070 --> 00:23:14.130
Jesus' initial response is a commentary

526
00:23:14.670 --> 00:23:17.570
on their hardened hearts and lack of faith.

527
00:23:18.845 --> 00:23:22.945
He implies that even if he were to directly tell them the truth,

528
00:23:23.485 --> 00:23:25.105
they would not believe him.

529
00:23:25.805 --> 00:23:26.705
By referencing

530
00:23:27.245 --> 00:23:31.265
the Son of Man being seated at the right hand of God,

531
00:23:31.789 --> 00:23:34.130
he is making a claim to divine

532
00:23:34.909 --> 00:23:35.409
authority

533
00:23:36.029 --> 00:23:38.370
which they understood as blasphemy.

534
00:23:39.630 --> 00:23:40.130
Finally,

535
00:23:40.590 --> 00:23:41.330
his affirmative

536
00:23:41.630 --> 00:23:48.445
answer to their question about being the son of God is a direct and powerful declaration of his true identity.

537
00:23:50.825 --> 00:23:53.644
Job maintains his integrity despite pressure.

538
00:23:54.345 --> 00:23:58.125
Till I die, I will not put away my integrity from me.

539
00:23:58.910 --> 00:24:05.490
The verse emphasizes Job's dedication to maintaining his integrity despite the suffering he is experiencing

540
00:24:06.110 --> 00:24:07.090
and the accusations

541
00:24:07.789 --> 00:24:10.450
leveled against him by his friends.

542
00:24:10.995 --> 00:24:11.735
In essence,

543
00:24:12.435 --> 00:24:13.895
Job twenty seven five

544
00:24:14.355 --> 00:24:16.375
underscores the importance of integrity,

545
00:24:16.995 --> 00:24:18.135
truth, and

546
00:24:18.675 --> 00:24:20.855
unwavering commitment to one's principles

547
00:24:21.715 --> 00:24:23.335
even in the face of adversity.

548
00:24:25.490 --> 00:24:27.269
Zacharias' honest repentance.

549
00:24:28.130 --> 00:24:29.669
Luke nineteen eight.

550
00:24:30.049 --> 00:24:31.190
He doesn't just

551
00:24:31.570 --> 00:24:32.070
believe.

552
00:24:32.610 --> 00:24:33.750
He makes restitution.

553
00:24:34.929 --> 00:24:36.870
Truth shown through action.

554
00:24:37.795 --> 00:24:39.255
He pledges to restore

555
00:24:39.635 --> 00:24:40.135
fourfold

556
00:24:40.595 --> 00:24:42.215
to anyone he has cheated.

557
00:24:42.835 --> 00:24:46.855
This goes beyond the standard Old Testament requirement of restitution,

558
00:24:47.635 --> 00:24:50.455
which was typically double the amount taken.

559
00:24:51.270 --> 00:24:56.010
This demonstrates his desire to make things right with those he wronged

560
00:24:56.310 --> 00:24:58.250
and his sincerity in repenting.

561
00:24:59.270 --> 00:25:00.810
Truth can take many forms,

562
00:25:01.190 --> 00:25:05.370
not just words from your mouth, but truth in dealing with others.

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00:25:07.085 --> 00:25:07.905
The centurion

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00:25:08.285 --> 00:25:11.985
declares the truth of Christ. Mark fifteen thirty nine.

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00:25:12.685 --> 00:25:15.025
Surely this man was the son of God.

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00:25:15.725 --> 00:25:18.865
A Roman soldier names the truth out loud.

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00:25:19.639 --> 00:25:20.299
The Centurion

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00:25:20.600 --> 00:25:25.419
statement is often seen as a direct acknowledgement of Jesus divine nature.

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In the context of the Roman world where gods were numerous,

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00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:33.100
this declaration is very striking.

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00:25:33.715 --> 00:25:35.335
It suggests that the Centurion,

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despite his background

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00:25:37.795 --> 00:25:41.655
and likely lack of prior understanding of Jewish beliefs,

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00:25:43.235 --> 00:25:45.975
recognize something extraordinary about Jesus.

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00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:49.020
James on speech.

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00:25:49.560 --> 00:25:51.820
Let your yes be yes.

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00:25:52.600 --> 00:25:54.060
James five twelve.

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00:25:54.680 --> 00:25:56.940
Truthful speech is the default,

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00:25:57.640 --> 00:25:58.620
not exaggerated,

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00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:00.780
embellished, or performative.

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00:26:01.925 --> 00:26:04.585
James five twelve emphasizes the importance

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00:26:05.365 --> 00:26:07.145
of truthfulness and integrity

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00:26:07.525 --> 00:26:08.345
in speech.

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00:26:09.285 --> 00:26:10.585
It instructs believers

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00:26:10.885 --> 00:26:12.184
to let their yes

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00:26:12.485 --> 00:26:15.625
be yes and their no be no,

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00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:19.160
implying that their word should be reliable

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00:26:19.780 --> 00:26:20.520
and trustworthy

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00:26:21.300 --> 00:26:23.160
without the need for oaths

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00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:25.880
or other forms of exaggerated

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00:26:26.580 --> 00:26:27.080
affirmation.

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00:26:28.595 --> 00:26:32.055
This first highlights the principle that a person's character

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00:26:32.355 --> 00:26:36.215
should be so rooted in truth that their simple affirmation

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00:26:36.595 --> 00:26:37.495
or negation

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00:26:37.795 --> 00:26:38.535
is sufficient.

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00:26:40.789 --> 00:26:43.130
Jesus rebukes Satan with scripture.

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00:26:43.669 --> 00:26:45.130
Matthew four four.

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00:26:45.830 --> 00:26:47.530
He doesn't argue with emotion.

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00:26:47.909 --> 00:26:50.570
He counters lies with eternal truth.

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00:26:51.190 --> 00:26:52.890
Jesus uses the quote,

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00:26:53.355 --> 00:26:59.934
man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

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00:27:01.195 --> 00:27:05.375
To resist the devil's temptation to turn stones into bread.

603
00:27:06.529 --> 00:27:09.190
This verse emphasizes that spiritual nourishment

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00:27:09.730 --> 00:27:14.070
derived from God's word is essential for life and is not secondary

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00:27:14.770 --> 00:27:16.230
to physical sustenance.

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00:27:17.250 --> 00:27:21.270
It highlights the importance of relying on God's truth and guidance,

607
00:27:22.095 --> 00:27:23.875
particularly in times of temptation

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00:27:24.335 --> 00:27:25.554
or hardship.

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00:27:26.575 --> 00:27:28.595
Jesus counters the devil's suggestion

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00:27:29.215 --> 00:27:34.595
that he use his power for personal gain by asserting that man's true sustenance

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00:27:35.054 --> 00:27:36.595
comes from God's word,

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00:27:37.350 --> 00:27:39.050
not just physical bread.

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00:27:39.830 --> 00:27:41.610
Ephesians four twenty five.

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00:27:42.150 --> 00:27:43.770
Speak the truth to one another.

615
00:27:44.550 --> 00:27:46.330
Truth is essential to community.

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00:27:46.790 --> 00:27:49.530
Without it, we're just pretending together.

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00:27:50.275 --> 00:27:57.895
The verse begins by urging believers to put off or abandon falsehood, which encompasses all forms of deception,

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00:27:58.515 --> 00:27:59.015
including

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00:27:59.395 --> 00:27:59.895
lying,

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00:28:00.435 --> 00:28:01.895
half truths, and

621
00:28:02.650 --> 00:28:03.630
spreading rumors.

622
00:28:05.450 --> 00:28:06.990
Truth often cost something,

623
00:28:07.370 --> 00:28:07.870
comfort,

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00:28:08.250 --> 00:28:08.750
reputation,

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00:28:09.610 --> 00:28:10.110
safety.

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00:28:10.810 --> 00:28:13.310
Truth is both spoken and lived.

627
00:28:13.770 --> 00:28:14.270
A

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00:28:14.650 --> 00:28:15.950
consistent internal

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00:28:16.605 --> 00:28:17.345
and external

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00:28:18.045 --> 00:28:18.545
reality.

631
00:28:19.885 --> 00:28:20.865
Avoiding truth

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00:28:21.165 --> 00:28:22.945
often leads to greater suffering.

633
00:28:24.045 --> 00:28:26.465
God honors those who speak the truth

634
00:28:27.405 --> 00:28:28.945
even when it's hard.

635
00:28:29.950 --> 00:28:34.289
In today's world, we are taught white lies are not only acceptable

636
00:28:34.990 --> 00:28:35.970
but required.

637
00:28:37.389 --> 00:28:39.889
But who will be the ultimate decider?

638
00:28:40.909 --> 00:28:44.450
There are ways to tell the truth without hurting people's feelings.

639
00:28:45.585 --> 00:28:47.045
People that ask questions

640
00:28:47.745 --> 00:28:49.045
and want you to lie,

641
00:28:49.505 --> 00:28:50.965
to not hurt their feelings

642
00:28:51.745 --> 00:28:53.445
are the ones being deceitful.

643
00:28:54.145 --> 00:28:57.125
Don't fall into the trap they are setting for you.

644
00:28:57.585 --> 00:28:58.485
Being untruthful,

645
00:28:59.105 --> 00:29:00.485
even a small lie,

646
00:29:00.840 --> 00:29:02.780
is really no different than stealing.

647
00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:07.100
You shall not bear false witness is about honesty.

648
00:29:08.039 --> 00:29:11.580
So someone pushing you into lying to make them happy

649
00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:15.419
is not different than them asking you to steal

650
00:29:15.865 --> 00:29:17.005
just a little bit.

651
00:29:18.424 --> 00:29:20.524
Now are you up to the task?

652
00:29:21.465 --> 00:29:25.644
Commit to forty eight hours of only the truth or

653
00:29:26.345 --> 00:29:27.644
just plead the fifth.

654
00:29:29.144 --> 00:29:29.965
I'm Merrill,

655
00:29:30.434 --> 00:29:31.894
and this is Battle Ground.

656
00:29:32.514 --> 00:29:34.054
Join me for the next episode.

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00:29:35.234 --> 00:29:35.734
Goodbye.