Truth is Larger than Likes | Larger Than Likes | Week 4

The Truth is Larger Than Likes

Isaiah 59:14 Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far off. For truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter.

Culture says: Truth is what you believe it to be. If truth says someone is wrong, its the same as hate.

“Speaking Your truth is the most powerful tool we have” - Oprah

There is no such thing as your truth or my truth, there is only The Truth.

…your audience is also your boss. At the end of the day, you answer to them..

Disagreement = Hate

Even as Christians, we are afraid to stand for truth, because we know the moment we stand for Biblical morals the crowd will turn on us.

Luke 21:17
You will be hated by everyone because of My name…

John 14:6
…“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

If we truly care about and love someone, we tell them the truth even when it’s difficult.

1 Kings 22:4-7
'So [Ahab] asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight Ramoth-gilead? ” Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “First, please ask what the Lord ’s will is.” So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, about 400 men, and asked them, “Should I go against Ramoth-gilead for war or should I refrain? ” They replied, “March up, and the Lord will hand it over to the king.” But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of Yahweh here anymore? Let’s ask him.”'

1 Kings 22:8-9
'The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man who can ask Yahweh, but I hate him because he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster. He is Micaiah (mai-KAY-yuh) son of Imlah.” “The king shouldn’t say that! ” Jehoshaphat replied. So the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Hurry and get Micaiah son of Imlah! ”’

This is hilarious now. King Ahab says, there’s this one guy. But he’s a hater. He’s always being negative, always saying what we shouldn’t do and shouldn’t say. He’s a downer. Forget him. But Jehoshaphat knows the importance of hearing the truth. The truth is more important than the crowd speak, and it’s more important than the amount of likes it gets.

1 Kings 22:13-14
'The messenger who went to call Micaiah instructed him, “Look, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable for the king. So let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.” But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, I will say whatever the Lord says to me.”

1 Kings 22:15-18
'So he went to the king, and the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to Ramoth-gilead for war, or should we refrain? ” Micaiah told him, “March up and succeed. Yahweh will hand it over to the king.” But Jehoshaphat didn’t want him to just agree with the crowd, he wanted the truth. But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of Yahweh? ” So Micaiah said: I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. And the Lord said, “They have no master; let everyone return home in peace.” So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster? ”’

1 Kings 22:23-27
“You see, the Lord has put a lying spirit into the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has pronounced disaster against you.” Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up, hit Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Did the Spirit of the Lord leave me to speak to you? ” Micaiah replied, “You will soon see when you go to hide yourself in an inner chamber on that day.” Then the king of Israel ordered, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king’s son, and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this guy in prison and feed him only bread and water until I come back safely.’ ”’

1 Kings 22:30,34-35
'But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal attire.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. But a man drew his bow without taking special aim and struck the king of Israel through the joints of his armor. So he said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded! ” The battle raged throughout that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. He died that evening, and blood from his wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot.

John 18:17, 25-27
'Then the slave girl who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “You aren’t one of this man’s disciples too, are you? ” “I am not! ” he said. ‘ 'Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, “You aren’t one of His disciples too, are you? ” He denied it and said, “I am not! ” One of the high priest’s slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden? ” Peter then denied it again. Immediately a rooster crowed. ‘

John 18:4-5
'Then Jesus, knowing everything that was about to happen to Him, went out and said to them, “Who is it you’re looking for? ” “Jesus the Nazarene,” they answered. “I am He,” Jesus told them. Judas, who betrayed Him, was also standing with them. ‘

John 18:36-38
'“My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. As it is, My kingdom does not have its origin here.” “You are a king then? ” Pilate asked. “You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” “What is truth? ” said Pilate.