Fake News: The Power and Weakness of a Lie
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Sermon Notes
Fake news, also known as junk news or pseudo-news, is a type of yellow journalism or propaganda that consists of deliberate disinformation or hoaxes spread via traditional news media or online social media.
The impact of a lie is dependent on what I do with it. A lie that is not believed and not acted upon is lifeless, it has no power on its own. We are the ones that give it life, it has no life in its own right. An ignored lie is just a deferred lie but a lie counteracted with Truth is not deferred but defeated. On the contrary Truth is God-powered. No matter how long you ignore the truth it doesn’t go away or lose its power but it’s power in me is also limited to my application of it. Conclusion: The key to life is learning to tell the difference between a lie and the truth.
Why do we allow lies to drive us?
We stick with a lie because it’s been around us so long we believe it to be true.
We stick with a lie because we don’t know how to get it unstuck from our brains and behavior.
My goals with this message series are to…
Identify as many “core” lies as I can. A core lie is one Satan has been using over and over again since creation and over and over again on you.
Expose the lie’s root system with the Light of Truth.
Water the Truth as to nurture a new root system.
All lies share this central purpose… to hide the truth so as to gain power. A lie is a weapon of control.
John 8:44b
He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
1 Peter 5:8
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
John 8:31,32
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
1 Peter 5:9-11
9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. Read “Resist him by standing on the Truth.”
2 Chronicles 16:9
For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
John 10:9,10
“the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy but I have come that you might have life, more and better life than you ever dreamed.” Jesus is the I – Jesus is the Truth!
The power of lie is in what we do with it.
The origin of lies is Satan.
The intent of a lie is to control and destroy.
The power of truth is inherent in the reality of Jesus.
The impact on my life is in my acceptance of Him.
The intent of truth is freedom and life.
Luke 4:1-21
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
How do you know that you are believing a lie?
Do you feel free or do you feel bound up and anxious?
Do you feel secure in your relationship with God or does it feel conditional?
Do you live in a constant state of fear or foreboding that the “other shoe” is going to drop?