In John 8:44, we find Jesus in a discourse with the Jews. Speaking of the devil, He declares, “…He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

Jesus made it very plain: the devil is the father of all lies. Contrary to the world’s opinion, there are no white lies. The lie is the child of the devil, its father. In a divorce case involving children, the judge may give the mother custody of the children, but grant the father visiting rights to them because he is their legal father. So it is with the devil: If I am believing a lie, or speaking one to another person to deceive, the devil, as father of the lie, has legal access, (a foothold), to visit his child, the lie I am entertaining, in my life.

Many Christians are held in chains of bondage because of the lie they believe or knowingly speak. Under the guidance and spotlight of the Holy Ghost, examine the first link of the chain, the root, to see where the lie started. Nail the lie!

All fear is built on a lie.
Deal with the fear, and fear stays near.
Deal with the lie and fear will die!

In the Garden of Eden, after Adam and Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit, they hid themselves from the Lord when He came looking for them, (Genesis 3). When we lie, (no matter how small the lie), we hide ourselves, our flesh life, in the lie because we do not want to be found out. With every lie I tell, I grant the devil visiting rights in my life. Lies, deceit and fear are all the environment the devil thrives in. The devil passionately hates the truth because he cannot abide in it. He flees from the light and hides in darkness. Truth is every Believer’s environment and shield against the devil’s wiles. Psalm 91 declares of God’s truth, verse 4: “His truth shall be your shield and buckler.”

When I am walking in truth, I am devil proof! Jesus called the devil the “prince of this world.” In John 14:30 Jesus declared, “…the prince of this world comes and finds nothing in me.” The devil was granted no visiting rights to Jesus because Jesus was the embodiment of all truth, in Him was no darkness at all. He was so transparent that He reflected His Father’s nature. Philip, the disciple, requested of Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father,” John 14:8-9. Jesus replied, “He that has seen me, has seen the Father.” Jesus came to this earth to fulfill His Father’s will for the salvation of mankind. He had no personal agendas of His own in His surrendered life.

We have mentioned the devil’s environment. He cannot abide in the truth. In responsibility in my daily walk with the Lord, I am the gatekeeper of my heart and life in the choices I make. If I walk in truth, stay in the light, it will also be said of me that the prince of this world comes, and finds nothing in me. It is only when I lie and deceive, no matter how small “the little fox” is, that I make room for the devil to be my “bedfellow.” Who wants the devil as a bedfellow? When I make right choices, the life of the resurrected Christ will strengthen me, and enable me, to walk in His will. It is a demonstration of “Christ in me, the hope of glory!” This divine life and walk is the birthright of every Believer. It is time to stop selling our birthright for “a mess of pottage,” (Genesis 25:27-34), for whatever form the “mess of pottage” takes.

Proverbs 23:23 instructs, “Buy the truth and sell it not…” Where do I buy truth from? The Holy Spirit of God is the Spirit of truth and He will shine His divine spotlight in my life to direct me to the truth I need to buy. What do I buy it with? The coin of the divine realm is humility, not silver or gold. I must humble myself under His mighty hand and embrace the truth He is showing me. This is where I exchange the lie for the truth. “Buy the truth and sell it not!” I exchange bondage for freedom in Jesus! Sorrow for joy! My only responsibility is where the Holy Spirit directs me, it is of no use to go on a frenzied “witch hunt” into my past and present. 1 Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God…” “His mighty hand” will direct me to the area He is wanting to deal with in my heart. It is always for His highest good in my life because of His great love for me. He wants me to enter into my birthright, the fullness of the abundant life in Christ Jesus, where every day the joy, peace, mercy and grace of God are my constant companions and I discover the joy of His presence for my journey through life. Yes, there will still be trials and temptations, some sorrow mingled with the joys…..but He has promised NEVER to leave me and it is His presence that carries me through it all when I allow Him to shoulder the burdens of life. 1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you.”

The more we step into our birthright of fullness, the more the darkness in us will be exposed in the new light of God and we will have responsibility to deal with it before the Lord. The day of God “winking His eye” at past things in our lives is over when He reveals new truth to us to embrace, (Acts 17:30-31). God is “turning up the heat” as we get nearer and nearer to the return of His Son, Jesus Christ. As in the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts, there is great grace and pardon for my failure, but no grace for my pride. I must humble myself and repent of my pride to receive pardoning and changing grace, 1 Peter 5:5. As I receive God’s light, I must choose to act to embrace it and glorify God. I can keep my hard heart, or I can humble and allow the Lord to soften my heart.

PRAYER

Our Father, we ask that You give us an acquired taste for a love of the truth and an abhorrence of all that is evil in Your eyes. Give us hearing ears and hearing hearts to receive Your words. Let it not be said of us that “we flatter You with our lips but our hearts are far from You.” May Your renewal of a right spirit within us be our constant experience, as the life of Your dear Son makes His habitation to comfortably abide in the deepest depths of our being. Let Your kingdom come, Your will be done in our lives to make them fit for Your divine purpose and glory. May our lives renewed in You bring joy to your Father heart, as Your sons and daughters discover the treasures of abiding in Your love.